Once extirpated in Utah, the wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) has successfully recolonized southern Utah after successful relocation efforts by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and its supporting partners (National Wild Turkey Federation, Sportsmen for Wildlife, US Fish and Wildlife Service). As turkey populations have increased, so have hunting opportunities. In 2015, the most turkey hunting permits ever were issued in Utah. Over 10,000 hunters pursue turkeys in Utah each year, and that number continues to rise each year. In 2024, 1,485 limited-entry permits were distributed throughout Utah based on population levels in each region. There were 11,204 general-season permits purchased in 2024. The total harvest for limited-entry and general seasons was 3,259. Both Merriam's (M. g. merriami) and the Rio Grande (M. g. intermedia) subspecies inhabit Utah; however, the Rio Grande is more common along low altitude habitat such as cottonwood (Populus angustifolia and P. fremontii) stands along riparian areas, while the Merriam's turkey is found at higher altitudes (UDWR 2023, except see Frey et al. 2020). Past management has focused on protecting and increasing wild turkey habitat and food resources, as well as continuing translocation efforts. Regardless of the subspecies, turkeys require a combination of trees, forbs and grasses to meet their life history requirements. Past management of wild turkeys in Utah has focused on identifying suitable habitat to support translocations of birds, often the Rio Grande subspecies, to establish new or bolster existing populations (UDWR 2023). However, to date there has been no study to determine how translocated individuals respond to new habitat conditions in Utah or how this might affect recruitment in the first few years of the translocation. In the Wild Turkey Management Plan (UDWR 2023) lack of research regarding western turkey populations were considered a medium priority to management (with disease and conflict management given priority); this lack of research could be impeding the best possible management of turkey populations and distribution. The proposed management direction included deploying GPS transmitters on turkeys to gather movement and habitat use data to inform future habitat restoration projects and guide translocations used to mitigate conflict. Indirectly, the knowledge of how to best implement turkey translocations could increase the harvestable population, and the distribution of turkeys into those areas that might increase hunting access statewide. In partnership with the UDWR and National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) I proposed to study the movements, habitat use, and nesting success of wild turkeys translocated from Texas to Central Utah. I propose to use GPS telemetry to compare the movements of resident turkeys to those of wild turkeys in two study areas in Central Utah, the Stansbury Mountains and the Pahvant (Deer Creek/Shingle Creek). These two areas have been identified as potential translocation areas during discussions of future wild turkey management. As per our collaboration, I have consulted with UDWR and NWTF to determine the most appropriate methods for their study of wild turkey translocations. They will begin in the winter of 2025-2026 by trapping resident wild turkeys in these two study areas, then translocating birds from Texas. A subsect of each of these populations will be released with transmitters. Trapping will occur in the winter of 2026-2027 to translocate an additional set of birds from Texas. I propose to assist in collecting and maintaining the data uploaded from these transmitters. In 2025, in collaboration with UDWR I will hire a graduate student that will focus on the project for the next two years. During the brood rearing season of 2026 and 2027, the graduate student will collect on-site information regarding nesting locations, nesting success, and brood rearing habitat use and movements. These metrics will be compared between resident and translocated birds.

Goal: To increase knowledge of the movements, habitat use, and survival of translocated wild turkey populations in Utah, We propose a comparative study of resident and translocated wild turkeys to compare their movements, habitat use and survival in the first 1-3 years post translocation. Specifically, our objectives are as follows: 1) Using GPS telemetry, study the locations of local resident and immediately translocated wild turkeys to compare movement directions, movement size, habitat selection, and survival between the two groups. 2) Using the VHF function on GPS transmitters, track hens during the brood rearing season to determine nest site selection characteristics, hatching success, and brood survival and compare these between local and translocated hens.

The chosen locations provide two different areas of the state for comparison, and we are asking to conduct this project now since we have had the incredible opportunity to receive turkeys from Texas.

Utah Wild Turkey Management Plan: Deploy as many GPS transmitters as possible to gather translocation data. Incorporate into Migration Initiative, Continue to establish and maintain wild turkey populations in suitable unoccupied and suitable occupied habitat and monitor success.

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We will comply with all rules and regulations pertaining to the release locations of wild turkeys, public lands, and depredation/nuisance issues, if they should arise. We will also comply with animal welfare/handling procedures.

Objective 1: Comparison of Habitat Use and Movements The comparison of local and resident wild turkeys will begin in the winter of 2024-2025 with the relocation of 50 wild turkeys from Texas. The UDWR will implement this initiation of the study, with advice from Dr. Frey and the NWTF. The turkeys will be translocated to 2 study areas -- Stansbury Mountains and Pahvant, 25 birds each with a focus on translocating hens. Turkeys will be fitted with GPS transmitters that also contain a VHF transmitter. The number of transmitters deployed will be determined by available funding in 2024; however, the same number will be deployed in each study area, with a focus on hens. Concurrent with the translocation of wild turkeys from Texas, the UDWR will trap resident turkeys at each study area, and deploy a similar number of GPS transmitters at each study area. The GPS transmitter data will be uploaded to iridium satellites, providing a location every 6 hours. Prior to the initiation of a graduate research study, this data will be reviewed and cleaned periodically by Dr. Frey. Beginning October 2025, this data will be organized, cleaned and analyzed by a graduate student employed at Utah State University (USU). The student will assist in trapping in 2025 and 2026 to supplement the study population, as organized by UDWR and their Texas partners. Using data collected by GPS transmitters from February 2024 -- July 2026, the graduate student will conduct ArcGIS and statistical analyses to compare individual and study site movement and habitat use between the two study areas and two study groups. Objective 2: Nest Site Selection, Success, and Brood Survival The study will begin in winter of 2024-2025, however without a technician that can track turkeys daily, data regarding nest site selection, success, and brood survival will be difficult to acquire. Therefore, we intend to begin this objective in nesting season of 2025 and continue through fledging in July 2026. Using the VHF transmitter included in the GPS transmitters, the graduate student will locate each hen once locations suggest that she is nesting. Nests will be visited weekly (monitored at a distance that does not disturb the hen or attract predators) to determine their status. Alternately, we can use GPS locations to determine that the hens is still nesting. Once each hens moves away from the nest, the graduate student will continue to follow the hen weekly, to determine the location of the brood, and the number of chicks still with the hen. Additionally, the graduate student will visit the nest immediately after the hen leaves the area. We will collect the following information: o Exact GPS location of nest o Number of eggs in the clutch o Number of eggs hatched o Basic vegetation community (trees, grass, shrubs) o Micro-habitat level variables: tree canopy cover, dominant vegetation within 1m2 of nest bowl center, % visual obstruction, understory overhanging vegetation, height of overhanging vegetation, distance to nearest tree/log. If a nest is unsuccessful, as determined by a hen abandoning the nest, we will collect the information listed above, as well as document any evidence of depredation. watershed. After July 2026, the study will use statistical analyses to determine the summary statistics of hen nesting locations between study areas and study groups. Additionally, the student will use a combination of ArcGIS and statistical analyses to compare nesting success, brood locations, and brood survival between study areas and study groups.

Preliminary data will be available to cooperating agencies upon request; final data analysis will be reported in a thesis that will be available online, and professional manuscripts. Final data will be shared with UDWR for any future use, upon completion of the thesis and professional publications.

Utah State University

We expect that this project will provide information regarding nesting success, recruitment, and survival of wild turkeys that have been translocated to Utah from other states or regions. By comparing the movements, habitat use, and nesting success between resident and translocated individuals, we can begin to understand the ability of translocated wild turkeys to adapt to their new environments. This information can be used to shape future translocation management to ensure that these translocations successfully result in an increased population over time. Any differences between resident and translocated wild turkey habitat use can help us identify which factors must be present in areas designated as suitable habitat in order for translocated wild turkeys to adapt to the area.

Additional information about the survival and movements of wild turkeys post translocation will assist the DWR in future translocations and management.