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S.C. wildlife agency reports '09 turkey production down
After increasing slightly in 2008, reproduction by wild turkeys decreased again in 2009 based on a S.C. Department of Natural Resources survey.
Although wild turkeys nest primarily in April and May in the state, the survey does not take place until late summer, according to Charles Ruth, DNR Deer and Turkey Project supervisor. Therefore, the survey statistics document poults (young turkeys) that actually survived and entered the population going into the fall.
While average brood size was good this year with hens averaging 3.7 poults, 54 percent of hens observed had no poults at all by late summer, leading to a total recruitment ratio of 1.8.
Recruitment ratio is a measure of young entering the population based on the number of hens in the population. Both of these statistics were lower than biologists would like to see.
On a positive note, the gobbler to hen ratio remains relatively good with a statewide average of 0.66 gobblers to each hen.
"The bottom line," Ruth said, "is that it will likely take a couple of years of better reproduction to overcome less than desirable reproduction the last six years. That is a good thing about turkeys. Given the right conditions, they can naturally bounce back in a short period of time." OBSERVER NEWS SERVICE
CATCHES OF THE WEEK
Red drum in the 50-pound range at Avon Pier by the husband-wife duo of Pat Bracher and Missy Folb Bracher. Pat's twin brother Arch also caught a trophy-sized red, one of 38 taken at the pier Saturday.
Approximately 30 puppy drum in the 25- to 30-inch range in Pamlico Sound near Hatteras Village by Joe Burden, Johnny Crow and Bill Hackney of Mooresville, and Ralph Pope of Union County. The four were fishing with guide Doug Martin.
A 35-pound striped bass in the surf near Nags Head by Virginian J.R. Copper.
A 281/2-pound blue catfish at Lake Norman by Lincoln County angler Mac Byrum. tom higgins
