Evaluation of two introductions of Merriams wild turkey into Montana
by Beverly J Rose
A THESIS Submitted to the Graduate Faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree
of Master of Science in Fish and Wildlife Management
Montana State University
© Copyright by Beverly J Rose (1956)
Abstract:
Merriam's wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo merriam), were introduced into the Judith Mountains, in
central Montana, in November of 1954. A second liberation was made in the Longpines Area, in
southeastern Montana, in January of 1955. Field studies were conducted on both areas from December
21, 1954, to March 25, 1956. Emphasis was placed on securing data on survival, food habits,
movements, nesting and reproductive success, use of cover types, and limiting factors. Direct field
observations provided most of the data, but laboratory analysis of droppings was utilized primarily for
food habits evaluation. A total of 2,192 droppings collected from both study areas, during the summer
of 1955, and winter of 1955-1956, were analyzed. The procedure of analysis is described. To facilitate
the identification of items in the droppings, extensive insect, plant and seed reference collections were
made. AW EVALUATION OF TWO INTRODUCTIONS OF MERRIAM1S WILD TURKEY
INTO MONTANA
by
BEVERLY J . ROSE
A THESIS
S ub m itted to th e G raduate Facultyin
, p a r t i a l f u l f i l l m e n t o f th e re q u ire m e n ts
f o r th e d eg ree o f
M aster of S c ie n ce i n F is h and W ild lif e Management
at
Montana S ta te C o lleg e
A pproved:
-A l
Hjefm, TSajor ^ejfertmehf
Chairm an, Exam ining Committee
Dean5 G ra d u at^ y D iv isio n
Bozeman, Montana
Ju n e, 1956
' hV'-! ,
h
PJ3 7/
-2 -
Q- <H9.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
A b stra c t ...........................................................................................................................
^
In tr o d u c tio n . . . .
.................................................................................................
4
G eneral d e s c r ip tio n o f M erriam 1s w ild t u r k e y ............................................
6
J u d ith M ountains r e le a s e
s i t e ..............................................................................
8
Longpines Area r e le a s e s i t e ...............................................................................
12
N e s tin g ................................................................................................................................
14
R ep ro d u ctio n and s u r v i v a l ........................................................................................
16
Movements...........................................................................................................................
IY
Roost t r e e s .......................................................................................................................
18
Food h a b i t s ....................................................................................................................
21
Use of co v er t y p e s .....................................................................................................
27
L im itin g f a c t o r s ....................................................
30
Summary.............................................................................................................................
32
Management s u g g e s tio n s ............................................................................................
34
L i t e r a t u r e c i t e d ..........................................................................................................
36
118852
ABSTRACT
M erriam tS w ild tu r k e y s ■(M eie a g ris g a llo p a v o m erriam i) , were
in tro d u c e d i n t o th e J u d ith M ountains, i n c e n t r a l M ontana, in'N ovem ber
o f 1954. A second l i b e r a t i o n was made in th e Longpines A rea, in
s o u th e a s te r n M ontana, i n Jan u a ry o f 1955» F ie ld s tu d ie s 'w e r e - con­
d u c ted on b o th a re a s from December 21, 1954, to March 25, 1956. Em­
p h a s is was p la c e d on s e c u rin g d a ta on s u r v i v a l , food h a b its j'm o v e ­
m ents, n e s tin g and re p ro d u c tiv e s u c c e s s , u se of cover ty p e s , and
lim it in g f a c t o r s . D ir e c t f i e l d o b s e r v a tio n s p ro v id ed most o f th e
d a ta , but la b o r a to r y a n a ly s is o f droppings was u t i l i z e d p r im a r ily f o r
fo o d h a b its e v a lu a tio n . A t o t a l o f 2,192 droppings c o lle c te d from b o th s tu d y a r e a s , d u rin g th e summer o f 1955, and w in te r of. 1955- 1956,
were a n a ly z e d ." The p ro c e d u re o f a n a ly s is i s ; d e s c rib e d . To f a c i l i t a t e
th e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f ite m s i n th e d ro p p in g s, e x te n s iv e i n s e c t , p la n t
and seed re fe re n c e c o lle c tio n s were made.
-4 -
IHTRODUCTION
The a n c e s t r a l ran g e o f M erriam 's w ild tu rk e y (M e le a g ris ga~) 1'opavo.
m e rria m i) extended thro u g h th e ponderosa p in e - oak f o r e s t s o f c e n tr a l
C o lo rad o , southw ard th ro u g h New MeDiico and A rizo n a, w ith th e so u th e rn
l i m i t n e a r th e U n ited S ta te s - Mexico boundary.
By 1925, th e n o rth e rn
l i m i t of" th e occupied range had c o n tra c te d to £he extrem e s o u th e rn edge of,
C o lo ra d o .
R e sto c k in g , by th e game d ep artm en ts of C o lo rad o , New MeDtico
and A riz o n a , has r e s to r e d t h i s b ir d to p o r tio n s of i t s a n c e s t r a l range
(L ig o n , 1 9 4 6 ).
...........
At l e a s t two s t a t e s , Wyoming and South D akota, o u ts id e th e a n c e s t r a l
range have had su c c e ss w ith in tr o d u c tio n s o f t h i s s u b s p e c ie s .
In 1935# f i f t e e n M erriam 1S w ild tu r k e y s , o b ta in e d from New M exico,
were in tro d u c e d in to Wyoming.
By 1940, an e s tim a te d p o p u la tio n of f o u r
hundred o c c u rre d i n th e v i c i n i t y o f th e r e le a s e a r e a .
T h is p o p u la tio n
form ed th e n u c le u s f o r a d d itio n a l t r a n s p la n t s d u rin g 1950-51.
Twenty-
s i x tu r k e y s , a ls o o b ta in e d from New M exico, were r e le a s e d i n 1951 p r i ­
m a r ily a s brood s to c k f o r a re a s p r e v io u s ly p la n te d .
The re p ro d u c tiv e
su c c e ss of th e s e p o p u la tio n s c o n tin u e d a t a h ig h r a t e d u rin g th e n e x t
fo u r y e a rs.
Wyoming, i n 1955, d e c la re d M erriam»s w ild tu r k e y a le g a l
game b i r d , to be h u n te d on a p e rm it b a s is (A non., 1 9 5 5 ).
South D akota, i n 1948, in tro d u c e d M erriam 1S w ild tu rk e y s in to th e
B lack H i l l s .
T w entynnine, o b ta in e d from New Mexico and C o lo rad o , were
r e le a s e d d u rin g th e y e a rs 1948-51*
From th e s e o r i g i n a l t r a n s p l a n t s , a
phenomenal in c r e a s e i n th e p o p u la tio n r e s u l t e d .
T rap p in g and tr a n s -
■5-
p la n tin g from th e s e e s ta b lis h e d p o p u la tio n s , d i s t r i b u t e d w ild tu rk e y s
th ro u g h o u t th e B lack H i l l s .
In. 1954, o n ly s i x and o n e -h a lf y e a rs a f t e r th e
f i r s t b ir d s w ere r e le a s e d , h u n tin g on a p e rm it b a s i s , was le g a l iz e d on
M erriam ’s w ild tu rk e y (A non., 1951; Ga&e, 1952;' N elson, 1 9 5 5 ).
The su c c e ss of th e s e in tro d u c tio n 's i n t o Wyoming apd South Dakota
su g g e ste d th e p o s s i b i l i t y o f a s u c c e s s f u l in tr o d u c tio n in to Montana by
th e Moptana F is h and Game D epartm ent, d e s p ite th e f a c t t h a t a t l e a s t
th r e e tu rk e y p l a n t s , by s p o rts m e n 's c l u b s .a t B illin g s and F o r s y th , had
been u n s u c c e s s fu l ( B ergeson, 1 9 5 4 ).
s ite s .
Two a re a s were s e le c te d as r e le a s e
The f i r s t to be s to c k e d was th e s o u th e rn p a r t o f th e J u d ith
M ountains a p p ro x im a te ly e ig h t m ile s n o r th e a s t of. Lew istow n, Fergus. C ounty,
in th e c e n t r a l p a r t of th e s t a t e .
The seco n d , was th e Longpines H i l l s ,
a p p ro x im a te ly t h i r t y m ile s s o u th e a s t o f E k a la k a , C a rte r C ounty, i n th e
s o u th e a s t c o rn e r o f M ontana.
To e v a lu a te th e su c c e ss o f th e s e in tr o d u c tio n s , th e w r ite r con­
d u c ted f i e l d s tu d ie s d u rin g th e fo llo w in g p e r io d s : December 21 to 30,
1 9 5 4 ;.March 21 ,to 25, 1955; June 14 to Septem ber 21, 1955; and Jan u a ry 5
to March 25, 1956.
Supplem entary in fo rm a tio n was p ro v id e d by o b serv a­
tio n s of Montana F is h and Game D epartm ent em ployees, and lan d o w n ers.
Em phasis was p la c e d on s e c u rin g d a ta on s u r v iv a l, fo o d h a b i t s , move­
m ents, n e s tin g and re p ro d u c tiv e s u c c e s s , u se o f cover ty p e s , and l i m i t ­
in g f a c t o r s .
D ire c t f i e l d o b s e rv a tio n s p ro v id e d most of th e d a ta , b u t
la b o r a to r y a n a ly s is o f d ro p p in g s' was u t i l i z e d p r im a r ily f o r fo o d h a b its
e v a lu a tio n .
To f a c i l i t a t e th e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f item s i n d ro p p in g s.
—6—
e x te n s iv e i n s e c t , p l a n t , and seed r e fe re n c e c o lle c tio n s were made f o r
b o th s tu d y a re as*
The w r i t e r i s in d e b te d to D r. Don C. Quimby, Montana S t a t e C o lle g e ,
f o r d i r e c t i o n o f th e s tu d y and a id i n p re p a rin g th e m a n u sc rip t; to R obert
Eng, of th e Montana F is h and Game D epartm ent, f o r a s s i s t i n g i n s e t t i n g
up th e stu d y -a n d f o r g iv in g a id i n th e f i e l d ; to W esley Woodgerd,
W arren L i n v i l l e , and "Swede" L in d g re n , a ls o o f th e Montana F is h and Game
D epartm ent, f o r f i e l d a s s is ta n c e ; to D octors John C. W right and W. E .
Booth,, and th e Montana S ta te Seed L a b o ra to ry , Montana S ta te C o lle g e , f o r
a id i n i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f p la n ts and fo o d m a te r ia ls ; to D r. R ich ard
F ro e s e h n e r, Montana S ta te C o lle g e , f o r a id i n i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f in s e c t
m a te r ia ls ; and to th e landow ners o f b o th s tu d y a re a s f o r t h e i r co­
o p e ra tio n and a s s i s t a n c e .
The w r i t e r was employed by th e W ild life
R e s to r a tio n D iv is io n of th e Montana F is h and Game. D epartm ent, under
P r o je c t W -74-R-1, d u rin g th e i n v e s t i g a t i o n . '
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF MERRIAM' S W±LD jTURKEY '
•
I
M erriam ’s. w ild tu rk e y resem bles i t s dom estic r e l a t i v e , s in c e b o th
p o s se ss w h ite - m arkings on th e wings apd t a i l , b u t o th e r c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s
d i f f e r e n t i a t e th e tw o .
M erriam ’s i s l i g h t e r i n w e ig h t, more s tre a m -lin e d
i n body form , and p r e s e n ts a l e s s clum sy ap p earan ce th a n th e dom estic
tu r k e y (F ig . I ) .
The w a ttle of th e l a t t e r i s much la r g e r and th e head
■re g io n p o s s e s s e s few er h a i r - l i k e f e a t h e r s .
The g e n e ra l ap p earan ce of th e
w ild b i r d i s d a rk e r and th e b r i l l i a n t ir r i d e s c e n c e , se e n i n th e dom estic
-7 -
F ig . I .
A m ature M erriam 's w ild tu rk e y g o b b le r.
-8 -
tu rk e y , i s s l i g h t l y subdued (A non., 1955)•
Many w ild tu r k e y s were weighed i n Wyoming d u rin g tr a p p in g and
t r a n s p la n t in g programs..
"M ature" g o b b le rs av erag ed s ix te e n pounds and
one ounce, and "im m ature" g o b b le rs tw elv e pounds and f i v e o u n ces.
The
h e a v ie s t g o b b le r w eighed n in e te e n pounds and e le v e n o u n ces, and th e l i g h t ­
e s t e le v e n pounds and tw elve o u n ces.
and \ f i v e
o u nces.
The m ature hens a v erag e d n in e pounds
o u n c es, w hereas, immature hens av erag ed e ig h t pounds and s i x
Maximum hen w eig h t was e le v e n poundq and e ig h t ounces and th e
minimum e ig h t pounds (Crump and. S an d erso n , 1 9 5 1 ).
moved from th e L ongpines. a re a were w eighed.
Two w h ite tu rk e y s r e ­
A ju v e n ile hen (F ig . 2)
c o lle c te d F e b ru a ry 1 4 , 1956, w eighed s i x and o n e -h a lf pounds.
The seco n d ,
a ju v e n ile tom c o lle c te d on March 20, 1956, weighed e le v e n and onef o u r th pounds.
JUDITH MOUNTAINS RELEASE SITE
The J u d ith M o u n tain s, lo c a te d i n c e n t r a l M ontana, e x te n d ,g e n e r a lly
i n a n o rth e a s t-s o u th w e s t d ir e c tio n f o r a p p ro x im a te ly tw e n ty -fiv e m iles
and have a w id th o f ab o u t tw elve m ile s .
The r e l i e f o f th e a re a i s
a p p ro x im a te ly 2,500 f e e t and th e h ig h e s t p o in t has an e le v a tio n o f 6 ,428
fe e t.
The r e le a s e s i t e was L im ekiln G ulch, lo c a te d on th e so u th w est edge
o f th e m o u n ta in s.
J u d ith ra n g e .
T h is a re a ip t y p i c a l o f th e so u th e rn h a l f o f th e
The to p o g rap h y i s r o l l i n g t o b ro k e n , w ith b ro ad canyon
bottom s which p ro v id e c u l t i v a t e d crop s t r i n g e r s t h a t p e n e tr a te th e
-9 -
F ig . 2 .
The w h ite ju v e n ile hen which was removed from th e Longp in e s p o p u la tio n on F e b ru a ry 16, 1956. The w eight was s i x
and o n e -h a lf pounds.
—1 0 —
f o r e s te d a re a s a t h ig h e r e l e v a t i o n s .
These a g r i c u l t u r a l la n d s a r e .
u s u a lly p la n te d t o a l f a l f a and c e r e a l g r a in s , such as o a t s , b a r le y and
w h eat.
The co v er ty p e s o f th e m ountain s lo p e s a re mixed ponderosa p in e g ra s s la n d and D ouglas f i r — lo d g e p o le p in e .
Dense to open s ta n d s o f
immature ponderosa p in e (F in n s ,ponderosa ) pred o m in ate th e a r e a .
Only a
few s ta n d s o f m ature t r e e s a r e found and th e s e a re on i s o l a t e d rid g e
to p s .
D ouglas f i r (P seudotsuga t a x i f o l l a ) . - lp d g e p o le p in e (P in u s ■
c o n to r ta ) i s th e n e x t m ost abundant tim b e r ty p e w ith s c a t t e r e d t r a c t s
fo u nd th ro u g h o u t th e a re a m o stly on n o rth and e a s t f a c in g s lo p e s . ■
The p r i n c i p a l u n d e rs to ry p la n ts o f th e tim b e r ty p e s a r e w e ste rn
snow berry (Sym phoricarpus o c c i d e n t a l i s ) , common snow berry ^ym phoricarpus ■
g ib u s ) , b e a r b e r r y (A rc to s ta p h y lo s u v a - u r s i ) . common ju n ip e r ( ju n ip e ru s
communis), and Oregon g rape (Mahonia re p e n s ) ,
The g ra s s la n d ty p e i s composed p r i n c i p a l l y of Idaho fe s c u e
(F e s tu c a id a h o e n s js ) , c r e s te d w h e atg rass (Agropyron d e se rto rn m ).^
b eard ed bluebunch w h e a tg ra ss (Agropyron, s p ic a tu m ). p r a i r i e ju n e g ra ss
(K o e la ria c r i s t a t a ) , n e e d le —and—th re a d (S tip a com ata) , c h e a tg ra s s brome
(Bromus te c to ru m ), smooth brome ( Bromus in e r m is ) , K entucky b lu e g ra s s (Poa
P r a t e n s i s ) , tim o th y (Phleum p r a t e n s e ) . and c a re x (Carex s p p . ) ,
P r in c i p a l
fo rb s o f , t h i s ty p e a re re d c lo v e r (T r ifo liu m p r a te n s e ) . w h ite c lo v e r .
(T r ifo liu m r e p e n s ) ., s i l v e r y lu p in e (Lupinus a rg e n te u s ) . lo d g e p o le lu p in e
(Lupinus p a r v i f l o r u s ) . M isso u ri m ilk y e tc h (A stra g a lu s m is s o u r ie n s is ) ,
lo o s e f low er m ilkvetcjh (A stra g a lu s te n e llu s ) ., p r a i r i e m ilk v e tc h (A stra g a -
”
11—
Iu s s t r i a t u s ) , w ayside gromwell (Lithospermum r u d e r a le ) . a rro w le a f b a lsam root ( B aisam orhiza s a g i t t a t a ) , bush c in q u e f o il (P o t e n t i l i a f r u t i c o s a ), g lan d c in q u e f o il (P o t e n t i i l a g la n d u lo s a ) . n o rth w e st c in q u e f o il
( P o te n tilla g r a c i l i s ) f P en n sy iv an ia c in q u e f o il (P o t e n t i i l a p e n n sy lv a n ic a ) .
s t i f f l e a f v e tc h ( V ic ia s p a r s i f o l i a ) , l i t t l e la r k s p u r (D elphinium b i ­
c o l o r ) , p r a i r i e th e rm o p sis (Therm opsis r h o m b if o lia ) . b la c k medic (M edicago l u p u lin a ) . and w o o lly g ro u n d se l (S e n e cio c a m s ) »
Quaking asp en (Populus tr e m u lo id e s ) . haw thorn (C rataeg u s sp p .)
common c h o k ec h e rry (Prunus v i r g i n i a n a ) . skunkbush sumac (Rhus t r i l o b a t a ) , ro s e (Rosa s p p , ) , and mallow n in e b a rk (Physocarpus m alyaceus)
a re found a lo n g th e ,e d g e s o f th e f o r e s t ty p e s and th e c re e k b o tto m s.
Limber p in e (P ir n s f l e x i l i s ) i s found n e a r th e to p s o f th e h ig h e r
m o u n tain s,
C reeks a re g e n e r a liy ' found a t two to th r e e m ile i n t e r v a l s through­
out th e a r e a .
Most a re s p rin g f e d and th e la r g e r ones c o n tin u e to flow
d u rin g th e d ry s e a s o n .
The mean a v erag e a n n u a l te m p e ra tu re f o r Lewistown i s 4 2 .7 °F w ith ex*trem es of 66.3°F (J u ly ) and 20,7°F (J a n u a ry ) ,
The extrem es f o r th e l a t t e r
month a re 66°F and -3 3 0F , b u t -42°F has been re c o rd ed i n F e b ru a ry .
The
av erag e a n n u al p r e c i p i t a t i o n i s 16.79 in c h e s , and th e mean a n n u a l snow­
f a l l i s 54.2 in c h e s (C lim a tic Summary o f th e U nited S ta te s - Supplement
f o r 1931 Through 1952 — M ontana). D uring w in te rs of deep snows, th e can­
yon bottom s c o l l e c t and h o l d 'th p snow, b u t th e so u th ex p o su res u s u a lly
rem ain c l e a r d u rin g th e h a r d e s t w in te r s .
r l2 -
T h irte e n M erriam »s w ild tu rk e y s from s o u th e rn C olorado were r e ­
le a s e d i n L im ek iln Gulch on November 1 3 , 1954*
ThQ se x and age composi­
t i o n was one a d u lt m a le , f o u r immature m a le s, f i v e a d u lt fe m a le s , and
th r e e im m ature fem ales*
A ll b ir d s were banded w ith aluminum le g b a n d se
•
LONGPINES AREA RELEASE SITE
The Ldhgpines D iv is io n o f th e C u ste r N a tio n a l F o r e s t, lo c a te d i n
s o u th e a s te r n M ontana, i s an a re a of a p p ro x im a te ly 60,000 a c r e s .
A lthough
ho prom inent m ountain ran g es o ccu r h e r e , th e a re a i s c h a r a c te r iz e d by-a
r d l l i n g to ' broken top o g rap h y w ith a l l e le v a tio n s over 3 ,0 0 0 f e e t and a r e ­
l i e f o f l e s s t h a n .1,000 f e e t .
The r e le a s e s i t e was i n th e s o u th e a s te r n
p a r t of th e L ongpines, i n th e v i c i n i t y o f C a p ito l Rock.
The p r i n c i p a l cover ty p e i s mixed, p o n d erosa p in e and g ra s s la n d s .
There a p p ea rs to be a s l i g h t l y g r e a te r p e rc e n ta g e o f m ature t r e e s i n th is ,
a re a th a n found i n th e J u d i t h s .
The u n d e rs to ry i s p r im a r ily g ra s s la n d
a lth o u g h w e ste rn snow berry and b e a r b e rr y a re q u ite common i n th e open
s ta n d s .
The g ra s s cover i s p r im a r ily Idaho f e s c u e , c r e s te d w h e a tg ra s s,
-1 • . I
b earded bluebunch w h e a tg ra s s , n e e d le -a n d -th r e a d , ju n e g r a s s , re d threeaw n
(A r is tid a l o n g i s e t a ) , and l i t t l e b lu e stern (Andropogon s c o p a r io u s ) . C arex
i s common th ro u g h o u t th e a re a and K entucky b lu e g ra s s i s fo u n d i n th e
more m o ist s i t e s .
Blue grama (B outeloua g r a c i l i s ) i s common to th e low­
e r range a r e a s .
B oxelder (A cer negundo), g reen ash (F ra x in u s p e n n sy lv a n ic a ) , and
■
-1 3 -
quaking asp en are. found a lo n g th e canyon b o tto m s.
C u rra n t ( R ibes s p p .) ,
skunkbush sumac^ common c h o k ec h e rry , r o s e , American plum (Prunus a m e ric a n a ), and haw thorn a re th e p r i n c i p a l sh ru b s found a lo n g c re e k bottom s
and edges o f th e f o r e s t e d a r e a s .
S il v e r b u f f a lo b e r r y (S h ep h erd ia a r -
g e n te a ), and s i l v e r sag e b ru sh (A rtem esia cana) a re common to th e low er
canyon., b o tto m s ,
There a r e no c u l t i v a t e d canyon b o tto m .s tr in g e r s p e n e tr a ti n g th e •
f o r e s te d a re a s as found i n th e J u d ith M o u n tain s.
C u ltiv a te d f i e l d s a re
lo c a te d g e n e r a lly around th e m ountains a t th e low er e le v a tio n s , and a re
u s u a lly p la n te d to c e r e a l g r a in s , such a s w heat arid o a t s ,
W ater, i n th e form o f seep s and s p r in g s , i s found a t about two to
th r e e m ile i n t e r v a l s , and th e l a r g e r s p rin g s c o n tin u e flo w in g d u rin g th e
d ry s e a s o n .
■ The mean av erag e a n n u al te m p e ra tu re f o r E kalaka i s 4 4 .1 ° F w ith ex­
trem es of 7 1 .S0F ( J u l y ) , a n d ,1 7 .6 0F (J a n u a ry ) .
The extrem es f o r t h e l a t ­
t e r month a re 57°F and -4 0 0F , b u t -4 3 0F has been re c o rd e d i n F e b ru a ry .
The av erag e a n n u a l p r e c i p i t a t i o n i s 1 2 .9 9 in c h e s , and th e mean annual
sn o w fa ll i s 22.3 in c h e s (C lim a tic Summary o f th e U n ited S ta te s - Sup­
plem ent f o r 1931 Through 1952 - M ontana).
The h e a v ie s t sn o w fa ll occurs
a t th e h ig h e r e le v a tio n , b u t th e so u th ex p o su res rem ain r e l a t i v e l y
snow free th ro u g h th e w in te r .
E ig h te e n tu r k e y s , from th e B lack H ills of n o r th e a s te r n Wyoming, were
r e le a s e d on J a n u a ry 2 7, 1955.• The sex co m p o sitio n of th e f lo c k was f i v e
toms and t h i r t e e n h e n s.
A ll b ir d s were banded w ith aluminum le g b a n d s.
-1 4 -
NESTING
Only one n e s t was l o c a t e d .
i n th e J u d ith M o u n tain s.
T his was d isc o v e re d on August 16, 1955,
I t c o n ta in e d t e n eggs (F ig . 3 ) .
The lo c a t io n '
was on an e a s t- f a c in g s l o p e .i n lo d g e p o le p in e tim b e r, and was co n cealed i n
a p i l e o f p in e s l a s h .
Oregon grape was th e most abundant u n d e rs to ry p l a n t .
Mosby and Handley (1943) s t a t e t h a t w ild tu rk e y s "show a d ecid ed p r e f e r ­
ence f o r l o c a t in g t h e i r n e s ts n e a r openings i n th e f o r e s t , , u s u a lly choos­
in g s i t e s n e a r t r a i l s , . ro a d s , o r sm all abandoned f i e l d s ».
T h is lo c a t io n
was f i v e f e e t from a t r a i l , and a p p ro x im a te ly tw enty y ard s from a c u l t i ­
v a te d f i e l d .
The hen was s t i l l in c u b a tin g , b u t th e eggs were i n f e r t i l e .
The
sm oothly worn eggs and th e appearan ce o f th e egg c o n te n ts , a u n ifo rm ly b ro w n is h -liq u id , su g g este d t h a t th e hen had been in c u b a tin g f o r a c o n s id e r­
a b le le n g th o f tim e .
A s e a rc h around th e n e s tin g a re a re v e a le d no b la c k
c a e c a l d ro p p in g s, c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of n e s tin g hens (Mosby and H andley,
1 9 4 3 ).
A pproxim ately f i f t y y ard s from th e n e s t , s e v e r a l la r g e " c lo c k e r
dro ppings" w ere found in ' a f i e l d ,- which .th e n e s tin g hen was observed to
u se r e g u l a r l y ,
Leopold (1933), g iv e s re fe re n c e to. " c lo c k e r d ro p p in g s" b e in g u s e d .in
S c o tla n d a s in d ic a to r s ' of n e s tin g re d g ro u s e .
P a tte r s o n (1952) d eterm ined
t h a t th e " c lo c k e r dropping" i s a good i n d i c a t o r of sage g ro u se n e s tin g
a c t i v i t y and q u ite o f te n can be used a s an a i d in lo c a tin g th e a c tu a l n e s t
s ite .
'
On August 8 and 9 , 1955, e ig h t " d o c k e r s " were lo c a te d on a k n o ll
-1 5 -
F ig . 3 .
A M erriam 's w ild tu rk e y n e s t found i n th e J u d ith M o u n tain s.
The te n eggs were i n f e r t i l e .
-1 6 -
a p p ro x im a te ly th r e e m ile s n o r th e a s t o f th e lo c a te d n e s t .
made on b o th d a te s f o r a n e s t , b u t none was fo u n d .
A s e a rc h was
Perhaps, " th e n e s t"
was te rm in a te d by t h i s l a t e d a te .
The p re sen c e of " d o c k e r dropp in g s " ,n e a r th e n e s t , su g g e sts th a t
t h i s ty p e o f d ropping may. be used as an in d ic a to r of w ild tu rk e y n e s tin g
a c t i v i t y ..
• REPRODUCTION AND SURVIVAL .
The re p ro d u c tiv e su c c e ss f o r th e J u d ith M ountain t r a n s p la n t was ap­
p a r e n tly low ,
One brood was o b se rv e d .
I t c o n ta in e d o n ly th r e e young,
T h is brood was o b serv ed i n O ctober 1955, by a landow ner i n Ruby Gulch,,
a p p ro x im a te ly two and o n e -h a lf-m ile s n o r th e a s t of th e r e le a s e s i t e .
D uring th e w in te r of 1955-56, a f lo c k composed of one a d u lt tom, th re e
a d u lt h e n s, and th r e e ju v e n ile s was observ ed i n t h i s same g e n e ra l a r e a , • •
The lo c a t io n s u g g e sts t h a t th e ju v e n ile s w ere th e same ones o b serv ed i n
O c to b e r.
A r e p o r t was re c e iv e d in m id^Septem ber, 1955, o f a hen and s i x to
te n young n e a r F o r t M ag in n is, on th e e a s t s id e o f th e J u d i t h s , a p p ro x i­
m a te ly f i f t e e n m ile s from th e r e le a s e s i t e .
A check was made w ith la n d -
owners o f t h i s a r e a , b u t t h i s brood was n ev er o b serv ed .
The evidence i n ­
d ic a te s a n e t lo s s of s i x b ir d s (46$) f o r th e f i r s t y e a r .
The L o ngpines, i n c o n tr a s t to th e J u d ith M ountains, had a high r e ­
p ro d u c tiv e su c c e ss..
S ix ty -o n e young w ere o b serv ed d u rin g th e summer of 1955
as fo llo w s : one hen w ith n in e young, two hens w ith tw enty-tw o young, and
th r e e hens w ith t h i r t y young.
A p p a re n tly .th e r e were s i x b roods w ith an
“17-
av erag e o f about te n young e a c h .
Two o f th e p o u lts were w h ite .s u g g e s t­
in g a dom estic s t r a i n i n th e o r i g i n a l s to c k ,
F e b ru a ry and March counts
gave a t o t a l of a t l e a s t s i x t y - f i v e young, in d ic a tin g t h a t a l l broods
were n o t o bserved d u rin g th e summer.
T o ta l co u n ts f o r th e a re a in d ic a te
e ig h ty -tw o b i r d s , an in c r e a s e o f 355/S f o r th e f i r s t y e a r , '.
MOVEMENTS
A fte r r e l e a s e , th e tu rk e y s i n th e J u d ith M ountains rem ained i n th e
g e n e r a l v i c i n i t y f o r ab o u t te n d a y s;
T he.n e x t s ig h t re c o rd was i n Ruby
Gulch-, a p p ro x im a te ly tw o-and o n e -h a lf m ile s n o r th e a s t of th e r e le a s e s i t e
on November 2 7 ,
A t.l e a s t e le v e n of th e o r i g i n a l t h i r t e e n b ir d s rem ained
i n t h i s a re a u n t i l F e b ru a ry I , 1955»
le a s e s i t e on F e b ru a ry 20, 1955»
- th e n n in e .
They werp n e x t o b serv ed n e ar th e re
The number o f b ir d s i n th e f lo c k was
On March 24, e ig h t b ir d s were observed n e ar th e r e le a s e s i t e .
D uring A p r i l , .a g e n e r a l b reak -u p and d i s p e r s a l of th e f lo c k o c c u rre d .
Three b ir d s were r e p o r te d , d u rin g ' A p ril and May, a p p ro x im a te ly fo u r m ile s
e a s t o f th e r e le a s e s i t e , two were o b serv ed on A p ril 10, two and o n e -h a lf
m iles e a s t o f th e r e le a s e s i t e , and one was observed about May I , th re e
m ile s s o u th e a s t of th e r e le a s e s i t e . ' The b ir d s rem ained d is p e rs e d a f t e r
th e s p rin g b re a k -u p u n t i l l a t e f a l l , when f lo c k in g o c c u rre d .
e le v e n , was o b serv ed about December I , 1955, i n Ruby G ulch.
sev e n , rem ained i n t h i s a re a u n t i l March 2 5 , 1956.
A f lo c k of
A f lo c k of
The summer and win­
t e r ran g es f o r th e J u d ith M ountains f l o c k were e s s e n t i a l l y th e same.
The lo n g p in e s f lo c k u t i l i z e d d i f f e r e n t summer and w in te r ra n g e s.
-1 8 -
The summer range was th e f o r e s te d a r e a s , a t th e h ig h e r e le v a tio n s .
Dur­
in g th e summer, most o f th e o b s e rv a tio n s were w ith in s i x m ile s of th e r e ­
le a s e s i t e , b u t one brood was observed r e g u l a r l y , n in e m ile s n o rth w est o f
th e r e le a s e s i t e .
ober I , 1955.
The s h i f t to th e low er e le v a tio n s o c c u rre d a f t e r O ct­
On O ctober 1 0, a f lo c k o f ab o u t tw e n ty -fo u r were observed
on a ran ch n e a r B e llto w e r B u tte , on th e so u th w est c o rn e r of th e L o n g p in es«
The numbers i n t h i s f lo c k v a rie d betw een e ig h te e n and tw e n ty -e ig h t u n t i l
December, when th e number rem ained n e ar tw e n ty -fo u r.
E ig h ty -tw o tu rk e y s
were co u n ted i n F e b ru a ry and M arch, 1956, w in te rin g n e a r ra n c h es around
th e p e rip h e ry , o f th e f o r e s te d a r e a s , o f th e s o u th e rn h a l f o f th e Longp in e s .
D ista n c e s from th e r e le a s e s i t e were seven m ile s n o rth w e s t, to two
m iles e a s t , to n in e m ile s w e s t, w ith flo c k s s c a tte r e d betw een th e s e
p o in ts .
The b ir d s l e f t th e low er ran g es and re tu rn e d to th e f o r e s te d a re a s
between, March 15 and 3 0 , 1956.
D a ily c r u is in g r a n g e s ■d u rin g th e summer monthd were d e term in e d , by
■
.
.
.
.
„
-
■
:
c o n tin u o u s o b s e r v a tio n s , to bfe about two to th r e e m ile s .
By b a c k -tra c k in g ,
i n th e snow, th e w in te r d a ily c r u is in g ran g e was d eterm in ed t o be about th e
same, how ever, d u rin g p e rio d s of deep snow, t h i s d is ta n c e was d e crea se d to
ab o ut o n e -fo u rth of a m ile frbm th e r o o s t a r e a s .
ROOST TREES
Roost t r e e s a r e e a s i l y : ’. i d e n t i f i e d by th e numerous droppings: be­
neath. th e t r e e s .
Sm all f lo c k s of tu rk e y s may use a s in g le t r e e , however,
la r g e f lo c k s w i l l ' u t i l i z e a group o f a d ja c e n t t r e e s as th e r o o s t a r e a .
-1 9 -
T rees s e le c te d , g e n e r a l l y have a .tr u n k d ia m e ter of te n to tw en ty in c h e s ,,
and a re b a re of f o l i a t e d b ran ch es f o r a t l e a s t th e f i r s t tw e n ty f e e t
(F ig . 4 ) .
The r o o s t t r e e s a re u s u a lly lo c a te d i n a sta n d o f tr e e s a t th e
base of a c l i f f o r a t th e head o f a b a s in (F ig . 5 ) .
Som etim es, o th e r ty p e s o f r o o s t a re a s a re u t i l i z e d .
I n November, in
th e Longpines a r e a , o b s e rv a tio n s wpre made, f o r . s e v e r a l n ig h ts by a ran ch ­
e r , on a f lo c k o f w ild tu rk e y s which u sed a b u f f a lo b e r r y t h i c k e t as a
r o o s tin g a r e a .
D uring a b liz z a r d i n December, a n o th e r f lo c k o f over twen­
t y b ir d s were o bserved to r o o s t on and under a f a l l e n t r e e n e a r a sto tik fe e d in g a r e a , f o r th r e e n i g h ts .
W ild tu rk e y s u s u a lly go to r o o s t ab o u t o n e -h a lf hour b e fo re sunset*
On Septem ber 2 and 5, 1955, i n th e L o n g p in es, f l i g h t s to th e r o o s t tr e e s
were com pleted a t 6:35 and 6 :29 P . M., r e s p e c tiv e ly .
At 4 :2 5 P . M., on
F e b ru a ry 16, 1956, a r o o s t t r e e was lo c a te d i n th e L o n g p in es.
A 'm ini­
mum of s i x b ir d s were a lr e a d y r o o s tin g i n th e t r e e a t th e tim e of d is ­
c o v ery .
N orm ally th e b ir d s le a v e th e r o o s t t r e e s a t d a y b re ak .
The morn­
in g s a f t e r th e above r o o s t f l i g h t s , th e b ir d s were observed to le a v e th e
t r e e s a t 5:01 and 5 :0 ? A. M ., r e s p e c t i v e l y .
When going to r o o s t , th e
b ir d s took o f f from a h i l l s i d e and flew upward in to th e r o o s t t r e e s .
When le a v in g th e r o o s t trfe e s , th e p o in t o f la n d in g was a p p ro x im a te ly th e
same a s th e t a k e - o f f p o in t.
D uring th e summer, th e b ir d s d id n o t ap p ear to have r e g u la r n ig h tly
r o o s t t r e e s , b u t i n some c a s e s , th e same t r e e s Were used i r r e g u l a r l y .
I n th e w in te r , r e g u la r n i g h t l y r o o s t t r e e s were u t i l i z e d by f lo c k s .
—2 0 —
F ig . 4 .
The tru n k s e c tio n of a
ty p i c a l w in te r r o o s t
tre e .
F ig . 5 .
A tu rk e y w in te r ro o s t
a r e a . T ree i n F ig . 4
i s i n th e c e n te r back­
ground.
—21—
The b ir d s re tu r n e d to th e s ta n d o f t r e e s each e v en in g , b u t seldom s e le c te d
e x a c tly th e same t r e e s i n which to r o o s t .
D uring p e rio d s o f v e ry s e v e re w e a th e r, tu rk e y s have been known to
spend a day or more i n th e r o o s t t r e e s .
I t has a ls o been o b serv ed t h a t
d u rin g r a in y w e a th e r, w ild tu rk e y s may spend a c o n s id e ra b le p o r tio n of th e
day i n t r e e s (Mosby. and H andley, 1 9 4 3 ).
FOOD HABITS.
Food h a b its were d eterm in ed by a n a ly s is o f d ro p p in g s .
The method
used Vvas s im ila r to th e m ethods of D alke, C la rk and K orschgen (1942). The
d r ie d droppings were soaked i n w a ter f o r a p p ro x im a te ly tw e n ty -fo u r h o u rs ,
th e n s t r a i n e d , under ru n n in g ta p w a te r, th ro u g h a medium-mesh household
te a s i e v e .
The d ro pping m a te r ia ls were th e n b l o tte d and a i r - d r i e d ;
I d e n t i f i c a t i o n of item s was made w ith th e a id o f a b in o c u la r m icro sco p e.
Item s i d e n t i f i e d i n each d ro p p in g , and th e m o st.abundant ite m in
each dropping were re c o rd ed (T ab les I and I I ) .
to o r d e r , a n d , i f p o s s i b l e , to fa m ily .
I n s e c ts were i d e n t i f i e d
P la n ts were i d e n t i f i e d , in most '
c a s e s , to g e n e ra , b u t u n i d e n tif ia b le g ra s s p a r t s were re c o rd e d a s Gramin e a e , and g r a in s , g re e n s , b u d s, tw ig s , and mosses were t r e a t e d a s sep ­
a r a t e ite m s .
The most abundant ite m s i d e n t i f i e d i n . 933 summer d ro p p in g s from th e
Longpines a re a were in s e c ts of th e o rd e r O rth o p te ra (89.3% of drop­
p in g s ) , th e seed s of b e a r b e r r y ( 86. 0%), seed s of snow berry ( 5 4 . 9%),
g ra s s le a v e s and stem s (2 6 . 4%), seed s o f skunkbush sumac (2 3 . 6%), and
-2 2 -
seeds o f a s p e c ie s o f C arex (2 0 .7 # ) .
A t o t a l of t h i r t e e n f a m ilie s of
in s e c ts and tw e n ty -s ix genera and groups o f p la n ts were i d e n t i f i e d
(T able I ) .
G ra ssh o p p e rs, o f th e fa m ily A c rid id a e , were found to be th e
most abundant ite m s i n
791 (8 4 .8 # ) Longpines summer d roppings (T able I I ) .
F o r tw enty-one summer droppings from th e J u d ith s , a l l ite m s ex cep t g ra in
(1 4 .3 # ) o c c u rre d i n th e Longpines sam ple.
P ro p o rtio n s d i f f e r e d , b u t th e
sm all sample ,-does..not j u s t i f y co m p ariso n s.
■ The most abundant ite m s i d e n t i f i e d i n 671 w in te r d ro p p in g s from th e
Longpines a r e a , were a s follow s.: g r a in (9 6 .4 # o f d ro p p in g s ), s e e d s -o f
snow berry (31.1% ), and heads of brome (2 1 .9 # ) .
A t o t a l o f two f a m ilie s
of i n s e c t s and n in e te e n genera and groups of p la n ts were i d e n t i f i e d
(T able I ) .
G rain was found to be th e most abundant ite m i n 646 (9 6 .3 # )
Longpines. w in te r droppings (T able I I ) .
F o r 567 w in te r d ro p p in g s from,
th e J u d i t h s , th e most abundant- item s i d e n t i f i e d were haw thorn seeds
(5 6 .4 # of d ro p p in g s ), g r a in (4 9 . 2# ) , g ra s s le a v e s and stem s ( 3 2 . 5# ) ,
snow berry (3 0 .3 # ) , and g ra s s heads (2 0 , 6# ) ,
A t o t a l o f th r e e fa m ilie s of
in s e c t s and f i f t e e n genera and groups of p la n ts were i d e n t i f i e d (T able I ) ',
Hawthorn seed s were th e most abundant ite m s i n 214 (37*7#) J u d ith w in te r
droppings and g r a in was th e most abundant i n 266 (4 6 .9 # ) (T able I I ) .
The cro p s and g iz z a rd s of th e two w h ite specimens c o lle c te d were
a n a ly z e d .
The crop of th e F e b ru a ry specim en c o n ta in e d s i x ro s e h ip s ,
t h i r t e e n s n o w b e rrie s , and one u n id e n tif ie d g ra ssh e a d ; th e g iz z a rd 10 cc
g r i t , I cc ro s e h ip s , I cc of unknown p la n t No. 7 s e e d s , and tr a c e s of
sn o w b e rrie s , g ra s s h e a d s , c h o k e c h e rrie s , and seeds o f unknown p la n t No. 1 8 .
'f
-
23"
'
A n a ly sis o f th e March specim en re v e a le d - c ro p : 139.5 cc o a t s , .5 cc
g ra s s h e a d s , and g r i t and sn p w b erries t r a c e | g iz z a rd : 20 cc g rit^ , 20.5 cc
o a t s , and tr a c e s of b e a r b e r r ie s ,. haw thorn f r u i t s , sn o w b e rrie s ; common
c h o k e c h e rrie s , and seed s o f unknown p la n t No. 7 .
The most s t r i k i n g d if f e r e n c e betw een summer and w in te r d ro p p in g s,
■wasthe sm a ll ampunt of an im al m a tte r found i n th e l a t t e r .
F o r th e Long-
p in e s a r e a , dom estic g r a in appeared to be th e most im p o rta n t ite m i n th e
d i e t . , G rain was a ls o im p o rta n t as a w in te r fo o d f o r th e tu rk e y s in th e
J u d ith M ountains, b u t was sec o n d a ry to th e see d s of haw thorn i n f r e ­
quency o f o c c u rre n c e .
I n most a re a s o f M erriam ,Js W ild Turkey ra n g e , aco rn s a re c o n sid e re d
an e s s e n t i a l fo o d ite m .
L ig o n , (1 9 4 6 ), s t a t e s th e p r i n c i p a l m ast foods
on which M erriam 1s tu rk e y i s I q r g e ly dependent i n w in te r and e a r ly s p r in g ,
l i s t e d i n th e o rd e r o f t h e i r u s u a lly a c c e p te d im p o rtan c e , a r e ; a c o rn s ,
Pinon n u ts , a l l i g a t o r - b a r k ju n ip e r b e ir r ie s , and o th e r n u t s .
I n c e n t r a l Wyoming, where oak t r e e s a re a b s e n t, ponderosa p in e seeds
a r e a s ta p l e fo o d .
Weed, g ra s s and g r a in seed s c o n trib u te to th e tu rk e y s
d i e t , a s do g ra ssh o p p e rs and o th e r i n s e c t s ,
C h o k e c h e rrie s, ro s e h ip s and
o th e r w ild b e r r i e s a re a ls o im p o rtan t fo o d item s (A non.,1 9 5 5 ).
The fo o d
h a b its o f Montana b i r d s , ap p ear to be s im ila r to th o s e o f Wyoming b i r d s ,
w ith th e e x c e p tio n t h a t ponderosa p in e seed s a re n o t a s ta p l e fo o d f o r th e
fo rm e r.
Table I .
Number o f tim es v a rio u s item s were i d e n t i f i e d in 2,192 summer and w in te r d ro p p in g s
from th e J u d ith M ountains and L ongpjnes-A reasy ..(F..0 . = Frequency o f O ccurrence)
Summer
W inter
Longpines
J u d ith s
Longplnes
J u d ith s
(933)
(671)
(21)
(567)
Item s
F.O . J L
F.O. . J L
F.O. J L F.O. J L
Animal
O rth o p te ra
A c fid id a e ( lo c u s ts )
L ep id o p te ra
N p c tu id a e . (o w let moths - cocoons)
U n c la s s ifie d
C d le o p tera
C afab id ae (ground b e e tl e s )
C ic in d e lid a e ( t i g e r b e e tl e s )
Cerambycidae ( I ong-horned b e e tIe s )
C hrysom elidae ( l e a f b e e tle s )
C le rid a e (checkered b e e tl e s )
B u p re stid a e (b u p r e s tid s )
T e h e b rio n id a e (d a rk lin g b e e tl e s )
U n c la s s ifie d
Hemiptera'
Pentatom idae ( s tin k bugs)
U n c la s s ifie d
Hymenoptera
V espidae ( ty p i c a l wasps)
F ofm icidae (a n ts )
Ichneum onidae (ichneumon f l i e s )
Odonata
C penagrionidae (sta lk e d -w in g e d d a m s e l- f lie s )
Bones ( b ir d s and sm all mammals)
P la n t
G rain (wheat and o a ts )
Sym phoricarpus (sn o w b erry -see d s)
A rc to s ta p h y lo s (b e a rb e r ry -s e e d s )
Gramineae (g ra s s le a v e s and stem s)
833
833
35
32
3
186
26
25
I
I
3
14
23
84
17
8
9
4
I
1
2
8 9 .3
89 .3
3 .8
3 .4
.3
19.9
2 .8
2 .7
.1
.1
.3
1 .5
2 .5
9*0
1 .8
»9
1.0
.4
.1
.1
.2
8
8
3
3
3 8 .1
58 .1
14.3
14.3
12
12
1 .8
1.8
15
15
2 .6
2*6
15
10
7 1 .4
4 7 .6
11
9
1 .6
1*3
26
8
I
4 .6
1 .4
.2
I
4
4 .8
19*0
2
. *3
17
3 .0
279
172
I
184
4 9 .2
3 0 .3
.2
3 2 .5
I
4 .8
4 .8
3 .0
512
802
246
5 4 .9
8 6 .0
2 6 .4
3
4
12
9
14.3
19 .0
57 .1
4 2 .9
647
209
3
66
96 .4
31 .1
.4
9 .8
T able I (C o n tin u e d ), Number o f tim e s v a rio u s item s were i d e n t i f i e d in 2,-192 summer and w in te r
_____ d ro p p in g s from th e 'J u d ith Mountains, and Lonqpines A re a s. . (F.O. = Frequency o f O ccurrence)
Summer
Winter:
Ldnqpines
J u d ith s Longplnes
J u d ith s
(933)
(671)
( 21)
(567)
______ _____________
Item s_______ ....
F.O . JL
F.O. JL
F.O. JL
F.O. JL
.'Gramineae Igrass-^heads)
184 1 9 .7
19 9 0 .5
109 16.2
117 2 0 .6
C rataeg u s ■(haw thorn-^seeds)
30
3>2
109 16.2
320 5 6 ,4
Rhus (sk u n k b u sh -seed s)
220 2 3 .6
5 2 3 .8
Prunus v ir g in ia n a (C hokecherry-S eeds)
174 18 .6
7
1 .0
2
.4
Carex s p . ( s e d g e -s e e d s )
132 14.1
11
1 ,9
Carex s p . (se d g e-se ed s)
193 2 0 .7
4 19.0
24
3 .6
Rosa (ro s e —seed s)
80
8 ,6
75 1 1 ,2
14
2 .5 '
Bromus (brgm e-heads)
147 2 1 .9
Polygonum (knptw eed-seeds)
17
1 .8
I
4 .8
90 13 .4
R ib es ( c u r r a n t- s e e d s )
91
9 .8
Prurius am ericana (w ild plu m -seed s)
48
5 .1
9
1.3
V ib ia (v e tc h -s e e d s )
v
45. 4 .8
6
.9
Mahonia (Oregon g ra p e -se e d s)
43
4 ,6
Greens.
3
-3
39
6 .9
S hepherdia ( b u f f a lo b e rry -s e e d s )
5
.5 '
3 .7
25
A l f a l f a hay (le a v e s )
28
4 .9
P in u s (ponderosa p in e -s e e d s )
3
,3
I
4 ,8
10
1 .5
14
2
.5
Rubus (th im b l e b e r r y - s e e.ds )
23
2 .5
Lupiitus (lu p in e -s e e d s )
..
11
1 .2
S porobolus (d ro p se e d -se e d s)
1.1
10
J u n ip e ru s (common ju n ip e r - s e e d s )
4
,7
Lithbspermum (grom w el1-seeds)
23
2 .5
4 1 9 .0 '
C d n rin g ia (h a re s e a r m u sta rd -se e d s)
3
.5
U n id e n tifie d buds
2
.2
U n id e n tifie d tw ig s
I
.1
T h la s p i (pennyc r e s s - s e e d s )
2
,4
U n id e n tifie d moss
2
.3
Unknown p l a n t No. 7 (seeds.)
16
1 .7
I
26
4 .8
3 .9
. Unknown p la n t No. 18 (se e d s)
71
7 .6
3
.4
Unknown p la n t No. 23 (se ed s)
.6
■k
T able I I .
th e most abundant item in each o f 2,192 summer and w in te r d ro p p in g s
c o lle c te d from th e J u d ith M ountains and Lohqpines A r e a s , ________
Summer
W inter
Loncibines
J u d ith s
LonqDines
' J u d ith s
(933)
(2 1 )
(567)
' (671) Item s
No.
Yo . No .
No.
%
%■
%_
Na.
%
A nim al\
.O rth o p te ra
A c rid id a e ( I p c u s ts )
P la n t;
. G rain (wheat and o a ts ) .
Gramineae (g ra sh stem s and le a v e s )
Gramineae (h ead s)
■' A rc tp s ta p h y lo s (b e a rb e rry )
Symphori carp u s (snow berry)
C rataegus- (haw thorn) .
R ibes ( c u r r a n t)
Greens
U n id e n tifie d tw ig s
791 .84.8
70
7 .5
70
7 .5
. I
4 .8
I
4
15
4 .8
19.0.
7 1 ,4
646
23
9 6 ,3
3 ,4
I "
I
4 6 .9
H .8
.9
.214
3 7 .7
15
2 .6
.1
.1
I
266
67
. 5
.1
-2 7 -
USE OF COVER TYPES
D uring th e summer and f a l l m onths, th e most w id ely used co v er ty p e ,
i n th e L ongpines, was open s ta n d s o f ponderosa p in e - g r a s s la n d .
G rass­
hoppers and o th e r i n s e c t s , g r a s s e s , sn o w -b erry and o th e r b e rry -p ro d u c in g
sh ru b s were a b u n d a n t.
The b ir d s were o b serv ed to u t i l i z e th e s e ty p es as
fe e d in g a r e a s .
D uring th e p e rio d s o f h o t w e a th e r, i n l a t e J u ly and A ugust, th e
d e n se r s ta n d s o f ponderosa p in e , which .c o n ta in e d ah u n d e rs to ry o f g ra s se s
and s h ru b s , p ro v id e d th e most o b s e r v a tio n s .
On August 16, 1955* a f i r e
o c c u rre d i n t h i s ty p e of tim b e r and d e s tro y e d .7 a c re of pirie re p ro ­
d u c tio n and u n d e rs to ry , b e fo re b e in g s u p p re ss e d .
d ro p p in g s were c o lle c te d from t h i s b urned a r e a ,
On August 29, 153
Because o f th e high
number of dropping^found h e r e , two .7 a c re check p lo ts were s e t up in
l i k e , unburned h a b i t a t a d ja c e n t t o th e b u rn .
One p lo t was lo c a te d on
th e e a s t s id e o f th e b u rn , and th e o th e r on th e w e st.
T hese a re a s were
se a rc h e d th o ro u g h ly , and a l l droppings fo u n d re c o rd e d ,
The p l o t on th e
e a s t s id e o f th e b u rn c o n ta in e d th ir ty - tw o d ro p p in g s, and th e p l o t on
th e w est s id e tw enty-tw o..
v is ite d .
On Septem ber 4 , th e th r e e p l o t s w ere a g a in
No drop p in g s were found on th e two ,7 a cre p l o t s , b u t th e
b u rn c o n ta in e d 68 new d ro p p in g s .
The t o t a l droppings c o lle c te d i n th e
b u rn was 215, and th e s e had accum ulated i n n in e te e n d a y s.
The t o t a l
droppings f o r th e two .7 a c re check p lo ts w ere tw enty-tw o and t h i r t y tw o, and th e s e had accum ulated over an unknown p e rio d o f tim e .
T his
in d ic a te s t h a t th e b u rn was u t i l i z e d more f r e q u e n tly th a n th e p lo ts of
l i k e s iz e i n unburned h a b i t a t .
b u rn .
S c ra tc h in g was e v id e n t i n m ost of th e
The cause f o r t h i s p re fe re n c e o f h a b i t a t i s unknown.
I n th e L ongpines, a f t e r th e movement to th e low er e le v a tio n s i n
th e f a l l , haw thorn and b u f f a lo b e r r y , w hich a re found i n th e low er can­
yon b o tto m s, were used more f r e q u e n tly .
A f te r th e f i r s t o f O c to b e r, c u l t i v a t e d f i e l d s were u t i l i z e d .
f i e l d s were p r im a r ily p la n te d to .w h e a t and o a t s .
use th e s e f i e l d s d a i l y th ro u g h p u t th e w in te r .
These
The b ir d s ap p eared to
L iv e s to c k -fe e d in g a re a s
were u t i l i z e d i n th e Longpines from November I , 1955 to March 3 0 ,1 9 5 6 .
Foods u t i l i z e d a t th e s e fe e d in g a re a s were o a t heads from o a t hay>. seeds
from g ra s s and a l f a l f a h ay , a n d .c o rn .
A fte r th e f i r s t o f F e b ru a ry ,
1956, tu rk e y f lo c k s were c o n c e n tra te d a t fe e d in g l o t s n e a r ran ch houses
(F ig . 6) .
The m a jo r ity o f th e s e f lo c k s c o n tin u e d to u t i l i z e t h i s source
o f fo o d , u n t i l . March 15 to 30, when th e y re tu r n e d to th e f o r e s t s .
At
one f e e d in g .a r e a , a f lo c k of s i x .b i r d s moved from th e tim b e r, a c ro ss
a p p ro x im a te ly a t h r e e - f o u r t h s m ile s t r e t c h o f open g r a s s la n d , to g ain
a c c e ss to a s to c k - fe e d in g a r e a , where co rn was b ein g f e d .
The b ir d s
ap p eared ab o u t e v e ry two. o r th r e e days from November I , 1955, u n t i l
March 16, 1956.
In th e J u d i t h s , deep snows covered th e c u ltiv a te d f i e l d s d u rin g
th e w in te r of 1955- 56, and th e b ird s .w e re u n ab le to s c r a tc h down to
w aste g r a in .
On F e b ru a ry 24, 1956, th e tu rk e y s moved i n t o a l i v e ­
sto c k fe e d in g a re a i n Euby G ulch.
They rem ained i n t h i s v i c i n i t y ,
fe e d in g d a ily i n th e fe e d a r e a , u n t i l March 17, 1956.
The fo o d s con-
-2 9 -
F ig . 6
T hree w ild tu rk e y s u t i l i z i n g a liv e s to c k fe e d in g a re a i n th e
J u d ith M ountains, March 4 , 1956.
—30—
sumed by th e tu rk e y s h e r e , were c h i e f l y o a t s , and le a v e s from a l f a l f a hay .
O b se rv a tio n s were made on th e use o f escape c o v e r.
G e n e ra lly , when
a larm ed , th e b ir d s moved t o th e n e a r e s t t h i c k e t o r wooded a r e a .
On Sep­
tem ber 5, 1955, i n th e L ongpines, a f lo c k o f tu rk e y s was o b serv ed th re e
'
tim es to u t i l i z p haw thorn and w ild plum t h i c k e t s , a s escap e c o v e r, to elu d e
a lo w -f ly in g golden e a g le .
ra n u p h i l l .
I f a tim b e r ty p e was s o u g h t, th e b ir d s u s u a lly
'
,
Upon b e in g p re s s e d by a p u rs u e r, th e y u s u a lly to o k w ing, when
th e c r e s t was re a c h e d , and g lid e d to a n o th e r h i l l s i d e , where th e p ro ced u re
c o u ld be re p e a te d a g a in , i f n e c e s s a ry .
"
.
LIMITING FACTORS .
L ig o n , (1 9 4 6 ), l i s t e d th e l i m i t i n g f a c t o r s which must be ta k en in to
account i n management o f M erriam 's tu r k e y s .
They in c lu d e h a b i t a t de­
f i c i e n c i e s and human in f lu e n c e s , p r e d a tio n , h u n tin g , and f i r e .
H a b ita t d e f ic ie n c ie s and human in flu e n c e s a re d i f f i c u l t to e v a lu a te
a t t h i s tim e .
b ird s .
I t ap p ears t h a t w in te r i s th e c r i t i c a l seaso n f o r th e
S in c e dom estic g r a in s were found to occur as abundant item s in
th e droppings a n a l y s i s , th e r e i s .a s tr o n g in d i c a t i o n t h a t g ra in s a re
e s s e n t i a l w in te r fo o d s i n th e two a re a s s tu d ie d .
S u rv iv a l th ro u g h win­
t e r w i l l a p p a r e n tly be g r e a t l y in flu e n c e d b y th e a b i l i t y of th e b ir d s to
a c q u ire g r a in th ro u g h w aste g r a in i n c u l t i v a t e d f i e l d s , liv e s to c k fe e d ­
in g a r e a s , o r su p p lem en ta l f e e d in g .
P r e d a tio n does n o t ap p ear to be an im p o rta n t l i m i t i n g f a c t o r in
e i t h e r o f th e two s tu d y a r e a s .
C o n tro l o f.c o y o te s w ith 1080 p o iso n has
v i r t u a l l y e lim in a te d t h i s anim al from b o th a r e a s .
D uring th e s tu d y , no
-31-
c o y o tes were o b se rv e d .
B obcats a re r e l a t i v e l y abundant i n b o th s tu d y
a r e a s , b u t p r e d a tio n by t h i s s p e c ie s was n o t o b se rv e d .
numerous i n b o th a r e a s .
Golden e a g le s a re
The o n ly a c t o f p re d a tio n on tu rk e y s to be ob­
s e rv e d , was made by t h i s s p e c ie s .
About J a n u a ry I , 1956, a ra n c h e r in
• th e J u d ith s o bserved two golden e a g le s dev o u rin g a w ild tu r k e y .
Upon
ap p ro a ch in g th e b i r d s , th e y to o k f l i g h t , and one e a g le c a r r ie d th e r e ­
m ains in to th e woods.
An in s p e c tio n around th e a re a was made, and t r a c k s ,
f e a th e r s and b lo o d , in d ic a te d t h a t th e e a g le s had made th e k i l l .
F iv e
tu rk e y s had been fe e d in g i n a c le a r in g ab o u t te n yard s from th e edge of a
f o r e s t e d a r e a , when a tta c k e d .
One dead tu rk e y hen was found i n th e Ju --
d ith s on August 20, 1955, b u t th e cau se o f d e a th was no t d e te r m in e d .•
F e a th e rs were s c a t t e r e d around th e c a r c a s s , bu t th e b ir d had n o t been de­
v o u re d ,
One b i r d was found dead i n December, i n th e L o n g p in es, b u t th e
cau se o f d e a th was unknown.
There was some ev id en ce t h a t i l l e g a l h u n tin g was a l i m i t i n g fa c to r,
i n th e J u d ith M o u n t a i n s T h e J u d ith ..Mountains were c lo se d to th e c a r ry ­
ing- o f f ir e a r m s , except d u rin g d e e r h u n tin g s e a s o n .
The rem oval o f o n ly
a few b i r d s , a t such a low p o p u la tio n l e v e l , by i l l e g a l h u n tin g ,, co u ld
have s e r io u s e f f e c t on f u tu r e s u c c e s s . ' I l l e g a l h u n tin g was n o t known to
have o c c u rre d i n th e L o n g p in es. .
F o r e s t o r g ra s s f i r e s co u ld be s e v e re i n t h e i r e f f e c t on tu rk e y s , i f
la r g e t r a c t s o f la n d a re d e s tro y e d .
The o n ly f i r e known to have ocGrred
i n e i t h e r of th e a re a s d u rin g th e p e rio d of s tu d y , was th e , 7 ' a c r e f i r e
i n th e L o n g p in es. .
-3 2 -
S evere w in te r w e ath e r accom panied b y deep snows s u f f i c i e n t to cover
s tu b b le f i e l d s may prove to be th e lim it in g f a c t o r .
SUMMARY
1.
I n November 1954, t h i r t e e n M erriam 's w ild tu rk e y s were re le a s e d
i n th e J u d ith M ountains, i n c e n t r a l M ontana.
I n . Ja n u a ry 1955, e ig h te e n
were r e le a s e d i n th e Longpines A rea, i n s o u th e a s te r n M ontana.
2 . F ie ld s tu d ie s were conducted i n b o th tr a n s p la n t a re a s from Decem­
b e r 21, 1954, to March 25, 1956.
Emphasis was p la c e d on s e c u rin g d ata on
s u r v iv a l, fo o d h a b i t s , movements, n e s tin g and re p ro d u c tiv e s u c c e s s , use
o f cover ty p e s , and lim i t i n g f a c t o r s .
3.
One n e s t was found i n th e J u d ith M ountains on August 1 6 , 1955.
The te n eggs were i n f e r t i l e .
4.
R ep ro d u ctiv e su c c e ss f o r th e J u d ith M ountains tr a n s p l a n t was ap­
p a r e n tly low .
One brood o f o n ly th r e e b ir d s was o b serv ed .
D uring th e
summer of 1955, s i x b ro o d s , t o t a l i n g s ix ty -o n e p o u lts , were observed in
th e Longpines A rea.
F e b ru a ry and March c o u n ts gave a t o t a l o f a t l e a s t
s i x t y - f i v e young, i n d ic a tin g t h a t a l l broods were n o t observ ed d u rin g th e
p re v io u s summer.
5.
O b se rv a tio n s were made on th r e e ty p e s o f movements; movements
[a fte r r e l e a s e , movements betw een summer and w in te r ra n g e s, and d a ily
c r u is in g ra n g e s .
A fte r r e l e a s e , th e J u d ith M ountains b ir d s moved ap­
p ro x im a te ly two and o n e -h a lf m ile s from th e r e le a s e s i t e .
The b ir d s in
th e J u d ith s u t i l i z e d th e summer range as t h e i r w in te r ra n g e .
The b ir d s
-3 3 -
i n th e Longpines e x h ib ite d a s h i f t from summer to w in te r ra n g e s .
Daily-
c r u is in g ran g es d u rin g summer and w in te r were d eterm in ed to be two to
th r e e m ile s .
D uring p e rio d s o f deep snow, th e c r u is in g range was de­
c re a s e d t o a b o u t o n e -fo u rth m ile .
6.
Roost t r e e s a r e e a s i l y i d e n t i f i e d by th e numerous d ro p p in g s be­
n e a th th e t r e e s .
w in te r .
7.
R egular n i g h t l y r o o s t a re a s a re u t i l i z e d d u rin g th e
D uring th e summer, in d iv id u a l r o o s t a re a s a re used i r r e g u l a r l y .
P la n t, s e e d , and i n s e c t c o lle c tio n s were made f o r b o th study-
a r e a s , and used as re f e r e n c e specim ens to i d e n t i f y th e p l a n t s , s e e d s ,
and in s e c t s concerned i n th e fo o d h a b its e v a lu a tio n by d ro p p in g s a n a ly s is .
8.
A t o t a l of 2 ,192 d ro p p in g s, c o lle c te d from b o th s tu d y a re a s d ur­
in g th e summer of 1955 and w in te r o f 1955-56, were a n a ly z e d .
The p ro ­
cedure, of a n a ly s is i s d e s c rib e d .
9.
The r e s u l t s o f th e drop p in g s a n a ly s is in d ic a te s t h a t in s e c ts
( p r im a r ily g ra s s h o p p e rs ), b e a r b e r r y , snow berry and skunkbpsh sumac f r u i t s ,
g ra s s le a v e s and stem s, and seed s of a s p e c ie s of Carex were th e p r i n c i ­
p a l summer fo o d s .
G ra in s , haw thorn and snow berry f r u i t s , heads o f brome,
and g ra s s le a v e s , stem s and heads were th e p r i n c i p a l w in te r fo o d ite m s ,
10.
Open s ta n d s of ponderosa p in e - g r a s s l a n d cover ty p e s a re th e
most w id e ly u sed ty p e s d u rin g th e summer and e a r ly f a l l m onths, i n th e
Longpines a r e a .
Canyon bottom s a t th e low er e le v a tio n s , g r a in f i e l d s
and liv e s to c k fe e d in g a re a s a re u t i l i z e d i n l a t e f a l l and w in te r .
11.
The o n ly p re d a tio n o b serv ed , was one tu rk e y k i l l e d by two g o l­
den e a g le s i n th e J u d ith M o untains.
-3 4 -
12.
I l l e g a l h u n tin g may be th e lim it in g f a c t o r to th e e s ta b lis h m e n t
o f tu rk e y s i n th e J u d ith M o u n tain s.
MANAGEMENT SUGGESTIONS
I t i s g e n e r a lly a c c e p te d t h a t f i r s t - y e a r w ild g o b b le rs o f th e e a s t ­
e rn w ild tu rk e y (M e le a g ris ■g a llo p a v o s i l v e s t r i s ) r a r e l y a re p e rm itte d by
th e o ld e r m ales to b re e d , even i f th e y a re cap a b le of doing so (Mosby
and H andley, 1943; L eopold, 1944; D alk e, L eopold and S p en cer, 1 9 4 6 ),
Young h e n s, how ever, n e s t f r e e l y .
D alk e, Leopold, and S p e n c e r .(1 9 4 6 ),
. concluded t h a t o ld g o b b le rs a re p ro b a b ly n e c e s s a ry i n a p o p u la tio n -fo r '
s u c c e s s f u l re p ro d u c tio n , and t h i s p o in t m ust be c o n sid e re d i n t r a n s ­
p la n tin g w ild -tra p p e d b ir d s f o r r e s to c k in g p u rp o s e s .
L ig o n .(1 9 4 6 ), s t a t e d t h a t th e t r u e w ild M erriam 1s tu rk e y does not
m ature u n t i l th e second y e a r .
N e ith e r hens nor g o b b le rs , a s a g e n e ra l
r u l e , d is p la y b re e d in g i n c l i n a t i o n u n t i l p r a c t i c a l l y two y e a rs o ld .
If
t h i s i s t r u e , th e n b o th m ature toms and hens sh o u ld be c o n sid e re d in
t r a n s p la n t in g w ild -tra p p e d M erriam 1s tu rk e y s f o r re s to c k in g p u rp o s e s .
In
th e J u d ith t r a n s p l a n t , o n ly one m ature tom was re le a s e d w ith f i v e m ature
hens and SeSIr immature h e n s .
I t i s p o s s ib le , t h a t th e h en , w hich was
in c u b a tin g th e te n i n f e r t i l e eg g s, was u n a b le to lo c a te th e s in g le tom
d u rin g th e b re e d in g s e a s o n .
T h is may have been a f a c t o r i n th e low -
re p ro d u c tiv e r a t e f o r th e J u d ith s .
The a c c e p te d p la n tin g r a t i o f o r w ild tu rk e y s i s one tom to two or
th r e e h e n s .
Mosby and H andley (1 946 ), d eterm in ed t h a t b e s t r e s u l t s a re
-3 5 -
o b ta in e d by r e le a s in g f i f t e e n to tw en ty b ird s a t each p o in t o f l i b e r a ­
t i o n . , I f f u t u r e tr a n s p l a n t s a re conducted i n M ontana, a more r i g i d ad­
h e re n ce to th e s e s to c k in g p ro c e d u res i s a d v is e d .
I t does n o t seem a d - -
v is a b le to co n tem p late t r a n s p la n t in g from e i t h e r th e bongplhes or Ju ­
d i t h s , u n t i l v e r i f i c a t i o n o f th e e s ta b lis h m e n t of th e s e b ir d s a s a w ild
p o p u la tio n .
L eopold (1933), d is c u s s e d th e v a rio u s ty p e s of sto c k in g
f a i l u r e s in c lu d in g in s ta n c e s ^ where b re e d in g and s u r v iv a l o c c u rre d th e
f i r s t y ear.
SupplemehtajV w in te r f e e d in g may be n e c e s s a ry d u rin g se v e re w in te r s ,
to h e lp e s t a b l i s h a b re e d in g p o p u la tio n .
I n th e two stu d y a re a s d u rin g
th e w in te r of 1955-56, th e landow ners d id n o t o b je c t to tu rk e y s u t i l i z ­
in g l i v e - s t o c k fe e d in g a r e a s , how ever, i f th e p o p u la tio n s b u ild up, th e
landow ners cannot be ex p ected to endure th e s e fe e d in g s w ith o u t c o m p la in t.
One co m p lain t was re c e iv e d d u rin g th e w in te r of 1955-56, in th e Longp in e s , on a f lo c k o f tw e n ty -fo u r b ir d s damaging an o a t hay s ta c k .
The
b i r d s , by s c r a tc h in g , had s c a t t e r e d hay, from th e to p o f th e s ta c k , over
a la r g e a r e a .
C om plaints by landow ners may-be d iv e r te d , i f th e b ir d s
\c a n be induced to fe e d on w aste g ra in in c u l t i v a t e d f i e l d s , o r to r e ­
m ain, in th e f o r e s te d a re a s d u rin g s e v e re w in te rs th ro u g h su p p lem en tal
f e e d in g .
I t i s a d v is a b le to c o n tin u e th e e x c lu s io n of fire a rm s from b o th
a r e a s , u n t i l th e f u t u r e o f th e t r a n s p la n t s has been d e term in e d , except
d u rin g d eer h u n tin g s e a s o n .
The use of fir e a rm s i n e i t h e r a r e a , would
n o t o n ly i n v i t e i l l e g a l k i l l i n g o f tu r k e y s , b u t may d is tu r b n e s tin g
^
■ -3 6 -
b ir d s o r b ro o d s.
The h u n tin g o f d e e r sh o u ld be allow ed, i n b o th a r e a s ,
b ecau se of th e high, d e er p o p u la tio n s .
I
S t r i c t law enforcem ent would be
'
a d v isa b le ..
LITERATURE CITED
AMERICAN JOINT COMMITTEE ON HORTICULTURAL NOMENCLATURE.
iz e d p la n t nam es.
1942.
S ta n d a rd -
J . Horace M cFarland Company, H a rris b u rg , P a .
675 PP.
ANON.
1 951 <i B lack h i l l s w ild tu r k e y s .
South Dakota C o n se rv a tio n
D ig e s t, 1 8 ( 2 ) :2 - 3 .
ANON.■ 1955•
Turkeys i n Wyoming.
BEROESON, WILLIAM' R. 1954.
BOOTH, W. E . 1950.
V
Wyoming W ild lif e , 1 9 (3 ):2 4 -2 8 .
Turkey t a l k .
Montana W ild lif e , 4 (3 ) :2 0 -2 1 .
F lo ra o f M ontana> P a r t I .
1
a t Montana S t a t e C o lle g e .
The R esearch F o u n d atio n
232 p p .
COMMERCE," U ;S. DEPARTMENT OF; WEATHER BUREAU.
1955,
C lim a tic Summary
o f th e U n ited S ta te s - supplem ent f o r 1931 th ro u g h 1952. M ontana.
C lim atography o f th e U nited S ta te s No. 1 1 -2 0 .
COMSTOCK, J . H.
1940.
An in tr o d u c tio n to e n to m o lo g y .. Comstock Pub­
l i s h i n g C o ., I n c . , I th a c a , New York.
CRUMP, WILLIAM I . , and H. B. SANDERSON.
and t r a n s p l a n t i n g .
60 p p .
1 ,0 6 4 p p .
1 951.
W ild tu rk e y tr a p p in g
Wyoming W ild lif e , 1 5 (4 )!4 -1 1 .
DALKE, PAUL D ., W. K. CLARK, J R ., and L . J . KORSCHGEN.
1942.
Food
h a b it tre n d s o f th e w ild tu rk e y in- M isso u ri as d eterm in ed b y drop­
p in g s a n a l y s i s .
J o u r. W ild l. M g t., 6 :2 3 7 -2 4 3 .
-3 7 -
DALKE, PAUL D ., A. STARKER LEOPOLD, and DAVID L . SPENCER.
eco lo g y and management o f th e w ild tu rk e y i n M is s o u ri.
1946.
The
M isso u ri
C o n se rv a tio n Commission, T e c h n ic a l B u l le tin No. I , 86 p p .
GAGE, BOB.
1952.
W ild tu rk e y p r o g r e s s .
South Dakota C o n se rv a tio n
D ig e s t, 1 9 ( 3 ) :4 - 6 .
LEOPOLD, ALDO.- 1933.
Game management.
C h arles S c r ib n e r 's S o n s, New
York and London.
LEOPOLD, A. STARKER.
1944.
The n a tu re of h e r i t a b l e w ild n e ss i n tu r k e y s .
The Condor, 4 6 :1 3 3 -1 9 7 .
'LIGON, J . STOKLEY.
key.
1946.
H is to ry and management o f M erriam 's w ild t u r ­
New Mexico Game and F is h Commission.
MOSBY, H. S . , and C. 0 . HANDLEY.
1943.
s t a t u s , l i f e h i s t o r y and management.
In la n d F i s h e r i e s , Richmond, Va.
NELSON, BERNARD.
1955.
84 p p .
The w ild tu rk e y i n V ir g in i a : i t s
V irg in ia Commission of Game and
281 p p .
F i r s t M erriam 's w ild tu rk e y s e a s o n .
South Dako­
t a C o n se rv a tio n D ig e s t, 2 2 (1 ):1 2 -1 3 .
PATTERSON, R. L.
D enver.
1952.
The sage grouse i n Wyoming.
Sage Books I n c . ,
481 p p.
MIGHT, J . C. a n d .W. E . BOOTH.
( M u ltilith .) .
1956,
D ico ty led o n o u s p la n ts of M ontana,
197 p p .
' / '/
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I V,
7a .
MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
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