Background:
The wild turkey is a valuable game species occupying the ponderosa pine forests of Camp Navajo, Arizona. Forest restoration treatments on Camp Navajo involve removing accumulated leaf litter and over stocked tree stands through thinning and burning. This study should shed some light on how wild turkey populations respond to changes in resource availability directly attributed to forest restoration treatments. This project will determine the habitat use patterns of wild turkeys within forest restoration treatments, for subsequent comparison to post-treated areas.

Location:
Camp Navajo is located on the Coconino Plateau about 10 miles west of Flagstaff, Arizona.

Approach:
Wild turkeys are currently being captured using rocket nets.  Turkeys are measured and released after being fitted with GPS satellite transmitters.   Tracking turkeys enables us to evaluate individual and group movements throughout pre-treatment, during, and post-treatment areas thereby revealing the effects of forest restoration treatments on turkey habitat use patterns in north-central Arizona.  Between 2003 and 2008, we transmittered 37 turkeys, both hensand toms, with VHF and Satellite transmitters.   Preliminary data suggests that that both treated and untreated forests may provide important benefits to turkeys at different times of the year.

Benefits:
Restoration treatments have great potential to affect wildlife communities living in the ponderosa pine forest. Restoration is expected to increase biodiversity and productivity at the herbaceous layer, which is expected to benefit some species of wildlife. However, these treatments are expected to decrease intra-stand structural diversity and inter-stand variation for several decades and possibly longer. The effect of forest restoration on the viability of wild turkeys within ponderosa pine forests is poorly understood. This study will help to determine the affects of ecosystem restoration on wild turkeys within the ponderosa pine community before decisions are made to restore large areas. 

For more information contact:
Vince Frary, Wildlife Specialist III
Arizona Game and Fish Department
5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000
Email: vfrary@azgfd.gov

Michael Ingraldi
Arizona Game and Fish Department
5000 W. Carefree Highway Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000
E-mail: mingraldi@frontiernet.net