The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is asking residents to report sightings of hen turkeys, with or without young, through the department’s online summer turkey brood survey. Courtesy photo/New Hampshire Fish and Game Department

CONCORD – As the summer comes to a close, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department encourages residents to report sightings of hen turkeys, with or without young, through the department’s online summer turkey brood survey at www.wildlife.nh.gov/wildlife-and-habitat/wild-turkeys-new-hampshire/turkey-surveys.

This year’s survey will continue through Aug. 31, providing data that will help Fish and Game biologists determine the distribution, abundance and productivity of wild turkeys.

“The information that survey participants provide helps us monitor the turkey population,” said Andrew Timmins, supervisor of the Fish and Game’s wildlife programs. “This survey results in reports from all over the state and adds to the important information biologists use to monitor changes in turkey productivity, distribution, abundance, turkey brood survival and the timing of nesting and hatching.”

“Observations made in August are especially important,” said Fish and Game Turkey Biologist Allison Keating. “The young that have survived thus far are likely to become adults, so these sightings provide the best index of breeding productivity.”

According to Keating, last summer’s above-average rainfall took a toll on poult (juvenile turkey) survival and wild turkey breeding productivity.

“During the month of July, the state usually gets about four inches of rain. Last year, many parts of the state received over 12 inches of precipitation during July,” she said. “Because of the lower productivity, there were fewer wild turkeys on the landscape last fall and this spring. The weather has been better this spring and summer and the number of brood observations is up. Many large, mixed broods have been reported, which is great to see.”

The term “brood” refers to a family group of young turkeys accompanied by a hen. New Hampshire hens generally begin laying eggs from mid-April to early May and complete their clutch of about 12 eggs in early to mid-May. Incubation lasts for 28 days and most nests hatch from late-May to mid-June. If incubating turkey eggs are destroyed or consumed by predators, hens often lay a replacement clutch of eggs that will then hatch from late-June through August.

To learn more about the annual Turkey Brood Survey or to record your sightings, visit www.wildlife.nh.gov/wildlife-and-habitat/wild-turkeys-new-hampshire/turkey-surveys.

Wild turkey management is partially funded through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Wildlife Restoration Program. These crucial grant funds are derived from excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment and directly support wildlife management and restoration efforts.