Missouri’s diverse landscapes are home to wild turkeys, a notable presence across the state. These large birds are a significant part of Missouri’s natural heritage, thriving in its forests and fields. This article explores the specific type of wild turkey found in Missouri, its characteristics, preferred environments, and conservation efforts.
The Eastern Wild Turkey: Missouri’s Native Species
The primary wild turkey subspecies in Missouri is the Eastern Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris). This subspecies is distinguished by iridescent plumage, appearing dark with shades of copper, bronze, red, green, and gold. Males, known as gobblers or toms, are larger, weighing 18 to 30 pounds and standing up to 49 inches tall. Females, or hens, weigh 8 to 12 pounds and reach about 37 inches in height.
Adult male turkeys have a bare head and neck that displays red, white, and blue coloration, particularly during the breeding season. Gobblers have a distinctive “beard,” a tuft of bristle-like feathers from their chest, which can grow several inches long. Hens generally lack beards, but both sexes have reddish-pink to red legs. Males develop spurs on their lower legs used for sparring.
Eastern Wild Turkeys communicate through various vocalizations. The male’s characteristic “gobble” is a prominent sound, especially during spring to attract hens. Other calls include clucks, yelps, purrs, and the “kee-kee” run, often associated with young or lost turkeys. These sounds are important for social interactions and serve various purposes, from signaling excitement to reassembling scattered flocks.
Where Missouri’s Turkeys Roam: Habitat and Range
Wild turkeys in Missouri prefer habitats blending mature forests with open areas. They thrive in landscapes consisting of about half forested and half open land, providing both cover and foraging opportunities. These birds use hardwood forests, especially those rich in oak and hickory, which supply mast crops like acorns for food.
Interspersed open fields, pastures, and agricultural lands are also important for their survival, offering areas for courtship displays, nesting, and brood-rearing. Proximity to water sources is also a factor in suitable turkey habitat, influencing their daily movements. Wild turkeys are found throughout all 114 counties of Missouri, demonstrating their adaptability.
Their daily routines involve roosting in trees at night for safety, flying down in the morning to forage. During fall and winter, they concentrate in wooded areas where acorns and other hard mast are available. As spring approaches, they shift to open areas for breeding and nesting, with hens seeking dense ground cover about two to three feet tall for concealment.
Ensuring Their Future: Conservation in Missouri
The history of wild turkeys in Missouri is a conservation success story. By the early 1950s, the state’s wild turkey population had dwindled to fewer than 2,500 birds, primarily due to unregulated hunting and extensive habitat destruction through deforestation and uncontrolled burning. This near disappearance prompted intervention to restore their numbers.
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) played a key role in this recovery through habitat management and a trap-and-transfer program. Beginning in the mid-1950s, biologists captured wild turkeys from healthy populations and relocated them to suitable habitats across 91 counties, a process spanning over two decades. These efforts increased the population to an estimated 300,000 to 400,000 birds, establishing Missouri among states with large wild turkey populations.
Ongoing conservation efforts by the MDC focus on habitat management, including prescribed burns and timber stand improvements. These enhance nesting and brood-rearing environments. Regulated hunting also serves as a management tool, helping to maintain healthy population levels and genetic diversity. The MDC continues to collaborate with organizations like the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) and the University of Missouri to conduct research and provide guidance to landowners on improving turkey habitat.