SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is asking hunters, landowners, outdoor enthusiasts, conservation professionals, and other members of the public to help monitor wild turkey reproduction by reporting wild turkey sightings this summer through the Illinois Wild Turkey Survey.
Participants can report wild turkey sightings, including the number of adult females, young turkeys or poults, adult males, and birds of unknown age or sex. These reports help IDNR track annual reproduction, poult survival, and broad population trends across the state.
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Summer observations are one of the few statewide sources of information on wild turkey reproduction outside of the spring hunting season. Even a single reported observation helps IDNR evaluate wild turkey productivity and is considered alongside spring harvest, hunter success, permit data, weather, habitat conditions, and other information when assessing Illinois wild turkey status and management needs.
The survey is open through August. July and August are especially important months for standardized data collection because those observations are used in annual reproductive trend analyses.
The Illinois Wild Turkey Survey has transitioned from the former postcard-based brood survey to an online reporting system on the Hunt Illinois website. The Hunt Illinois turkey website also includes information about turkey hunting seasons, management, and other resources for hunters and wildlife enthusiasts.
About IDNR The Illinois Department of Natural Resources was established in 1925 as the Illinois Department of Conservation, bringing under one umbrella oversight of fish and game, forestry, public works, and lakes. Today, IDNR’s work encompasses management of about 400 sites across Illinois, including state parks and historic sites; wildlife, fisheries, forestry, and natural heritage; Lake Michigan water allocation and coastal management; conservation police; mines and minerals; oil and gas; issuance of licenses, permits, and numerous grants; the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta; and the Illinois State Museum. Visit https://dnr.illinois.gov and follow us on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.
