Dawson Shannon

Managing Deer and Turkey

1
st
presentation
Electronic
Teacher Edition

References:
Burch, M. (2006). Wildlife & woodlot management: a comprehensive handbook for food plot & habitat
development. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Creative Outdoors.
Deal, K. H. (2002). Wildlife & natural resource management (2nd ed.). Clifton Park, NY: Thomson/Delmar
Learning.
PARKS AND WILDLIFE CODE CHAPTER 43. SPECIAL LICENSES AND PERMITS. (n.d.). PARKS AND WILDLIFE
CODE CHAPTER 43. SPECIAL LICENSES AND PERMITS. Retrieved July 23, 2014, from
http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/PW/htm/PW.43.htm#43.351
Purina Wildlife - NUTRITION & MANAGEMENT. (n.d.). Purina Wildlife - NUTRITION & MANAGEMENT.
Retrieved July 23, 2014, from http://wildlife.purinamills.com/nutritionmanagement/default.aspx
Weiss, J. (2002). Outdoorsman's Edge ultimate guide to planting food plots for deer and other wildlife.
Bellvale, NY: Woods N' Water.
What Do Wild Turkeys Eat?. (n.d.). About. Retrieved July 23, 2014, from
http://birding.about.com/od/birdfeeders/a/What-Do-Turkeys-Eat.htm
Wild Turkey Management. (n.d.). Wild Turkey Management. Retrieved July 23, 2014, from
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/land/habitats/high_plains/upland_game/turkey.phtml
White-tailed Deer. (n.d.). : Role of Nutrition in Antler Development. Retrieved July 23, 2014, from
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/game_management/deer/nutrition/
. (n.d.). . Retrieved July 23, 2014, from
https://www.isouthwestdata.com/.../erathcad/.../Agricultural%20Intensity




Breeders and Land owners
The economic effect from Texas hunters, anglers, and wildlife watchers is
estimated to be $14.4 billion per year.
Residents of the United States spend about $4 billion annually on trips to view
wildlife.
Developing land for wildlife can add an average of $75 per acre to your overall
resale value.
As a land owner you are able to write your own wildlife management plan as long
as it is completed on the TPWD (Texas Parks &Wildlife Department) wildlife
management plan form.

Sport Hunters and Wildlife
Knowing the land and how it is cared for is a major advantage when it comes to
Hunting and Wildlife watching.
Hunters and Wildlife enthusiast should evaluate the land for water sources, cover,
and adequate space.
Hunters should know if feeders and food plots are provided or if they are in need
of.
Ask land owner questions:
Are food plots established each year?
Have people Hunted or animal watched before?
Is the soil tested annually for pH, Nitrogen, and Phosphorous levels?
Have any predators been a problem?
What are all your rules and regulation pertaining to your land?
Habitat for Deer and Turkey
Food
Water
Cover
Space
Predators
Food
Deer are herbivores:
1. They feed on forbs, browse, shrubs, acorns, and grasses during
various times of the year.
2. They normally feed on browse and acorns during the fall and winter
months.
3. During the spring and summer they feed on the grasses and forbs.
Turkey:
1. Feed on primarily seeds, nuts, insects, and fruits.
2. Young birds feed heavily on insects during the early part of their
lives.
3. The different types of seeds, nuts, and fruit they eat vary from location
to location.
Food Plots: During the winter months hunters can establish a Food Plot that
will help with vegetation in the cool-season. These food plots can consist of:
1. Warm season food plots which include lablab, cowpeas, soybeans,
and Milo should provide forage from early spring through late fall.
2. Cool season food plots will include oats, wheat, and triticale
along with legumes such as hairy vetch, Austrian winter peas, alfalfa,
and clover should last from November through April.
3. Food Plot Mix is being developed each year with different seed
mixtures and different ratios of seeds to maximize full potential of
grazing for nutrition.
4. Soil should be tested for pH acidity, Nitrogen, and Potassium levels.
This will allow for the food plot applicator to know which fertilizer is
needed to help develop the food plot successfully.
5. Size and Number of plots depends on the characteristics of the
property, rainfall, wildlife density, and how large the suitable areas
are.
6. Shape and orientation normally depends on the area needing
covered but the ideal plot is long and rectangular but along the side of
the cover. This gives the Deer or Turkey the opportunity to have
visitation around the edge of the cover for a quick escape from
predators or humans.


Supplementation: more than 100 species of wildlife are known to eat corn.
Deer and Turkey are at the top of this list. Feed dealers all over the state of
Texas are learning new formulated feeds that will help with Antler growth in
Deer, Maximum growth in Turkey, and over all a digestible attractant.



Depending on the goal of what the landowner or Hunter wants will depend
on the supplement being used. Each supplement is different in its own way.
1. Attractants are made to attract toward the source but not a
supplement for growth.
2. Feed supplements are used to develop better horn growth, body mass,
size of frame, and overall appearance.
3. Deer need a daily dry matter intakes range from 1.5% of body
weight in the mid winter to over 3.0% in the summer and autumn.
4. Captive pellet feeders need to be at least a 16% protein diet. Todays
buck in confinement is normally eating a 20% diet to maximize
growth and development.
5. Wild Turkey in confinement are started off on a 30% protein diet
and lowered to a 20% protein when hitting maturity. This diet will
stimulate fertility, muscle growth, bone growth and minimal amount
of body fat.
6. Deer and Turkey need natural minerals but in some cases even the
habitat cannot provide all minerals needed. There are different mineral
formulations from many different feed companies. We will not always
know exactly the amount of mineral needed for Deer and Turkey
because each animal is different and habitat is different.
7. Feeders:
a. Automatic feeders which run on electricity from a solar panel to
a motor with a spinning wheel to dispense feed. Photocell and
timing feeders allow for feeding when landowner or hunter
wants the animals to be fed.
b. Free choice feeders which allow the animals to come and go as
they please eating free when they want.
Deer feeder with spin wheel and
Solar panel for electric feeding. Gravity self feeder

Water
Deer:
1. Does normally stay in a 1 square mile radius from a well produced
water source.
2. Some Bucks may wander during the rut but Bucks normally establish
a territory and defend it vigorously from other bucks.
Turkey needs standing water in forms of ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams to
survive.
A landowner can have many different water sources as long as the land is set
up well enough for the run-off to flow into the water sources.
If your land is not supplying the amount of water in order to accommodate
the Deer and Turkey you have set your goal for action may need to be taken.
1. Develop an alternative watering for livestock if on location and fence
the spring, river, or pond so livestock cannot get to it.
2. Dont remove trees that have fallen over into the stream or ones that
may fall. This will slow the stream down.
3. Stabilize the stream bank if necessary to prevent further erosion
problems.
4. Create a pond for wildlife profitability. You will need to find correct
location, size, water supply, soil type, drainage area, and avoid from
hazards.
Cover
Deer are edge creatures. They dont normally like wide open range area
without cover.
1. The more edge a landowner can create is better for Deer.
2. Edging a food plot, feeders, or travel lanes.
3. The more edging the land has the more likely deer are to stay on the
same property or near food.
Turkey tends to rely on the big roost trees normally lining the banks of
the rivers, streams, and creeks.
1. Turkey need trees for protection from predators, nesting, and a
producer for some seeds and nuts they eat.
2. Turkey will normally stay close to the tree line near their water source
as a comfort zone.
3. Turkey normally prefers more open wooded areas. The open
understory provides insects and herbaceous foods.

Space
Deer in Erath County have a carrying capacity of 7 to 1 Animals per
Unit.
Turkey need a nesting place in the habitat as-well-as a roosting ground.
Predator
Coyotes fox, and bobcats are typically predators for Deer and Turkey.
Possible trapping or shooting can be complete with:
1. Choose a call: Bob cats and Coyotes can be called up with a mouth or
electronic call.
2. Choose the proper calling location: make sure you are in the right vicinity of
the predators.
3. Choose a high spot: make sure you have a clear view of surrounding
animals.
4. Choose downwind spot: make sure youre downwind of animal but out in
the open so the predator cannot circle downwind from you.
5. Choose a site with cover for you: wear appropriate gear and make sure
youre in natural form.
6. Choose your approach: approach quickly because most predators pick up on
you faster than you can make the call.
7. Choose your time: the best time is at night but should be done one hour
before dusk and one hour after dawn.
8. Consider using decoys: most will come at a dead run then sit out of site from
the call and see what is making the call.
9. Use variety to remedy call-shyness: using rabbit and hare distress calls has
led to successful predator hunts.
10. Try combining calls: alternate coyote howls or barks and prey distress calls.
Trapping of worst enemies to Turkey are egg-sucking skunks, opossums, and
raccoons.
Wild hogs are also a predator that can become enemies to Deer and Turkey.
They destroy food plots, eat food provided from humans, and run off animals from
their territory.

Hog Trap Coon Trap

Summary
Landowners can increase their property value when developing wildlife
habitat.
Hunters and Wildlife enthusiast need to ask Landowners questions about the
property they are interested in leasing.
The five main topics when controlling habitat are: Food, Water, Cover,
Space, and Predators.
In Deer and Turkey habitat some manmade elements are needed to keep
them around. Like food plots, water sources, and predator control.
Deer are edge creatures and Turkey need open woody area to roost and nest.
Review Questions
1. How many dollars each year do Texas hunters, anglers, and wildlife
watchers effect on the economy?
2. What is normally planted during summer or winter months to help with
vegetation?
3. What carrying capacity does Erath Co. have for Deer?
4. What predator can destroy food plots and eat food provided for Deer and
Turkey?