Indiana DNR gathering data for annual Wild Turkey Brood Report

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced it needs the public's help in observing how many wild turkey hens and poults are in the state.

From Monday, July 1, until Saturday, August 31, DNR officials encourage you to report how many wild turkey hens with or without poults you see, and where.

You can do so on the DNR website without signing up or logging in. Observations only take a few minutes to report.

The DNR's goal is to receive 3,000 observations across the state during that time.

The DNR uses the reported observations to monitor wild turkey reproduction and calculate the state’s poult-to-hen ratio.

The information gathered will be made available to the public in the annual Wild Turkey Brood Report.

“Statewide turkey populations appear to be stable in Indiana, and monitoring hens and poults gives DNR a better understanding of population trends across the state,” said DNR Furbearer and Turkey Research Biologist Andy Byers. “Observations reported by the public are an important part of helping DNR manage wild turkeys.”

If you need help identifying male and female turkeys, females are generally smaller in body size, about the size of a Canada Goose, and their coloration is duller brown with no obvious iridescence.

In general, DNR officials say female wild turkeys do not have a visible beard.

In contrast, males have larger bodies, larger than a Canada Goose, and their general coloration is very dark, appearing black with an iridescent sheen.

Most adult male wild turkeys have a visible beard.