Anyone in Michigan can help by reporting wild turkey sightings between July 1 and Aug. 31, using the online turkey brood survey form to submit observations.
The survey asks seven short questions about what observers saw. Respondents will be asked to note the number of hens (adult females), poults (juvenile turkeys) and gobblers or jakes (adult or young males) in each sighting, as well as the date and location. It takes only a minute or two to complete a report.
The DNR uses an email address login for the survey to ensure each observer is counted only once, which helps in analyzing the data.
“Linking each sighting to an email simply lets us tally how many individual people are contributing,” said Caitlin Ott-Conn, a laboratory scientist with the DNR Wildlife Division. “This way we know if we’re hearing from 100 people once each, or one person 100 times – it makes the data stronger.”
Ott-Conn oversees the survey data collection and analysis. After the survey period, the DNR Wildlife Division’s biologists will compile all public submissions to calculate measures like the average brood size (number of poults per hen) – a key index of turkey reproductive success.
“We’re basically looking at how many chicks each hen is raising on average,” Ott-Conn said. “If we see, for example, a high poult-per-hen ratio, that tells us it’s been a good summer for turkey production. If the numbers are low, it could signal challenges like bad weather or other factors affecting turkey survival.”
Year by year, Ott-Conn said such observations show trends that help inform wildlife management decisions.
She specifically praised the value of public input, saying, “Michigan is a big state, and our team can’t be everywhere. Reports from residents all over help fill in gaps we’d never capture otherwise. It’s a true community science effort, and we’re grateful for each and every person who takes the time to send in a turkey sighting.”
Why July and August?
This midsummer period is when turkey broods are most visible. Turkeys nest in late spring; by July, many hens are out and about with their newly hatched poults following along. Through July and August, people may notice hen turkeys crossing roads or foraging in fields with a line of little ones in tow.
“You might spot turkeys while hiking, driving, or even in your yard – whenever it happens, just remember the details and take a moment to report it online,” said Ott-Conn.
More reports, better science
The more people who participate, the better coverage there is across Michigan’s landscape.
Since the turkey brood survey began in 2023, Michiganders have submitted more than 11,500 reports, tallying over 25,000 hens, 65,000 poults and 11,000 males.
“We were thrilled with the response,” said Bump. “It shows how much people care about our wildlife. We’re hoping to see that enthusiasm continue and even grow this year. If you missed the survey before, now’s your chance. If you reported turkeys last year, we’d love to have you back telling us what you’re seeing in 2025.”
Learn more and submit an observation on the turkey brood survey page. A link to the survey page is available at Michigan.gov/Turkey.
“Together, let’s see how many turkey families we can find this summer,” Bump said. “Your sightings will help guide turkey conservation for years to come.”
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