Habitat Use of Eastern Wild Turkeys in Central Mississippi

Most past studies of wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) habitat use were limited to 1 spatial scale. were of short duration, and had not simultaneously examined habitat use by both sexes. We used compositional analysis to describe habitat use of an castern wild turkey (M. g silvestris) population in central Mississippi at 3 spatial scales (study area, home range, within home range). We conducted the study on the 14,410-ha Tallahala Wildlife Management Area (TWMA), which was composed of hardwood, pine, and pine-hardwood stands of various ages. Overall, turkevs of both sexes preferred pine and hardwood sawtimber most, and poletimber stands least Throughout the vear, females primarily used hardwood sawtimber stands, but males tended to use pine sawtimber. Habital use by females during preincubation may have influenced subsequent nest success. Habitat use at 3 spatial scales was similar and was reflective of the adaptable nature of wild turkeys and the high degree of habitat heterogencity on the study area.