Natural Resources University

Dr. Craig Harper returns to share insights on how sloped topography affects plant communities, wild turkey use, and management strategies for both turkey and deer.    Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: http://UFgive.to/UFGameLab [http://ufgive.to/UFGameLab]   Dr. Craig Harper (Website [https://naturalresources.tennessee.edu/craig-harper/])   We’ve launched a comprehensive online wild turkey course featuring experts across multiple institutions that specialize in habitat management and population management for wild turkeys. Earn up to 20.5 CFE hours! Enroll Now! [https://tinyurl.com/WildTurkeyManager]    Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance [https://tinyurl.com/DrDistIG], Publications [https://tinyurl.com/MarcusPubs] Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby [https://tinyurl.com/WillGulsbyIG], Publications [https://tinyurl.com/WillPubs] Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow [https://tinyurl.com/TFTweblink]  UF Game Lab @ufgamelab [https://www.instagram.com/ufgamelab], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ufgamelab]   Donate to our wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund [https://tinyurl.com/UFTurkeyDonation] , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund [https://tinyurl.com/AuburnGiving]    Want to help wild turkey conservation? Please take our quick survey [https://tinyurl.com/wildturkeymanagement] to take part in our research!   Do you have a topic you’d like us to cover? Leave us a review [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wild-turkey-science/id1666903553] or send us an email at wildturkeyscience@gmail.com [wildturkeyscience@gmail.com]!   Watch these podcasts on YouTube [https://tinyurl.com/WTSPlaylistYT]   Please help us by taking our (quick) listener survey [https://tinyurl.com/WTSListenerSurvey] - Thank you!    Check out the DrDisturbance YouTube channel! DrDisturbance YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@DrDisturbance]   Want to help support the podcast? Our friends at Grounded Brand [https://groundedbrand.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooQfnSrbfJh3mkUQfUSYUgS7rXFWI3ChYlbr3vA8q8w7SMRlS3U] have an option to donate directly to Wild Turkey Science at checkout. Thank you in advance for your support!   Leave a podcast rating [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wild-turkey-science/id1666903553] for a chance to win free gear!   This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org [https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fturkeysfortomorrow.org%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cc.nowak%40ufl.edu%7C0e10d6ba8452422275bf08db9e934976%7C0d4da0f84a314d76ace60a62331e1b84%7C0%7C0%7C638278127655164867%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=gtNXjmYnVwSwhXTbGPP4dzYueLYHxWNs4dNW6zJDWoo%3D&reserved=0].    Music by Artlist.io Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak

We're back with Part 2 of discussing cool-season food plots. Hosts Jacob and Eric catch up with MSU Deer Lab graduate student Luke Resop to talk about seed mixes and weed management. Check out the MSU Deer Lab’s online seminar series (here [https://reg.extension.msstate.edu/view/cal10a.aspx?ek=&ref=&aa=&sid1=&sid2=&as=81&wp=324&tz=&ms=&nav=&cc=&cat1=&cat2=&cat3=&aid=MSU&rf=&pn=]) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to view the seminars. The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDOZeiPref8vhAHkULM3IGg])

A good trilogy establishes the characters and the main conflict in installment one, then installment two deepens the conflict, and finally installment three provides the climax and resolution for the entire saga. Way back in Episode 10, Wes interviewed the Bluegill Queen (Sarah Parvin) to discuss her 5-acre pond that had become notorious for producing the fattest bluegill you can imagine. We are talking fish that weighed twice what a healthy fish of the same length should weigh, with helmets and briskets protecting their disproportionately small heads! These two-handed bream graced the pages of many fishing media outlets, Texas Hunter feeder advertisements, and even had industry sponsorships. The Slab Lab, as the pond was affectionately named, became known far and wide and even has its own logo! Wes even had the opportunity to fish the bream himself! Unfortunately, the Slab Lab experiment had a major setback this past summer. In this episode (Installment two), Sarah walks us through what happened and why, and discusses what is next for the Slab Movement. Hopefully, this episode is not the final episode of the Slab Lab, and we will have Sarah back to complete the trilogy! Do you have questions or comments? Follow the Fish University Facebook community [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087242320601] and chat with Wes or suggest future episodes!

In this episode, hosts Jacob and Eric discuss cool-season food plots with MSU Deer Lab graduate student Luke Resop. They cover key topics such as food plot placement, soil testing, and seed-bed preparation in part 1 of this 2-part series.  Check out the MSU Deer Lab’s online seminar series (here [https://reg.extension.msstate.edu/view/cal10a.aspx?ek=&ref=&aa=&sid1=&sid2=&as=81&wp=324&tz=&ms=&nav=&cc=&cat1=&cat2=&cat3=&aid=MSU&rf=&pn=]) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to view the seminars. The seminars are free unless you are seeking professional educational credits. Also, be sure to visit our YouTube channel (here [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDOZeiPref8vhAHkULM3IGg])

In this episode, we reveal results from our latest research analyzing the role of hen survival in turkey population dynamics.   Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: http://UFgive.to/UFGameLab [http://ufgive.to/UFGameLab]   WATCH this episode (here [https://youtu.be/eDfuOFtKUJY])!   Resources:   Pre-Print: Lashley et al. (2025) Female Wild turkey survival meta-analysis [https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.05.16.654534v1.full.pdf]   Byrne, M. E., et al. (2015). Potential density dependence in wild turkey productivity in the southeastern United States. In Proceedings of the National Wild Turkey Symposium (Vol. 11, pp. 329-351). [https://pdfhost.io/v/0pmJAEfyw_Byrne_et_al_2015]    Johnson, V. M., et al. (2022). Nest site selection and survival of wild turkeys in Tennessee. Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, 9, 134-143. [https://fwf.tennessee.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2022/03/Harper-TN-nest-site-selection-and-survival.pdf]   Lehman, C. P., et al. (2000). Comparative survival and reproduction of sympatric eastern and Rio Grande wild turkey females in northeastern South Dakota. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 2000, 123-135. [https://pdfhost.io/v/JpGDfJjNHf_Lehman2000]   Lehman, C. P., et al. (2022). Factors influencing rate of decline in a Merriam's wild turkey population. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 86(6), e22240. [https://pdfhost.io/v/gndu.ND6H_Factors_influencing_rate_of_decline_in_a_Merriams_wild_turkey_population]    Londe, David W., et al. "Review of range‐wide vital rates quantifies eastern wild Turkey population trajectory." Ecology and Evolution 13.2 (2023): e9830. [https://pdfhost.io/v/R0bCeqGKP_Londe_David_W_et_al_Review_of_rangewide_vital_rates_quantifies_eastern_wild_Turkey_population_trajectory_Ecology_and_Evolution_132_2023_e9830]   Speake, Daniel W. "Predation on wild turkeys in Alabama." 4th National Wild Turkey Symposium. Little Rock, Arkansas (USA). 2-5 Mar 1980.. 1980. [https://pdfhost.io/v/~UtYjKq~j_Speake_Daniel_W_Predation_on_wild_turkeys_in_Alabama_4th_National_Wild_Turkey_Symposium_Little_Rock_Arkansas_USA_25_Mar_1980_1980]   Tyl, R. M., et al. (2023). Factors influencing survival of female eastern wild turkeys in northeastern South Dakota. Wildlif e Society Bulletin, 47(2), e1429. [https://pdfhost.io/v/r13nOmXn1_Factors_influencing_survival_of_female_eastern_wild_turkeys_in_northeastern_South_Dakota]   Which vital rates are most important to turkey populations? | Ep 13 [https://youtu.be/zr4xsvEPjOo] SD Research Update: Major constraints and BMPs | Ep 81 [https://youtu.be/kQ3L0wtAZco]   We’ve launched a comprehensive online wild turkey course featuring experts across multiple institutions that specialize in habitat management and population management for wild turkeys. Earn up to 20.5 CFE hours! Enroll Now! [https://tinyurl.com/WildTurkeyManager]    Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance [https://tinyurl.com/DrDistIG], Publications [https://tinyurl.com/MarcusPubs] Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby [https://tinyurl.com/WillGulsbyIG], Publications [https://tinyurl.com/WillPubs] Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow [https://tinyurl.com/TFTweblink]  UF Game Lab @ufgamelab [https://www.instagram.com/ufgamelab], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@ufgamelab]   Donate to our wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund [https://tinyurl.com/UFTurkeyDonation] , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund [https://tinyurl.com/AuburnGiving]    Want to help wild turkey conservation? Please take our quick survey [https://tinyurl.com/wildturkeymanagement] to take part in our research!   Do you have a topic you’d like us to cover? Leave us a review [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wild-turkey-science/id1666903553] or send us an email at wildturkeyscience@gmail.com [wildturkeyscience@gmail.com]!   Watch these podcasts on YouTube [https://tinyurl.com/WTSPlaylistYT]   Please help us by taking our (quick) listener survey [https://tinyurl.com/WTSListenerSurvey] - Thank you!    Check out the DrDisturbance YouTube channel! DrDisturbance YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@DrDisturbance]   Want to help support the podcast? Our friends at Grounded Brand [https://groundedbrand.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooQfnSrbfJh3mkUQfUSYUgS7rXFWI3ChYlbr3vA8q8w7SMRlS3U] have an option to donate directly to Wild Turkey Science at checkout. Thank you in advance for your support!   Leave a podcast rating [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wild-turkey-science/id1666903553] for a chance to win free gear!   This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org [https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fturkeysfortomorrow.org%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cc.nowak%40ufl.edu%7C0e10d6ba8452422275bf08db9e934976%7C0d4da0f84a314d76ace60a62331e1b84%7C0%7C0%7C638278127655164867%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=gtNXjmYnVwSwhXTbGPP4dzYueLYHxWNs4dNW6zJDWoo%3D&reserved=0].    Music by Artlist.io Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak