Natural Resources University

Can Jakes Breed? | Wild Turkey Science #559

We pull the research to explore the reproductive capabilities of jakes and bust the myth of whether or not they can breed. Resources: * Davis, B. D., et al. (1994). Breeding Chronology in Rio Grande Turkey Hens.ob No. 7.07. Federal Aid Project No. W-126-R-2. Small Game Research and Surveys. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Final Report. [https://pdfhost.io/v/Tp9MRJZaVg_TPWD] * Lashley, M. A., et al. (2025). Decreased fevmale survival may help explain wild turkey population decline. Wildlife Society Bulletin, e1642. [https://pdfhost.io/v/MBAMw3dvBm_Lashley2025] * Lewis, J. B., & Breitenbach, R. P. (1966). Breeding potential of subadult wild turkey gobblers. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 618-622. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/3798757?seq=1] * Whitaker, D. M., et al. (2005). A range‐wide meta‐analysis of wild turkey nesting phenology and spring season opening dates. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 2005, 351-360. [https://wildlife.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/j.2328-5540.2005.tb00330.x] 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] We've launched our second online wild turkey course ! Enroll in Wild Turkey Manager: Biology, History & Habitat [https://tinyurl.com/WildTurkeyManagerBio] to learn about the principal biology, mating, behavior, food selection, human dimensions, hunter interactions, and historical context of wild turkeys. This course is accredited by the Society of American Foresters as a Category 2 course worth 7 Continuing Forestry Education credits. Participants can also earn up to 5 CEUs in Category I of The Wildlife Society's Certified Wildlife Biologist Program. Enroll now: https://tinyurl.com/WildTurkeyManagerBio [https://tinyurl.com/WildTurkeyManagerBio] Be sure to check out our first 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] 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

Hunting Stories - Spring 2026 edition | Wild Turkey Science #558

In this episode, we recap our season and swap turkey hunting highlights. WATCH this episode here: https://youtu.be/YUG2gIZc9yQ [https://youtu.be/YUG2gIZc9yQ] 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] We've launched our second online wild turkey course ! Enroll in Wild Turkey Manager: Biology, History & Habitat [https://tinyurl.com/WildTurkeyManagerBio] to learn about the principal biology, mating, behavior, food selection, human dimensions, hunter interactions, and historical context of wild turkeys. This course is accredited by the Society of American Foresters as a Category 2 course worth 7 Continuing Forestry Education credits. Participants can also earn up to 5 CEUs in Category I of The Wildlife Society's Certified Wildlife Biologist Program. Enroll now: https://tinyurl.com/WildTurkeyManagerBio [https://tinyurl.com/WildTurkeyManagerBio] Be sure to check out our first 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] 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

Feral Swine | Fins, Fur, & Feathers #557

Feral swine cause billions of dollars in damage to agriculture annually in the United States, and their population numbers can grow extremely quickly. Join Drew and Joe as they discuss the origins, characteristics, and control of feral swine in the U.S. Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists and faculty members in the Wildlife and Outdoor Enterprise Management Program at Kansas State University. Find out more about the program at http://hnr.k-state.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/wildlife-outdoor-management.html [http://hnr.k-state.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/wildlife-outdoor-management.html] Watch the podcast on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@KSREWildlife [https://www.youtube.com/@KSREWildlife]

Next steps in NWTF support of turkey research | Wild Turkey Science #556

We sit down with Dr. Patrick Wightman, National Director of Wild Turkey Research and Science at NWTF, to hear about his vision for the company's future support of turkey research. Dr. Patrick Wightman - Email [Patrick.Wightman@uga.edu], Publications [https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Yp2nB2oAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=sra] Resources: Habitat for the Hatch [https://www.nwtf.org/programs/habitat-for-the-hatch] NWTF [https://www.nwtf.org/] 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] We've launched our second online wild turkey course ! Enroll in Wild Turkey Manager: Biology, History & Habitat [https://tinyurl.com/WildTurkeyManagerBio] to learn about the principal biology, mating, behavior, food selection, human dimensions, hunter interactions, and historical context of wild turkeys. This course is accredited by the Society of American Foresters as a Category 2 course worth 7 Continuing Forestry Education credits. Participants can also earn up to 5 CEUs in Category I of The Wildlife Society's Certified Wildlife Biologist Program. Enroll now: https://tinyurl.com/WildTurkeyManagerBio [https://tinyurl.com/WildTurkeyManagerBio] Be sure to check out our first 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] 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

Ponds with a Purpose: Fishery Management on Working Lands | Wild Ag #555

If you grew up on or near a farm, you might think back fondly on summer days spent fishing in your local pond. From small ponds to large reservoirs, water in working landscapes provides numerous opportunities while also facing challenges. This month we are joined by Jeff Jackson, Aquatic Habitat Program Manager at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, to talk about fishery and pond management in agricultural and working landscapes. From water quality and sedimentation to healthy bass fisheries and beyond, Jeff covers the challenges facing our ponds and lakes and what we can do to ensure healthy waters for everyone. Resources: * Nebraska Game and Parks Commission [https://outdoornebraska.gov] * Nebraska Game and Parks 2026 Fishing Guide [https://digital.outdoornebraska.gov/i/1542421-fishing-guide-2026/0] Jeff Jackson [contact [https://digital.outdoornebraska.gov/i/1542421-fishing-guide-2026/1]] Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile [https://snr.unl.edu/aboutus/who/people/faculty-member.aspx?pid=2470], @awesmlabdoc] [https://www.instagram.com/awesmlabdoc/] Nathan Pflueger [website [https://nebraskapf.com/contact/]] AWESM Lab [website [https://awesmlab.unl.edu/], @awesmlab [https://www.instagram.com/awesmlab/]] Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website [https://nebraskapf.com/], @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne [https://www.instagram.com/pheasants_quailforever_of_ne/]] Watch these podcasts on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@WildAgPodcast] If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us! We are dedicated to bringing important information and new ideas to listeners just like you. Help us keep WildAg going by donating to the podcast: https://nufoundation.org/fund/01155570/ [https://nufoundation.org/fund/01155570/] Or, learn more about how your organization can sponsor episodes: https://awesmlab.unl.edu/wildag-sponsorship/ [https://awesmlab.unl.edu/wildag-sponsorship/] Music by Humans Win Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin