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Article: Population Dynamics of Wild Turkeys in Kansas (Meleagris gallopavo): Theoretical Considerations and Implications of Rural Mail Carrier Survey (RMCS) Data
- Article from:
- The American Midland Naturalist
- Article date:
- July 1, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright American Midland Naturalist Jul 2005. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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ABSTRACT.-
Rural mail carrier surveys (RMCS) have been used to track populations of game animals in the United States for many years, but few states employ RMCS data to track populations of wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo). Fourteen years (1987-2000) of RMCS data and hunter harvest data were examined for trends in wild turkey population dynamics in Kansas. Exponential expansion was seen in five of the six regions of the state, the only exception being the southwest, where the population dynamics did not differ significantly from a zero-growth model. Although no population estimates exist for comparison with the relative indices generated from the RMCS data, the residuals from respective ...