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The Turkey Hunter Podcast with Andy Gagliano & Cameron Weddington | Turkey Hunting Tips, Strategies, and StoriesAuthor: Andy Gagliano
Whether you are a seasoned pro or a beginning turkey hunter, The Turkey Hunter Podcast is your show. In this podcast, turkey hunters, like you, will learn to have more turkeys on your hunting property and more successful turkey hunts. Your hosts, Andy Gagliano and Cameron Weddington, will teach you this through tips and interviews with turkey hunting pros, wildlife management experts, and entertaining turkey hunting stories from his years of turkey hunting around the country. Some of the topics covered in this podcast are how to film your hunts, properly positioning your decoys, hunting afternoon and field turkeys, dealing with henned up gobblers, turkey calling tips, benefits of control burns and predator control, as well as new product reviews. If you wake up in the middle of the night with cold sweats dreaming of the big gobbler that you missed this past season, if you hear turkeys gobble in your head anytime you hear an owl hoot or a crow caw, if you take off of work the opening week of turkey season, and if you eat, sleep, and breathe turkey hunting, then you will want to download and subscribe to The Turkey Hunter Podcast with Andy Gagliano and Cameron Weddington. Language: en Genres: Hobbies, Leisure, Sports, Wilderness Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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546 - Research Project Check-In with Dr. Craig Harper
Episode 705
Monday, 12 October, 2026
Episode 546: Progress Check-In: The Multi-State Wild Turkey Research Project & Predator Index StudyGuest: Dr. Craig Harper (University of Tennessee at Knoxville) Episode OverviewIn this episode, Cameron and Andy check in on a groundbreaking multi-state wild turkey ecology study spanning 11 properties across nine states. Joining the show is Dr. Craig Harper from UT Extension, who breaks down early pre-treatment findings, turkey demographic metrics, and practical habitat management practices landowners can execute right now. The hosts also announce that all proceeds from the annual South Texas Rio Grande Wild Turkey Hunt Raffle will directly fund this critical research project to support field equipment, camera grids, and graduate student research. Key Takeaways & Research Findings1. Multi-State Wild Turkey & Predator Index StudyScope: Research properties cover 11 sites across 9 states—including Tennessee, Florida, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, Arkansas, and Pennsylvania. Methodology: Researchers placed automated recording units (ARUs) and camera grids at a density of roughly 1 camera per 20 acres alongside 160 artificial nests per property using unwashed brown chicken eggs to establish a pre-treatment baseline. Goal: Establish a standardized Predator Index so landowners can use trail camera data to evaluate whether low productivity is caused by excessive predator density or poor habitat. Artificial Nest Depredation: Depredation rates averaged 20% during the 12-day egg-laying stage, driven by a global predator community including raccoons, opossums, skunks, coyotes, bobcats, and crows. 2. Wild Turkey Demographics & Season Delay StudySeason Delay Impact: Post-treatment data showed that implementing a 14-day spring season delay and bag limit reduction had no impact on turkey productivity or reproductive success. Survival Rates: Adult hen survival averages ~50% annually, poult survival averages 20% or less, and nest success averages 25%–30%. Overall recruitment yields only about 5% of eggs reaching adulthood. Jake Management: Removing juvenile males (Jakes) from regular spring bag limits preserves a ~73% annual survival rate into their 2-year-old season, significantly increasing gobbling activity—the single highest metric for hunter satisfaction. 3. Practical Land & Habitat ManagementEliminate Woody Thickets: Remove dense, thicket-like woody cover (both native saplings and non-natives like privet or honeysuckle) to improve turkey line-of-sight and reduce predator concealment. Canopy & Sunlight Balance: Maintain 30%–50% sunlight in woodlands to promote understory herbaceous growth while keeping overall plant height low enough for hen visibility. Field Edge Strategy: Disperse nesting cover in field interiors and keep the outer 30–60 feet disced or mowed low. This keeps hens from nesting along predator-traveled edges while providing ideal brooding cover right next to woodland or nesting shelter. Cool-Season Grass Eradication: To eliminate fescue or orchard grass, mow fields multiple times through early fall and spray with herbicide in mid-November while cool-season grasses are actively growing. Support Turkey Research: South Texas Rio Grande Hunt RaffleAll proceeds from this year's raffle directly support Dr. Harper’s multi-state study, covering camera maintenance, field travel, student research stipends, and equipment. The Prize: 4-day, 3-night Rio Grande Wild Turkey Hunt for 2 winners (each allowed up to 2 adult gobblers) in South Texas at El Pintor Ranch. Dates: February 24–27, 2027.Inclusions: Guided hunting, lodging, and meals included.** Enter the 2027 Texas Wild Turkey Raffle HereEpisode Timestamps00:00:00 – Intro & Fall Food Plot Planting (Clover & SEC Blends) 00:06:30 – Announcement: Raffle Proceeds Donated to Turkey Research 00:12:17 – Tennessee Season Delay Study Results & Productivity Metrics 00:15:46 – Camera Trapping Data & Global Predator Community Impact 00:20:19 – Multi-State Research Study Setup & Artificial Nests 00:31:57 – Breakdown of Hen, Poult, and Nest Survival Metrics 00:39:42 – Why Protecting Jakes Improves Gobbling & Hunter Satisfaction 00:45:55 – 4 Core Habitat Management Rules for Wild Turkeys 00:54:34 – Strategic Field Edge Mowing & Brooding Cover Layout 00:59:33 – Fall Fescue Eradication & Late-Season Burning Tips 01:00:53 – Outro & How to Buy Raffle Tickets
