GOULD’S
TURKEY RELOCATION, 2015, Southeastern
Arizona
The Arizona Game and Fish Department with assistance
from the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation
conducted another round of trapping and translocation of Gould’s Turkeys in
January of 2015. This effort was the 2nd
year of a 3-year cooperative trade with the New Mexico Department of Fish and
Game. In exchange for Gould’s Turkeys,
Arizona will receive Pronghorns for release.
Turkeys going to New Mexico will find a new home in the southwestern
part of that state. A few of the
captured birds will stay in southeastern Arizona with radio transmitters
attached.
Cannon box nets were set up in the Canelo Hills of Santa Cruz County and on the west side of the Chiricahua Mountains of Cochise County. At the Canelo site, successful captures took place on January 19th and 20th. The right mixture of birds did not come to bait on a 3rd day, January 20th. Baited, walk-in traps were placed in other locations as well.
A total of 25 Gould’s Turkeys were caught this year. Of that number were 9 males and 16 females, almost the desired 1:2 ratio.
Birds were fitted with numbered, orange wing tags before release. Some were outfitted with leg bands and transmitters. Blood was drawn for disease testing, also.
Volunteers from the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter once again provided experienced help with the captures. For some, that experience spans over 10 years!
Assisting as well were members of the University of Arizona Chapter of The Wildlife Society. Private land owner cooperation was again very crucial.
The 2015 capture season is most likely complete. Brief updates on any additional trapping this year will be posted if they occur.
The following images come from the 3 days of cannon net trapping in the Canelo Hills.
Cannon box nets were set up in the Canelo Hills of Santa Cruz County and on the west side of the Chiricahua Mountains of Cochise County. At the Canelo site, successful captures took place on January 19th and 20th. The right mixture of birds did not come to bait on a 3rd day, January 20th. Baited, walk-in traps were placed in other locations as well.
A total of 25 Gould’s Turkeys were caught this year. Of that number were 9 males and 16 females, almost the desired 1:2 ratio.
Birds were fitted with numbered, orange wing tags before release. Some were outfitted with leg bands and transmitters. Blood was drawn for disease testing, also.
Volunteers from the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter once again provided experienced help with the captures. For some, that experience spans over 10 years!
Assisting as well were members of the University of Arizona Chapter of The Wildlife Society. Private land owner cooperation was again very crucial.
The 2015 capture season is most likely complete. Brief updates on any additional trapping this year will be posted if they occur.
The following images come from the 3 days of cannon net trapping in the Canelo Hills.
001 The Quarry- Two Jakes sample the bait at the trap site in the Canelo Hills of southeastern Arizona
004 !!!!!!!!- As the net hits the ground, birds make a frantic attempt to escape. Only 3 of 12 elude capture this time.
007 A Blood Draw for Some- Jim Heffelfinger of the Arizona Game and Fish takes a blood sample from a bird destined for New Mexico. Part of the relocation includes disease testing.
011 Next- Standing at ready with the transport boxes is Rene Dube of the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter
014 Fold the Net- Matt Braun of the Arizona Game and Fish Department directs a group in re-folding the net after the birds have been processed
016 Ready for the Next Time- With the cannon box in its up-right position, the packed net is ready for round 2. On top of the box are the 4 small cannons used to direct the rockets and net over the next batch of Turkeys.
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002 The Set-up- More Gould’s Turkeys feed in front of the cannon net set-up by the Arizona Game and Fish Department
005 The Race Is On- A mad dash ensues to secure the edge of the net. Then each Gould’s Turkey is quieted with a sock placed over its head.
008 On Goes a Numbered Leg Band- Some birds were banded to aid in future identification. Feathers were collected for later analysis, also.
010 Ready for Boxing- David Kemnitz of the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter holds a bird ready for placement in a transport box. The orange wing tag further identifies the bird by location of capture and sex.
012 Helping Hands- How many trappers does it take to put a Gould’s Turkey in a box? Four in this case. And it may take more!
017 Ready for a New Home- One bird pokes its beak out of a transport box and wonders what is next. It could be New Mexico or somewhere else in southeastern Arizona.
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003 Surprise- With ignition, 4 rockets propel the net over the feeding birds
006 The Line Forms Here- After untangling the birds from the net, it is on to the processing station for data collection and marking. Matt Braun of the Arizona Game and Fish Department spearheaded the capture. Matt is seen kneeling in the green jacket as he examines a bird.
009 A Transmitter Is Attached- A select number of Hens were outfitted with transmitters and released back into the Huachucas. Data collected will be used to determine nesting season and habitat preference of these birds.
013 The U of A Comes Through Again- For another year members from The Wildlife Society Chapter of the University of Arizona assisted in the captures
015 Carefully Re-pack- To ensure that the net deploys perfectly in the future, Matt Braun (Arizona Game and Fish Department) methodically lays the folded net in the cannon box
018 A Successful Morning- With the birds secure in the transport boxes and the net folding in the background almost complete, the sun makes its appearance on last day of trapping in the Canelo Hills
we can always thank...
Tom Deeken for great photos and humorous stories |
019 A Happy Group of Trappers- The successful trappers pose for a group portrait on the last day of trapping in the Canelo Hills