Last week I saw a hen turkey with her babies (brood) following her on the side of highway B.  Although some may find this odd, I’ve seen late hatches before. There are a few reasons for late hatching with weather being one of them.

Late snow and colder weather can be two reasons we are seeing late hatches. Or, if a hen’s nest is destroyed for any reason she could lay a second clutch.

The amount of day light hours influences when mating season begins. Under normal conditions, activity breeding starts in late February or early March (southern Wisconsin) and March through April in the northern part of our state. Studies have shown that earlier hatches contribute to most of Wisconsin turkey population which is estimated to be 300K to 350K.

If mating was successful after a 28-day incubation, the hen will visit the nesting location depositing just one egg per day and could lay up to 13 eggs over a two-week period. In two weeks, poults (turkey chicks) can start to fly and roost in trees for protection from predators. These young turkeys will have all their feathers and begin to be more independent but still follow mom for their first 4 to 5 months. Also, at this age they have reached full size and are considered mature at 10 months old.

With the number of turkeys seen on the side of roads, some folks might believe we have a huge turkey population in the Northwoods, but truth be told, it is actually low compared to other locations in the state. Studies that have been done showed the reason for this is Northern Wisconsin (ZONE 7) does not have suitable habitat due to dense tree cover and less food sources.

Wild turkeys prefer open landscapes and agricultural areas where their food sources are much better. The farm areas in Southern Wisconsin are ideal because turkeys have open fields of crop that boarder trees for roosting at night. In the southern region of the state, oak trees are more prevalent, and acorns are essential for the fat and protein needed during the winter.

So, the low number of oak trees, colder weather and the amount of snow that can limit access to food in the winter are the reasons for lower numbers of Northwoods turkeys. I will say that each year that goes by, I see more turkeys on the side of the road.