Now you see the problem with wildlife research. Ill talk to Chamberlain and see if he can make 1st and 2nd nesting attempt sample sized more equitable.



Here is the issue. I hear this every year - burning is causing problems with turkeys, burning burns up nests, burning disrupts turkeys, yada, yada, yada. By folks who don't know anything about fire in the woods. I know what a great management tool it is for turkeys and other wildlife and how it is part of the natural process of our environment. I also have done research on what happens to a forest when burning is stopped. I also, directly see the turkey population response to regularly and correctly burned properties. Yea, I get defensive about it when it is blamed and there are so many other issues to point a finger at.
Here is a fact. Alabama has 23 million acres of timberland in the State. Roughly 1 million acres are burned each year. Is it remotely possible for an activity that impacts 4% of the states woodlands to have a noticeable impact on turkey populations, even if all fire was bad? That is 96% of the state forests that are NOT burned in a given year.



Again, your "density map" has no meaning. It is just made up stuff with poor data input. However, the area you are talking about are some of the largest landowners in the State and their properties are managed PRIMARILY for game. Your telling me you think they harvest their turkeys at the same rate (proportion of the population) as, say, the national forest, management area or a timber company lease? Come on, get real. These places are as low pressure as a hunted population can get.