South Dakota Research Ramping Up

With dozens of birds tagged as of last week, a South Dakota wild turkey research project is off to a flying start, both literally and figuratively.

The 39 birds that were tethered with VHF radio transmitter are part of a new wild research project (co-funded by both the NWTF and the NWTF South Dakota State Chapter) conducted by the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks and Christopher Rota, Ph.D., associate professor of wildlife and fisheries resources at West Virginia University.

South Dakota had a boom in its wild turkey numbers during the early 2000s. Around 2010, however, the harvest rates in the Mount Rushmore State have been steadily decreasing year after year, hinting at an overall population decline.

“We definitely have been declining after our restoration boom,” said Chad Lehman, South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks senior wildlife biologist. “As with most states, we grew rapidly after reintroductions and then started declining around 2009 and 2010."

Learn more about how this ongoing research will gain a better understanding of population dynamics and NWTF’s efforts in the Mount Rushmore State.