Presentation by Michael Chamberlain, Terrell Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Management, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia.

This presentation provides an overview of the mating system of wild turkeys and discusses how spring harvest can be important to the species given how their mating system works. Numerous examples of data collected as part of ongoing research will be shown to demonstrate growing evidence suggests spring harvest (timing and rate) may be more impactful to the bird than previously believed. The talk will conclude by discussing the Aardvark and Arcadia principles and how we’ve potentially lulled ourselves to sleep in regards to managing wild turkey harvest.