Squirrel and Turkey

[webs]

I have always found that a failed nut mast contributes to a lower Squirrel Population the following year.The area I live in has a thriving turkey population.Turkey are natures vacuum cleaner in the woodland.I see them scratch up large areas of the forest floor and it seems that they don't miss too much. The Squirrel hide lots of nuts in these same areas.My question is this,do Turkey have an effect on annual Squirrel populations?

[two-70]

should not affect them, however i would check with your local biologist and they should be able to answer that for you

[jerry]

interesting question. I'm not 100% sure so looked up a couple things that may help answer.
Appendix VI
FOOD
In fall and winter, the major food source for both squirrel species is hard mast such
as pecans, acorns, and hickory nuts. The mast produced by heavy-seeded tree species
generally determine carrying capacity for squirrels in a given area. As a result, squirrel
populations often fluctuate with changes in hard mast yields.
In Oklahoma, hard mast trees often produce sporadically in a five- to seven-year
cycle. During this cycle, there may be one excellent hard mast crop, one mast crop
failure, and three to five years of poor to moderate mast production. Because of the
periodic nature of mast crops, a variety of flora species must be present to provide alternate
food sources and more stable habitat conditions. Important soft mast producing
species include mulberry and blackberry. Maple, black gum, Osage orange, black cherry,
and grape are also good food sources. Squirrels often ingest fruits, berries, bark, fungi,
roots, bulbs, floral parts, and in some cases animal parts (insects, other invertebrates,
etc.). A more inclusive list is shown in Table 1.
Squirrels consume an average of 1.5 pounds of mast (dry weight) per week. It takes
30 to 40 pounds of mast to sustain one squirrel through the breeding season. In the event of a hard mast failure, competition for food becomes intense and subadults will be
forced from their home ranges by adults. This increases mortality in the subadult class,
seriously affecting recruitment and population stability.

[webs]

Good informative post Jerry.I have suspected for years that Turkey as well as Deer may have some impact on Squirrel Populations in certain areas of woods in my location.Some woods are just better Squirrel woods than others.

[jerry]

Cool thing with tree rats is the hunting pressure is usually not great.

[webs]

You know Jerry you are right,the only Squirrel hunters that I see in my area are the ones I take with me.We have a 5 1/2 month Squirrel season here and a liberal limit of 5 Squirrels per day.That allows for lots of shooting and lots of good eating.Could be that is why I enjoy hunting them so much.

[NHmsj]

I have NEVER run into another squirrel hunter here in NH, unless of course, I was actually out with one. And, I haven't hunted with another squirrel hunter since my sons were kids. Squirrel simply is not a targeted game animal here in New England - generally speaking of course. To be quite honest, I pretty much like it as it is. Until the firearms deer seasons begin, I generally have the woods to myself. On another site, one fairly much NH centered, there is another squirrel hunter or two, but not fellows I have had the pleasure of meeting or hunting with, so nonetheless, I know there are others, if but few, who hunt squirrel here in NH. But again, and for the most part, squirrel is simply not a serious game animal in New Hampshire or New England in general. And, of course, as I have indicated, that pretty much suits me just fine. I truly do love hunting the little critters, while on the other hand, I never was a very sociable sort of guy.

[pistolwhip]

Boy this thread makes me miss the squirrel hunting when I was a kid in KS. We used to hunt along the creeks and hedge apple rows. Big ol' red squirrel.
So now I hunt turkey.

[SwedeSteve]

I miss the squirrrels too! I used to hunt them a lot while stationed in GA. Big old fat Fox Squirrels I believe. They and rabbit, provided me many, many tasty meals.

[Lng Rng]

Back to the origional post, I don't think turkeys have a negative effect of squirrel populations. I hunt turkey and squirrel in the same woods, and seem to find both in good numbers.

I do think turkey do have a negative effect on grouse numbers though.

[CZer]

Same thoughts and observations as LngRng!

[squirrel_buster]

to me huntin pressure makes a big difference in population all the public land in my area is bone dry of good bushy tails