PodcastsNatural SciencesWild Turkey Science

Wild Turkey Science

Dr. Marcus Lashley & Dr. Will Gulsby
Wild Turkey Science
Latest episode

188 episodes

  • Wild Turkey Science

    How science has shaped the way we hunt | #184

    05/18/2026 | 42 mins.
    In this episode, we discuss how years of turkey research has directly influenced the way that we hunt. 
     
    Resources:
    Fist Full of Dirt: Dr. Disturbance Can Flat-Out Hunt (Part 1)

    Fist Full of Dirt: Dr. Disturbance Can Flat-Out Hunt (Part 2)

    Home range of gobblers | Ep 125

    Lashley, M. A., et al. (2025). Decreased female survival may help explain wild turkey population decline. Wildlife Society Bulletin, e1642.

    Where do turkeys roost? | Ep 123

     
    Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: http://UFgive.to/UFGameLab
     
    We've launched our second online wild turkey course  ! Enroll in  Wild Turkey Manager: Biology, History & Habitat to learn about the principal biology, mating, behavior, food selection, human dimensions, hunter interactions, and historical context of wild turkeys. This course is accredited by the Society of American Foresters as a Category 2 course worth 7 Continuing Forestry Education credits. Participants can also earn up to 5 CEUs in Category I of The Wildlife Society's Certified Wildlife Biologist Program. Enroll now: https://tinyurl.com/WildTurkeyManagerBio
     
    Be sure to check out our first comprehensive online wild turkey course featuring experts across multiple institutions that specialize in habitat management and population management for wild turkeys. Earn up to 20.5 CFE hours! Enroll Now! 
     
    Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications
    Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications
    Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow 
    UF Game Lab @ufgamelab, YouTube
     
    Want to help wild turkey conservation? Please take our quick survey to take part in our research!
     
    Do you have a topic you'd like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at [email protected]!
     
    Watch these podcasts on YouTube
     
    Please help us by taking our (quick) listener survey - Thank you! 
     
    Check out the DrDisturbance YouTube channel! DrDisturbance YouTube
     
    Want to help support the podcast? Our friends at Grounded Brand have an option to donate directly to Wild Turkey Science at checkout. Thank you in advance for your support!
     
    Leave a podcast rating for a chance to win free gear!
     
    This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org. 
     
    Music by Artlist.io
    Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak
  • Wild Turkey Science

    The Trumpet Strikes Again | #183

    05/11/2026 | 32 mins.
    Gear up for another storytime episode as we swap late-season turkey hunting chronicles in this one.
     
    Resources:
    Turkey Calling Tutorial: Master the Trumpet & Wingbone Call

     
    Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: http://UFgive.to/UFGameLab
     
    We've launched our second online wild turkey course  ! Enroll in  Wild Turkey Manager: Biology, History & Habitat to learn about the principal biology, mating, behavior, food selection, human dimensions, hunter interactions, and historical context of wild turkeys. This course is accredited by the Society of American Foresters as a Category 2 course worth 7 Continuing Forestry Education credits. Participants can also earn up to 5 CEUs in Category I of The Wildlife Society's Certified Wildlife Biologist Program. Enroll now: https://tinyurl.com/WildTurkeyManagerBio
     
    Be sure to check out our first comprehensive online wild turkey course featuring experts across multiple institutions that specialize in habitat management and population management for wild turkeys. Earn up to 20.5 CFE hours! Enroll Now! 
     
    Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications
    Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications
    Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow 
    UF Game Lab @ufgamelab, YouTube
     
    Want to help wild turkey conservation? Please take our quick survey to take part in our research!
     
    Do you have a topic you'd like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at [email protected]!
     
    Watch these podcasts on YouTube
     
    Please help us by taking our (quick) listener survey - Thank you! 
     
    Check out the DrDisturbance YouTube channel! DrDisturbance YouTube
     
    Want to help support the podcast? Our friends at Grounded Brand have an option to donate directly to Wild Turkey Science at checkout. Thank you in advance for your support!
     
    Leave a podcast rating for a chance to win free gear!
     
    This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org. 
     
    Music by Artlist.io
    Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak
  • Wild Turkey Science

    REV and LPDV: New research on turkey disease | #182

    05/04/2026 | 31 mins.
    In this episode, we dive into new research findings on the prevalence and biological impact of REV and LPDV in wild turkeys. 
     
    Resources:
    Adcock, K. G., et al. (2024). Lymphoproliferative disease virus and reticuloendotheliosis virus detection and disease in wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo). The Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 60(1), 139-150.

    Cox, F., et al. (2022). Molecular surveillance for lymphoproliferative disease virus and reticuloendotheliosis virus in Rio Grande wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia) in Texas, USA. The Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 58(4), 909-913.

    Edge, A. et al. (2026). Regional Pathogen Surveillance of Free-Ranging Wild Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) in North Carolina, USA. The Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 62(1), 87-100.

    Goodwin, C. C., et al. (2025). Current understanding of lymphoproliferative disease virus in wild turkeys. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 49, e1644.

    Haynes, E., et al. (2024). Health assessment of adult male Eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) from Western Kentucky, USA. The Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 60(3), 660-669.

    Ingram, D. R., et al. (2015). Serologic survey of wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) and evidence of exposure to avian encephalomyelitis virus in Georgia and Florida, USA. The Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 51(2), 374-379.

    Koch, R. W., et al. (2026). Risk factors and coinfection dynamics of pathogens in wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) from Pennsylvania, USA. Ecology and Evolution, 16(2), e73079.

    Lashley, M. A., et al. (2025). Decreased female survival may help explain wild turkey population decline. Wildlife Society Bulletin, e1642.

    MacDonald, A. M., et al. (2019). Lymphoproliferative disease virus in wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) from Manitoba and Quebec, Canada. Avian Diseases, 63(3), 506-510.

    Ostrander, K. N., et al. (2025). Histomonosis and Lymphoproliferative Disease Virus in Male Wild Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) in Alabama, USA. Journal of Wildlife Diseases.

    Shea, S. A., et al. (2026). Retroviral Infections Affect Survival and Clutch Size of Female Wild Turkeys. Ecology and Evolution, 16(4), e73383.

    Stewart, B., et al. (2019). Survey of reticuloendotheliosis virus in wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) in Texas, USA. The Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 55(3), 689-693.

     
    Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: http://UFgive.to/UFGameLab
     
    We've launched our second online wild turkey course  ! Enroll in  Wild Turkey Manager: Biology, History & Habitat to learn about the principal biology, mating, behavior, food selection, human dimensions, hunter interactions, and historical context of wild turkeys. This course is accredited by the Society of American Foresters as a Category 2 course worth 7 Continuing Forestry Education credits. Participants can also earn up to 5 CEUs in Category I of The Wildlife Society's Certified Wildlife Biologist Program. Enroll now: https://tinyurl.com/WildTurkeyManagerBio
     
    Be sure to check out our first comprehensive online wild turkey course featuring experts across multiple institutions that specialize in habitat management and population management for wild turkeys. Earn up to 20.5 CFE hours! Enroll Now! 
     
    Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications
    Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications
    Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow 
    UF Game Lab @ufgamelab, YouTube
     
    Want to help wild turkey conservation? Please take our quick survey to take part in our research!
     
    Do you have a topic you'd like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at [email protected]!
     
    Watch these podcasts on YouTube
     
    Please help us by taking our (quick) listener survey - Thank you! 
     
    Check out the DrDisturbance YouTube channel! DrDisturbance YouTube
     
    Want to help support the podcast? Our friends at Grounded Brand have an option to donate directly to Wild Turkey Science at checkout. Thank you in advance for your support!
     
    Leave a podcast rating for a chance to win free gear!
     
    This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org. 
     
    Music by Artlist.io
    Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak
  • Wild Turkey Science

    You can't manage what you don't measure | #181

    04/27/2026 | 46 mins.
    In this episode, we discuss practical strategies for hunting and managing turkeys. 
     
    Resources:
    Population Dynamics, Manipulative Study of Season Dates in Mississippi ft. Adam Butler | #02

     
    Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: http://UFgive.to/UFGameLab
     
    We've launched our second online wild turkey course  ! Enroll in  Wild Turkey Manager: Biology, History & Habitat to learn about the principal biology, mating, behavior, food selection, human dimensions, hunter interactions, and historical context of wild turkeys. This course is accredited by the Society of American Foresters as a Category 2 course worth 7 Continuing Forestry Education credits. Participants can also earn up to 5 CEUs in Category I of The Wildlife Society's Certified Wildlife Biologist Program. Enroll now: https://tinyurl.com/WildTurkeyManagerBio
     
    Be sure to check out our first comprehensive online wild turkey course featuring experts across multiple institutions that specialize in habitat management and population management for wild turkeys. Earn up to 20.5 CFE hours! Enroll Now! 
     
    Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications
    Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications
    Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow 
    UF Game Lab @ufgamelab, YouTube
     
    Want to help wild turkey conservation? Please take our quick survey to take part in our research!
     
    Do you have a topic you'd like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at [email protected]!
     
    Watch these podcasts on YouTube
     
    Please help us by taking our (quick) listener survey - Thank you! 
     
    Check out the DrDisturbance YouTube channel! DrDisturbance YouTube
     
    Want to help support the podcast? Our friends at Grounded Brand have an option to donate directly to Wild Turkey Science at checkout. Thank you in advance for your support!
     
    Leave a podcast rating for a chance to win free gear!
     
    This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org. 
     
    Music by Artlist.io
    Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak
  • Wild Turkey Science

    Can Jakes Breed? | #180

    04/20/2026 | 51 mins.
    We pull the research to explore the reproductive capabilities of jakes and bust the myth of whether or not they can breed. 
     
    Resources:
    Davis, B. D., et al. (1994). Breeding Chronology in Rio Grande Turkey Hens.ob No. 7.07. Federal Aid Project No. W-126-R-2. Small Game Research and Surveys. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Final Report.

    Lashley, M. A., et al. (2025). Decreased fevmale survival may help explain wild turkey population decline. Wildlife Society Bulletin, e1642.

    Lewis, J. B., & Breitenbach, R. P. (1966). Breeding potential of subadult wild turkey gobblers. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 618-622. 

    Whitaker, D. M., et al. (2005). A range‐wide meta‐analysis of wild turkey nesting phenology and spring season opening dates. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 2005, 351-360.

     
    Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: http://UFgive.to/UFGameLab
     
    We've launched our second online wild turkey course  ! Enroll in  Wild Turkey Manager: Biology, History & Habitat to learn about the principal biology, mating, behavior, food selection, human dimensions, hunter interactions, and historical context of wild turkeys. This course is accredited by the Society of American Foresters as a Category 2 course worth 7 Continuing Forestry Education credits. Participants can also earn up to 5 CEUs in Category I of The Wildlife Society's Certified Wildlife Biologist Program. Enroll now: https://tinyurl.com/WildTurkeyManagerBio
     
    Be sure to check out our first comprehensive online wild turkey course featuring experts across multiple institutions that specialize in habitat management and population management for wild turkeys. Earn up to 20.5 CFE hours! Enroll Now! 
     
    Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications
    Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications
    Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow 
    UF Game Lab @ufgamelab, YouTube
     
    Want to help wild turkey conservation? Please take our quick survey to take part in our research!
     
    Do you have a topic you'd like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at [email protected]!
     
    Watch these podcasts on YouTube
     
    Please help us by taking our (quick) listener survey - Thank you! 
     
    Check out the DrDisturbance YouTube channel! DrDisturbance YouTube
     
    Want to help support the podcast? Our friends at Grounded Brand have an option to donate directly to Wild Turkey Science at checkout. Thank you in advance for your support!
     
    Leave a podcast rating for a chance to win free gear!
     
    This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org. 
     
    Music by Artlist.io
    Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak
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About Wild Turkey Science
Wild Turkey Science is a science-based podcast bringing you the latest research on wild turkey ecology and management. This podcast is part of the Natural Resources University podcast network and made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow.
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