CONTACT:
Dan Ellingwood: (603) 352-9669
Andrew Timmins: (603) 271-2461
July 9, 2026
Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is asking for the public’s help by reporting wild turkey brood sightings this spring and summer. It’s easy to participate and the survey is now open. If you observe groups of turkeys with poults (juvenile birds) between June 1 and August 31, please report your sightings by visiting: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfeSnV1WDNF0UuS-x8PIoIyovHKkwEDRbdBrmY-8JmIcgmn1Q/viewform?usp=dialog.
“The information collected through this survey is used to measure the annual reproductive success of New Hampshire’s wild turkey population,” said NH Fish and Game Turkey Project Leader, Dan Ellingwood. “Data from this survey are also shared with the National Wild Turkey Federation Technical Committee as part of a national effort to monitor wild turkey population trends across the United States.”
Brood reports submitted in June and July are used to estimate nest initiation and hatch timing based on reported poult body size, which serve as a proxy for age in young birds. These data provide insight into how environmental conditions during the spring and early summer influence nesting chronology and reproductive success. Through the first week of July, 133 brood reports have been received this year. Preliminary analyses indicate that nest timing has been typical, with an estimated mean hatch date in the first week of June. Additional reports received throughout the remainder of the survey period will further refine this estimate and help detect renesting attempts that may occur following nest failure or brood loss.
Brood reports submitted in August are used to calculate regional poult-per-hen (PPH) ratios, an index of annual population recruitment, or the relative size of the “graduating class” of juvenile turkeys that will enter the adult population. Because wild turkeys have relatively short lifespans, consistent annual recruitment of young birds is essential for maintaining stable populations over time.
Many factors influence turkey productivity. Poults are particularly vulnerable to cool, wet weather, which can reduce survival directly by causing hypothermia and indirectly by suppressing insect populations, an essential source of protein during early development. Because spring weather conditions are highly variable from year to year, nesting success and poult survival are inherently unpredictable and must be monitored annually to maintain a pulse on population trends.
To learn more about the Turkey Brood Survey, visit www.wildlife.nh.gov/wildlife-and-habitat/wild-turkeys-new-hampshire/turkey-surveys.
Wild turkey management and research is made possible by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Wildlife Restoration Program, a user-pay, user-benefit program supported by purchases of firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment.
