
Attracting Wild Turkeys With Mast-Producing Trees and Shrubs
{adinserter Adsense Block}
Mast is one of the most important food sources for wild turkeys. Whether you want to hunt turkeys or observe them, you can enhance wild turkey habitat around your home by planting a diverse mix of mast-producing trees and shrubs. A woodlot that is well managed to increase mast production is the equivalent of a permanent food plot for wild turkeys.
The most important mast-producing trees to plant for wild turkeys are oak trees. Acorn mast makes up 70% of the diet of wild turkeys in autumn. Ideally, about 50% of the trees you plant should be native oaks of several different species. The most important species for turkeys across most of their native range include White Oak (Quercus alba) and Red Oak (Quercus rubra).
Unfortunately, oaks do not produce mast as consistently as some other species of trees and shrubs, so it is important to plant a diversity of other species, including both hard and soft mast producing species to attract turkeys during poor acorn years. The best species vary from region to region; however, a few common recommendations include:
- Crabapple (Malus sp.)
- Wild cherries and plums (Prunus sp.)
- Dogwoods (Cornus sp.)
- Pine (Pinus sp.)
- American persimmon (Diospyros virginiana)
- Chokeberries (Aronia)
- Viburnums (Viburnum sp.)
- Hickories (Carya sp.)
- Hawthornes (Crataegus sp.)
- Wild grape (Vitus riparia)
- Beech (Fagus sp.)
Choose a mix of trees and shrubs that provide autumn forage and those that typically keep their fruit into late winter and early spring for best results.
A stand of mast-producing trees and shrubs combines well with food plots consisting of annual grain crops such as field corn or sorghum. These food plots should be planted near roosting sites (often found in conifer or mixed conifer-hardwood stands), as turkeys do not like to travel in deep snow unless it has a hard crust. Chufa is also an excellent food source for wild turkeys, and clover provides a good source of green summer forage, as well as attracting insects, which are an especially important food source for young birds.
To learn more about managing your land for wild turkey habitat, contact the National Wild Turkey Federation, your local cooperative extension service, your local game and parks commission, or similar.
[…] food sources for hundreds of species of mammals and birds, including game animals such as deer and wild turkey, and some species are almost entirely dependent on it. Mast is an especially important food source […]
[…] and juicier relatives of the native crabapples, so in some areas humans must fight the deer, bears, turkeys, and other critters for the apple crop! Apple trees are also an important spring nectar source for […]
[…] established and attract a wider variety of other game than more traditional food plots, including wild turkey, squirrels, and black bears. Share and […]
[…] species, including songbirds such as thrushes, waxwings, and jays, game birds such as grouse, wild turkey, and ptarmigans, and squirrels. Mountain ashes are also favored forage species for moose, elk, and […]
[…] the widest variety of wildlife, including songbirds such as cedar waxwings, game birds such as wild turkey, whitetail deer, squirrels, and many other species. Some species of crabapple have fruit that […]
[…] qualities, dogwood is also an excellent wildlife tree. Dozens of species of birds, including wild turkey, quail, and many songbirds, enjoy the berries, as do mammals such as whitetail deer and […]
[…] an important winter food source. Wildlife attracted by wintergreen species include whitetail deer, wild turkey, grouse, pheasant, gray squirrel, and black […]
[…] because they provide both food and shelter to a huge variety of animals, from whitetail deer and wild turkeys to bees and butterflies. Mast producing trees and shrubs can also be used to create an […]
[…] produces edible nuts which are an important source of food for many wildlife species, including wild turkey, pheasant, ruffed grouse, whitetail deer, squirrels, and many more. It is believed that beech nuts […]
[…] managing your woodlot to increase mast production, you can improve habitat for whitetail deer, wild turkeys, and many other types of mammals, insects, and birds, open up additional income opportunities from […]
[…] food. Persimmons are a favorite of whitetail deer. Other animals who enjoy the fruits include wild turkey, quail, squirrels, foxes, some songbirds, and domestic […]