Success StoryWild Turkey and Predator Trapping in the River Counties of Western Kentucky



Wild Turkey and Predator Trapping in the River Counties of Western Kentucky

Author: John Tucker

Planning Unit: Hickman County CES

Major Program: Wildlife Habitat and Damage Management Education

Plan of Work: Unrelated to a specified County Plan of Work

Outcome: Initial Outcome

Crop production uses 85% of the land in the river counties in far Western Kentucky.  There are over 11,000 acres of Wildlife Management Areas in Carlisle, Hickman, and Fulton Counties (Public Land Search on KDFWR website).  Most landowners want a balance of wildlife with minimum damage to crops. Due to a decline in harvest numbers of wild turkeys and increasing problems with predator animals, agriculture agents in Carlisle, Hickman, and Fulton County decided to host a wildlife meeting to address these concerns.  Zak Danks, wild turkey program coordinator with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources along with Micah Seavers, owner of a local pest control company, were contacted to discuss the problems.  Zak talked about research with the decline in turkey harvest numbers stating that it is not just one particular issue causing the decline.  The harvest number in 2023 in Carlisle was 263 birds, 147 in Fulton and 201 wild turkeys in Hickman County (Harvest Report Explorer on KDFWR website). The record number for Kentucky overall is over 36,000.  In 2022, total spring harvest numbers were 26,862, a 25% decrease from record highs. The research is ongoing to see what farmers and landowners can do to help, but nesting habitat and native pollinator flowers were two ideas discussed that would lead to more successful polt survival.   Micah Seavers a professional trapper talked about homeowner and farmer problems with predator animals.  Micah demonstrated several different traps and gave helpful hints with what biggening trappers do wrong.  He also brought several different traps, baits, and lures for door prizes. Cook Wild Kentucky recipe cards were given out and attendees had the chance to sample the Wild Turkey & Broccoli Casserole Cook Wild Recipe. Twenty-one (17 male and 4 female) wildlife enthusiasts attended the Wild Turkey update and predator trapping program.  100 % of the clients said they were very satisfied with both speakers.  100% rated the session time was just right.  87% of those attending said they were very capable of making good choices and being accountable and using the information presented.  67% said the meeting was great while 33% said they were very satisfied with the meeting.






Stories by John Tucker


2024 Winter Ag Conference

2024 Winter Ag Conference

about 1 months ago by John Tucker

Hickman County has over 47,000 acres of soybeans and 35,000 acres of corn producing over 66 million ... Read More


2023 Women in Agriculture Conference

2023 Women in Agriculture Conference

about 6 months ago by John Tucker

On average 85 % of all the land in farm use for the four river counties is in cropland. (2017 Census... Read More


Stories by Hickman County CES


2024 Winter Ag Conference

2024 Winter Ag Conference

about 1 months ago by John Tucker

Hickman County has over 47,000 acres of soybeans and 35,000 acres of corn producing over 66 million ... Read More


2023 Women in Ag

2023 Women in Ag

about 3 months ago by Keller

Women in Agriculture Conference-2023On the average 76 % of all the land in the four river counties i... Read More


Stories by Wildlife Habitat and Damage Management Education


Hunter's Education

Hunter's Education

about 3 months ago by Matthew Futrell

Hunting has been a time honored tradition since man first walked the earth. As of 2021, 15.2 Million... Read More


Wild Turkey and Trapping in the River Counties of Kentucky

Wild Turkey and Trapping in the River Counties of Kentucky

about 7 months ago by Benjamin Rudy

Crop production uses 85% of our land in the river counties but we still have over 7600 acres of publ... Read More