Natural Resources University

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 wildturkeyscience@gmail.com! 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

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 wildturkeyscience@gmail.com! 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

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 wildturkeyscience@gmail.com! 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

Feral swine cause billions of dollars in damage to agriculture annually in the United States, and their population numbers can grow extremely quickly. Join Drew and Joe as they discuss the origins, characteristics, and control of feral swine in the U.S. Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists and faculty members in the Wildlife and Outdoor Enterprise Management Program at Kansas State University. Find out more about the program at http://hnr.k-state.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/wildlife-outdoor-management.html Watch the podcast on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@KSREWildlife

If you grew up on or near a farm, you might think back fondly on summer days spent fishing in your local pond. From small ponds to large reservoirs, water in working landscapes provides numerous opportunities while also facing challenges. This month we are joined by Jeff Jackson, Aquatic Habitat Program Manager at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, to talk about fishery and pond management in agricultural and working landscapes. From water quality and sedimentation to healthy bass fisheries and beyond, Jeff covers the challenges facing our ponds and lakes and what we can do to ensure healthy waters for everyone. Resources: Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Nebraska Game and Parks 2026 Fishing Guide Jeff Jackson [contact] Dr. Andrew Little [academic profile, @awesmlabdoc] Nathan Pflueger [website] AWESM Lab [website, @awesmlab] Nebraska Pheasants Forever [website, @pheasants_quailforever_of_ne] Watch these podcasts on YouTube If you enjoy this podcast, leave a rating and review so others can find us! We are dedicated to bringing important information and new ideas to listeners just like you. Help us keep WildAg going by donating to the podcast: https://nufoundation.org/fund/01155570/ Or, learn more about how your organization can sponsor episodes: https://awesmlab.unl.edu/wildag-sponsorship/ Music by Humans Win Produced and edited by Iris McFarlin

We chat with wild turkey historian and author Brent Rogers about the fascinating history and evolution of turkey calls. Join as we explore how culture, technology, and conservation shaped the way hunters communicate with wild turkeys. Brent Rogers @gobblegitr The Origin and Evolution of Turkey Calls American Wild Turkey Historical Foundation Wild Turkey Archives 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 wildturkeyscience@gmail.com! 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

We deep dive into the history and legacy of the Westervelt Company and its iconic hunting school with Kevin McKinstry, Recreation Director for Westervelt Company, and Steven Carroll, General Manager for the Westervelt Lodge. Resources: Gamekeepers EP 409 | A Discussion of Adventure with J. Wayne Fears Westervelt Lodge 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 wildturkeyscience@gmail.com! 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

This episode is made possible by support from the Oklahoma Conservation Commission. Wildfire preparedness isn't just a checklist — it's a resilience plan for your ranch, your family, and your community. In this episode of Blazin' Grazin' and Other Wild Things, hosts John Weir and Dr. Mark Turner talk with OSU Extension agriculture and food policy specialist Amy Hagerman Ph.D. about what to do before, during, and after a wildfire or other disaster. They cover practical steps that reduce loss (parking equipment on bare ground, shutting buildings to keep embers out, splitting hay into multiple locations, and keeping fence rows clean), plus the recovery side: how insurance documentation works, why you shouldn't clean up before adjusters document damage, and which USDA disaster programs may help with livestock loss, fencing, hauling water, and hay-related needs. The conversation also highlights a critical but often overlooked part of recovery: monitoring mental health in yourself and your neighbors long after the event. Resources - Amy Hagerman, Ph.D. - OSU Extension Emergency & Disaster Preparedness site - OSU Extension DART - Episode Sponsor, the Oklahoma Conservation Commission

Dr. Karen Hickman sits down with John Weir, Dr. Laura Goodman, and Dr. Mark Turner to talk invasive plants across the Great Plains—what's here, what's coming, and why our best defense often starts with a clean pickup, a better plant choice, and a tighter contract. We walk through Callery/Bradford pear's "overnight" takeover, Old World bluestem's misnamed reputation, and how sericea, Johnson grass, privet, kudzu, honeysuckle, tree-of-heaven, Siberian elm and others move from roadsides to rangeland. You'll hear field-tested tips: early detection/rapid response, where to scout first (gates, pens, ditches), what to tell pipeline and oilfield crews about decontamination, how hay can import problems after wildfire, and why tall, highly productive grasses (miscanthus, giant reed/cane, phragmites) pose wildfire risks on the urban–rural edge. We wrap with Oklahoma's watch lists, better native alternatives (hello, Mexican plum), and a clear message—don't plant your problems. Resources Oklahoma Invasive Plant Council Oklahoma Invasive Plant Council Karen Hickman, Ph.D.

Drawing from decades of research, Will leads us through a review of historical nesting data from 1970–2022 to assess if nesting success has really changed. Resources: Take 12 Instagram, YouTube Londe, David W., et al. "Review of range‐wide vital rates quantifies eastern wild Turkey population trajectory." Ecology and Evolution 13.2 (2023): e9830. Which vital rates are most important to turkey populations? | Ep 13 Population Ecology for Dummies | Ep 110 What does nesting cover look like? | Ep 121 Decreases in hen survival may explain declines | Ep 153 Extreme winter and the wild turkey | Ep 171 Gamekeepers: Preseason Turkeys with Dr. Gulsby and Dr. Lashley Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: http://UFgive.to/UFGameLab Don't miss out on a chance to win a custom Benelli Super Black Eagle 3! This 28-gauge shotgun features a 28' barrel, 3" chamber, and is exclusively dipped in Mossy Oak Full Foliage not available to the public. Enter the online raffle below for a shot at owning this one-of-a-kind gun! This is literally a one-of-one collectable item. https://e.givesmart.com/events/Nqy/ 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 wildturkeyscience@gmail.com! 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

Have you ever caught a marine fish that was dressed like a convict and had goofy-looking teeth that made you think you could hear a banjo playing in the distance? Ok, maybe that was unfair to all the banjo-playing fish out there, but you may have caught a sheepshead. Sheepshead can be found along the Western Atlantic coast from Nova Scotia down to Brazil, with high abundance in the Gulf of Mexico. They are common both inshore and on barnacle-encrusted structures from as shallow as two feet of water out to the oil platforms offshore. They are tender biters, hard fighters, and even better as a table fare. Although they have mostly swam under the radar (pun intended), the word is starting to get out on this species. To discuss sheepshead biology, movement, and management, Wes teams up with Dr. Mike Andres and his graduate student/research associate Alyssa Pagel. No sheep were harmed in the making of this podcast. Do you have questions or comments? Follow the Fish University Facebook community and chat with Wes or suggest future episodes! Watch this episode on YouTube (here)!

In this episode, James and Ryan Dulaney, manager of Grindle Slough in Arkansas, take a deep dive into the current state of waterfowl management, covering habitat conditions, duck populations, and how weather influences migration patterns. They discuss practical strategies for managing duck ground, including vegetation management, soil disturbance, water management, and the timing of flooding. James and Ryan also highlight the importance of managing hunting pressure, fostering cooperation among neighboring landowners, and shifting mindsets toward long-term stewardship and consistent management to support sustainable waterfowl hunting.