Wild Turkey Management Plan

Thank you for support to protect native wildlife and habitats.

If you would like to see a copy of Oregon’s Wild Turkey Management Plan it can be downloaded from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s web site at www.dfw.state.or.us/ Go to the Wildlife Division page and look under HOT TOPICS.

Why are we concerned and what are the issues?

1.  Impacts to native wildlife and habitats. Management of native wildlife and habitats are slowly becoming a priority for ODFW. Wildlife Integrity Rules were adopted in the mid 1990 with the purpose of regulating the importing and possession of non-native wildlife to minimize or prevent competition with native wildlife. These rules apply to the public and require an evaluation of potential impacts to native wildlife. ODFW has released thousands of turkeys without conducting so much as a single study on potential impacts to native wildlife or habitats. ODFW needs to follow the same rules that it requires of the public.

The Rio Grande sub species of wild turkey, the species trapped and transplanted to 35% of the state, prefers living in riparian habitats. In central and eastern Oregon over 85% of our native wildlife occur in riparian habitats and the introduction of a large non-native flocking bird may well impact native species. Rare native plants may also be at risk from foraging by wild turkeys. Avian diseases and parasites can be spread to native wildlife from transplanting infected wild turkeys to new areas. Studies need to be undertaken before further expansion of the wild turkey population in Oregon. Impacts to native wildlife from the introduction and release of non-native wildlife are a major concern for wildlife management. Protecting native wildlife should have a higher priority than developing new recreational hunting opportunities.

2.  Damage and nuisance.
Turkeys are trapped in Oregon to help resolve damage situations. Many home and landowners complain about too many turkeys damaging their vehicles, homes, gardens and agricultural products. The damage situations are real but to resolve the damage by trapping and transplanting turkeys to new areas will only spread the problem to more areas. In the future, ODFW will need to spend more money to resolve damage situations, draining scarce funding away from management of native species and habitats. In California, the Fish and Game Department has stopped further transplanting of turkeys because of concerns to native wildlife management and damage to wine grapes.  

What can you do to help?  Comments are needed by July 30. Please send an e-mail message to ODFW and ask:

1. The Department of Fish and Wildlife not to release anymore non-native wild turkeys around the state.

2. That studies be undertaken immediately to determine if exotic, non-native wild turkeys are impacting native wildlife or habitats. 

3. ODFW to emphasize programs that protect native wildlife and habitats.

Send comments to:

David Budeau, Game Bird Program Manager
3406 Cherry Ave. NE
Salem, OR 97303
David.A.Budeau@state.or.us

Lindsay Ball, Director ODFW
3406 Cherry Avenue N.E.
Salem, OR  97303-4924
Lindsay.A.Ball@state.or.us

Ron Anglin, Wildlife Division Administrator
3406 Cherry Avenue N.E.
Salem, OR  97303-4924
Ronald.E.Anglin@state.or.us

Oregon Fish & Wildlife Commission
Marla Rae, Chair
3406 Cherry Avenue N.E.
Salem, OR  97303-4924
Marla.Rae@state.or.us

Please address comments to a specific person and not 'recipient' so your comments won't get 'lost'.

Thank you for your help.