Annual Gould’s Survey Enhances the Management of Arizona’s Unique Natural Resource
In a dedicated effort to support wildlife conservation and monitor the population dynamics of Gould’s wild turkeys, the Huachuca Gould’s Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation once again collaborated with the Arizona Game and Fish Department to conduct an essential turkey survey in southeastern Arizona. This joint initiative marks another year of successful partnership aimed at understanding and conserving the region’s unique turkey population.
Gould’s wild turkeys were introduced to southeastern Arizona in two batches, in 1983 and 1987, with nine and 12 turkeys released, respectively, at Fort Huachuca from Yecora, Mexico. The early 1990s witnessed a period of abundant rainfall that contributed to the turkeys’ thriving population. In response to this growth, John Millican, the NWTF Huachuca Gould’s Chapter president, and Fort Huachuca biologist Sheridan Stone initiated the Gould’s surveys.
In 2000, a comprehensive DNA study on various turkey subspecies in the U.S. confirmed the purity of Gould’s turkeys in the Huachuca Mountains without interbreeding with Merriam’s turkeys. This discovery sparked significant interest from the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the National Wild Turkey Federation, as this was the first viable Gould’s turkey population in the U.S. Read more