Time-Since-Fire and Stand Seral Stage Affect Habitat Selection of Eastern Wild Turkeys in a Managed Longleaf Pine Ecosystem

We assessed habitat use of hens on sites managed with frequent prescribed fire applied at small scales (about 50 acres). Hens selected hardwood stands before and after nesting, and used open areas throughout seasons.  Hens selected areas burned ≤2 years prior, and in particular, selected for recently burned young pine stands, mature pine stands burned 2 years earlier, and open areas during brooding. Our findings suggest that time-since-fire is important to how hens select habitats, and that managers should try to manage a landscape containing both young and mature pine stands and use prescribed fire to create areas selected by hens.