TWRA eyes wild turkey sightings through Aug. 31

Public reports through Aug. 31 will help biologists measure reproduction and long-term population trends

6:55 p.m. Aug. 5, 2026

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is asking Moore County hunters, landowners, and other outdoor observers to report wild turkey sightings through Aug. 31.

The survey asks participants to report gobblers, jakes, hens with poults, and hens without poults.

“Whether you see gobblers, jakes, hens with poults, or hens without poults, they are all important observations for the survey,” said Roger Shields, TWRA Wild Turkey Program coordinator.

TWRA has set a goal of receiving at least 30 observations from each of Tennessee’s 95 counties. Last summer, sightings were reported from every county except Crockett County.

In recent history, Moore County's wild turkey sightings:

• 2025 – Six reports by TWRA staff and two from the public.
• 2024 – Six reports by TWRA staff and two from the public.
• 2023 – Five reports by TWRA staff and eight from the public.
• 2022 – One report by TWRA staff and 15 from the public
• 2021 – One report

TWRA uses the reports to track reproduction and population trends by comparing each summer’s observations with previous years. The agency has conducted the survey since the 1980s. The public began taking part five years ago.

The survey, turkey identification guide, quiz, and reporting forms are available at tn.gov/twra/turkeyobs.

Past wild turkey status reports and summer survey results are available through TWRA’s Big Game Turkey page.