For the past several decades volunteer citizen scientists have participated in IDNR’s wild turkey survey by reporting turkey sightings with mail-in postcards. The data collected from these postcards is extremely valuable and is our best way to estimate reproductive success each year for our wild turkey population. IDNR now has an electronic version that can be accessed on both mobile devices and home computers. Our Wild Turkey Survey runs during June, July, and August and all that’s requested from you is to report all the turkeys you see during that time.
In addition to submitting surveys through their internet browsers, mobile users will have the option to use the Survey123 app to log turkey sightings. We hope the new format will make it more convenient to report turkey sightings while allowing a broader pool of volunteers to participate. This new online format also gives the ability to view turkey sighting submissions with the Survey Data Dashboard feature. For more information on the survey, read our previous articles in the Outdoor Illinois Journal from May 2021 and May 2023.
If you would like to help with the IDNR Wild Turkey Survey, follow this link or use the QR code above. Further instructions on how to use the app can be found here.
Visit our Eastern Wild Turkeys page to learn more about wild turkeys in Illinois.
Visit our Turkey Hunting page to find season dates, limits, specific regulations, management, ecology and more.
