March 20, 2015 – As the 2015 Louisiana turkey season gets underway this month, wildlife biologists and researchers are requesting hunters’ assistance.

The University of Georgia, in cooperation with the US Forest Service, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and the Louisiana Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, is conducting research on wild turkeys in Grant, Vernon and Winn parishes.

Select male and female turkeys have been fitted with GPS transmitters to gather data on the movements of wild turkeys. Researchers are asking any hunter who harvests a male turkey fitted with a transmitter to please call either phone number below to report the harvest and make arrangements to have the transmitter retrieved by researchers.

The transmitters contain valuable data needed for this research project. These turkeys have also been fitted with an aluminum leg band, which the hunter may keep as their own. Please call the phone number printed on the leg band to report the harvest to LDWF personnel.

Please record the date and approximate time of harvest for researchers, and alert either contact below as soon as possible following the harvest of a male turkey with a GPS transmitter:

Nathan Yeldell
Wildlife Researcher
University of Georgia
(318) 557-9536
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OR

Jimmy Stafford
LA Dept of Wildlife and Fisheries
Wild Turkey Program Leader
(985) 515-1236
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