Vermonters asked to help count turkeys in July-August

July 20, 2026  |  By Waterbury Roundabout

A turkey hen and poults. Vermont Fish & Wildlife asks the public to report sightings of wild turkey broods during July and August. VTF&W photo by John Hall

It’s that time of year when the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department asks Vermonters for help in sizing up the state’s wild turkey population.

When you see a flock in a field, or a gaggle with poults slowly struts across the road in your path, state wildlife biologists ask that you take note to count the birds and file a report. 

The department runs an annual online survey during July and August for reporting turkey broods. When you have a flock to report, visit the turkey brood survey website to report where and when you observed the turkeys and the number of adult and young turkeys you saw. 

“Information gathered from this survey helps us monitor long-term trends in the productivity of Vermont’s wild turkey population,” said Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s turkey biologist Toni Mikula.  “It also helps us assess the impacts of spring weather on the survival of poults and adult turkeys, which is important in the management of turkeys.”

State biologists monitor and manage wild turkey numbers annually in order to maintain a healthy, abundant and sustainable population of what Mikula called “iconic and ecologically important birds” in Vermont. “Please help us monitor the turkey population by reporting your Vermont turkey sightings during July and August,” Mikula said.