Definitions:
Funnel: A natural or man-made feature that narrows an area or pathway, guiding wildlife movement through a specific location, often used in hunting and wildlife observation.
Conservation: The sustainable management and protection of natural resources to preserve wildlife and habitats for future generations.
TWRA: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, the state agency responsible for the conservation and management of Tennessee's wildlife and natural resources.
Bedding Area: A location where animals, especially large game like deer, rest and lie down, typically characterized by thick cover that provides security and shelter.
Big Game: Large mammals that are hunted for sport, food, or management, including species such as deer, elk, and bears.
Small Game: Smaller wildlife species that are hunted, such as rabbits, squirrels, and birds like quail and pheasants.
Migratory Birds: Birds that travel from one habitat to another at specific times of the year, often in search of food or suitable breeding grounds.
Feeding Area: A habitat where animals find food, important for their survival and health.
Wild Turkey: A large bird native to North America, known for its distinctive fan-shaped tail and gobbling behavior, and sought after in hunting.
White Tail Deer: A medium-sized deer native to North America, recognized by its white underside on its tail, common in many wooded and open areas.
Bobwhite Quail: A small, ground-dwelling bird that is common in the U.S., known for its distinctive "bob-white" call and often hunted for sport.
Rut: The breeding season for deer, characterized by changes in behavior, including increased activity and aggression in males as they seek mates.
Scrape: A patch of ground that a male deer has pawed and marked with scent to signal its presence to female deer and other males.
Rub: A tree or bush that has been scraped by a buck’s antlers, often used for scent marking and signaling territory.
Estrous Cycle: The recurring reproductive cycle in female mammals, indicating the periods when they are receptive to mating.
Mast: The seeds, fruits, and nuts of trees and shrubs that serve as food for wildlife, particularly important for many bird and mammal species.
Legume: A plant in the legume family (Fabaceae), which can fix nitrogen in the soil and is often planted for wildlife food plots due to its high protein content.
Forage: Vegetation consumed by grazing animals; it refers to plant materials that animals eat, including leaves, stems, and flowers.
Tubers: Underground plant storage structures, such as potatoes or yams, that serve as food sources for various wildlife.
Velvet: The soft, fuzzy covering on growing antlers of male deer, which supplies blood and nutrients before they harden.
Spurs (Birds): Sharp, bony protrusions on the legs of some birds, particularly male turkeys, used in dominance displays and fights.
Topography: The arrangement of the natural and artificial physical features of an area, including hills, valleys, and bodies of water.
Saddle: A low point or dip between two higher areas, often used by animals as a travel route.
Valley: A low area of land between hills or mountains, typically with a river or stream running through it.
Draw: A small, narrow valley or depression, often serving as a travel corridor for wildlife.
Ridge: A long, elevated landform that runs along hills or mountains, often providing excellent vantage points for wildlife observation.
Swale: A low-lying area, often moist or wet, that may collect water and support certain types of vegetation.
Creek bed: The channel in which a stream or creek flows, often providing habitat for various aquatic and terrestrial wildlife.
Prevailing Wind: The predominant wind direction in a specific area, which can influence animal behavior, especially in regard to scent detection.
Swirling Wind: Wind that changes direction unpredictably, which can confuse animals and impact their ability to detect scents.
Scent Cone: The area into which a scent disperses from an animal or object, significantly influenced by wind direction and strength.
Pressure: The disturbance or human interactions impacting wildlife populations, such as hunting, which can alter animal behaviors.
Predator: An animal that hunts and feeds on other animals (prey).
Prey: Animals that are hunted and consumed by predators.
Wetland: Areas where water is present at or near the surface, supporting various water-tolerant plants and providing vital habitats for wildlife.
Upland: Areas that are higher than surrounding land, often drier and less saturated than wetlands.
Vertebrate: Animals that have a backbone, which includes mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.
Invertebrate: Animals that lack a backbone, such as insects, arachnids, mollusks, and crustaceans.
Sunfish: A family of freshwater fish known for their flat bodies and vibrant colors, popular in recreational fishing.
Shellfish: Aquatic animals with shells, including mollusks (like clams, oysters) and crustaceans (like shrimp, crabs).
Spawn: The reproductive process in which fish and amphibians release eggs and sperm into the water.
Ecosystem: A community of living organisms (plants, animals, microorganisms) interacting with each other and their environment.
Native species: Species that naturally occur in a particular region, evolving over time without human introduction.
Invasive species: Non-native species that spread rapidly and cause harm to local ecosystems, economy, or human health.
Chronic Wasting Disease: A transmissible neurological disease affecting deer and related species, marked by progressive weight loss, behavior changes, and eventually death.
Clutch: The group of eggs laid by a bird during a single nesting period.
Barometric Pressure: The weight of the atmosphere, which can influence weather patterns and animal behavior.
Descriptions:
1. What time of the year is peak breeding for the whitetail deer? Peak breeding season for whitetail deer, known as the rut, typically occurs from late October to early December, varying slightly based on geographic location.
2. What time of the year is peak breeding season for turkey? The peak breeding season for wild turkey usually occurs from March through May, with male turkeys (toms) beginning to gobble and court females in spring.
3. What is the main cause for the decline in the bobwhite quail population? The primary factors contributing to the decline in bobwhite quail populations include habitat loss due to agricultural expansion, urban development, and changes in land management practices, as well as increased predation.
4. Migration factors for the following:
- Ducks: Ducks migrate in response to seasonal changes, availability of food sources, water conditions, and breeding cycles.
- Mourning Dove: Mourning doves migrate based on temperature and food availability, typically moving southward during the colder months to seek shelter and sustenance.
- Canadian geese: Canadian geese migrate in response to seasonal temperature changes and the availability of suitable feeding areas, often following established flyways.
- Snow Geese: Snow geese migrate in large flocks based on temperature and food availability, often moving between breeding grounds in the Arctic and wintering areas in the southern United States.
5. Explain how prevailing winds and swirling winds can affect the scent cone. Prevailing winds create a consistent direction for scent dispersal, allowing animals to detect scents more reliably. Swirling winds can disrupt this pattern, causing scent to disperse irregularly and making it challenging for wildlife to pinpoint prey or identify territory markers.
6. Explain how a wetland works. Wetlands function as natural filters, trapping pollutants and sediments while allowing water to seep through. They provide habitat for various species, support biodiversity, and help in groundwater recharge while acting as buffers against floods.
7. Explain why wetlands are the most diverse ecosystems. Wetlands are often the most diverse ecosystems due to their unique water-saturated conditions, which support a wide variety of plant and animal species, including specialized aquatic and semi-aquatic life, creating a rich ecological network.
8. Name the six subspecies of turkeys and describe their habitats.
- Eastern Wild Turkey: Found in the eastern U.S., inhabiting hardwood forests and mixed woodlands.
- Osceola Turkey: Native to Florida, often found in wet pinelands and hardwood swamps.
- Rio Grande Turkey: Common in the Great Plains, prefers open grasslands and riparian zones.
- Merriam's Turkey: Found in the western U.S., inhabits mountain woodlands and ponderosa pine forests.
- Gould's Turkey: Native to Mexico and the U.S. Southwest, inhabits mountainous areas and deciduous forests.
- California Wild Turkey: Found primarily in California, inhabiting oak woodlands and foothill regions.
9. What is the difference between mast, legumes, and forage? Mast refers specifically to the nuts and seeds produced by trees and shrubs, such as acorns and chestnuts. Legumes are plants that belong to the Fabaceae family, often high in protein and used in food plots. Forage encompasses all plant materials that animals consume for food, including leaves, stems, and flowers.
10. Describe salmon spawning. Salmon spawning involves adult fish migrating upstream to their natal streams or rivers, where females lay eggs in gravel nests called redds. Males then fertilize the eggs, and after a period of incubation, the eggs hatch, continuing the life cycle.
11. Explain how predator control is beneficial to game species. Predator control can help manage populations of game species by reducing predation pressure, allowing populations to stabilize and grow, leading to improved hunting opportunities and ecosystem balance.
12. Explain how hunting pressure can affect wildlife movement. Increased hunting pressure can cause wildlife to alter their typical movement patterns, becoming more nocturnal or shifting their habitats to areas with less human activity to avoid encounters, ultimately impacting their feeding and breeding habits.
13. Name 3 upland game species.
- Eastern Wild Turkey
- Bobwhite Quail
- Mourning Dove
14. Name 3 wetland game species.
- Mallard Duck
- Wood Duck
- American Black Duck
15. Name 3 native species beneficial to wildlife.
- White Oak (provides acorns for various wildlife)
- American Beech (supports birds and mammals)
- Purple Coneflower (provides seeds for birds and nectar for pollinators)
16. Name 3 invasive species beneficial to wildlife.
- Japanese Knotweed (provides cover for wildlife)
- Multiflora Rose (creates dense thickets for nesting birds)
- Common Reed (Phragmites) (provides habitat for birds and other wildlife)
17. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of feral hogs. Advantages:
- Can contribute to nutrient cycling in ecosystems.
- May provide hunting opportunities.
Disadvantages:
- Cause significant damage to crops and native vegetation.
- Compete with native species for resources.
- Can transmit diseases to livestock and humans.
18. Name 5 predators that are native to Tennessee.
- White-tailed Deer
- Eastern Coyote
- Bobcat
- Red Fox
- Great Horned Owl
19. Explain how Chronic Wasting Disease affects whitetail deer. Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a fatal neurological disease that leads to brain damage, severe weight loss, and abnormal behavior in infected deer. It causes debilitating symptoms, ultimately resulting in death.
20. Explain how Chronic Wasting Disease is transmitted. CWD is transmitted through direct contact between infected and healthy deer or through contaminated environments, including soils or plants, where prions (the infectious agents) remain viable for long periods.
21. Describe nesting locations of the following:
- Wood Duck: Typically nests in tree cavities near water bodies.
- Canadian Geese: Often nest on the ground in tall grass or brush near water.
- Mallard Duck: Prefer nesting in dense grass or reeds close to water.
- Wild Turkey: Nest on the ground, often in brushy or wooded areas.
- Bobwhite Quail: Nest on the ground in tall grass or low cover.
- Mourning Dove: Building nests in trees, shrubs, or on ledges.
22. Describe the effects of antler growth in a deer that has sustained an injury. An injury can affect antler growth, often resulting in asymmetrical or stunted antlers. Depending on the severity of the injury, it may lead to abnormal antler development or delayed growth in subsequent seasons.
23. Explain how antlers are grown. Antlers are grown as a result of hormonal changes that occur in male deer during the breeding season. They develop from pedicles on the skull, covered in velvet when growing, and harden after the growth phase.
24. Explain what types of nutrients are needed for optimal antler growth. Optimal antler growth requires a balanced diet rich in protein, calcium, phosphorus, and adequate vitamins such as A and D, along with access to high-quality forage.
25. Explain how barometric pressure affects wildlife. Changes in barometric pressure can influence animal behavior, including feeding and movement patterns. Many animals can sense atmospheric changes and may become more active before storms or may seek shelter during lower pressure situations.
26. Why do turkeys move to openings and fields during rain? Turkeys often move to openings and fields during rain to forage for insects and seeds that become more accessible due to wet conditions, which can increase food availability.
27. Chufa is a highly sought-after food for turkey. What part of the plant do they consume? Turkeys primarily consume the tubers of the chufa plant, which are nutrient-rich and provide essential food sources during key feeding periods.
28. What weed can take the place of chufa? Perennial peanut can be a substitute for chufa, serving as a nutritious food source that turkeys may consume, particularly in habitat management for wildlife.
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