Even after a few years of mucking around, I remain a greenhorn turkey hunter. I want to learn as much as I can regarding the birds and how they utilize their habitat. I hunt Oregon's high steppe country, a semi-arid semi-desert of rolling hills and plateaus that are partially covered with scab rock, partially covered with sage, rabbitbrush and Western Juniper; interspersed with denser juniper and pine growth in the narrow draws and canyon bottoms. Waterholes are scattered around the area, sometimes miles apart.
I live about 150 miles away, which sorely limits extended observational opportunities.
Can anyone recommend some resource books? I'd like to learn odds and ends, like nesting habits, whether the spring birds gain sufficient water from their forage and dew or need to come to water periodically, whether they will water at creeks or perfer still water, food preferences, whether they prefer to hang out in more open sagebrush flats where they may become prey for Golden eagles, hawks and coyotes, or prefer heavier cover where they need to worry about coyotes, cougars and bobcats. I'm not looking for "Go Here, Do This" articles, I'd rather puzzle some of it out myself but I could use a jumpstart on what the puzzle picture might look like.
Thanks for any suggestions you might offer.