The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is preparing for its third season of two wild turkey research projects, and they need some help.

The first project is a turkey banding program which will begin in January. Researchers will launch a statewide effort to capture wild turkeys and fit them with metal leg bands in order to examine hunter harvest rates, turkey survival rates and harvest reporting rates across the state.

The DEC will also be collecting data on winter turkey flocks across the state for the second project, which will assess feasibility of a long-term population monitoring program. The DEC hopes to identify several locations in every county of New York where turkeys can be counted each winter to monitor population changes.

In preparation for both studies, the DEC is asking landowners, hunters, bird watchers and interested participants to report winter turkey flock locations anywhere in New York state. DEC is also looking for landowners who will allow birds to be trapped, banded and released on their land.

For more information on either project, or to volunteer land for DEC use contact Lance Clark at (607) 753-3095 or the DEC by e-mail at fwwildlf@gw.dec.state.ny.us and write “Turkey Study” in the subject line.