The South Carolina Forestry Commission provides technical assistance on fire use and can help with the construction of fire containment lanes. Managing Openings . High densities of turkeys rarely occur where fields or forest openings are absent or scarce. Turkeys may thrive where openings comprise as little as five percent of the total area and as much as fifty percent. To retain turkeys throughout the year on heavily forested land or to attract them during spring, provide openings of five to twenty acres.
Improved pastures provide excellent feeding areas for hens and older poults.
Mow ungrazed or lightly grazed openings during mid-summer to stimulate new growth and to prevent such areas from becoming too thick for turkey use. Field edges should provide a subtle transition from woodland to opening, allowing poults to have access to cover when feeding in fields. This can be done by thinning trees along field edges or allowing edges to revert to brushy cover. If fields or pastures are heavily grazed, build fences several yards out from the woodlands to prevent cows from cleanly grazing field edges. Supplemental Planting .