Most turkeys nests are close to a permanent source of water. These areas provide the young birds with opportunities to capture insects and to browse on leafy vegetation. In comparison to winter habitat, the size of summer and fall areas used by turkeys is relatively small, but vital. The acreage in openings may vary, but should be more than 10 percent of the total annual range, with 30 percent approaching the optimum. When this sort of balance is achieved it will insure a dependable mast crop, plus the added benefit of the openings created when stands of saw logs are harvested.
Turkeys depend heavily upon foods produced in forest habitat during much of the year.
At other times, particularly during summer, the birds may be found in fields and pastures where insects, grass seeds, and berries are more abundant. Their feeding habits often place them in direct competition with both domestic and wild animals for their preferred food. Large populations of deer, rodents, and domestic livestock can seriously deplete normal turkey food supplies. Mast may be devoured by the large animals almost as fast as it falls from the trees, while the rodents feed both in the trees and on the ground. Other kinds of wildlife probably do not seriously deplete food when it is in normal or abundant supply.