In years of poor hard mast crops, turkeys may use pine forest types and fields heavily. Early Spring During the spring, as winter flocks break up, a variety of forested habitats are utilized, but turkeys tend to move toward areas with openings. Roosts Turkeys roost in a variety of forested habitats, but prefer to roost in conifers adjacent to or adjoining a water source. On upland forested sites, turkeys frequently roost on slopes near ridgetops or knolls. Many times these roost sites offer protection from adverse weather, with the particular roost tree chosen with this protection in mind.
Turkeys roost in pine plantations, mixed pine-hardwood stands, and bottomland hardwoods.
Flooded riverfront hardwood forests and bald cypress trees are frequently used as roost sites in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain. Roads Roads can be detrimental or beneficial to turkeys, depending on management and protection. In large expanses of pine plantation forest, turkey use has been found to be positively correlated with the presence of spur roads. Water Generally, water is thought to be an important component of forested wild turkey habitat. The relationship between turkey populations and availability of water is not well documented, but turkeys can move long distances to get free water, or can obtain water from vegetation, fruits, and insects eaten.