CHENANGO COUNTY – The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is in the process of seeking local landowners to assist with its wild turkey research initiative, according to DEC Commissioner Joe Martins.

Beginning in January, the DEC will begin a statewide measure to capture wild turkey hens and fit them with leg bands in an effort to obtain more accurate data on survival and harvest.

According to Martins, some birds will also be tagged with satellite radio-transmitters for tracking and migration recording.

All of the work will be done by DEC personnel on both public and private lands from January through March of 2015.

The research will be concentrated in DEC Regions three through nine, which includes the Chenango County and surrounding counties.

The Department is seeking out property owners willing to allow the birds to be trapped on their land and alert project coordinators when they see turkeys on their property on a regular basis.