Extension

Mark Turner is the new wildlife specialist for OSU Extension and has a background in habitat management for game species. (Photo by Mitchell Alcala, OSU Agriculture)

 

Oklahoma State University Extension welcomes Mark Turner to campus as its new wildlife specialist.

 

Turner joined OSU in the first quarter of 2025 and also serves as an assistant professor in the Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management.

 

The North Carolina native specializes in applied habitat management, centered on game species like white-tail deer and wild turkeys. He studies forest management, prescribed fire, management of early successional communities, food plots and other tools landowners can use to improve property management.

 

“If we apply better management for deer and turkey, we can expect bigger ecosystem impacts and improve the restoration of native plants and other things that are good for a broad suite of other non-game wildlife species,” Turner said.

His early experiences learning how to hunt and manage his family’s farm had a profound impact on his life. Once he discovered the profession of wildlife management, he pursued it as a career.

 

“Fly fishing and spending time outside is initially what got me into this field,” Turner said. “I enjoy turkey and deer hunting, so getting out on properties that I work with to burn and cut trees to manage their habitat is fun as well.”

 

Turner earned a bachelor of science degree in fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology from North Carolina State University, a master of science degree in wildlife sciences from Auburn University and a doctorate in natural resources from the University of Tennessee. He also spent time studying Osceola turkeys in Florida before joining the OSU Extension team.