Turkeys

[Dusty MI]

Saw 5 large birds out here this morning. I've never seen wild turkeys before, and they did not look like what I wood wild turkeys wood, but from the size of them I do not know what else the would have been, here in Southern Michigan.
Anyone have a picture of wild turkeys?
Dusty

 

[Gambles]

Far northern Kansas. Pretty thick here. I’ve actually hit one with a pickup and it took off my rear view mirror. They are actually pretty good fliers, but normally don’t want to fly, they’d rather run. I hear them in the trees close by when I take my dog out and see them frequently.

 

[Blackhole49]

Saw 5 large birds out here this morning. I've never seen wild turkeys before, and they did not look like what I wood wild turkeys wood, but from the size of them I do not know what else the would have been, here in Southern Michigan.
Anyone have a picture of wild turkeys?
Dusty

No pictures, but just google them. I see them all the time. Look like really big pheasants with shorter tail feathers. Turkey vultures are also big and common. I don't see them on the ground too often without a dead animal present.

 

[Dingo3]

Years ago before Wild Turkeys were reintroduced in our area a hunting friend said he saw a big flock of them in our hunting area.
Turned out to be a neighbors guinea fowl flock.

Here is a wild turkey

He might of been influenced by this wild turkey

 

[1948CaseVAI]

A lot of folks in southern KS mistake larger guinesas for turkeys, but we have both in decent numbers.

 

[Mule Meat]

We have a good population of wild turkeys here in WV. You can see them just about anytime you go into the woods.
A lot of people mistake the Turkey Vulture for wild turkeys. But one good look at the head and it's easy to see the difference.

 

[Gary Reif]

We see them all over here in central Kansas. They can do major damage to a car traveling 60 mph.

 

[lodoc]

Between tough winters and hunting wild turkeys were pretty much extinct in Mich in the early 1900's . We imported them from neighboring states especially Pennsylvania in the 50's. See them all the time in SE Michigan and 'the thumb'. Michigan State Univ has a good article on their recovery if you're interested.

 

[Absent Minded Farmer]

Think we're up to four adults & at least thirty youngsters in various stages of youth. They're not too shy & some will come right up to the house, peer in the patio door, the front screen door, etc. Keeps the dog & cat entertained.

Mike

 

[Charles in Aus.]

Guinea Fowl are the very best snake ' watch dogs ' !

 

[PJH]

Between tough winters and hunting wild turkeys were pretty much extinct in Mich in the early 1900's . We imported them from neighboring states especially Pennsylvania in the 50's. See them all the time in SE Michigan and 'the thumb'. Michigan State Univ has a good article on their recovery if you're interested.

Forty or so years ago a couple of Illinois Department of Conservation guys got their truck and trailer stuck in the Shawnee Forest that borders our farm. I took a tractor back there to pull them out. They had trapped 14 wild turkeys with what they called a cannon net. The turkeys were in the enclosed trailer. They told me that the turkeys were going to Ohio in a swap for Ohio muskie.

 

[rrlund]

Where the heck are you in Michigan that you don't see wild turkeys every day? I killed three of them on the nest in two rounds cutting hay in one field alone in first cutting.

 

[560Dennis]

I’ve tried to keep the raccoon population , the turkeys seem to improve . Although this year haven’t seen to many .

 

[Dingo3]

Guinea Fowl are the very best snake ' watch dogs ' !

I did not know that.

 

[da.bees]

Where they aren't being hunted Turkey and Canada Geese can be so tame they are a nuisance then be very elusive where at risk of becoming Thanksgiving Dinner. I've been successful a few times stalking within bow range of whitetail but despite trying 10x as many,I've never once stalked within shotgun range of a turkey.

 

[Charles in Aus.]

I did not know that.

They are manic when it comes to reptiles of any sort , lizards included.
Snake is their favourite prey and they are experts at hunting them . Of course there is a size concern , about 2' to 2'6" is about the largest they can handle as a flock .
Chickens truely are the descendants of dinosaurs.