Front Yard Friends

[Second Hand Pat]

Leaving for work about a week ago found these guys feeding along the driveway

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A hen and this years almost grown chicks.
http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Turkeys/IMAG0475.jpg

[Second Hand Pat]

Found this group in the front yard Friday

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Then my little border terrier showed up and scattered the flock leaving only one who looking a bit lost. There were turkeys everywhere, running, flying and the things cluck like chickens.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad95/Second_Hand_Pat/Turkeys/IMAG0550.jpg

[Darrell Ward]

Cool. We have quite a few turkeys around here too, but I've never been close enough to take pictures of them, or else you see them along the road while driving. Those have a brownish color. The ones around here are grayish black. Interesting.

[Inland Empire Discus]

Funny you post this today as I just went to the fair and saw turkey races. That is cool to be able to see them in the wild though.

[Second Hand Pat]

As a kid growing up in fla I never saw turkeys. I see them quite often here at the house and last summer a hen raised her chicks in the front pasture. First time I saw those chicks they were about 6 inches tall. I see them along the roads all the time.

Darrell, regional differences in the color I guess.

Turkey races Bill, that is a new one for me.

[Inland Empire Discus]

Yes it was quite funny to be honest. Some of those turkeys can really run.

[Second Hand Pat]

Yes it was quite funny to be honest. Some of those turkeys can really run.

I think I would have enjoyed seeing that. How did they get the turkeys to run? I believe turkeys prefer running to flying.

[Darrell Ward]

I think the US ban on certain pesticides/herbicides that destroyed eggs, and strict hunting regulations have contributed to increased populations. Growing up, I never saw any wild turkeys either. These days, seeing a group of a half dozen or more hens along country roads is pretty common.

[Inland Empire Discus]

I think I would have enjoyed seeing that. How did they get the turkeys to run? I believe turkeys prefer running to flying.

They use a remote controlled truck that can do up to 45 mph with the back full of feed and the turkeys chase the truck to get the feed. They actually use 3 different types of turkeys and none of them are the white ones that are raised for food as they can not run very fast since they are bred for eating. I think I got some good pics of them chasing the truck if you would like to see them. Not trying to highjack but it does have to do with turkeys.

[Second Hand Pat]

I think the US ban on certain pesticides/herbicides that destroyed eggs, and strict hunting regulations have contributed to increased populations. Growing up, I never saw any wild turkeys either. These days, seeing a group of a half dozen or more hens along country roads is pretty common.

Very true Darrell, I have even seem a puffed up male strutting his stuff along the highway to work this past spring.

[Second Hand Pat]

They use a remote controlled truck that can do up to 45 mph with the back full of feed and the turkeys chase the truck to get the feed. They actually use 3 different types of turkeys and none of them are the white ones that are raised for food as they can not run very fast since they are bred for eating. I think I got some good pics of them chasing the truck if you would like to see them. Not trying to highjack but it does have to do with turkeys.

Yes Bill, please do :)

[TURQ64]

Actually, more do to earlier state stocking programs We raised, and released them for the state in the past...We quit raising them due to how threatening they were to visiting humans....They'll jump 4 feet up while using their spurs...Best put in a deep fryer............

[roclement]

Honey...quick...bring me my shotgun!
:)
Rodrigo

[Lenin]

When is turkey season?

[ZX10R]

Honey...quick...bring me my shotgun!
:)
Rodrigo

Heck yes I am hungry!!!! Wild turkey is so good yummy :lickin:

[zimmjeff]

they will also leave you with a yard full of crap.

[Darrell Ward]

When is turkey season?

Varies by state. In North Carolina, season is April 14 to May 12, limit 2 per season, with huge fines, and/or jail time for violations.

[TURQ64]

Around here, the transplant idea didn't work well. 30 years ago, they traded Walleyes for Rio Grandes and Merriman's, but instead of the woods, they took to all the farmsteads where there was easy pickings..They'll stroll into the woods to raise a clutch, then it's back to the farmyard..So, you get to know a farmer, he let's his dog out, it tree's the turkeys, and then it's a proverbial 'turkey shoot'!..I get them in 1 1/2 Vixtors when Mink trapping. They wade in the skinny spots in creeks, and that's where I set for Mink..(used to, cain't no mo')

[jimmyjoe]

Turkey season just started here in Ohio, getting ready for Thanksgiving around here before you can buy them. Jim

[Inland Empire Discus]

Here are some pics of them running then one pic of them eating the reward for finishing the race.

[Second Hand Pat]

Actually, more do to earlier state stocking programs We raised, and released them for the state in the past...We quit raising them due to how threatening they were to visiting humans....They'll jump 4 feet up while using their spurs...Best put in a deep fryer............

Gary, didn't know you were into turkey wrangling. So they have spurs, never knew that. Both sexes?? Oh, I like mine grilled. ;)

[Second Hand Pat]

Honey...quick...bring me my shotgun!
:)
Rodrigo

I have my own shotgun ;)

and turkey season here in fla is in the spring for gobblers. No sure about other times.

[Second Hand Pat]

Around here, the transplant idea didn't work well. 30 years ago, they traded Walleyes for Rio Grandes and Merriman's, but instead of the woods, they took to all the farmsteads where there was easy pickings..They'll stroll into the woods to raise a clutch, then it's back to the farmyard..So, you get to know a farmer, he let's his dog out, it tree's the turkeys, and then it's a proverbial 'turkey shoot'!..I get them in 1 1/2 Vixtors when Mink trapping. They wade in the skinny spots in creeks, and that's where I set for Mink..(used to, cain't no mo')

So wild turkeys wasn't used for reintroduction?

[Second Hand Pat]

Thanks Bill, that is pretty cool.

[discuspaul]

When I was much younger I used to hunt Pheasant, Quail, Grouse, and Prairie Chicken in the fields & woods of Central Canada. (As well as ducks and geese.) Always wanted to find/shoot and roast a wild turkey though, but never saw one in the wild, although it was said there actually were some in certain areas.
Almost non-existant in Canada these days.

Lucky, Pat, to have those beautiful wild birds in your yard - I'm envious.

When I lived in the Okanagan Valley of B.C. years ago, we had anywhere up to 50 or 60 California Bobwhite Quail strolling through our yard on a daily basis pretty much year-round - this in the middle of a city of 30,000people. It was such a sight to behold ! No hunting season whatsoever on Bobwhites at that time - and most people fed them well - they became quite tame - our residential area at the time was quite well treed at the rear, and no backyard fencing was allowed.

[Second Hand Pat]

Yes Paul, I love having these guys around. The acorns are falling and think they maybe eating them. I also have bobwhite quail but do not see them too often. Can always call the males up to the house in the spring when they are looking for mates.

I also have deer, fox, bobcats every now and again, hawks, owls, sandhill cranes, coons and of course crows. Because I live in a sugar sand hill I have a resident colony of gopher tortoise.

This morning I was coming back from the feed store and the turkeys in the driveway. I liberally was herding them with the car. They were running the fence line and would not veer off so slowed until the silly things cleared the driveway.