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HUNTING TIPS -Wild Turkeys
READ ABOUT HUNTING TIPS FOR SPRING GOBBLERS

Turkey hunting has become the number two sport in America today. With the resurgence of a dying population and the management practices by wildlife officials the turkey numbers are booming.

With this development comes renewed interest in the art of the TURKEY HUNT. Hunting with another person gives you a chance to use different call techniques and while only one may get the shot there’s always the next big one just waiting. Using someone else to call also frees the other person to be ready at the first sight and not clumsily reaching for the gun and calling at the same time. 

Every hunter likes the satisfaction of someone else seeing his or her " bagged" trophy. Whether the hunt is successful or not you have spent a day with mother nature and gotten away from the stress and hectic lifestyle most of us lead if only for a little while and maybe that’s what it’s all about.

READ ABOUT HUNTING TIPS FOR SPRING GOBBLERS

Wild turkeys are the largest and also the most alert of the game birds in North America. They have also become one of wildlife management’s greatest successes in that by the 1930’s some experts suggested that there where only around 25,000 turkeys remaining in the United States. But through strict hunting regulations and various preservation programs the turkey was enable to make a dramatic comeback. Nowadays the turkey is doing great it can now be found in all of the 48 lower states. Especially in the area of Kentucky and North Carolina where populations have exploded provoking great interest in these great game birds and their habitat needs.

Characteristics of the wild turkeys

The turkey is perhaps the king of all game birds, it makes its’ nest in trees and on the ground and is ken to the quail and the grouse. The turkey is a fairly tall bird well adapted for walking, running and flying. Wild turkeys are very smart birds with rather large brains and endocrine systems which enable them to survive in the wild. Adult males are know as gobblers or jakes, they are about two time the size of hens and normally weigh between 16-30 pounds. While adult hens weigh in a meager 6-12 pounds. One of the main differences physically between gobblers and hens is the gobbler’s head coloration of shades of red, white, blue head and neck. The gobbler also has a beard protruding from his chest and sets of spurs which are located on the back of the leg near the foot. 

Cover and habitat

The habitat of the turkey has changed since the days of the pilgrims and other European settlers. The large forested areas that were uncut are now gone. But despite the lack of large forested areas the wild turkey has managed to flourish because of its’ great ability to adapt to the surroundings. Wild turkeys are forest dwelling birds who require at least 40% of their habitat to be well matured forest areas. These forest areas can contain such trees as Oaks, Pines, and hickories. However turkeys have been known to survive on land that is sparsely forested . Wild turkeys roost in trees at night, normally pine trees or large mature oaks these roost offer protection from predators and also severe weather conditions. The turkey’s habitat condition is greatly linked to the density of turkey population.

Food and water

The turkey is an opportunist and will eat almost anything. The turkey is an omnivore and its’ diet consist of about 90% plant matter and about 10% animal matter. While acorns are the main food in a turkey’s diet it also feast on fruits, greens, seeds and some insects.

It is thought that acorns make up about 50% of a turkey’s winter diet but in areas where forestation is slim,  there are a few agricultural crops such as corn, soybeans which are utilized to fulfill the dietary needs. Another thing that is needed for wild turkeys is a permanent water supply within roughly a ¼ mile area. A permanent water supply may come from rivers, streams, or lakes and wetlands. Nesting and roosting will normally occur within 100 yards of this permanent water supply.

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