Problem with wild turkeys

[skein]

I know what you mean, Lured. My wife was headed out to feed them the first time they came through, but I quickly explained the problems that creates, so she put down her bag of birdseed. We enjoy watching 'em mosey through, but try to shoo 'em off the deck and out of the flower beds. They really are nuisances (and panhandlers) if you let 'em be.

I've never hunted 'em before, but I think I will this year. My brother lives outside of Rogue River toward Wimer, and my sister lives up Sardine Creek Rd out of Gold Hill. Needless to say, they both have turkeys out their ears.

Let's see...I need a slate, some more decoys, a sock for my shotgun...."Honey, where's the Cabela's catalog?" :grin:

Skein

[chromebright]

Lured In,

I won't argue about the Turkeys in Jackson County, but the Turkeys in Eastern OR certainly "Hang Out" without being fed. My father lives between Mosier and The Dalles(White River Unit) and there are turkeys everywhere. There is a bunch(about 40-50) right around his property and no one has ever fed them. In fact there really is no Agriculture in the area it is just all forest. The hardest part about getting a turkey around there is that there are too many birds. It can be hard to pull in a tom when he has "real" hens all around him.

[ 02-24-2003, 03:19 PM: Message edited by: chromebright ]

[Get Bit]

Any of you guys that have those turkey problems.... Rauly and I would be glad to help
out. Hate to see you so frustrated with turkeys tearing up your yard, roosting on the roof, leaving droppings all over.. Would love to do our part in IFISH Community ! :grin:

[GutshotApe]

I killed a Merriam's turkey on the Klickitat River breaks in 1970.......and Rio Grande turkeys in Oregon near Tiller and outside Veneta. Turkey hunting.....locating the roost.....figuring out where they will fly to......calling in the tom......is some of the most exciting hunting I've ever done.....shaking knees, pounding heart, etc...... :shocked:

[Lured In]

Chromebright...it is just something that I have a hard tiime seeing. I am sure there are instances where birds may congregate around a house or farm, but a little hunting pressure will dramatically change their behavior.

GB...we may just have to work out something for that Turkey hunt.

GSA...I agree. Turkey hunting is the best of both big game (stalking, no movement, good camo) and waterfowling (calling, decoys, the commitment). Thinking about it, now I need a drink. Maybe a shot of Wild Turkey? :grin: (On a side note, you can always go turkey hunting at the bar for the previously mentioned wiskey quarry.)

[skein]

quote:
.....locating the roost.....figuring out where they will fly to......calling in the tom......is some of the most exciting hunting I've ever done.....shaking knees, pounding heart, etc......

Sounds a lot like coyote hunting, except you can eat the turkey. Of course, coyote season is year round.

I think I'm gonna have to try turkey hunting this year.

Skein

[KingFisher85]

I'll take care of there problem :grin:

[SafetyChain]

Why can't I have this problem when I hunt for them?



From KGW.com 02/24/2003

Associated Press

Several years ago the state transplanted several wild turkeys to Oregon hoping they would multiply enough to provide hunting stock.

And that's just what they did. And did. And did.

Now they're a nuisance, tearing up gardens, eating livetock feed and causing sanitation problems.

So some of the birds are getting one-way tickets to Eastern Oregon.

A wild turkey seems to be showing off for the camera.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, which brought turkeys to Oregon, has trapped about 340 of the most troublesome toms and hens, shipping them to places such as La Grande and Prineville, where there's more room for them to strut their stuff.

Last month, agency biologists trapped 38 birds near a rural Jacksonville home where they had torn up the lawn, trampled flower beds and left their calling card all over decks and walkways.

This week, the biologists will attempt to trap another dozen or so from a flock roosting on another rural Jacksonville house.

[skein]

There are 26 that come through my yard every morning. I may have a treat for them on April 15th.... he he he.

No, not really. I live right at the edge of the city limits and besides, I don't really want to take one that way, but I'll bet somebody in the neighborhood will.

I saw bunches and bunches of them over in eastern Oregon this fall while I was deer hunting. They are really doing well just about everywhere.

Skein

[id. painter]

Ive taken 5 spring toms in Idaho. I hunted along the Clearwater river. I took a Eastern tom near Dworshack(sp?). If you havent killed or eaten one yet you have not lived . They are big fun and great to eat. id. p.

[Lured In]

Skein...this is actually a sore spot for me.

My folks live on 25 acres in a rural area of Jackson county. They have turkeys on their property as do most of their neighbors throughout the year.

The hunting had been great up until about 2 years ago when a neighbor moved into an adjoining property. They thought it would be nice to 'feed' the turkeys cracked corn. So now, most of the flock tends to concentrate on their property or that is the first place they head to after coming off the roost.

I will tell you that turkeys don't just 'hang' out around properties without a reason. Chances are at some point these people decided to feed the birds or were inadvertantly not providing a reason not to feed them (ie: open gardens, etc...)

The turkeys around my folks place rarely ever hang out anywhere other than their roost tree. They have a garden, grass, etc. But the birds just move through as they do in most places as they wander their territory. My hope is that people will realize these are wild animals and should not be fed or otherwise taken care of.

Fortunately the toms are still gullable enough to be sweet talked over to check out a hot hen. Last year my brother shot his gobbler while in his PJ's from the corner of the house. :shocked: