Turkeys
Bryce Neilson |
I love to watch and hear turkeys. Their domestic cousins are dumber than dirt
and that is what most people think all turkeys are like. The wild ones are smart and a real challenge
to hunt, which I have done many times.
You just can't go out walking around and flush and shoot them like other
birds. Turkeys have incredible sight and
can see anything that is out of place.
Once alarmed, they can run 20 mph or fly long distances. For their size and weight, they are
incredible fliers. When they flush, they
are in the air instantly, dodging trees or landing at the tops of the highest
ones.
A few of us are turkey
feeders. Since Bear Lake doesn't have nuts and berries like their native range
has, they have become dependent on humans during bad winters. The snow or predators don't seem to bother
them so they head to the nearest feed yard (not many of those around anymore),
open area, roadside or feeder to bum food.
I feed birds year around. That is
what I do instead of having a horse although it costs about the same. My feeders are on the deck and the turkeys
showed up a few years ago feeding on spilled bird seed. Now they flying in and land on the rail and
peck and shake the feeder until they have all the seed. Fights erupt between them with the "Jakes"
(year old males), hens and toms constantly trying to rise in the "pecking
order". They run off all the other
birds including magpies. It is great
sport to watch them start changing appearance and colors for spring breeding as
they come in at the same time every morning.
There is one thing I can be sure of however. They won't be around during the spring turkey
hunt. They are smarter than that.....
Bryce
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