Courtesy of American Wild Turkey Hunting Dog Association
Accidentally got too close to a hen turkey with poults and she didn’t like it. Flew at my head twice before the video started. Then she acted like a Killdeer with a broken wing, so I’d follow her and get away from where she told her babies to hide. She was indignant and fearless, determined to make me leave – I did! She had a slight stubble of a beard – don’t ever shoot bearded hens. Wisconsin – June 2017
N.C.L.W. says
Hahahaaa!
A fired up hen’s a beauty sight. Especially for me as I haven’t seen a Turkey in a long while now… Maybe the Grizzlies ate ’em all? Nah! Anyrate, Thanks for posting this up.
Cheers!
Charlie says
Wow, you are quick N.C.L.W. got your comment while I was still editing
N.C.L.W. says
I did notice the edit after my initial post here appeared… Hey, it’s all about timing right? If it’s a factor in Turkey Hunting then so to shall it be for Turkey reading! 😉
N.C.L.W. says
P.S- ‘Cept for the gunfire of course! Seein’ as how I’m not Elvis Presley I shall refrain from shooting my screen…
Charlie says
Something about embedding video and links that seem to befuddle me from time to time. Just fixed the Turkey Dog link.
FirstBubba says
I’m always amazed by the antics of “nature” moms in the protection of their young.
I would love to get some photos of hens and poults. By the time poults hatch here, the “chicks and tiggers” are out in full force!
Nothing short of napalm can keep them at bay!
JM says
I really never realized how bad turkeys have it until this year…heck, we even had one get hit by a train on our property a few weeks ago(big mature tom to boot). We have some domestic turkeys that are supposedly over 10 years old…and they still move around great and succeed in their job of eating insects. They don’t make any noise anymore though.
FirstBubba says
Sooo…JM…youre telling us you found a “trained” turkey!?
JM says
We own some interesting animals, to say the least, Bubba. We have a rooster who was raised by geese, and refuses to go near a chicken. Then we have two turkeys which were raised by chickens, and yes, they will free range and go back to their cage at night with the chickens(and they literally act just like a chicken).
JM says
and by cage I mean house…we don’t keep them in cages idk why I said that
huntfishtrap says
Soooo…did you pick up that train-killed gobbler, or what it unsalvageable?
JM says
Nope, that day had gotten up to around 95 and trains only pass through every 30 minutes or so and I didn’t stumble across the bird until 4:00 or so after I got back from work….just didn’t want to mess with those odds. Reason the turkeys(and deer) love this stretch of the railroad? For some reason the train is always spilling corn on the tracks.
Charlie says
I think those aggressive hens encountered in the late spring season have nests nearby. On some occasions, they have run off incoming gobblers. Realizing this possibility, I flush out any hens in the neighborhood when I setup and if one comes in during calling I spook it out too.
N.C.L.W. says
Outstanding advice!
This is not something I would have taken into consideration without reading here today… Who’s to say how many of our best laid bird getting plans were deviled with via the wrathful actions of an irate hen?
huntfishtrap says
I’ve never seen a turkey act like that before. Pretty cool video!