We're not the only one's that eat turkeys

[Ron LaClair]

There's a reason that turkeys roost in trees...at night when they sleep with their heads tucked under their wing, if they were on the ground they'd be vulnerable to night roaming predators.

A week or so ago my wife and I had a blind set up in the pines where turkeys had been traveling between their roosting and feeding areas. A little hen turkey decided to make her nest about 30 yd's from the blind and laid 9 eggs. I took the blind out so as not to disturb her.

This last weekend I slipped in to see how she was doing. Something had got her on the nest and ate her and her eggs. It had to have been at night when she slept with her head under her wing, probably a coyote, fox or maybe even a coon. It really upset me. That's 10 turkeys that will not be in the area next year. I know that predators have to eat too but there's plenty of mice and groundhogs around...    :mad:      :mad:  

   

[Jeff Mundy]

The bobcats are pretty keen on them around here. And they don't mind going up in the tree to get them either!

[Don Stokes]

Coyotes really do a number on turkeys, and raccoons are major predators of turkey nests, too. I've called in coyotes with my turkey call several times. One even ripped the head off my decoy, hitting it at full speed right in front of me.

I missed.

[dixiearcher]

I too have called up coyotes...but I never thought of bobcats getting them out of trees!

[59Alaskan]

Last fall I watched as a coyote went after 3 full grown turkeys that were feeding in a clearing.  He snuck in as close as he could and just busted right after them.  He came away empty handed - that time.

I think it's time for me to start coyote hunting.

[Ron LaClair]

I think it's time for me to start coyote hunting.
 

I was thinking the same thing..    

[Guru]

Ron, That's too bad bud, even though I like to hunt turks, I hate to see mama and a whole batch gone at once!

[limbolt]

Saw the same thing last year,hen had a nest in a blackberry thicket,14 egg's.I checked the nest a week later,same picture as your's,nature isn't always kind.

[Hud]

As far as four legged predators go, bobcats and cougars are very skilled. I have watched hawks and owls take large birds. Try your owl call and see if you get any response in the area. Obviously, any critter that has tasted turkey will pass on field mice, especially during nesting season.

[frank bullitt]

Yeah, but don't forget the loss from us humans! The farmer just cut the alfalfa for the second time this spring, here. Another nesting area.

The rabbits take a beaten, too!

[LONGSTYKES]

Sorry to see the hen and her chicks didn't make it. I had about 50 birds last year, hail took out 19 that i found in the lower pasture this spring. Did not see any this spring, all on the other side of the river. No hunting property, of course.

[Friend]

Sad ending.Hopefully other hens and poults will fair much better.

[Stone Knife]

Yep I have been watching a nice hen by my house, the other day i took a walk and found a pile of hen feathers. I suspect a coyote.

[crotch horn]

Don't forget black bears as well. Not as common but they do go after them as I found out Tuesday.

[Rob DiStefano]

too bad.  but not to fret, ron.  how many times has that same predator kill scenario been played out over the millenniums, and yet turks still abound most everywhere.

[smilinicon]

Agree with the above post. It has been happening forever.

[sawtoothscream]

well talk over your concerns with the predators and let them know only to eat the animals you want them to.   or get some predator calls and have some fun.   although you would have much better results doing that with a gun or trapping them.  yote numbers in my area are getting crazy

[Cool Arrow]

It seems that predators are on the rise everywhere. New Mexico tried really hard to establish ringnecks here. It didn't take them long to learn that they must roost 365 days a year in tall cottonwoods. They even attempted nesting there.


that helped with the foxes, and coyotes, but not the bobcats. Consequently I don't think we have left a single wild pheasant here.
         Larry

[b.glass]

Predators need kept under control too. Namely yotes!

[Arwin]

This is why I have no problem with shooting possums. They are aweful on turkey's nests and imagine they get a few on the roost.
 Possums have been known to eat chickens butt first while the chickens are still alive.    :eek: