All About Wild Turkeys

Understanding how turkeys maneuver the landscape is half of the hunting equation.

Without a doubt, wild turkeys have incredible vision and are able to detect motion many, many yards away. But how well do we truly understand how well they can see?

Have you ever witnessed a wild turkey swimming? Dr. Tom weighs in.

The science of spring turkey movements can be a study in unpredictability.

How a lifelong hunter, and wildlife journalist journeyed on a five-year-long quest to raise awareness to wild turkey conservation using photojournalism.

A breakdown of some of the wild turkey’s distinct anatomical features and their function, from snood to spur, if you will.

Do hens leave their nest to roost at night? Dr. Tom weighs in.

Hurricanes that batter landscapes cause short- and long-term problems for wild turkey populations.

Alabama hunter, Clinton Eubanks, ask Dr. Tom if hens tend to leave gobblers later in the season.

Wild turkeys push through winter, with an eye on spring.

A friend of Arkansas hunter, Rick Harrell, discovered rocks in the crop of a turkey he had harvested. Dr. Tom weighs in.

Understanding flock dynamics and habitat requirements of turkeys during fall can help us better manage the land they use.

Tennessee hunter, Andy Austin, submitted a photo of a wild turkey he harvested that had swollen nostrils. Dr. Tom weighs in on the possible cause.

Have you ever seen a wild turkey with irregular-colored plumage?

Research is revealing important links between how broods move and their survival.

NWTF Wildlife Biologist, Mark Hatfield, weighs in on the flock mentality of young poults.

Texas hunter Johnny Johnson submitted photos of wings from two adult Rio Grande gobblers harvested within a mile from each other in west Texas. Johnny noticed the barring on the wings were quite different and wondered what might have caused the difference on these Rios? Dr. Tom weighs in.

Knowing the answer can make you a better turkey hunter.

Studies in Pennsylvania reveal a percentage of young turkeys are born with West Nile virus antibodies.

The photographer’s lens reveals a closer look at turkey grooming behaviors, many of which hunters rarely see.

You have everything — gun, shells, camo, facemask, gloves, your calls and a good spot.You are set to kill a gobbler, if he allows you to do so.

Why social hierarchies are important in structuring turkey populations.

If turkey populations are declining, why don’t states eliminate the killing of hens in the fall?

Ohio hunter James Mays submitted this photo via social media of a gobbler sporting a double snood. How rare are double snoods on wild turkeys? Dr. Tom weighs in.

Many hunters ask, “Is it even okay to shoot hens?” The answer, simply, is yes, where it is legal, of course.

In general, the average life expectancy for hens is three years and four years for toms.

Hunter Waltman of Kiln, Mississippi, purchased a hunting property late last year. While speaking with his new neighbors, he heard talk of a white wild turkey gobbler seen in the area.

Many of the same wild turkey population issues we face today are consistent with conversations from years ago. Sometimes, we need to look back in order to move forward.

Wild turkey work group recommends Southeastern states consider delaying spring turkey season opener.

My question is, if either rain or predators destroy a hen’s nest, will she try again or not?  

An extra appendage is referred to as a supernumerary appendage (more appendages than normal). Neither of us is likely to ever see another example of this type of abnormality in a wild turkey as it is extremely rare.

Friday at the 43rd annual NWTF Convention and Sport Show’s Conservation Conference, various state wildlife agencies and universities presented details of conservation projects with the NWTF. The presentations were part of the conference’s Wild Turkey Research seminar.

Turkeys constantly communicate their mood and intent through body language. Learn to recognize these six signals.

I have been hunting spring gobblers for 40-plus years, and just about every gobbler I’ve ever shot, including lots of jakes, has had his breast void of feathers, exposing white skin over the bone and cartilage of the front of their breast. 

We're taking it back to the basics with the ABC's of turkey hunting.

Which predators take the greatest toll on our birds? You might be surprised

“They can withstand some pretty cold temperatures, but if they can’t get to food, they can’t eat,” Runia says.

“So be aware of your surroundings when walking the edges of a field or when mowing a field, you never know where a hen might be brooding,” Buckland said.

This Kansas longbeard never gobbled during his approach, but drumming from behind the hunter gave him away. Paying attention to nonverbal clues can spell the difference between a successful day and a blown opportunity.

How a bird tips the scales is just one factor in scoring your wild turkey, but weight is an important part of the formula to rank birds fairly.

A wild turkey is the healthiest option to fill the carving board on your Thanksgiving dinner table.

Turkeys rely more strongly on three of the five. Find out which ones here.

Learn where, why and when turkeys strut and then find out why it's important for hunters to know.

Gobbling today, gone tomorrow. Why do long-beards let loose one day and go mute the next?

Fall seasons make just as much, if not more sense than spring seasons. Learn why you should be in the woods when the leaves turn red.

What big birds do on their summer vacation.

Life is hard for hens and their nests. Discover the daily struggles for these tough moms and their young.

We've complied some sweet facts about each of the wild turkey subspecies, check it out.

Turkeys love these habitats, find out why they matter and how we can ensure they last.

Are you patterning them? Or are they patterning you?

A timeline of tradition.

Silent turkey killers. And no, we're not talking about you.

Predators take a back seat when it comes to the conservation of wild turkeys. Find out what impacts their populations.

Learn why wild turkey populations are fluctuating.

Urban birds act differently than rural birds. Know how to pursue them.