Yesterday I was walking my lease. I ended up bumping four toms in some pretty nasty cover. I was really surprised they were in there. I would have thought they would steer clear from ground like this. I guess What I'm asking is do y'all think turkeys regularly use thickets and thick cover? We also have a big clear cut on this lease that is equally as knarly, and I know they walk the road through the clear cut, but now I wonder if they actually get into the nasty patches in the clear cut. I hope this is not a stupid question, I've just never come across birds in this type of cover.
They will pile right into a bay, cutdown, or briar patch if forced.
Thanks for the feed back dirtnap. What puzzles me is there is no pressure on them right now. Perhaps maybe predators may have them hunkerd down in there?
Quote from: Hawken on February 06, 2011, 09:36:34 PM
Thanks for the feed back dirtnap. What puzzles me is there is no pressure on them right now. Perhaps maybe predators may have them hunkerd down in there?
Yep, they are always under pressure. More from predators than from humans in most cases.
I noticed last year around here that the turkeys stayed in tight cover all the time, hardly ever seen them in the open.
I always find them in heavy cover where i hunt,,, lots berries down in that thick stuff
I have found tracks in the middle of a thicket.
I was suprised as I also expected them to avoid thick stuff.
It seems against their better interest due to predators and limited vision.
Quote from: M,Yingling on February 06, 2011, 11:38:55 PM
I always find them in heavy cover where i hunt,,, lots berries down in that thick stuff
same here lots of grub for them in the thick stuff.
I've always seen turkeys flock up around and in thick cover during the winter, the one spot I can think of I have never (not once) seen a bird in the spring. Its 7 acre cedar thicket with maybe 3 acres of briers and vines in the center. Every winter a flock of about 20-30 turkeys spend the late season there. I think the thick cover offers more food in winter as well as protection from the wind and elements.
I agree with Hawk...I don't see many turkeys in the cold months, but see them in every field come early spring. The thick stuff overs cover and more winter food.
Last year I was telling my brother in law who just started turkey hunting how birds didn't like really thick stuff. I rounded the bend in the road and a group of five was comming out of some real nasty stuff.
Most of the land I hunt is thick. Not clear cut thick but it has thick saplings, mountain laurel, briars but the majority is those hawthorn bushes (I think thats what they are called. They have about 2" long thorns that are sharp and thick. Tough enough to penetrate the soles of running shoes (ask me how I know). In the fall they are full of red berries and the turkeys tear them up!
Hey slayer how do you know about those thorns? :goofball:
sounds like he followed petter cottontail.. i mean old tom long beard into the brier patch
Quote from: socalturkeyman on February 09, 2011, 01:55:07 AM
Hey slayer how do you know about those thorns? :goofball:
Quote from: TauntoHawk on February 09, 2011, 09:41:28 AM
sounds like he followed petter cottontail.. i mean old tom long beard into the brier patch
:TooFunny: :TooFunny: Its not that thick! You can walk through them you just have to watch and try not to catch one through the eye! Deer and turkey have no problem going through it.
Quote from: turkey_slayer on February 09, 2011, 12:35:23 AM
Most of the land I hunt is thick. Not clear cut thick but it has thick saplings, mountain laurel, briars but the majority is those hawthorn bushes (I think thats what they are called. They have about 2" long thorns that are sharp and thick. Tough enough to penetrate the soles of running shoes (ask me how I know). In the fall they are full of red berries and the turkeys tear them up!
I had never ever seen thorns like that until KS last year.. It was windy and I mean windy, 40MPH constant with gusts much more than that..
The GF and I were slipping down a river bottom and a big gust of wind picked up and one of them branches with the thorns came whipping at me.. Needless to say this 2 inch dagger goes through my hat and sticks in my fore head... I pulled it out and bled the rest of the hunt
ouch!
Quote from: shootumindaface on February 09, 2011, 10:35:25 AM
Quote from: turkey_slayer on February 09, 2011, 12:35:23 AM
Most of the land I hunt is thick. Not clear cut thick but it has thick saplings, mountain laurel, briars but the majority is those hawthorn bushes (I think thats what they are called. They have about 2" long thorns that are sharp and thick. Tough enough to penetrate the soles of running shoes (ask me how I know). In the fall they are full of red berries and the turkeys tear them up!
I had never ever seen thorns like that until KS last year.. It was windy and I mean windy, 40MPH constant with gusts much more than that..
The GF and I were slipping down a river bottom and a big gust of wind picked up and one of them branches with the thorns came whipping at me.. Needless to say this 2 inch dagger goes through my hat and sticks in my fore head... I pulled it out and bled the rest of the hunt
Yep that be them :TooFunny: They remind me of the thorns on locust trees except there bushes. They can penetrate deep and as you found out cause holes big enough to bleed for a while. Im going up there saturday to shed hunt and yote hunt so I will snap a pic for you guys.
Yes sir they will! Especially in my area...Too many dang coyotes that scare them into it. But heck, that's what the shotguns for, right?
IVE HAD THEM MANY TIMES HUNKER DOWN IN THICKETS AND COVER TO GET AWAY FROM ME. IVE JUMPED THEM LIKE QUAIL MANY TIMES AND LET ME TELL YOU WHAT, A 20 POUND BIRD GETTIN UP IN YOUR FACE IS QUITE A SHOCK. HERE WE HAVE SMALL PATCHES OF WOODS AND ALOT OF THICK COVER. I THINK THEY JUST HAVE ADAPTED TO GETTING AWAY FROM PREDATORS IN THESE AREAS.
Quote from: jbrown on February 07, 2011, 03:35:47 PM
I agree with Hawk...I don't see many turkeys in the cold months, but see them in every field come early spring. The thick stuff overs cover and more winter food.
:agreed:
Interesting stuff...seems like the birds around here avoid the thicker cover.