Tom killing poults

[Meleagris gallopavo]

The landowner of some land I hunt told me recently that he saw a big tom chasing down poults and killing them.  I've read about something like this before but I can't remember if it was about them destroying the eggs or killing poults or both.  I assume the reason they do this is similar to why other animals do, to get the female to breed again.  Anyway, it made me kinda mad.  How much of this have you seen or heard about?


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[Gooserbat]

Probably should be euthanized.  If I were you I'd volunteer to do it.

Seriously though I could see a gobbler snatching up a very young poult simply because it's a meal.  I was once told by a biologist that turkey are opportunistic feeders and they have been known to eat small birds including quail poults. 

[Ihuntoldschool]

Never seen or read of tom killing poults or eating/ destroying eggs.

I would love to know where you read this.

[zelmo1]

I have heard of this in mammals, usually predators, but never witnessed it. It doesnt sound like it is common, Sam 's idea was probably best. Z

[davisd9]

This podcast addresses this:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-hunt-turkey/id1433910798?i=1000605179157


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[Ihuntoldschool]

Oh yeah. I've heard people say such outlandish stuff.

But I would love to see a source where someone published such nonsense.  The OP has READ it.

Ran into a guy one morning getting ready to go turkey hunting. Guy told me flat out Toms eating the eggs was the reason they have Spring Gobbler Season. These guys do exist...

[GobbleNut]

In all my years being interested in all things turkey, I have/had never read about this subject. Doing a little bit of research on the internet on it, though, it does appear that, at least, the possibility exists. We all know turkeys can be very aggressive with each other so I would not be surprised that poults might be killed by other adult turkeys, both male or female, in the early stages of life when they might not be able to escape an aggressive adult.

I would hope that this would be a very rare occurrence, and since there seems to be limited documentation regarding it, I would guess it most likely is. Like most mothers, I think a hen turkey would be a fairly formidable adversary with any other turkey attacking her offspring...and her  aggression would probably be a deterrent in the majority of cases.

[Dtrkyman]

The answer to all our turkey population issues, kill all the Tom's!

Interesting, as I had never heard of this before either.

[Meleagris gallopavo]

Okay.  I probably didn't read it anywhere.  I honestly did think I had read something somewhere about toms destroying a nest, but I must be mistaken about that.  I will say that the guy that told me he watched a tom killing poults is reputable and is not known for telling falsehoods.  He's serious and truthful to a fault if anything.


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[Greg Massey]

In all my years, I have never seen gobblers killing poults.

Now I have seen hens working together in protecting and containing poults while the hens took turn feeding.

[richard black]

I too have never seen that after decades of hunting them. If that was the case we would have far less turkeys.

[TrackeySauresRex]

This is a first for me. They are definitely aggressive. I guess it can seem somewhat believable.

Lions have been known to kill cubs to take over the pride. It's understandable how we can't compare the two.

However it leaves me scratching my head a lil bit. How does a Tom keep from getting harassed by a group of Jakes? Does he kill the poults that will be Jakes??

Yes I know it's silly but it's late. ⏰

[silvestris]

It is rare that hens will interact with any other turkey while she is in the early brooding season.  The brooding hen seek solitude for the protection of herself and the poults, primarily, the poults.  .  Once the poults get comfortable flying, I doubt an adult gobbler could catch one.

[Beards and Hooks]

If it did and does happen, that's a pretty disturbing thing to think about. I agree with Sam that psycho gobbler needs put down

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[Bottomland OG]

I have a great idea. Drop me a pin and put me in touch with the land owner and I will come handle the problem this next season.