Something weird

[Chris O]

Driving at 8:30 pm tonight totally dark after a rainstorm and a Gobbler comes running out to the road and I about hit him. Wonder why he was out of the tree or what was chasing him. I have never saw one like that

[Clydetaylor1]

Never seen a turkey out after dark.

[guesswho]

Might be wounded and can't fly.   

[tomstopper]

Might be wounded and can't fly.

This would be what I would guess as well

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[Rzrbac]

I'm guessing can't fly. May have wounded himself if flushed after dark or from a bad shot by a hunter.

[LaLongbeard]

Definitely wounded either by a hunter or accident. They won't last long on the ground at night and they know it he would not have been on the ground if he had an option.
It's the main reason I hate people taking long range shots at Gobblers. If you hit him and he runs away it's a 10$ shell for you and no Facebook photo, but for the wounded Gobbler it's pain and terror until something catches and eats him alive.

[Chris O]

Might be wounded and can't fly.

I was wondering that also.

[Chris O]

Yeah I was very surprised to see it to, wasn't expecting that one. He was coming from a open field heading to a small patch of timber

[zelmo1]

More than likely cant fly up for some reason, probably injury. It was already addressed, non ethical shots. Some people don't pattern and shoot their guns before hunting. I am mentoring two new turkey hunters through F&G and NWTF this year. Rule #1 after safety is a good patterning gun/choke/ammo combination. I am supervising it too, no take my word for it. I will limit their shooting distance based upon their abilities. Respect for your quarry. If they cannot comply with my few simple rules, then I will sleep in or hunt on my own. I won't be responsible for letting a " slob " loose in the woods. I have met them both already and we have scouting and range time scheduled. Time will tell. Good luck to all, Al Baker

[High plains drifter]

I have only wounded one bird, in 25 years.This happened because I had the wrong choke tube in.I did find him, but he flushed, and my dog was too close to take a shot, otherwise I would have dumped him.Felt bad about it.Ive only missed one, again a choke tube error.No choke tube.

[g8rvet]

I did an autopsy on a tagged bird for the state from a county that at the time was closed to all turkey hunting.  They (and I when I saw it) assumed it was a poacher had shot it with an arrow.  The autopsy showed it had been pierced by a limb, probably on flydown-the biologist and I agreed based on the angle-but it could have been flyup.  A chunk of the wood was still inside the bird and festered, about the size of an arrow, but was crooked.  It was between the clavicle and wingbone and had probably not been able to fly either.  That side breast was nasty looking.

[dublelung]

I did an autopsy on a tagged bird for the state from a county that at the time was closed to all turkey hunting.  They (and I when I saw it) assumed it was a poacher had shot it with an arrow.  The autopsy showed it had been pierced by a limb, probably on flydown-the biologist and I agreed based on the angle-but it could have been flyup.  A chunk of the wood was still inside the bird and festered, about the size of an arrow, but was crooked.  It was between the clavicle and wingbone and had probably not been able to fly either.  That side breast was nasty looking.

I saw a hen during deer season several years ago that also had a stick protruding from her breast. I saw her 2 or 3 times over the course of a month and she seemed to otherwise be healthy. There's plenty of things out there that injure turkeys other than hunters taking long shots.
As for the gobbler being out after dark, a friend of mine saw one sitting on the side of the road at night after a bad thunderstorm. He turned around and drove back to the turkey with his lights on bright and before he got to the turkey he jumped up and flew off. My only guess is that he was blown out of the tree during the storm and was somewhat disoriented.

[Gobble!]

Good chance there's something wrong with him. Saw a hen one night in a field while spot lighting one fall, walking with a bad limp.

[SinGin]

I did an autopsy on a tagged bird for the state from a county that at the time was closed to all turkey hunting.  They (and I when I saw it) assumed it was a poacher had shot it with an arrow.  The autopsy showed it had been pierced by a limb, probably on flydown-the biologist and I agreed based on the angle-but it could have been flyup.  A chunk of the wood was still inside the bird and festered, about the size of an arrow, but was crooked.  It was between the clavicle and wingbone and had probably not been able to fly either.  That side breast was nasty looking.

Nature can be cruel sometimes unfortunately