Why are deer and turkeys different?

[stone road turkey calls]

You're trying to make this a multi-tiered question, when really, it's very simple.

A whitetail deer, especially, a mature one, lives and dies by its nose.

A wild turkey lives and dies by its eyes.

Both rely heavily on a sensory organ to provide critical survival information.  One is able to make more complex determinations than the other.

[guesswho]

Why are deer and turkeys different?

Deer are dumb as a rock, turkeys are dumber than a box of rocks!   A lot of hunters can't outsmart either one on a regular basis.

[VaTuRkStOmPeR]

 [/quote]
Deer are dumb as a rock, turkeys are dumber than a box of rocks!   A lot of hunters can't outsmart either one on a regular basis.
[/quote]

ronnie,

if what you're saying is true, im a nimcompoop.  that was a harsh realization you just gave me, bud.   

[guesswho]

You can look at our roads and tell deer can't think.  If they could think they would stay off the interstate where there's thousands of 4000 lb. hunks of metal traveling 80 mph in both directions.  If turkeys could think, they would nest in trees instead of the ground where most predators spend their time 24 hours a day. 

Both are wired to react, not think.  Deer react to what they smell, hear and see.  Turkeys react to what they hear/see.