Feeding Turkeys in the off season

[ATROX]

Any of you guys feed turkeys in the off season? If so, what works best?
Corn of course, what about sunflower, wheat, rye, oats etc.
Thanks

[Greg Massey]

If you can just plant you some clover plots ... the clover draw's bugs , grasshoppers and other insects .. clover is like a feed store to the turkeys ...

[Hobbes]

It's illegal in some places.

[zelmo1]

Check your local laws, but clover is a good one. Something natural to their diet is always best. Don't want them to starve if the winter is bad but also don't want to make them too dependent on humans

[Dtrkyman]

Habitat improvements are much better than feeding, if it's an option I would focus on that.


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[snoodcrusher]

I feed deer year round so the turkeys reap the benefit of that as well.  I feed protein pellets in the spring which includes turkey season.   Then a few weeks after turkey season I start feeding corn again.  The guys are right about clover food plots being great for turkeys.  They'll eat the clover and the bugs they find there.  My clover plots get hammered by the birds as soon as green up rolls around.


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[bbcoach]

Clover is GREAT for turkeys.  In the fall, there is plenty of seed and corn for them.  Winter time with plenty of snow would be the only time there maybe a stress period.  If there is cattle around, then the farmers will feed the cattle hay and alfalfa so the turkeys can get seeds and protein from that.  The guys from Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota and the UP of Michigan may chime in with some snow and cold temp advice.  Brutal winter there last winter.

[bear hunter]

As mentioned clover works very well. With maint. I have had clover plots last 5 years.

[Manoflaw]

Chufa works well too. I only have one place where the owner plants chufa but the birds absolutely go insane over the stuff.

[bonasa]

Habitat management is more important than supplemental feedings.

[joey46]

Habitat management is more important than supplemental feedings.

Being in Florida winter kill not a problem.  This is discussed often.  Our bottom line is that feeding can concentrate the birds and make them more susceptible to predators.  Let them spread out.