Finding beards from naturally-killed gobblers

[Delmar ODonnell]

In the past week alone I have found three different beards on the ground from dead gobblers, two of which were relatively close together. The one I found today had been through either a coyote or bobcat, but the others hadn't been eaten. There was no other evidence of a turkey being killed, so I guess the beards have a longer shelf life before decomposing in the woods.

Turkeys have a lot of odds to beat just to make it to 2 years old, so it hurts seeing mature gobblers being killed on top of the hunting pressure they receive. Listening to Michael Chamberlain's podcast, he said that 2-3 out of every 15 gobblers in their study would be killed by owls, which surprised me. Anybody else find anything similar?

[Brian Fahs]

Very interesting.

[saverx]

More likely coyote scat that ate a skunk is what you are seeing.

[Tom007]

Wow, interesting

[Spitten and drummen]

I dont doubt it. A wild turkey has almost zero percent chance for a future. Its amazing that their species even exist.

[guesswho]

I've never found just a beard, but I have found headless turkeys.

[Spitten and drummen]

I've never found just a beard, but I have found headless turkeys.

You think owl killed? That would be my guess.

[deerhunt1988]

I've never found just a beard, but I have found headless turkeys.

Very interesting, thanks for sharing! Always wondered what an owl predated turkey would look like.

[guesswho]

You think owl killed? That would be my guess.

That would be my guess as well.   I've seen hawk killed chickens and they were the same way.

[bear hunter]

I once found a beard like you mentioned with only a few feathers around it.

[Greg Massey]

Never have seen one or found one dead from predators , but i'm sure it happens .

[Brian Fahs]

I've heard of owl killed turkeys found by other hunters. Never found one myself. Only the heads are eaten or taken.

Seems they are most likely killed while on the roost at night

[tracker vi]

The 2nd bird I killed the beard broke off while carrying him out .Made for some tense time at the checking station.Ranger asked "were's the beard ?Told him"had one when I shot it". Found it later that day , laying in the road.             

[crow]

I've never found just a beard, but I have found headless turkeys.

Is this one of your TSS reloads, what choke and how many ounces?

[J.D. Shellnut]

Do you have hogs in your area??? Not saying this is what it is. But hog hair ran through a coyote looks a lot like a turkey beard.