I've never seen a turkey fly

TopographicOceans · April 20, 2015 4:08AM

Kisatchie National Forest 2015 Quarter

dbcoin · April 20, 2015 4:09AM

I see that all the time. Big birds. They can move if your dog is after them

oih82w8 · April 20, 2015 4:15AM

We have a protected rafter of turkeys at the base where I work and they take flight whenever the need arises, whether it is man or canine.

BAJJERFAN · April 20, 2015 4:23AM

<< I see that all the time. Big birds. They can move if your dog is after them >>

Ever have one bust out of some bushes about 5 feet from you?

coinlieutenant · April 20, 2015 4:26AM

They are actually great flyers. They roost in the trees....not on the ground

TomB · April 20, 2015 4:27AM

We have a group of 42 (yes, I have counted them numerous times) that live on and around our property. Sometimes I come across them and they are only a few feet from me. When in a narrow clearing, they line up and take off one at a time like planes from an aircraft carrier. In the fall and winter, they make the tops of the otherwise bare trees look like they are peppered with black dots as they sit up 90-100 feet in the air on the branches.

ebaybuyer · April 20, 2015 4:29AM

don't let them fool you, for as big as they are, they aren't the least bit clumsy. I have a brood of wild turkeys that visit my yard a few times a week, they are fast on the ground and equally as fast in the air, as agile as any other bird. these don't fly long distances but they have no trouble getting off the ground.

guitarwes · April 20, 2015 4:29AM

They can take off fast. Don't seem like they'd be able to fly at all but they sure can move, especially if they see you blink from 500 yards away.

johnny9434 · April 20, 2015 4:47AM

<< They are actually great flyers. They roost in the trees....not on the ground >>

ive seen them get up in the trees all the time. its kinda neat to see

Stork · April 20, 2015 4:58AM

Is anyone else having a WKRP flashback? Oh the Humanity!

roadrunner · April 20, 2015 5:19AM

<< We have a group of 42 (yes, I have counted them numerous times) that live on and around our property. Sometimes I come across them and they are only a few feet from me. When in a narrow clearing, they line up and take off one at a time like planes from an aircraft carrier. In the fall and winter, they make the tops of the otherwise bare trees look like they are peppered with black dots as they sit up 90-100 feet in the air on the branches. >>

I rarely see turkeys in our area....maybe only once a year if I'm early on the highway or something. 3 years ago I ran into a group crossing the back road in front of my car. I came to a stop because the head turkey was directing traffic until the half dozen or so of them all got across. They didn't have any concern of me disrupting their afternoon walk.

What I do (or did) have near the entrance to our street is a roosting oak tree where up to 60 turkey vultures hang out at night from dusk to dawn during the warmer months of the year. They've been coming back to this tree for the past 15 years or so. They haven't shown up yet this year. They might have found a new home. I've always wondered where they spend the colder months from Nov-March. Supposedly some (not most) migrate as far south as South America.

Dentuck · April 20, 2015 5:24AM

I think this is a great coin. I've already received a couple in change,
and they're very eye-catching --- I think part of it is the masterful
use of white space in the design.

Ajjohnson77 · April 20, 2015 5:28AM

Oh, they fly all right. The roost in trees so they fly quite often. They are quite a sight in the air.

That reminds me. Indiana's Turkey season opens this Wednesday! Cant wait. There is more than life than coins!

BillJones · April 20, 2015 5:40AM

The wild ones are great flyers, and from what I've heard they are a major challenge to hunt as well.

Now when it comes to the domesticated turkeys, they quite literally don't have sense enough to come out of the rain. I've heard that they are so dumb that they look up when it starts to rain and drown from the water going down their nose before they have sense enough to look down.

Who says that getting genetically engineered is a good thing? I could say something about big breasts and brains, that would a total cliché.

CaptHenway · April 20, 2015 5:41AM

If you've never seen a turkey fly, you've obviously never flown Rocky Mountain Airlines!

TopographicOceans · April 20, 2015 5:42AM

In California we only have fattened up turkeys for eating.

Type2 · April 20, 2015 5:43AM

Yes I have but you makes me think of this. When I see a Eleph fly........

PRECIOUSMENTAL · April 20, 2015 5:49AM

They can fly at speeds up to 45 MPH.
I've seen quite a few in the woods while foraging for morel mushrooms, always wondered how badly one would be hurt if struck by a 20 pound turkey at flying at full speed.

JJSingleton · April 20, 2015 6:15AM

Turkeys are fascinating birds. I live up in the mountains where eagles, hawks, falcons, and turkeys are common place. The turkey is in general the largest of all. And the tom (male) is absolutely the most beautiful of all. Spectacular color and size. I know we think of the domestic turkey as the norm but the wild turkey is both powerful and agile. My dog will often come upon a brood and when they take flight it almost sounds like the thumping of helicopter blades. They take fight through the branches and literally break the branches off the trees.

A couple of years ago we had a hen who walked her chicks up the driveway everyday for several weeks before leading them down towards the creek. The funny thing was my dogs at the time would go out and walk with them leaving the chicks alone and it did not phase the hen at all. She seemed absolutely fearless and I somewhat feared for my dogs if they had gotten too close to the chicks. I suspect she would have opened a can of woopazz on them. The wild turkey is truly under rated when it comes to birds.

lordmarcovan · April 20, 2015 6:16AM

I've seen them on the side of the road in my neighborhood but haven't seen them fly. We've got 'em around here but they aren't seen very often.

themaster · April 20, 2015 6:23AM

They also pack a mean kick. I saw the neighbors cat learn that the hard way. Knocked the kitty 10 to 15 feet.

Have a Great Day!
Louis

ricko · April 20, 2015 6:23AM

We have many wild turkeys here....and that is interesting because growing up in this area, there were none. Wildlife stocking programs have brought them to the point that there is now a regular season. Cheers, RickO

dbldie55 · April 20, 2015 6:32AM

They really fly when there is lead in the air.

mariner67 · April 20, 2015 7:23AM

"In California we only have fattened up turkeys for eating."

In northern California we have many many thousands of wild turkeys.
As stated above, they are great flyers and yes, they do roost in trees.

FullStrike · April 20, 2015 7:43AM

Here in Detroit I've seen Pheasant and Turkeys. The Pheasant stay in the weeds, in the overabundant uncared for lots. It about
blew my mind the first time I saw a Pheasant.

The Turkeys are very big and very numerous. Being much bolder than the Pheasant, the Turkeys strut down the middle of the
street as if they own everything. The nocturnal Turkeys are to be feared. If you're not careful they will beat you, rob you and
even steal your car. Some of them even carry guns. Those are the ones that keep Detroit in the national news.

BAJJERFAN · April 20, 2015 7:46AM

<< 

<< We have a group of 42 (yes, I have counted them numerous times) that live on and around our property. Sometimes I come across them and they are only a few feet from me. When in a narrow clearing, they line up and take off one at a time like planes from an aircraft carrier. In the fall and winter, they make the tops of the otherwise bare trees look like they are peppered with black dots as they sit up 90-100 feet in the air on the branches. >>

I rarely see turkeys in our area....maybe only once a year if I'm early on the highway or something. 3 years ago I ran into a group crossing the back road in front of my car. I came to a stop because the head turkey was directing traffic until the half dozen or so of them all got across. They didn't have any concern of me disrupting their afternoon walk.

What I do (or did) have near the entrance to our street is a roosting oak tree where up to 60 turkey vultures hang out at night from dusk to dawn during the warmer months of the year. They've been coming back to this tree for the past 15 years or so. They haven't shown up yet this year. They might have found a new home. I've always wondered where they spend the colder months from Nov-March. Supposedly some (not most) migrate as far south as South America. >>

They pretty much stay here all year round.

BAJJERFAN · April 20, 2015 7:49AM

<< They can fly at speeds up to 45 MPH.
I've seen quite a few in the woods while foraging for morel mushrooms, always wondered how badly one would be hurt if struck by a 20 pound turkey at flying at full speed. >>

They can raise particular hell if they collide with a vehicle. I've heard of a hunter getting smacked longside the haid by a goose shot by another hunter.

GRANDAM · April 20, 2015 8:56AM

<< Is anyone else having a WKRP flashback? Oh the Humanity! >>

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

+1,,,,,, I remember watching that episode live back in the day

GrandAm

TopographicOceans · April 20, 2015 8:57AM

<< "In California we only have fattened up turkeys for eating."

In northern California we have many many thousands of wild turkeys.
As stated above, they are great flyers and yes, they do roost in trees. >>

Northern California also has the Avenue of the Giants, so it's a different world then the southern desert.

OPA · April 20, 2015 9:18AM

<< They are actually great flyers. They roost in the trees....not on the ground >>

Yup....great flyers, just like Vultures....

Dentuck · April 20, 2015 9:20AM

We has a couple turkeys (domesticated) when I was growing up. The tom was a mean
old cuss! But the hen would curl up on your lap like a cat to be petted.

grip · April 20, 2015 10:24AM

<< 

<< "In California we only have fattened up turkeys for eating."

In northern California we have many many thousands of wild turkeys.
As stated above, they are great flyers and yes, they do roost in trees. >>

Northern California also has the Avenue of the Giants, so it's a different world then the southern desert.

>>

Gorgeous!

topstuf · April 20, 2015 10:31AM

<< They are actually great flyers. They roost in the trees....not on the ground >>

I thought they used ladders. Ladders introduced by the Pilgrims. Dang. Learn new things all the time.

BAJJERFAN · April 20, 2015 11:41AM

I have been told that you rarely find them much over 30 pounds in the wild, because they can get too heavy to fly and are vulnerable to foxes and coyotes and the like.

planetsteve · April 20, 2015 2:20PM

I love this board.

Looks like the bullion version starts selling at the end of the month.

ChangeInHistory · April 20, 2015 2:37PM

<< 

<< Is anyone else having a WKRP flashback? Oh the Humanity! >>

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

+1,,,,,, I remember watching that episode live back in the day

GrandAm

>>

That was a great episode...

Staircoins · April 20, 2015 10:39PM

Legend has it that B. Franklin lobbied for the Wild Turkey rather than the Bald Eagle as our national bird and symbol.

Imagine how all our coins would look with turkeys on them instead of eagles. A $20 gold piece would be a Double Turkey!

WillieBoyd2 · April 20, 2015 10:55PM

The White Turkey

CaptHenway · April 20, 2015 11:01PM

<< 

<< 

<< Is anyone else having a WKRP flashback? Oh the Humanity! >>

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

+1,,,,,, I remember watching that episode live back in the day

GrandAm

>>

That was a great episode... >>

Was rolling on the floor laughing my head off!

ProofArtworkonCircs · April 21, 2015 11:19AM

I remember a single file of 12 turkeys walking across a busy road holding up traffic. Te last guy in line FLEW across as if to say "so long suckers!".

abitofthisabitofthat · April 21, 2015 11:28AM

"With God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly" - Arthur Carlson

Aegis3 · April 21, 2015 12:46PM

Yep, they fly.

(The story, I was taking a hike, emerged at a field. I saw a turkey run away from the tall grass, and took some photos. While doing so, heard loud flapping sounds as another 10 or so turkeys take flight; those were the best photos I could get. Grouse are the birds which really startle me when they take flight; I've not been able to act quick enough to get a photo of one of them yet.)

Connecticoin · April 21, 2015 8:45PM

<< Is anyone else having a WKRP flashback? Oh the Humanity! >>

I was thinking the same thing. Classic episode!

I've never seen a turkey fly

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