The Wild Turkey...

Very early this morning (5:00 AM, MST) I was up and out in the snow feeding the animals and while it was dark I distinctly heard the call of a Wild Turkey, "WTH..." I thought. They never come around here with our dogs and all, but then again here did that 'gobble' come from?

Little while ago while reading a post and sipping coffee I heard it again just outside the front door!!! and grabbed the camera. I wasn't disappointed, apparently we've now got a flock of turkeys. I can now see why Ben Franklin wanted the Wild Turkey as our national bird and subsequently on our coin and currency. What are your thoughts on having the Wild Turkey instead of the Bald Eagle?

Take Care
Ben

 

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That is a beautiful shot bone, the only problem with the turkey being our national bird is that they taste so delicious

 

Ha! We had a wild turkey in our yard the other day too. Which is a bit more surprising considering that we're in suburban New Jersey!

 

You sure it wasn't Wild Turkey in the coffee cup?

 

You know I almost grabbed my shotgun instead of the camera and nobody would have known, wife and girls are at church... ') Yep, could have been cleaning a couple now but my Nature/Wildlife Conservation side told me not to, so... You have some pictures

As far as coins go, it would have been nice to have a couple of "Big Old" silver coins with Liberty on one side and a Wild Turkey taking off in flight on the other. Yep, that would be sweet...

Take Care
Ben

 

Awesome, wish you had pics. They're (turkeys) making a comeback nationwide after the curtailment of some of those nasty pesticides. I really would like to see a Franklin/Turkey ASE or Commemorative Silver Dollar.

 

We have turkeys everywhere around where I live.
The are some smart buggers.
I'd be happy with them on a coin and even as the national bird.

 

A Thanksgiving Day commemorative with a turkey would be a nice addition.

Also, people shouldn't be surprised that New Jersey has wildlife. We have wild turkeys, turkey vultures, racoons, white tailed deer, fox, eagles, black bear and assorted other animals throughout probably 75% of the state.

 

Good point Cloudsweeper99,

Many people generally dont have a clue as to how much wildlife is still out there. Now black bear in New Jersey did surprise me!

I'm about 30 miles from Chicago and we have all of the above in this area except black bear. I've seen coyotes on a few occasions as well. Give these critters a bit of space and they do ok.

As for raccoons. Man, it's a constant battle with me. They get into EVERYTHING. Finally bought a live trap and got a big, fat one last week. Let it out in the woods several miles from home because they find their way back.

Biggest "pests" around here are raccoons, oppossums and geese. TONS of geese.

 

We've got Bald Eagle to Bigfoot in my area and it's only 10 minutes out of town to be in the thick of it.
As far as transplanting trapped animals, I've found it best to make sure you take the animal on the other side of a river from your house, Clem.

 

Bigfoot... Yep, that Ohio River draws them in...

 

Look up Wills Creek on Google.
There's even a Lodge out there named Bigfoot Landing.


I grew up out in them thar hills.




http://squatchunter.tripod.com/sasquatch.html
http://www.bfro.net/AVEVID/MJM/deerkills.asp

 

Thanks Roto,

The last one was let loose in thw woods on the banks of a creek. Figured there's food there. Now that I think of it it's aslo on the other side of a river.

clembo

 

I already bagged one so far this Spring Gobbler Season and hope to tag at least one more! The Wild Turkeys are so plentiful in Tennessee now, we are allowed to bag 4 in a year.

I am glad that the Wild Turkey was not made the National Symbol as I would hate to kill a National Symbol just to have some fresh Turkey breast! I believe that the founding Fathers made the right choice in making the Bald Eagle the National Symbol and using the colors of a Wild Gobbler's head for the Flag.


Frank

 

They have invaded the California suburbs!



"Look at them, strolling down the street just like they own the place"

More pictures:
http://www.brianrxm.com

 

The advantage to having an eagle grace our coinage is that it's a bird that can be seen in every part of every state in the union. Where I live, most people have never seen a turkey that hasn't been wrapped and frozen and ready for cooking.
Guy~

 

When the wife and I would stay up in Maine, we'd always see a few big wild turkeys. Always amazing to see how big they are. 'Course, we're both vegetarian, so we wouldn't be eating them, national symbol or not.

I was surprised the other day to see a fox run down my street, considering we live in downtown Denver! Maybe it scurried over from City Park...

 

We've got 'em here on Long Island and no Clem, that ain't wild turkey in my coffee cup.

 

mmmmmmmm, turkey. I would love to see a coin with some oven roasted turkey and gravy being poured on it, and on the reverse maybe a live turkey dipping some bacon in a bucket of hot gravy. mmmmmmm, gravy!

 

I'm counting down the days till Sat! That is opening day around here and I can't wait!

Ben Franklin had a good idea and while I wouldn't mind it on coins, I like Turkey better on the table!

Speedy