Turkey damage?

[mossyhorns]

Interesting article from Ohio about turkey's feeding in soybean fields.

http://www.ohiodnr.com/wildlife/Resources/cropdamage/turkey_p18.htm

[Bmac3138]

Yea turkeys get blamed for eating a lot of crops I don't think they eat as much as deer. But I have got permission to hunt alot of farms because the farmer says the turkeys are eating up his crops.

[Valley Station]

Mossy,
Appreciate the post.
We're all hearing about "turkey crop damage", which is probably used too often to justify "poaching".

[Kentuck]

Out here in CA the wineries are always complaining that the turkeys are eating their grapes. One study used game cams and found that coons and foxes ate more than turkeys. But these same wineries also are known for killing deer and bears to "protect" their grapes.

[rcb216]

we have problems with them landing on our fences and loosening (spelling?)them up but not to the point of damage, I have to agree that they do eat some crop but deer eat more then turkeys.

[Multidigits]

IF you've ever seen 200+ turkeys feeding on soy beans, and when they are spooked by a shot or one of them getting killed and you watch them fly to another part of the field and start feeding again, you'll soon figure out that they can and do eat enough soybeans to cause farmer complaints. Two years ago, with acorns short, they destroyed tons of beans on our field, most 50 yards in from the edge. It was hard to step in the field without getting into a turkey turd. Most of the beans were stripped clean from the edges completely around the field (220 acres). Believe what you want, but it does happen.

[turk2di]

IF you've ever seen 200+ turkeys feeding on soy beans, and when they are spooked by a shot or one of them getting killed and you watch them fly to another part of teh field and start feeding again, you'll soon figure out that they can and do eat enough soybeans to cause farmer complaints. Two years ago, with acorns short, they destroyed tons of beans on our field, most 50 yards in from the edge. It was hard to step in the field without getting into a turket turd. Most of the beans were stripped clean from the edges completely arround the field (220 acres). Believe what you want, but it does happen.
They r like combines out there!

[WildmanWilson]

I don't feel sorry for farmers that cry about crop damage then turn around and turn down a hunters request to hunt.

Some would rather go out in the summer and shoot the animals in their fields and leave them rather than let someone on there property to hunt them.

[Multidigits]

The crop damage from turkeys that I've seen has been from turkeys that are hunted hard.

[kyfanatic]

I don't feel sorry for farmers that cry about crop damage then turn around and turn down a hunters request to hunt.

Some would rather go out in the summer and shoot the animals in their fields and leave them rather than let someone on there property to hunt them.

I don't feel sorry for people who can't raise their own food to eat,yet want to have the right to complain about people who grow it for them.
I've had some crop damage by turkey's but not as much as by deer.My biggest complaint is they love to land on my tractors and equipment and crap all over,they come to where I feed and pick up what the horses and cows slop around,but by the same token they eat alot of insects from the fields.

[WildmanWilson]

I don't feel sorry for people who can't raise their own food to eat,yet want to have the right to complain about people who grow it for them.


I have raised tobacco, cows, and hogs and come from a long line of farmers. With out the farmer hunters would be in bad shape. Most are very generous about letting people hunt.

The ones I'm talking about are the ones who complain about deer eating up their crops yet wouldn't let anyone hunt for any reason. I don't feel sorry for them at all. I also don't think it right to shoot the animals and leave them in the fields to rot. If they need help thinning down the population hunters are the best answer to the problem.

I know hunters are to blame in some cases because they don't show the farmer any respect. They cut fences, and run over crops, etc. and that shuts down the hunting for everyone.

Both sides need each other. Without one the other is going to suffer.

[mossyhorns]

A friend of mine who is on some Farm Bureau committee called one night to complain about the unflattering thinngs I was saying in the paper about the Senator from Hopkinsville, and also took up the subject of too many deer and turkey. I told him that KFB had an excellent opportunity to take the lead with a program to encourage members to provide access to their properties for hunters. They could even tailor a specific insurance coverage for this.

On one hand we have vast acreages that have growning herds of deer -- on the other hand, we have a growing segment of the hunting population without a place to hunt. We need some sort of well organized program for controlled access to private property. I have seen all too well the effects of uncontrolled access -- that's one reason so much land is posted today. A farmer agency like KFB could help facilitate this -- all around Kentucky.

[Multidigits]

Good idea, but no way to make it work as long as folks like joey are there to hold the KYDFWR hostage on import issues such as KLEPF and tax incentives.Folks like him need to go by the way of the dinosaur. Keep up the good work down there.