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slimshad
04-29-2009, 07:28 AM
My buddy saw a gobbler swimming across a lake this weekend. Have any of you guys heard of this happening? I have not. The only thing I could think of is that the strong winds pushed him down into the water. I have seen them fly across and they are usually very low to the water. That bird was lucky, if it was me I would have drowned him and put him in my rod locker....
EKUHUNTER
04-29-2009, 09:21 AM
hahaha thats probably the funniest thing ive heard all season.... your buddy was probably pulling your leg
Valley Station
04-29-2009, 09:36 AM
A friend saw a big tom swim across a bay at Green River Lake, a few years back. He said it got to the shore, walked up the bank,shook water off a little and walked up the hill. He didn't see anything wrong with it.
RLWEBB
04-29-2009, 09:38 AM
I've seen them swimming at Yatesville Lake in Lawrence County. They were flying across the lake and couldn't make it all the way. Landed 30-40 yards from shore and swam the rest of the way. Pretty neat to watch. This was about four years ago while we were fishing.
gobblergetter
04-29-2009, 09:40 AM
C'mon. R u guys serious?
RLWEBB
04-29-2009, 10:37 AM
C'mon. R u guys serious?

Very serious. What would make you think that a wild animal couldn't swim or wouldn't know how to swim?
notimlmit
04-29-2009, 10:37 AM
I never have seen or heard of this but I don't see where it couldn't happen--whether wind or they just wore out from a long flight
gobblergetter
04-29-2009, 11:47 AM
Very serious. What would make you think that a wild animal couldn't swim or wouldn't know how to swim?

I'm not doubting it couldn't happen but it doesn't seem realistic. There are wild animals that run, fly, swim etc. Animals that fly have wings. Animals that swim have fins or webbed feet (for the most part) Turkey's don't have web feet or fins. That would be kinda like trying to oar a boat with a toothpick:D

Knowing how to swim is a learned behavior. That means they have to do it regularly to learn. You just don't picture a young polt headed to the local pond for a swim with its mother to learn how to swim.

I'm not doubting, its just funny I guess thinking about it and seems a bit unrealistic thats all.
EKUHUNTER
04-29-2009, 11:48 AM
what did they swim with their wings?? haha come on.....first off turkeys dont like rain so why the hell would they take a dip in the lake?...once their feathers got wet it would mat them down...i guess anything is possible though...
adamky
04-29-2009, 12:16 PM
I shot a hen during the fall season a few years back and it landed in a swamp. I guess I only broke her wing because she swam like a duck and had no problems at all.My buddy went to the other side and shot her as she got out of the swamp. They CAN and WILL swim when needed. A deer does the same thing.
Adam
adamky
04-29-2009, 12:18 PM
I'm not doubting it couldn't happen but it doesn't seem realistic. There are wild animals that run, fly, swim etc. Animals that fly have wings. Animals that swim have fins or webbed feet (for the most part) Turkey's don't have web feet or fins. That would be kinda like trying to oar a boat with a toothpick:D

Knowing how to swim is a learned behavior. That means they have to do it regularly to learn. You just don't picture a young polt headed to the local pond for a swim with its mother to learn how to swim.

I'm not doubting, its just funny I guess thinking about it and seems a bit unrealistic thats all.
DEER seem to swim just fine. I guess they learn to swim when they are young.
Hard_Rock
04-29-2009, 12:54 PM
Maybe this will prove it..........
10311
10312
slimshad
04-29-2009, 12:58 PM
There you go, proof. I thought my buddy was drunk too. Thanks for the pics...
Hard_Rock
04-29-2009, 01:00 PM
No problem. Just hate to see people beat up on a guy for asking a question.
WaterDog88
04-29-2009, 01:11 PM
No kidding???:confused: I always figured them for land lovers, but you learn someting new everyday...
RLWEBB
04-29-2009, 01:35 PM
"Knowing how to swim is a learned behavior. That means they have to do it regularly to learn. You just don't picture a young polt headed to the local pond for a swim with its mother to learn how to swim.

I'm not doubting, its just funny I guess thinking about it and seems a bit unrealistic thats all.[/QUOTE]

Swimming is not a learned behavior in most, if not all, animals. Take your house dog that's never been "Taught" to swim, throw it in the pool or lake and see what happens. It is a survival instinct.
gobblergetter
04-29-2009, 01:52 PM
I agree hard rock. Geez guys. you'd think I just committed blasphemy or something by making a statement that it seemed unrealistic for a turkey to swim. I never said it couldn't happen. Look I'm not gonna argue with you about learned behavior or instinct (although we could). I just expressed my opinion that it "SEEMED" unrealistic. Logic says most animals that swim have webbed feet or fins. Thats why I thought it seeemd unrealistic. Seems logical. Now, snakes and deer don't have fins or webbed feet. And the pictures show turkeys swimming. Thats cool. Learn something new every day. Just relax a bit.
young-gun-anthony
04-29-2009, 08:05 PM
PROOF!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytv4nkRhi9g
BGTURKEYHUNTER
05-04-2009, 06:12 AM
what did they swim with their wings?? haha come on.....first off turkeys dont like rain so why the hell would they take a dip in the lake?...once their feathers got wet it would mat them down...i guess anything is possible though...

Ive always thought turkeys dont like the rain too. Im hunting a place in Tn where they seem to love it. Friday afternoon it was pouring and thunder/lighting and the field was full of birds(50-60 birds) and they acted like it was a sunny day. I got 2 jakes in the decoys at 06:10 and one didnt leave :).
Gen.Stonewall
05-04-2009, 09:48 AM
I am buying it. I would imagine the huge wings and hollow bones (buoyancy) would allow them to swim pretty easy, not a lot to drag them down.
kyscrapejuice
05-04-2009, 10:05 AM
This certainly explains why the birds just seem to dissappear some days. They've been taking a dip in the creek and the pond.
slickhead slayer
05-04-2009, 10:09 AM
Ive always thought turkeys dont like the rain too. Im hunting a place in Tn where they seem to love it. Friday afternoon it was pouring and thunder/lighting and the field was full of birds(50-60 birds) and they acted like it was a sunny day. I got 2 jakes in the decoys at 06:10 and one didnt leave :).

Turkeys don't like the rain, they go to fields when it rains because they become much heavier, and they need more room and more time to escape from predators.
rcb216
05-04-2009, 12:02 PM
I would have never believed it till I saw it, but the video proved it! Wow pretty wild.

To RLWebb, I tried to teach my mothers collie dog to swim by throwing him in our pond, well needless to say I had to go in and get him, he must be to stupid to have any learned behavior, or whatever you all are talking about LOL!! He sank like a rock!!
kissey_branch_hunter
05-05-2009, 08:23 AM
I'm not doubting it couldn't happen but it doesn't seem realistic. There are wild animals that run, fly, swim etc. Animals that fly have wings. Animals that swim have fins or webbed feet (for the most part) Turkey's don't have web feet or fins. That would be kinda like trying to oar a boat with a toothpick:D

Knowing how to swim is a learned behavior. That means they have to do it regularly to learn. You just don't picture a young polt headed to the local pond for a swim with its mother to learn how to swim.

I'm not doubting, its just funny I guess thinking about it and seems a bit unrealistic thats all.

Bats can swim, crazy, but true! I'm not saying they take leisurely swims on a regular basis, but they can swim if they need to.
Fairplayky
05-05-2009, 07:11 PM
It's really strange - when the are swiming across a large body of water they quack rather than gobble!
Reflexhunter85
05-05-2009, 10:01 PM
Thats wild. I dont agree with turkeys not liking the rain! Ive killed several in the rain. One in the snow
Butlerdeerslayer
05-06-2009, 01:02 AM
turkeys enter fields when it is raining because in the woods it dramatically decreases their vision and hearing so they move into fields where this is increased in order to avoid predators.
kyscrapejuice
05-06-2009, 10:49 AM
turkeys enter fields when it is raining because in the woods it dramatically decreases their vision and hearing so they move into fields where this is increased in order to avoid predators.

thats what I thought, maybe also because they get wet and heavier and need more time/room to get taken off to elude predators as mentioned above.
Next time i get a hen in close, I'll ask her!:D