How Long do Turkeys Live?

[INKYHUNTER]

Interesting article in latest T & T Hunting Mag.
I quote "Less than half the eggs will hatch. Only 30 percent of poults will live another two weeks and begin to fly up to roost. 50% chance of the bird living one more year. Of 1,000 eggs laid, 457 will hatch, 137 poults will reach 2 weeks and 69 will reach 1 year. Of the 69, only 34 will become 2 years old, 17 will become 3 years old and nine wil become 4 years old. Typical population turns over every four years. If you calculated the longevity of the average turkey, beginning with the egg stage, the mean life span would be onl a few days".
The same article when speaking of predators of turkeys, "states that most turkeys fall to predators. The main nest predators are racoons, skunks, crows, dogs, coyotes, foxes, snakes and opossums. Older turkeys are taken by bobcats, foxes, dogs, coyotes, hawks, great horned owls and golden eagles. Concern in the eastern United States that the recent incursion of coyotes into the region will have adverse impacts on turkey numbers. Relax, folks. Turkeys in the West and Mexico have lived with coyotes for centures. I suspect coyotes eat more of the turkeys enemies than turkeys." Article was written by Lovett E Williams Jr. Interesting article, if you can find a copy of the Mag. read the entire article.

Steve Meyer

[GSP]

Two years of cold weather and rain during hatching season, can cut the population WAYYYYY down.

[P. Beyer]

Interesting stuff!

"It makes no difference whether I got anything; it has to do with how the day was spent"

Fred Bear

[thunderstorm]

Some info I found on the NWTF site.

A banded hen was harvested (I believe it was in Minn) that was 15 yrs old.

Biggest enenmy to turkeys was black snakes raiding nests and consuming all the eggs.