Talking Turkey

It is just amazing how many Wild Turkeys we have in this area. We’ve seen as many as thirty wandering about our neck of the neighborhood.

These are two of three toms that regularly visit us – and routinely start gobbling at daybreak, which currently occurs about 5:15 a.m. I thought these two fellows looked like they were showing off for each other.

This was a tom that was destined for the table. We allowed our friend Brad and his son Cole to hunt on our property. They each took one tom and we were the recipients of the first wild turkey either of us had ever eaten. It tastes very similar to domestic turkey however, it is considerably tougher.

I’ve seen up to twelve toms strutting their stuff, all for the attention of ONE hen! The hens don’t seem to pay much attention to them.

The winner?

Parting shot.

Tags: bird photography, gobbler, hen, hunting, South Dakota, turkey, wild turkey, wildlife photography

13 thoughts on “Talking Turkey”

janaline's world journey on May 30, 2014 at 9:51 am said:

Oh wow they are beautiful! I have never actually seen a wild turkey before and they look so proud with their tail feathers all fanned out like that

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- Maya on May 30, 2014 at 9:54 am said:
  
  They really ARE proud of themselves but they should be, they look magnificent!
  
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vastlycurious.com on May 30, 2014 at 10:31 am said:

I particularly like your 4th photo! Just beautiful. Nothing like a really fresh farm turkey, I have never seen nor had a wild one.

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- Maya on May 30, 2014 at 10:35 am said:
  
  Thanks! I agree about the fresh turkey. I wish we had more options for choosing where we get our food.
  
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  - vastlycurious.com on May 30, 2014 at 10:51 am said:
    
    I am big on grow your own or hunt it and eat it!
    
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SKrier on May 30, 2014 at 6:07 pm said:

I agree with vastly curious, the fourth shot is extraordinary. 🙂

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- Maya on May 30, 2014 at 7:09 pm said:
  
  Thank you 🙂
  
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Kirsten on May 31, 2014 at 1:12 am said:

Those tom turkey pics are gorgeous! Maybe the Native American bonnets were made using some of those tail feathers in addition to eagles? Didn’t you feel a little guilty having one for dinner?

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- Maya on May 31, 2014 at 9:18 am said:
  
  They may have Kirsten, that would be a question to research…hint
  No, I didn’t feel guilty at all 🙂
  
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soonie2 on June 1, 2014 at 7:07 am said:

While we have always had some females hanging around our yard, for the first time this spring, we had 2 toms. They were strutting their stuff for the females, it was funny to watch. Love these photos, especially that last one!

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Maya on June 2, 2014 at 7:43 am said:

Thanks Soonie! Yes, those toms can be really entertaining. Most of the time they just show off for the hens (and each other?) but once I saw two engage in a little beak battle which included locking beaks and dancing off across the neighborhood!

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bluebrightly on June 8, 2014 at 10:06 pm said:

They’re so much fun to watch – great photos again – you are so good with birds!

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- Maya on June 9, 2014 at 7:28 am said:
  
  🙂
  
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