The first way is when you have done everything right to harvest a particular bird and he gives you the slip every time you think that you are about to close the deal. This is the kind of thing that will cause you great stress and anxiety.
Then there is the bird that won’t answer your calls. He gobbles but won’t come. He either goes the other way when you call or comes running in before you’re ready. Sometimes he will take too long to come, so you go ahead and move, but he sees you get up. Sometimes these birds like to gobble and strut just barely out of shotgun range. As you do battle with these gobblers, your wife thinks you’re losing your mind, and you probably are from the lack of sleep and rest.
Once I had a hard-body PVC decoy hid in a muscadine vine. It was the last day of the season, and it was still dark, and the turkey was gobbling his head off. It was very warm that morning, and I remember thinking that there could be snakes out. As I was reaching down to retrieve the decoy, I heard the rattle of the first rattlesnake that I had ever seen in the wild. Not wanting to ruin the hunt by shooting the snake, I let the snake have the decoy.
Then there was the time I lost my way in the dark. It was starting to sprinkle, and I lost my footing on the wet leaves and fell off a steep ridge, breaking my cell phone. Fortunately, I was not hurt bad enough to stop hunting.
The biggest turkey I ever killed was so far away that I tried to take a straight path back to the truck and wind up walking myself death trying to find my way carrying a 24-lb. gobbler.
There are many other birds and stories that I could tell you about, but the one that got me the most, or should I say hurt me the most, was a bird that I didn’t even hunt to begin with.
My brother-in law called this bird in early one morning and unfortunately didn’t make the best shot on the turkey and was not able to find it. He called me and told me what had happened, so I told him to wait until I could get there, and we would look for it together. Usually you don’t retrieve a wounded turkey that’s not going to die very quickly. But the Lord had smiled on us that day, and we found the turkey hiding in some tall weeds.
The bird got up and ran off on one leg. I took the gun from my brother-in law and started running after it since I could run faster than him and started gaining on the turkey. But the bird got air born, so I shot it again, and when it hit the ground it recovered very quickly and started running again, putting quite a bit of distance between us.
I started running as fast as I could run to get back in shotgun range, but the ground was wet and soggy, and my feet sank so deep I fell on a stump and broke my bottom rib on my right side while knocking the breath out of me. But like any determined turkey hunter, I still managed to stand up and finish the bird off before collapsing to the ground trying to get breath back in my lungs. My heart was racing a mile a minute, and the pain of breaking a rib was letting me know that a 60-year-old man is not supposed to be in the kind of predicament that I had put myself in.
Like I said in the beginning, there are many ways in which a wild turkey can hurt you.
Turkeys have a reputation for being harmless, goofy birds. However, they can deliver painful bites, especially wild turkeys during breeding season. Read on to learn whether turkey bites hurt, how to avoid an attack, and what to do if one strikes.
The Power Behind a Turkey’s Peck
With their small heads and scrawny necks, turkeys may not look like formidable foes. But make no mistake – their bites pack a surprising punch.
Wild turkeys have strong jaws and sharp beaks adapted for cracking open nuts and seeds. While domesticated turkeys are more docile, wild turkeys remain aggressive. Males are especially fierce during mating season when their testosterone is high.
Turkey bites can break skin and cause bruises or lacerations. The face, hands arms and legs are vulnerable areas since turkeys tend to strike upwards with their beaks. Bites on softer tissue like the nose or ears lead to profuse bleeding.
Young children are at greatest risk of injury since they are closer to a turkey’s height. But even adults aren’t immune to pain from a turkey’s peck. The birds leap upwards with claws outstretched to scratched and gouge.
How to Avoid Being Bitten by a Turkey
It’s wise to give wild turkeys plenty of space Here are tips to avoid a painful turkey bite
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Don’t approach or corner turkeys. Give them an escape route.
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Avoid areas where turkeys roost, nest or travel.
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Keep small pets indoors if turkeys are nearby.
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Don’t let turkeys near doorways where they may get trapped or feel threatened.
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Use loud noises, yelling or spraying water to scare off bold turkeys.
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Wave arms or objects to appear large and intimidating.
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Travel in groups since lone humans are more likely to be attacked.
Turkeys fiercely defend territories and offspring. But removing bird feeders, covering trash cans, and eliminating other food sources can prevent habituation.
Defensive Tips If a Turkey Attacks
Should a turkey bite seem inevitable, self-defense is warranted. Here are tactics to minimize injury:
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Use loud, sharp noises to startle the turkey. Yell aggressively and bang objects.
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Charge directly at the turkey to intimidate it. Hold your ground rather than retreating.
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Wave sticks, jackets or other items to appear more threatening.
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Spray the turkey’s face with water or a hose if available.
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Kick your leg out in a sweeping motion to knock back an approaching turkey.
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Cover your head and neck with your arms and hands since the face is a target.
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Run away at angles rather than straight lines which triggers a turkey’s prey drive.
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Seek shelter in a car or building to separate yourself from an attacking turkey.
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Consider wearing a helmet, hat and eye protection when in areas with aggressive turkeys.
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Report persistent turkey menaces to local animal control authorities.
Treating Bites and Preventing Infection
Should a turkey land a bite, promptly clean the wound with soap and water. Apply antibiotic ointment and cover with a sterile bandage. Watch for signs of infection like redness, swelling, oozing, warmth and red streaks. Seek medical treatment for deep punctures or lacerations which may require stitches and oral antibiotics.
Both wild and domestic turkeys can transmit bacterial infections through their beaks. Salmonella is a top concern. Minimize contact with turkey fluids, and wash hands thoroughly after handling birds. A tetanus shot may be advised if you haven’t had one in the past 5 years.
While painful, most turkey bites heal quickly with basic first aid. But prompt cleaning and disinfection is key to prevent complications. Avoid turkey confrontations, but know how to safely scare them off if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Turkey Bites
Here are answers to common questions surrounding bites from wild and domesticated turkeys:
How much PSI is in a turkey’s bite?
An average adult wild tom turkey can deliver around 200 PSI with its bite. This is enough to break the skin in most cases.
Do domestic turkeys bite?
Domestic turkeys are bred to be more docile, so bites are less common. But toms may still bite if threatened or during mating disputes.
Do turkey bites cause swelling?
Yes, turkey bites commonly cause swelling around the wound as the body reacts to trauma. Apply ice packs to minimize swelling.
Should I get antibiotics for a turkey bite?
Antibiotics may be prescribed for deep puncture wounds or bites showing signs of infection like redness and warmth.
Can a turkey bite infect you with salmonella?
Turkeys may transmit salmonella in their mouths, so prompt wound cleaning helps prevent bacterial infections.
Can you get rabies from a turkey bite?
No, turkeys and other birds cannot carry or transmit the rabies virus to humans or other animals.
Will animal control remove nuisance turkeys?
It depends on the jurisdiction, but many animal agencies will intervene when wild turkeys pose threats to public safety.
Should you report a turkey bite?
You aren’t required to report bites, but notifying authorities helps track aggressive turkeys. Seek medical care as needed.
How long does a turkey bite take to heal?
Superficial bites may heal within 5-7 days. Deeper wounds and punctures take longer, around 2 weeks or more.
While their beaks are built for foraging, turkeys can inflict painful bites on humans. Caution is key around wild turkeys, and bites require prompt first aid. But in most cases, turkey bites are far less dangerous than bites from mammals like dogs, cats, or other wildlife.
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