Yellville has a problem. It wants people to come to its annual Turkey Trot festival — and yet the most spectacular event in the festival is something that the town cant talk about.
That something is the “Turkey Drop,” where live wild turkeys are dropped out of a low-flying airplane that circles the two-day festival.
Turkey Trot has been celebrated on the second Friday and Saturday of October every year since 1946. It was conceived as a way to call attention to the regions abundant wild turkeys. A highlight of the festival was the “Turkey Toss,” in which live wild turkeys were tossed off of the roof of the County Courthouse. In the 1960s this was replaced by the Turkey Drop.
The thinking behind the toss/drop was that most of the turkeys would escape into the wild and thereby increase the local population. The problem is that while wild turkeys can fly, they are accustomed to it much lower to the ground, from tree to tree. Some of the dropped birds would expire on impact. Some that landed safely ended up being chased around town.
The splattering and the chasing drew unwelcome national media attention in the 1970s and 1980s, and animal rights groups threatened legal action. Since 1990, Yellville has officially divorced itself of the Turkey Drop — it isnt mentioned in any Turkey Trot literature — and yet it still happens every year. The towns position is that mysterious planes just show up over the festival every October and drop turkeys (although the drop point has been moved to the south edge of town so that the pilots dont violate FAA altitude regulations). Four or five drops take place each day, with one to three turkeys per trip.
Another memorable event at the Turkey Trot is the Miss Drumsticks beauty contest, in which the winners are chosen while their faces and upper bodies are hidden.
Yellville resident Ralph B. reported in March 2014: “PETA finally got our harmless (unless you are a turkey) turkey drop stopped. I think they threatened to take the pilots license if he or she threw turkeys out of a plane. I dont go to town during the festival anymore because the turkeys were the reason for going.”
There were no drops 2012-2014, yet the bizarre tradition resumed in 2015. And then it finally, maybe, dropped into history for good.
The turkey drop is a bizarre tradition that has occurred for over 70 years in Arkansas. It involves tossing live turkeys from an airplane as part of the annual Yellville Turkey Trot festival. While some locals defend it as harmless fun animal rights activists condemn it as cruel. This strange custom has triggered heated debate and repeated attempts to ban it over the decades.
A Long History
The turkey drop first started in the 1940s as a way to promote the wild turkey population in Arkansas, which is a top turkey-producing state The initial drops involved throwing turkeys off the roof of the Marion County Courthouse during the festival In the 1960s, they switched to releasing the birds from a flying airplane instead. The thinking was that the turkeys would fly away into the wilderness, thus boosting numbers.
The festival organizers officially stopped endorsing the turkey drop in the late 1980s after facing backlash. But mysterious “Phantom Pilots” have kept it going anyway. There were no turkey drops from 2012-2014, but they resumed again in 2015. The identity of the new phantom pilot is unknown. However, previous ones have included local residents and even a town alderman.
Animal Cruelty Concerns
The main criticism of the turkey drop is that it constitutes animal cruelty. Groups like PETA argue that it terrorizes and injures the birds. Wild turkeys do have the ability to fly. However, they usually only fly close to the ground between trees not from high altitudes. Turkeys dropped from planes are released hundreds of feet in the air, which likely causes them distress.
There are reports of turkeys dying from the impact of hitting the ground. Even turkeys that survive can suffer injuries and be chased by the crowds below. The human handling involved in capturing the birds and bringing them aboard planes could also be considered mistreatment. Overall, the turkey drop seems to prioritize novelty and spectacle over the turkeys’ welfare.
Ongoing Controversy and Legal Issues
The turkey drop generates opposition every year from animal lovers and draws negative media coverage. However, local officials claim their hands are tied when it comes to stopping it. The Federal Aviation Administration says it has no authority to prohibit dropping live animals from planes. The Arkansas State Police assert they have no jurisdiction unless a crime is committed.
Critics have tried filing legal complaints against the phantom pilots under the state’s animal cruelty law. But so far, no charges have stuck since the pilots’ identities are secret. The county sheriff has declined to investigate incidents from previous years. The turkey drop happens for a short time on a specific weekend annually, making it hard to take legal action in advance.
Differing Perspectives
Defenders of the tradition in Yellville argue that outsiders shouldn’t interfere with their culture and that the turkey drop doesn’t harm turkeys. They view outsiders’ outrage as misguided. Supporters enjoy the attention it brings to their small town and the excitement of the event. For them, it’s an integral part of the Turkey Trot festival’s identity tied to cherished childhood memories.
However, the perspective of animal welfare advocates is that needlessly distressing and endangering turkeys for entertainment is unethical, no matter how engrained the tradition may be. Public opinion on the issue seems divided along these lines both inside and outside Arkansas. The turkey drop has undeniable shock value and cultural significance, but also raises animal protection concerns that many find disturbing.
Recent Developments
In recent years, Yellville has tried to formally disassociate itself from the turkey drop amidst criticism. The Chamber of Commerce no longer endorses it. The phantom pilots operate independently of the festival now in a sort of legal gray area. Animal rights groups like PETA continue applying public pressure to stop it for good.
The Festival of the Wild Turkey in Huntsville, Arkansas faced similar backlash over turkey drops and eventually agreed to use dead, store-bought turkeys only. However, Yellville insists on sticking to tradition and using live ones, believing people will lose interest without the controversial thrill factor. For now, the turkey drop’s fate remains up in the air amidst a complex clash of values and traditions. This unique custom seems likely to keep provoking debate for years to come.
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