TOPIC: Wild turkey problems

Guys, It looks as though all my hard work last fall was a disaster. Wild turkeys have simply destroyed everything. I guess they really loved all that loose rich soil I'd worked up and the seed was a tasty treat for them. Oh well, The best laid plans still goes awry!

rootman

Sorry to hear that rootman, anything at all left?

Hate to hear that as well. Apparently on my place, there isn't many around. Last year there were two hens. I killed one last spring but the one that is left has done a little scratching around I've found. She is soon to meet her maker as well I hope.

Hillhopper

How can we send personal messages on this site? I may be able to help out hillhopper.

Sorry to hear about that man. I had some wild turkey issues as well. I planted many test patches and they destroyed at least one of them. Scratched all the litter away so what ever they didn't eat dried out. Wild turkeys are a huge issue around here, they are even invading local towns and attacking people. Lucky my main planting is sprouting though. I had a few areas that the mice destroyed, but it seems good for the most part.

Just thought I'd share an experience with wild turkeys I've had. In the fall of 2011 I transplanted quite a few mature plants to an area for my personal seed producing \"patch\". They were not planted in a bed, but just well spaced around a hillside. Last spring within a week of emerging a flock of wild turkeys came through and scratched up the area pretty good. They knocked the tops off of quite a few plants. The other day I got out and checked on this area, and some of the ones that I know were scratched off within days of emerging the spring after they were transplanted have sprouted new tops again. I had doubts that they would. They did not have a growing season to establish themselves in their new environment. They have put up decent sized tops as well. I cant say that they have not regressed at all because my records of individual plants are not that precise, but they have put up some nice looking 3 prong tops this spring. Some may have been 4 prongs the year I transplanted them, but I'm not sure of that either. The whole point of this is that established plants are very likely to survive at least one year of loosing their tops early in the growing season, and probably multiple years. Also - transplanted roots may (some will) survive loosing their tops early in the growing season the first spring after being transplanted.

I know this has nothing to do with turkeys eating seeds, but wanted to share this first hand experience for those of you who plant rootlets. I'm not sure how this will relate, because in my experience I was dealing with older wild ginseng roots not young cultivated rootlets, but still there may be hope in a similar situation.

There was a conversation on this site a couple of years ago about wether topping plants in early to mid season would hurt the plants. I would have to say that in my opinion it will not hurt the plant. It may slow or stop root growth or may possibly damage the plant if done early in the season for successive years, but topping them early in the growing season every other year or once every few years will have no adverse effects in my opinion.

Thanks guys, Everything is pretty much destroyed except just a very few that were left. It's too good of soil not to plant again this fall. I have other older patches that needs thinning somewhat so I'll probably just transplant out of those. If I plant them 2 inches deep that should protect them. It will take some work though.

rootman

Rootman..

Hate to hear that man. It really stinks to do that work and not reap the benefits.

I hope your other locations do extra well this year to help some.

My favorite ways to eliminate turkey problems - quick method (deep frying), slow method (grill/smoker)...

On the front end of that is a 12 guage, 3.5\" mag, #5 shot, delivering several holes in the head/neck area.

You may have to go past the standard rake and scatter method for planting the seeds in that area and get those seeds planted deeper.

If they are just under the leaves and perhaps 1/4\" of dirt, you might try planting that area with some method that would get the seeds quite a bit deeper - perhaps on the extreme end of that, at least 1\" deep, and if the soil is soft/loam type you could go deeper than that.

If the turkeys can't find the seeds so easlily perhaps they will move on and forage somewhere else.

You might also try calling your local Game Warden and complain about the turkey problem. Perhaps they would consider trapping some off your place and relocating them to other areas where they are thinner.

Good Luck !

TNhunter

WVwhitewolf,
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Hillhopper

TNhunter, Thanks for your concern and the 12 gauge recipe

Yes, my other patches are doing real well. It looks like ginseng has really come up good this year. Some really nice tops.

I'll definitely replant those areas that was scratched up and go a little deeper, plus some replant stock. I'm used to a few setbacks over the years. Ginseng really does teach you patients if nothing else.

rootman