Author Topic: Fall turkey rafter (Read 1099 times)

beenthere · « **on:** December 03, 2022, 12:48:25 AM »

Trail cam pics show a good size flock (rafter) of wild hen turkeys scavenging for food.

Flock of turkey hens

Might be close to 50 birds in that rafter.

WV Sawmiller · « **Reply #1 on:** December 03, 2022, 09:25:17 AM »

Neat vid. It is hard to get an accurate count of moving turkeys.

I had never heard the term "Rafter" for a flock of turkeys.

I don't know where my hens are hanging out. I have a 5 bird bachelor group and saw a pair of them yesterday. Yesterday they must have merged as 7 came out to my feeder and the lead gobbler had a beard at least 10+ inches long.

Ron Scott · « **Reply #2 on:** December 03, 2022, 06:29:21 PM »

Great flock! Have found your food source.

Walnut Beast · « **Reply #3 on:** December 03, 2022, 07:44:57 PM »

Very nice!

barbender · « **Reply #4 on:** December 03, 2022, 08:25:56 PM »

I'd not heard rafter used for turkeys before either. Is that specifically for a flock of hens, or just a flock of turkeys in general?

beenthere · « **Reply #5 on:** January 14, 2023, 09:27:50 PM »

barbender
Not sure on that.

Trail cam memory card picked up today, and shows some unusual behavior (to me at least) of turkeys either dancing or showing off for the ladies. May be deciding who is dominant king pin when the get to spring time fun.

No editing to this video, but just as recorded on the Browning trail cam with sound.

https://rumble.com/v25kz76-turkey-jostling.html

Old Greenhorn · « **Reply #6 on:** January 14, 2023, 09:38:22 PM »

That is a Fascinating piece of video. I have never seen such behavior and I have gotten to sit and watch them quite a bit. What I did notice, and I might be wrong is that it looked like jakes squaring off with hens, not jakes on jakes. Look at the second pair about 1/3 into the video in the near part of the frame. Anyway, that's a fascinating video and I will ponder that for quite a while.

Magicman · « **Reply #7 on:** January 14, 2023, 11:01:21 PM »

I have watched those shoving matches many times in the Fall while deer hunting. Sometime it will be jakes such as those probably establishing their pecking order and at other times, full grown and bearded toms. It can go on until you are tired of watching and ready for them to leave. They will make a strange crackling sound.

beenthere · « **Reply #8 on:** January 18, 2023, 07:30:21 PM »

Picked up the memory card from a different trail cam, and caught some "footage" of the same rafter routine. Thought some better visuals so will post it.

https://rumble.com/v25xkvs-turkeys-fighting-different-trail-cam.html

Not sure that "fighting" is a descriptive term, but they sure hang on tight and get some captive interest or cheering on from the other jakes.

A third trail cam several yards away had two older tom turkeys just hanging out and acting like they could care less about all the ruckus that they could hear going on.

Forestry Forum
Sponsored by: