History of the American Wild Turkey - Conservation Field Notes with Steven Rinella

[@parkistheman]

I live in eastern NC that was devoid of turkeys. The last turkeys were wiped out in the early 1900’s. The NWTF released 8-10 turkeys in the early 90’s and 30 years later, there is a healthy population in and around the surrounding areas. Harvested the first wild Turkey this year in over 100 years. Thank you NWTF!

[@MeatEaterTV]

Happy Presidents Day, MeatEaters! With plenty of spring turkey hunts on our public lands right around the corner, here's a bit from Steve on the history of what Founding Father Ben Franklin called a "Bird of Courage" and the conservation story behind these magnificent animals.

[@MegaJohn757]

It’s insane, we saw a big turkey at our pond years ago but never got to see, they are back 10 years later ! So happy

[@dougeldredge]

in the 70s, in the poconos, we had a st bernard, named sofie ,sweetheart, the wild turkeys played with her , all the time, it was a hoot!

[@Jay_Flippen]

I had one of these giant birds fly almost directly at me this past month as I was birding in a kayak. I was calmly gliding along the side of an artificial reservoir which was originally created as a reservoir for a griss mill. All of a sudden the bird that I was going along with, a spotted sandpiper, started making noises and freaking out, just as I heard an usual flapping directly to my left. It was a male turkey flying across the river, accomplishing at least an 87-yard (~80 meters) flight. Just like a surprised and consequently disappointed hunter, I was struck in awe of this highly unexpected event for the 10 seconds or so that it took to transpire. I failed to record it. The Rio Grande and the Niagara River both have significantly shorter widths/spans at a few points, especially the Rio Grande. Sadly enough, the first two times I saw this species in the wild was when I was driving on I-64 W a little bit east of downtown Richmond, Virginia.

[@znoopz]

Amazing!

[@philjr5714]

Love the turkey. I spend close to 28 days a year, 5-8 hours a day and walk 8-15 miles a day. Every may. Sometimes I get two and tag. Sometimes I get none. It's a real challenge. Nothing simple about it. If you want a real mature tom or even a jake you need to spend some time in the woods.

[@hankfahly5358]

PhilJr I've never done it but I hope to one day

[@treeman5263]

Great video thx a lot

[@ramargate]

I hope we have them in the Philippines... I always wanted to hunt turkeys...

[@andrewlujan4691]

good stuff!!!

[@gabem4208]

I had no idea turkey were even endangered

[@tommyfong8894]

It’s weird seeing steve wearing kuiu. I’m so used to him in FL.

[@Spoons7414]

Whoa whoa whoa was that box call with the feather on it a Martz call?!?!

[@FinehomesofNewHampshire]

Steve.....when I was a kid in the early 70's we knew an old guy in NH who would put sleeping powder in raisins and collect turkeys when they fell out of their roost. :)

[@FluffyBuzzard2TheMax]

That is fucking hilarious

[@89RM250]

gobble gobble turkey lovers. keep up the habitat allow responsible hunters onto your lands so future generations will hunt.

[@FluffyBunnySlippers]

Yup

[@paulmccarren2620]

fake, and false

[@ebonite1473]

You what

[@shaynewalker3248]

U WOT M8!?!?

[@the_linguist_ll]

No