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Author Topic: Do turkeys have facial recognition?  (Read 2444 times)

Offline 253shotgunner

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Do turkeys have facial recognition?
« on: December 20, 2020, 09:19:49 AM »
I have hunted on a farm and a ranch. The turkeys have no fear of the land owners and will walk right up to them. So do turkeys have facial recognition? For example, it has been proven that crows have facial recognition of humans.
My rancher said to wear jeans, a t-shirt and look like your working on the fence and they will stand right next to you. LOL!
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Offline STIKNSTRINGBOW

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Re: Do turkeys have facial recognition?
« Reply #1 on: December 20, 2020, 10:12:20 AM »
My chickens do.
They can tell who feeds them, and who doesn't.
They also know which dog to avoid.
The mountains are calling and I must go."
- John Muir
"I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order."
- John Burroughs
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Offline Russ McDonald

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Re: Do turkeys have facial recognition?
« Reply #2 on: December 20, 2020, 11:21:58 AM »
They get used to the routineand no no harm comes to them duringthose times.   They see something else they are not used to and they are fine. I had a Navy first time turkey hunter out.   I called a flock in but they would never get close enough. They would skirt us and go to where the farmer was.  He would come over and tell us there are some birds over in the corral.  We sneak over with the farmer.   Farmer would walk out and they would just carry one.   We snuck out and gone.  Later on i got a flock interested in my calling and told they sailor to flank them.   He got 2 birds that squirted of the flock.  We have his birds on the tailgate shoeing him how clean the birds and break them down.   There are birds in his corral again raising all kinds of hell.  I still have 2 tags in my pocket so I decide to take off my camo jacket and put on a blaze orange vest.  I walk around to the gate and startled some birds but they hung out when they saw me and that vest.  2 dead birds.

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Russell McDonald
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Offline avidnwoutdoorsman

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Re: Do turkeys have facial recognition?
« Reply #3 on: December 20, 2020, 12:16:32 PM »
Nuisance property I hunt..... I wear jeans and a plaid shirt.... walk around the property with a pitch fork in one hand and shotgun in the other. Most shot's are under 10yds.

To me they have that natural sense of this isn't right.

Same property someone else will throw a blind out. The birds have avoided the blind for over a week, they never got use to it. Put a decoy out same story. 50yd perfect birth given to all blinds and decoys.

When hunting private its best to pattern the birds and change as little as possible. They recognize someone in camo is up to no good. A blind doesn't belong there, and that decoy doesn't make sense, so I'm staying away.
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Offline 253shotgunner

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Re: Do turkeys have facial recognition?
« Reply #4 on: December 20, 2020, 12:20:00 PM »
I noticed farm/ranch turkeys got nervous when I wore camo in 2019. This year I wore blue jeans and a black fleece jacket but I did wear a camo cap and face mask. I think I am going to ditch the camo completely next year on the farm/ranch hunts.
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Offline konradcountry

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Re: Do turkeys have facial recognition?
« Reply #5 on: December 21, 2020, 11:38:51 AM »
I think they have a sense of predators like a lot of animals. The ones in the woods are definitely more paranoid.

If you creep around it makes them nervous. I've pulled off the road to chase a flock and at 50 yards they booked it.

The ones in the woods won't stick around to see if you are friendly or not.

I wear a face mask in the woods but only when sitting.

If you are walking around it really doesn't matter what you wear. You might even be better off looking like a hiker.

Offline Stein

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Re: Do turkeys have facial recognition?
« Reply #6 on: January 05, 2021, 09:34:54 PM »
I saw a study that proved crows recognize people and warn when "bad" people are around.

 


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