Turkey Roosts

[JH]

Ive had people tell me that turkeys will return to the same roost every year, is this true? Ive notices as spring develops the birds seem to head into higher country where I hunt, is that typical?

[baldopepper]

Yes, turkeys do seem to use the same roosts year after year, BUT they don't use the same roost every night.  I can show you roosts in the area I hunt that have been used for the last 15 years I've been hunting the area, but they may only use them occasionally.  Meriams in particular are real wanderers and, at least as I've observed, they may use a roost 2-3 nights in a row and then not again for 2-3 weeks. There are birds in my area that definitely move up as spring progresses but some flocks stay in the same basic area all spring and summer.  I think most do move up as the snow melts however and I know in some areas they move up about like the deer and elk do.

[KimberRich]

In the areas I've hunted over the years the birds definitely used the same roost trees but rarely the same tree consecutive nights.   I hunt the same small 1/4 acre patch of trees every year and there has been birds in it for at least 4 years now. 

[MtnMuley]

Yes, turkeys do seem to use the same roosts year after year, BUT they don't use the same roost every night.  I can show you roosts in the area I hunt that have been used for the last 15 years I've been hunting the area, but they may only use them occasionally.  Meriams in particular are real wanderers and, at least as I've observed, they may use a roost 2-3 nights in a row and then not again for 2-3 weeks. There are birds in my area that definitely move up as spring progresses but some flocks stay in the same basic area all spring and summer.  I think most do move up as the snow melts however and I know in some areas they move up about like the deer and elk do.

Good post.  I would also add "pressure" to causing a bird to relocate his roost trees.