Ok, so I've hunted deer, coyote, bear and raccoon, where I'm consistently entering in and/or out of the woods in the dark. Many of you know just how dark it could be in the woods with no moon, and I just hate tripping because as I get older it hurts more. LOL
As a first time turkey hunter, I'd like to know more about their vision. I have hear they have poor vision in the dark, and would not be able to make you out. Since I have many ag fields in my area, walking in in the predawn hours I would only be cloaked by darkness.
So my question is will colored lights, such as red or green be seen by turkey's? I'm concerned about getting busted entering and getting set up.
Last spring I went in well before daylight. I heard shock gobble on a ridge near an alfalfa field so I set up pretty high up. When the sun started to come up turkeys were gobbling all around me including one about 20 yds in front of me. I was sure I was gonna have deep fried turkey nuggets that evening. instead he flew down and sailed way across the alfalfa field out of site. He had to see me come in in the dark. The others flew down and got hung up on hens and I never seen one the rest of the day. But I believe they can definitely see you in the dark.
Jeremiah 29:11
I operate under the assumption that if I can see it they can see it.
Ok, not quite what I was hoping for, LOL, man a guy can't catch a break.
What about distance? Some critters are near sited like coyote, because it they lends to their ability to focus while having their snout in weeds. I understand many birds have excellent vision at long distances.
Again trying to be prepared for entry routes.
A turkey can see you blink at 50 yards.
Their eyesight and vision are legendary. Now, I have heard that they see much like we do in color unlike nocturnal animals which see in black and white. For example, I used a green light during deer season one fall. I heard a bunch of them in the trees, and looked up.
What happened next could only be referred to as a Religious experience.
The trees exploded with panicked cackling and squawking! Once day broke in a couple hours, they all flew and sailed two fields over behind us. They wanted no part of where that green light came from!
A lot of what has been said is true. Quick, sudden movements are what get hunters in trouble. Move only when they cannot see you move, and make everything fluid.
What I like to do is get into the woods pre-dawn, and I try never to use a light during spring turkey. Once I can see a little, that is when I formulate my game plan. If I am lucky, the toms will gobble at first light, and I can begin the chess match.
Point is, woodsman ship is woodsman ship, and if you start preparing for the hunt as soon as you step foot out of the truck, no matter the hour, your success rate will climb.
Them rascals can see, but much like you looking down from a tree stand, their vision is limited at first light. However, if they perceive anything that might be a Saldu, they are out of there.
Quote from: chatterbox on January 17, 2015, 10:09:58 AM
What I like to do is get into the woods pre-dawn, and I try never to use a light during spring turkey. Once I can see a little, that is when I formulate my game plan. If I am lucky, the toms will gobble at first light, and I can begin the chess match.
Point is, woodsman ship is woodsman ship, and if you start preparing for the hunt as soon as you step foot out of the truck, no matter the hour, your success rate will climb.
:agreed: Good advice.
Their eyes are unto them as a whitetail's nose is to a deer. If you think they can see you they will.
Just to add to this NEVER underestimate their hearing! I believe that they can hear almost as good as they can see.
Just my .02
Quote from: paboxcall on January 17, 2015, 10:28:59 AM
Quote from: chatterbox on January 17, 2015, 10:09:58 AM
What I like to do is get into the woods pre-dawn, and I try never to use a light during spring turkey. Once I can see a little, that is when I formulate my game plan. If I am lucky, the toms will gobble at first light, and I can begin the chess match.
Point is, woodsman ship is woodsman ship, and if you start preparing for the hunt as soon as you step foot out of the truck, no matter the hour, your success rate will climb.
:agreed: Good advice.
This is exactly how I operate. I get my gear on at my truck and let my eyes adjust and then sneak in. I don't worry as much about their vision when it's dark as much as I do being as silent as possible....
Wasn't it Tom Kelly who said something like "Some people say turkeys can see around trees. That is not true. It IS true, however, that turkeys can see through trees."
when I move in on a roosted bird I always keep in mind how high they are the view from up there is much better then on the ground .picture what there view is from the branch .I think if you can see them they sure can see you .
Quote from: Tail Feathers on January 17, 2015, 11:41:10 AM
Wasn't it Tom Kelly who said something like "Some people say turkeys can see around trees. That is not true. It IS true, however, that turkeys can see through trees."
Perhaps, but I do know Jim Spencer once wrote this about turkeys and rocks:
"It is a fallacy...that turkeys can see through rocks. Only Superman can do that. Instead turkeys see around them."
Quote from: ol bob on January 17, 2015, 09:32:47 AM
A turkey can see you blink at 50 yards.
. I swear this is true.
Turkeys can see you think.
Move slow, be quiet, get set up, in the dark. Hope for the best after that.
Awesome info guys. Thanks a bunch for the replies.
I knew how great their day vision was, and was reading on the NWTF site that they had "poor night vision".
I love the pre dawn hours and am a early riser, so I'm pretty apt to get in and get settled 1-1.5 hrs before legal shooting light(that was my schedule deer hunting anyways). I have been busted so bad stepping on twigs and sticks, and have relied on either red or green lights in the past to be a little quieter.
In my neck of the woods, I've learned by hunting other species, it seems they roost more in tree lines (edge of timber)next to fields and fly down into the open fields.(again not turkey hunting experience, just observations). So my concern was more about walking along tree lines and stepping on sticks or getting busted crossing a field 100-150 yards from the roost. If I did get busted I assume they would fly down the opposite direction they normally would, and not be responsive to my calling.
A light would help me eliminate some noise, but not willing to risk the trade off if they could see red or green light.
Thanks again for all the input and help. I'm sure I'll have many more questions :gobble:
Quote from: Muzzy61 on January 17, 2015, 03:19:34 PM
Quote from: ol bob on January 17, 2015, 09:32:47 AM
A turkey can see you blink at 50 yards.
. I swear this is true.
I know it's true! I don't think their eyesight in the dark is any better than ours but once daylight hits LOOKOUT! My signature line just about says it all about their eyesight.
I have to use a light getting in to my spots especially in VA...without one your asking for you eye to be put out for sure. Always make sure your there plenty early before light starts to break so your walking in in complete darkness or at least the only light is from the moon and stars.
Also as my dad thought me from start go never shine your light up in the trees always keep it pointed at the ground....I still do this to this day. I use a head lamp now and always keep it pointed down.
I think turkeys react to noise in the dark more then to anything there seeing. You come in sounding unnatural they know something's up. Try to walk as quiet as you can! Watch where your stepping....step over downed limbs etc and take your time....the plus to being early! Don't ever underestimate a turkeys hearing!!
I've been walking in with a light for 24 yrs and have never been busted....and that could change this yr. of course. If I get to my parking spot later then what I want and light has started to break and I can see enough to make it I'll make the trek without the light. If I also know a roost sight or have roosted a bird the night before I will get within 75-100 yards and go on in without a light. For this to work well for me I have to be in there very early so I can take my time and feel my way to my spot so I don't hurt myself or make excess noise. I think if your early well before daylight you will be fine using a light.
God bless
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I use a very dim green light(single LED). I use it only when absolutely necessary and sparingly. The green is for my benefit and has nothing to do with turkeys. A couple blinks of that light is usually better than waking the dead while crossing fences or moving through thick cover.
last year, I hunted a spot that I hadn't been to. A friend told me that he heard where there was some gobbling. I walked in with a headlamp. To make a long story short, ?I probably walked in less than ten yards from their roost trees. When daylight broke, 12 birds flew down. had a hen land less than 5 yards from me. They then proceeded to parade past me at 7 yards. Granted, I went in about an hour before dawn, but they had to have seen me. Go figure.
Quote from: dejake on January 19, 2015, 03:23:29 PM
last year, I hunted a spot that I hadn't been to. A friend told me that he heard where there was some gobbling. I walked in with a headlamp. To make a long story short, ?I probably walked in less than ten yards from their roost trees. When daylight broke, 12 birds flew down. had a hen land less than 5 yards from me. They then proceeded to parade past me at 7 yards. Granted, I went in about an hour before dawn, but they had to have seen me. Go figure.
Being early is a big key!!
God bless
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