Eyes closed on the roost while sleeping?

[Galvin900]

This may have been asked already, but I assume a turkey closes his eyes to sleep? When sneaking up on a roost tree in the pre-dawn darkness, I feel like that ole gobbler is got his eye on me.
I already know about not getting so close I spook him, but curious if I keep a good distance and keep quiet should his eyes be shut?

[Muskie03]

Gobblers are usually the first ones up, get there early enough and you can watch him wake up. Get there to late and watch him go the other direction. I routinely set up  60-100yds from gobblers. And yes his eyes will be shut.

[stinkpickle]

I don't know about toms, but I have a picture of a roosted hen with her eyes shut.  I'll try to dig it up later...

[Solid Snake]

Last season we walked right under two roosted gobblers unknowingly. They didn't seem to notice us and we didn't even know they were there until we got to our spot and setup and they gobbled. We both just looked each other in disbelief. I guess if it's dark and you're really quiet, how do they know you're not just another animal walking through the woods?!

[bowhunter84]

i sat under a bunch of roosted turkeys one time while deer hunting. needless to say i was surprised when they woke up.

[TRKYHTR]

Alot of turkey stick their head under their wing when they sleep. So yes they will have their eyes closed just make sure you get in early.

TRKYHTR

[3.5inchpainfulldeath]

I set up last year on a bird that was about 100 yards from me.  I didn't know it but I set up right under the rest of the birds.  a gobbler and 3 hens.  I had a hen fly down and landed about 5 feet in front of me... Man was that cool/a awakening experience.  She just ruffled her feather a little bit and started yelping.  Very cool time.

[guesswho]

Their eye's are shut, but their ears are wide open!

[WyoHunter]

You ought to apply for a research grant to study this. It would be more meaningful than some of the research grants they approve. 

[strutnva]

If he stays his eyes were closed, if he flys off they were open.  No good answer to this one, just depends on the results.

[hookedspur]

Their eye's are shut, but their ears are wide open!

Yes as long as they dont hear you