Banded Turkeys

[Will]

I was just curious as to how many on here have killed a banded turkey. Years ago I remember seeing a full bodied banded turkey mount at Daves Sport Shop on 349 outside of Salisbury Maryland. He mentioned the bird was relocated when they were building populations on the Eastern Shore.

[PalmettoRon]

Killed one in 1998 on private land adjacent to the Savannah River Plant in SC where nuclear weapons were made. The bird was a 3 yr old with 11 1/2" beard. Had a metal leg band and also a radiotransmitter mounted on its back with 2 flexible loops securing the transmitter at the base of the wings. I notified the SC DNR and received info that the bird had been banded about 2 yrs prior and the site was about 1 1/2 -2 miles from where I killed it.

That's my one and only and I've been fortunate to be old enough and hunt multiple states to have taken a lot of gobblers in almost 40 years of being after them. it's always cool to stumble on something like this, wspecially with migratory waterfowl.

[Treerooster]

I've got 3 banded turkeys. All the birds were part of a study being done at the time or a few years after the study.

One Merriam's from SD Black Hills in 2002. He was a 2 year old.

Two Rio's from Colorado. Got both of those the same year, 2015. One was 6 years old (1 1/8" spurs) and the other was 7 years old (1 3/8" spurs).

I also called in a Rio banded 3 year old (1 1/4" spurs) in Colorado in 2012 for a buddy of mine.

The Merriam's from 2002 did not have a riveted band. That was before they were using riveted bands on male turkeys, or maybe they had just started. Now I am pretty sure all male turkeys get riveted bands.

1st pic Merriam's. 2nd pic 7 year old. 3rd pic 6 year old. 4th pic My friend and me with his banded Rio.

[Tail Feathers]

I killed one.  He traveled less than a mile from the banding site in a year.  I talked to the guy who handed the bird.  He said he only out bands on two jakes the year before.  one was a double beard.  Mine was a single beard.

[g8rvet]

Based on the number of ducks I have shot to only get two banded birds, I don't think the ratio provides it likely I will ever kill a banded bird.

I did a necropsy on a banded, radio collared hen.  Does that count? 

[guesswho]

I've killed and or saw a turkey or two get killed over the years.  Seen some weird stuff injury wise, but have never seen a banded turkey killed. 

[deerhunt1988]

I've got 3.


First two from a state east of the Mississippi. Both birds also had radio transmitters. One was killed close to where he was trapped a few months prior. The other was killed 1.3 miles away from where he was trapped 2 years prior. Longest spurred bird was at least 4yo.





Third came the next season from a midwest state. He was banded the year before as a jake, not far from where he was killed.

[FLGobstopper]

I shot one in 2003 or 04 on a WMA in FL that was in partnership with some lands the University of Florida was doing a 5 year study. Got mine in about year 4 and about had a chance the next year at the last one I ever saw again with a band. The one I got had a metal band like a duck band then 3 other colored bands on the other leg. Guess the different colors were for easier ID when the researchers saw them. It was cool, wish I would of mounted that bird, but I was in my 20's and well, you know.

[Gumby]

One killed and buddy another. Same area. Same year. Kansas

[RutnNStrutn]

I haven't ever killed a banded duck, much less a banded turkey!!

Sent from deep in the woods where the critters roam.

[simpzenith]

I recently spoke to wildlife biologist from a state that I plan to hunt this spring and he was telling me about a banding project currently underway but I just couldn't him to disclose the locations of the release sites. Dang it!   

[Will]

A banded duck or goose is one thing but a banded turkey.....that to me is another level.

[Ol timer]

A few years ago I was fortunate enough to help my local NWTF chapter and State Wildlife officials trap and relocate turkeys to another part of the state I helped with the operation boxing and banding the trapped Turkeys.

[PalmettoRon]

I've got 3.


First two from a state east of the Mississippi. Both birds also had radio transmitters. One was killed close to where he was trapped a few months prior. The other was killed 1.3 miles away from where he was trapped 2 years prior. Longest spurred bird was at least 4yo.





Wow that's crazy getting 2 banded birds in one hunt. Haha, a state east of Mississippi--uh starts with South! I thought I kept things close to the vest. I wonder if the SCDNR has done more of the banding and research than some states based on the NWTF being located in Edgefield?

Third came the next season from a midwest state. He was banded the year before as a jake, not far from where he was killed.

[Tail Feathers]

 

I haven't ever killed a banded duck, much less a banded turkey!!

Sent from deep in the woods where the critters roam.

My first greenhead was a banded bird.  12 years old.  I couldn't find that band to add to this one of my turkey band.  That's a Pappy tube call and you may recognize the other items.