doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Ruffed Grouse and Woodcock hunting-MN.

There's a whole lot of "we're seeing more wild turkeys and fewer ruffed grouse". Biologists will usually tell you that's mostly a habitat issue: Woods more mature and OK for turkeys but not so much for grouse.

Don't think there's much of a relationship between turkeys and pheasants. Turkeys were well established when Iowa was regularly the top producing pheasant state in the nation. Likely there's some competition for food during harsh winters near good turkey habitat (woodlands). But in the Midwest, a lot of pheasants live in places you won't find many turkeys because there isn't enough forest nearby.

watch this video...

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xvccpd

pay particular attention to the predatary habit of the wild turkey...

Thanks for that video Ed. I'd read Joe Hutto's "Illumination" book several years ago when it came out. The video was great!

As for the wild turkey's predatory nature, the word 'velociraptor' comes to mind from my own observations. I know nothing of grouse, but turkeys ain't good for the bobwhite quail population...Geo

I had seen that video on Nova before, but it's exceptionally well-done.

Velociraptors indeed!