Discuss: Can Turkeys fly?

[H2O Man]

11. Yes.

As I noted on another thread, I used to raise turkey for pets. I had a friend who would take a few wild turkey eggs from nests in the spring, and we'd put them in the domestic birds' nests. Both can fly, though domestic ones for only short distances -- it depends upon what you feed them, I suppose, so the ones fattened for market likely never do. I did have one tom that flew out of the fence to "attack" a state trooper's car, due to flashing lights, which was actually funny. Even the trooper thought it was funny.

Wild turkey can fly both higher and for longer distances. A guy where I worked had the windshield on his van smashed by one that flew out of some pine trees along a highway. Wild turkeys have much more dark meat, which is perfect for making pemmican with. It has enough tallow so that you don't need to add anything but dried fruit. We use blueberries primarily, but it is good with any of the wild berries that grow in this area.