Turkeys and corn

[STUBBLE BUM]

Several fellas have told me that turkeys can't digest corn and I've called BS: on them. This past Sunday when I went to get my Mom and bring her up for Christmas I saw a corn field on the edge of a hardwood bush that was loaded with birds. Often when I scout birds in the afternoon before fly up I will find them in corn fields. What's your take on it - do they eat corn or not? PS T - 124 and counting - with it opening on a Monday this year I'll be able to participate in that pigfest on the last Saturday in April known as "TROUT OPENER"

[Brett Beinke]

Man, you hang with some strange folks. Turkeys absolutely love corn. I have killed many birds in picked corn fields. In fact, my Finisher and I have plans this spring. No more field edges, we going for the middle!

[VTblackfoot]

MMMM.......CORN. Strange folks indeed. Turkey will eat just about (aboot for you canadians hehehe) anything they can get their beaks around. I have seen them pecking the undigested corn out of cow plops before - nothin like a hot meal on a cold winter day:tu: :tu:

[honker slayer]

I see turkeys in the corn fields feeding all the time. I agree turkeys eat whatever they can get there beaks on.:CF:

[kygoose]

About all our fall & winter hunts for turkeys are in corn fields. At about 8 A.M. you will see the flocks run to areas they know the picker didn't get, probably the easiest turkey hunting there is.

[BEAR CALLER]

Hey Stub,
I'd have to say turkeys will eat just about any grain crop. I've seen them eatting in grain, bean, pea and corn fields all winter. Behind the house they pick away all winter.

[sparky3]

The only time turkeys don't eat corn is when there's none around. Happy Holidays

[The Baron of Bufflehead]

Yup - turkeys love corn. I've opened many a bird's crop to find it full of "the golden throat charmer". Further to VT's comment, the reason that turkeys are attracted to cattle manure spread in the late winter/early spring is the undigested corn in it. Possibly the bugs too, or so I was once told. It's an easy meal at a tough time of year. "Hot lunch" we call it. MMMMmmm:tu:

[Bob Onit]

Nothing like a corn feed turkey.:cool:

[Bob Onit]

Nothing like a corn feed turkey.:cool: I like the idea about using the blind in the middle of the field. Thanks!

[goosehunter03]

Hey,
I live in Iowa,and I can tell you for sure that Turkeys eat the hell out of corn,it is not uncomon to see the outside rows of maybe 20 rows of corn completely stripped,The deer kind of knock it down and the turkeys clean the rest up,I have shot a bunch of turkeys,and probably 90% have had corn in them!!!Farmers welcome you to shoot them because the crop damage is so bad!!!

[motherplucker]

Lots of turkeys in the corn fields and they not eating wheat it's corn man:CF:

[kodiakhunter]

Sure they eat corn.

[Old Timer]

:SE: Of course turkeys eat corn.
My brother in law has at least 50 wild turkeys eating the corn from his corn crib. These turkeys never left and started living in his garage.
The corn is gone and so are the turkeys..

[win300us]

Turkeys eat anything they can find