Gobbling up a storm: Hundreds of wild turkeys flocking to East Idaho before Thanksgiving
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HENRYS FORK — As I sat watching a flock of wild turkeys fly into some mature cottonwoods to roost for the night, I heard a limb break. I had just taken a picture of three roosting turkey on the limb when a fourth decided to join them – too much weight.
All four regained control of themselves and were able to catch themselves and grab other limbs or fly to a new perch. This had probably happened to them before, and it was probably just part of growing up.
These four birds were part of a loose flock of 200 to 300 located on private property near the confluence of the Henrys Fork and the South Fork of the Snake River.
They spend their fall days feeding in stubble fields during the day and then about dusk, after the sun sets, they fly into the large trees. Most of them will land first about 20 to 30 feet off the ground and then make short flights to get near the tops of the trees to spend the night.
It is an awesome sight to watch them working their way up the tree, and occasionally, one will fly all the way from a field to land high in the tree. By the time more than 200 birds are in a small grove of trees, most of their talking quits, and it is time to get some sleep.
While they are feeding during the day, most of the mature gobblers (males) get together into a flock and seriously feed. The “jakes,” immature males, chase each other around while they stay with the hens and this year’s hatchlings.
I have been watching this specific flock of birds for several weeks, and they appear to be in family groups. While feeding, a hen will be with about five or six young ones, indicating that this year was a good survival year for them. The hen will feed with the chicks, but you will often find her standing on a log or a mound of dirt, watching over her brood. If she sees danger or something amiss, she will cackle and take off running or flying into nearby brush. Several hens have become used to my truck and will feed right next to me with their broods following them.
In my recent travels, I have found large flocks of turkeys near Ririe, Plano, Roberts, Moody Creek (east of Rexburg), Chester and Ashton. Most are on private land where they can feed in the stubble fields — with large cottonwoods nearby to spend the night.
Most of these flocks contain at least 50 to 100 birds, indicating a good hatching season for most areas.
Southern Idaho does not have a fall general hunting season for turkeys, but a controlled hunt will be offered in Unit 68A from Sept. 15 to Nov. 30 in 2025. In talking to several people, they think that it is time to get a general hunt scheduled soon.
Wild turkeys are not native to Idaho and were first stocked in 1961 in Northern Idaho with Merriam turkeys. In 1982, some Rio Grande turkeys were stocked, followed by a few Eastern turkeys near Dworshak Reservoir.
Since these original stockings, the turkeys have hybridized together and with domestic white turkeys. In the large flock that I have been watching, I have not noticed any hybrids, but in the flocks near Ashton and Ririe, I have seen several hybrids.
If you go looking for flocks of turkeys, you will need to get permission to go on private property, but they can be exciting to watch. This winter, many of them will be coming to the highways and roads to feed. If you see them, slow down, because a 10-pound bird hitting your car is not a pleasant surprise.
Have a great week, and hopefully by Thanksgiving, we will have ice on Henrys Lake and/or Island Park Reservoir for a little ice fishing.
