Baiting Turkeys?

J

jard

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I place feeders and cameras in my plots before and after deer season to catch the action. I have only turkey a few times in my life but last year I got tons of pics of turkeys on this farm after I made the plots. So this year, I am going to try and kill my first ever gobbler. My question is, is it legal to hunt near the feeders or do I have to take them down before season. I know the deer regulations, are they the same for turkey or is it legal to hunt them around the feeders.
 
Bait law the same for all game except "non-protected" species which aren't legally game animals.


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One more thing you might consider; corn tainted with aflatoxins can kill a whole flock in no time flat. Might get 10 bags that are clean but get unlucky and spread 1 bad bag and you could be nearly turkeyless for awhile.
 
Boll Weevil":2es27qho said:
One more thing you might consider; corn tainted with aflatoxins can kill a whole flock in no time flat. Might get 10 bags that are clean but get unlucky and spread 1 bad bag and you could be nearly turkeyless for awhile.
Click to expand...

How many legit cases are recorded of this happening? Not questioning the possibility just wondering if this is a wide spread problem.


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Several years ago in either Hardeman or Fayette County, I don't recall exactly, there was a case where a guy was feeding turkeys sunflower seeds. Lots of sunflower seeds. He attracted so many turkeys to the field where the food action was that it became a manure yard for turkeys. The birds then contracted a disease called Coccidiosis (Google it!) from eating their own feces. Then, as the turkeys began to die from diarrhea, the other animals in the area (buzzards, coyotes, raccoons, possums etc.) that fed on the dead turkeys also began to contract Coccidiosis and basically lots of critters of all kinds died because some guy decided to feed some turkeys. It was a HUGE problem. He was cited by the local game warden and if I recall correctly, there was a big lawsuit against the guy from all the landowners in the area for killing their wildlife. I don't know how it all came out. I remember reading an article in the Memphis paper about it though.
 

Real good question, AT.

Documented, I honestly don't know but the science and anecdotal evidence is enough to convince me not to take the risk. Certified aflatoxin clear is one thing but cheap bags of "deer corn" of questionable origin or leftover bin run grain is another altogether. Personally, it's taken me stoopid sweat, money, and severalyears to get a sustainable, huntable population back on the farm. To blow it with a single bag of $6 corn...just not gonna try it.
 
I dont think it's worth it either BollWeevil.
I wish people wouldn't "supplement" feed any wildlife anything, except for food plots.

But, never going to happen.

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Alfatoxin can occur in any corn, regardless if its in the bag or in the field. Though i do agree if you are going to market and sale feed for wildlife it should be regulated. Totally irresponsible to knowingly sale toxins and consequences should be paid if done so.


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