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Turkeys - Vision and Distance

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WMAn

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Here's something I am thinking about.

What role does distance play in a turkey's ability to spot a hunter or detect motion?

Here is what I have noticed. Beyond 30 yards, turkeys will not notice slight and slow movements such as getting a gun into position. At 50 yards, they may not even notice a man in full camo standing motionless in the woods. Inside 20 yards, they notice almost everythin including a hunter in full camo sitting motionless against a tree.

Has this been your experience?
 
really depends on the birds and the area. I had a group of birds FLY OUT OF A FIELD this year when i was easing through the woods at more then 500yds away....not sure why but they didnt like me being there.

however have had plenty of times where the bird was a 100yds out and i was able to slowly move around to get into position without being busted.
 
REN said:
really depends on the birds and the area. I had a group of birds FLY OUT OF A FIELD this year when i was easing through the woods at more then 500yds away....not sure why but they didnt like me being there.

however have had plenty of times where the bird was a 100yds out and i was able to slowly move around to get into position without being busted.
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Ditto. I have had birds see me from long ways off andn I have also snuck into 40 yards. thats how i killed my first bud, pure luck? probably but still id rather be lucky than good anyday
 
WMAn said:
Inside 20 yards, they notice almost everythin including a hunter in full camo sitting motionless against a tree.
Click to expand...

Had a hen step out on me at 10 steps this morning and started acting nervous immediately. I honestly think she saw my eyes.

The gobbler behind her didn't like her nervousness and sailed into the hollow below.

Last year, I had an entire flock come to a field edge fence looking for the hen. I had no cover at all. Just leaning against a tree. I was seated about 15 paces from the fence. First, it was the jakes. Then after a bit, they drifted off, and I called again and then the hens came over for a look. This brought the longbeard in range and it was game over.

So, you never know. It's turkey hunting.
 
I was told as a kid that a turkey could see you blink your eye from a mile away, now this may be just slightly an exaggeration but they can sure see good.
 
i know one thing they have seen me poke my head up over a ridge in an open field from 1500 yards. at close range i dont even look at them until right before pulling the trigger.
 
Heard a guy say one time if you don't think a turkey can see the next time you have a hen at 30 yards, wiggle your finger.
 
I have had a hen walk so close to me sitting against a tree, that I could have reached out and grabed her. I have also had turkey spot me from 300 yards off and start running away. I had two hen within 20 yards of me yesterday. and did not pay me no mind.
 
They often see me before I see them, but sometimes I can sneak up behind the cover of thick undergrowth.

I called in a hen on opening weekend that came in to 5 yards and looked straight at me clucking and purring wondering who called. She eventually left without busting me, I just sat there with the gun motionless in 100% camo and didn't get spotted.

I've also had them see me from 200-300 yards but also walked up on lone birds in the middle of a field about 100-200 yards away without them seeing me.

More often than not, they see you before you see them if you're not being careful enough. When going from one spot to another, I too often walk faster than I should and bump turkeys in the woods at least a couple times while hunting. Rookie mistakes I guess, you never can tell when you will run in to them and it usually happens when you are not expecting it. Whenever I bump them, most of the time I don't see them till their heads go up or I hear rustling in the leaves as they start to walk away.
 

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