</a JR Holmes Oil Company </a Shark Guard Southeast Woods and Whitetail Mayer Insurance Services LLC
Aldeer Classifieds
Looking for Lowrance Ghost or 24v Ultrex
by bradbathome. 03/28/24 08:17 PM
Turkey loads/decoy
by Rem870s2. 03/28/24 04:41 PM
Wtb Browning 300 Mag
by desertdog. 03/28/24 03:36 PM
WTB Chevy 1500
by Okalona. 03/28/24 07:44 AM
Iso ruger american ranch
by AustinC. 03/27/24 08:20 PM
Serious Deer Talk
The Hollywood Buck.
by Mbrock. 03/28/24 08:56 PM
For the Don’t Shoot Does Crowd
by SEWoodsWhitetail. 03/28/24 10:45 AM
High Fencing
by RareBreed. 03/26/24 10:45 PM
Who's got the best deer hunting in AL
by TensawRiver. 03/26/24 01:26 PM
What makes you happy?
by Fishduck. 03/26/24 10:25 AM
March
S M T W T F S
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
Land, Leases, Hunting Clubs
West Jefferson County hunting club
by Jmfire722. 03/18/24 08:36 AM
Western Ky farm
by todd w. 03/15/24 01:23 PM
Information on bibb county hunting club
by quickshot. 03/10/24 01:46 PM
Hunting Club
by Hibby. 03/08/24 04:34 PM
Mississippi club
by Gobl4me. 03/07/24 09:55 PM
Who's Online Now
4 registered members (mzzy, jw706, gregnbc, 1 invisible), 588 guests, and 0 spiders.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Great horned owl and turkeys #3106126
04/22/20 06:37 AM
04/22/20 06:37 AM
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,609
Alabama
D
dirkdaddy Offline OP
10 point
dirkdaddy  Offline OP
10 point
D
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,609
Alabama
So as I was listening to a male and female call back and forth to each other just before daybreak the other day, I got to thinking about what great horned owls in a given area means to turkeys and where they roost. GHO are known to take down red tailed hawks and are the apex bird of prey in the woods around here. I walked up on one the other day roosted in this same area I'm talking about and this joker was huge. I thought it was a turkey coming off the roost, just a massive bird with a huge wingspan, so I can imagine it could kill an adult turkey with relative ease.

Do you figure if they are working an area they've run any turkeys off? I am wondering if next time I get to a listening spot and hear a couple of GHO's going off whether I should take it as a promising sign, or a sign that I should go find another spot. I am thinking the latter, but I don't have near enough experience to verify.

Re: Great horned owl and turkeys [Re: dirkdaddy] #3106140
04/22/20 07:11 AM
04/22/20 07:11 AM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,519
Sylacauga
CAL Offline
14 point
CAL  Offline
14 point
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,519
Sylacauga
Not a big fan of any animal that kills turkeys. I hear the owls a lot but rarely see one.

Re: Great horned owl and turkeys [Re: dirkdaddy] #3106210
04/22/20 09:04 AM
04/22/20 09:04 AM
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,316
Cherokee Co. Al.
B
bgarrett Offline
8 point
bgarrett  Offline
8 point
B
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,316
Cherokee Co. Al.
Your probably not going to believe this but I watched a GHO take out a hen a few months out. I took him several try’s to get in the air but finally got him in the thick stuff. I’ve got photos at home and will post tonight. He killed her on the ground first.


It's not a Passion, it's an Obsession. That's what I tell my wife, but she promptly informs it's a disease to which is incurable.
Re: Great horned owl and turkeys [Re: dirkdaddy] #3106218
04/22/20 09:06 AM
04/22/20 09:06 AM
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 9,111
B'ham
Goatkiller Offline
14 point
Goatkiller  Offline
14 point
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 9,111
B'ham
A large population of Barred Owls in an area has never seemed to make any difference. I think a big Owl would eat about anything given the opportunity but I don't think a full size turkey is in the menu. Not saying it has never happened. A Young Turkey probably so. I would guess the impact is relatively low. Owls hunt at night and turkeys are active during the daytime. I'd be more worried about a bunch of hawks hanging around.


No government employees were harmed in the making of this mess.
Re: Great horned owl and turkeys [Re: dirkdaddy] #3106220
04/22/20 09:09 AM
04/22/20 09:09 AM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 36,092
alabama
BhamFred Offline
Freak of Nature
BhamFred  Offline
Freak of Nature
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 36,092
alabama
or an GHO knocking a turkey off the roost at night....


I've spent most of the money I've made in my lifetime on hunting and fishing. The rest I just wasted.....

proud Cracker-Americaan

muslims are like coyotes, only good one is a dead one
Re: Great horned owl and turkeys [Re: dirkdaddy] #3106273
04/22/20 10:34 AM
04/22/20 10:34 AM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 5,062
B
blade Offline
12 point
blade  Offline
12 point
B
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 5,062
I know they will get young ones off the roost. Not sure how often they would get an adult.

Re: Great horned owl and turkeys [Re: Goatkiller] #3106283
04/22/20 10:49 AM
04/22/20 10:49 AM
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,965
Opelika, AL
AU_trout_bum Offline
8 point
AU_trout_bum  Offline
8 point
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,965
Opelika, AL
Originally Posted by Goatkiller
A large population of Barred Owls in an area has never seemed to make any difference. I think a big Owl would eat about anything given the opportunity but I don't think a full size turkey is in the menu. Not saying it has never happened. A Young Turkey probably so. I would guess the impact is relatively low. Owls hunt at night and turkeys are active during the daytime. I'd be more worried about a bunch of hawks hanging around.



Studies have shown GHOs are in fact a main predator of adult gobblers in some areas.


Author, Fly Fishing for Redeye Bass: An Adventure Across Southern Waters
JacksonKayak Fishing Team
---------------------------------------------------
"I do not hunt turkeys because I want to, I hunt them because I have to." - Tom Kelly
Re: Great horned owl and turkeys [Re: bgarrett] #3106284
04/22/20 10:50 AM
04/22/20 10:50 AM
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,965
Opelika, AL
AU_trout_bum Offline
8 point
AU_trout_bum  Offline
8 point
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,965
Opelika, AL
Originally Posted by bgarrett
Your probably not going to believe this but I watched a GHO take out a hen a few months out. I took him several try’s to get in the air but finally got him in the thick stuff. I’ve got photos at home and will post tonight. He killed her on the ground first.



Can't wait to those!


Author, Fly Fishing for Redeye Bass: An Adventure Across Southern Waters
JacksonKayak Fishing Team
---------------------------------------------------
"I do not hunt turkeys because I want to, I hunt them because I have to." - Tom Kelly
Re: Great horned owl and turkeys [Re: dirkdaddy] #3106578
04/22/20 05:29 PM
04/22/20 05:29 PM
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 15,507
Montgomery
bamaeyedoc Offline
Old Mossy Horns
bamaeyedoc  Offline
Old Mossy Horns
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 15,507
Montgomery
I actually had a hawk swoop down at my hen decoy last week. He peeled off when he was less than a foot above her head. I guess he realized at the last second it was fake.

Dr. B


AKA: “Dr. B”
Aldeer #121
8-3-2000
Proud alum of AUM, UAB, and UA
Member of Team 10 Point
2023-2024 ALdeer Deer Contest Winners

Glennis Jerome "Jerry" Harris
1938-2017
UGA Class of 1960
BS/MS Forestry
LTJG, USNR



Re: Great horned owl and turkeys [Re: bamaeyedoc] #3106596
04/22/20 05:50 PM
04/22/20 05:50 PM
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 10,501
Central, Al
Bustinbeards Offline
Booner
Bustinbeards  Offline
Booner
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 10,501
Central, Al
Originally Posted by bamaeyedoc
I actually had a hawk swoop down at my hen decoy last week. He peeled off when he was less than a foot above her head. I guess he realized at the last second it was fake.

Dr. B

About 2 weeks ago I had a big hawk come through the woods and hit my hen wide open. The hawk flopped on the ground and looked at the decoy like WTF, flew up into a nearby tree and for a few mins. It eventually flew off, it was a cool experience to witness.


Originally Posted By: Wiley Coyote
Well, the way I see it is there's just too many assholes
On a good day there's a bunch of assholes in here. On a bad day there's too many assholes in here.
Re: Great horned owl and turkeys [Re: dirkdaddy] #3106668
04/22/20 06:42 PM
04/22/20 06:42 PM
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,004
Chelsea
lectrode Offline
10 point
lectrode  Offline
10 point
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,004
Chelsea
Had one grab a decoy a few years ago and flew about 30 yds with it before it dropped it


You haven't been blocked until you've been flock blocked!!!
Re: Great horned owl and turkeys [Re: AU_trout_bum] #3106693
04/22/20 07:04 PM
04/22/20 07:04 PM
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 21,751
USA
R
Remington270 Offline
Freak of Nature
Remington270  Offline
Freak of Nature
R
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 21,751
USA
Originally Posted by AU_trout_bum



Studies have shown GHOs are in fact a main predator of adult gobblers in some areas.


I heard that info on the meat eater podcast. It's the first I've heard of it. Incredible if it's true.

Re: Great horned owl and turkeys [Re: dirkdaddy] #3106765
04/22/20 08:13 PM
04/22/20 08:13 PM
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,609
Alabama
D
dirkdaddy Offline OP
10 point
dirkdaddy  Offline OP
10 point
D
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,609
Alabama
I can believe it. The bird I saw was HUGE. That thing swooping silently through the night, landing from tree to tree must be hell on turkey. They're about 3.5 pounds or larger and if they got up to speed they could knock something off a roost easily.

Re: Great horned owl and turkeys [Re: dirkdaddy] #3106791
04/22/20 08:28 PM
04/22/20 08:28 PM
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 14,582
Clanton
Turkey_neck Offline
Booner
Turkey_neck  Offline
Booner
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 14,582
Clanton
Boom flop.


Would walk over a naked woman to get to a gobblin turkey!
Re: Great horned owl and turkeys [Re: dirkdaddy] #3106824
04/22/20 09:01 PM
04/22/20 09:01 PM
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,316
Cherokee Co. Al.
B
bgarrett Offline
8 point
bgarrett  Offline
8 point
B
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,316
Cherokee Co. Al.
[Linked Image]
This Owl was 5’+ wing span. Watched it fly down and hit a hen like it was hit by a truck. After holding it down for 5 mins. It took 3 tries to get airborne. Iphone pic at almost dark. Major enhanced through Lightroom.


It's not a Passion, it's an Obsession. That's what I tell my wife, but she promptly informs it's a disease to which is incurable.
Re: Great horned owl and turkeys [Re: dirkdaddy] #3106871
04/22/20 10:12 PM
04/22/20 10:12 PM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 7,409
Boaz,AL
CarbonClimber1 Offline
14 point
CarbonClimber1  Offline
14 point
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 7,409
Boaz,AL
Owls will flat out murder turkeys..my grandaddy knew this....he also knew an old way of trappin that very few no anything about...outlawed now obviously...but once upon a time people who depended on different types of yard fowl protected their birds this way. Bird of prey can be trapped and dealt with....it is illegal...and i am in no way condoning this....but....everything eats a turkey an a quail. I actually sat in an owl seminar once and learned that one of the #1 prey choices for barred owls and the gho as well i believe is a skunk...why? Because their since of smell is almost non existent....or something like that....been a couple years...i may be confused.


"I dont quit.. And ill fight alone if i have to"
Re: Great horned owl and turkeys [Re: dirkdaddy] #3106873
04/22/20 10:20 PM
04/22/20 10:20 PM
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 16,018
Hartselle Al.
n2deer Offline
Old Mossy Horns
n2deer  Offline
Old Mossy Horns
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 16,018
Hartselle Al.
I heard rumors of a fella puting poles up with traps on top to save his fowl at the house.
He raised chickens and guineas. There was no hawk or owl safe around there.


Do you want to hear him gobble, or do you want to kill him.
Re: Great horned owl and turkeys [Re: dirkdaddy] #3106879
04/22/20 10:34 PM
04/22/20 10:34 PM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 38,489
N. Bama
257wbymag Offline
Boo Boo Head
257wbymag  Offline
Boo Boo Head
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 38,489
N. Bama
I like that guy N2deer. I may or may not know a few guys that take avian predator damage seriously.


Quietly killing turkeys where youre not!!!
My tank full of give a fraks been runnin on empty
I'm the paterfamilias

Moderated by  Brent, Dixiepatriot, riverrat, Shaw, YEKRUT 

Aldeer.com Copyright 2001-2023 Aldeer LLP.
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.6.1.1
(Release build 20180111)
Page Time: 0.127s Queries: 14 (0.058s) Memory: 3.2270 MB (Peak: 3.4957 MB) Zlib disabled. Server Time: 2024-03-29 06:54:47 UTC