Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk ALTurkey Talk -- Beards and Spurs Turkeys and water...

I have heard people say that the first thing a turkey does after he flies down from the roost and the last thing he does before he flies up to roost is get a drink of water. The bird I shot last weekend first thing in the morning, had a dripping wet beard, so he must have been around water somewhere. I might need to change my morning set up closer to the water from now on. What have you guys seen?

I've never seen that to be the case with the turkeys I've killed.

First thing my turkeys do is look for split tail. I've never heard the water thing.

I've killed most of mine no where near any water, but that's just my experiences

Turkeys will drink dew. They ain't gotta have a lot of water around in this part of the country.

Yeah, that's news to me. I've never heard that nor thought it.

Dr. B

I'd say his beard was wet cause you killed him in the AM in soaking wet pasture according to your story and pics.

That is also a very good explanation.

Most all of them I kill in TN are that way they all hang out in pastures early

I've been on several that won't drink or eat for hours while hunting them nor did I. Stubborn and each ones different in my opinion. I do know they like to roost around water or where creeks join or in my case anywhere there is a bluff or highwall.

X2

I have had quite a few pitch down into fields first thing...and never make it to water...

Man, I sure could kill a lot more turkeys if they did though!!

Rarely seen it myself, seems like they want that nookie first thing. Really cant blame them.

Drinkin' turkeys are easier to kill! Lol

I know drinking turkey would make it easier to take me out.

Atz rite

There is some truth to it but like other old sayings, it doesn't apply all the time. Anyone that does a lot of winter fishing around Lake Martin where they draw the water down 10 feet has probably flocks of turkeys gather at the edge of the lake to drink shortly before time to roost. I've seen it many times. In the spring, I think other instincts take precedence. I doubt turkeys need a great deal of water anyway. They don't pee or sweat. They can probably go long periods without a big drink.

Ive never noticed it myself either but I did have an old time'er tell me he went in a boat & found them gobbling on the river banks. Then set up directly below them & waited cause first thing they did was come to get a drink. Ive had several fly straight from the tree to me thru the years thou.

I think somebody is kinda mixing up the drinking thing with the fact that turkeys really do like to roost over water if they can