Are Deer Scared Of Turkeys? Why Do Deer Tend To Keep Away From Turkey

How do deer and turkeys coexist in the wild? And can large flocks of turkeys affect your deer hunting endeavors? These are questions that have been the subject of many discussions among hunters.

To answer these and many other questions related to the topic, we need to first consider how these two species coexist in the wild.

are deer scared of turkeys: What Effects Do Turkey Have On Deer Hunting

Deer are in not scared of turkeys. In fact, it is common to find the two species in the same field or area. Some hunters have also reported success using fake turkey decoys to attract deer. This can be due to several reasons.

First, it is believed that deer typically associate turkey flocks with food sources. This means they will more often than not go where turkeys are. However, this isn’t the complete answer. While deer and turkeys do coexist in the wild, deer do not always get close to them.

Why Do Deer Tend To Keep Away From Turkey? are They scared of turkeys?

In most cases, when the two are grazing together, deer will typically keep their distance. Turkeys typically travel in flocks that can be as large as 100 turkeys. Also, turkeys are known for making a lot of noise, which can be annoying to deer.

The noise can be one of the reasons why deer tend to keep away from turkeys when they are grazing in the same field.

But Why Are Deer And Turkey Found Together In The Field?

We already know that it is common to find deer and turkey grazing in the same area, but why is this? Well, there are two main reasons we can consider to explain this. The first is food sources. Both deer and turkeys eat the same feed.

Therefore, the presence of turkeys in an area will alert a deer to the presence of a food source nearby.

The second reason is for mutual survival. Deer have an excellent sense of smell, which they use to detect danger.

On the other hand, turkeys rely on their excellent eyesight to detect predators. Therefore, grazing together increases their chances of survival. A deer will be alerted to the presence of danger when they see a turkey fleeing.

On the flip side, turkeys will not stick around if the nearby deer are fleeing.

Can Turkey’s Lead To Decrease in Deer Population

As mentioned, turkeys typically graze in large flocks of 100. And since they eat the same feeds as deer, there is always a question of whether they can lead to a decline in deer populations. Some people seem to think so.

However, just because turkey and deer eat the same feeds does not mean that they lead to decreasing deer herds. Studies on the issue have revealed no direct correlation between declining deer populations and turkeys.

In most cases, studies have shown that the deer population decline due to other factors such as severe winters, significant predator presence, and overhunting.

Fun Fact: Can Deer Eat Turkey Egg?

Another question worth exploring is whether deer eat turkey eggs or not. So as we all know, deer are herbivores and stick to shoots, leaves, and twigs. However, there have been numerous reported cases of deer eating bird eggs.

In particular, deer have been known to eat quail and songbird eggs. So does this mean they also eat turkey eggs? The jury is still out on this one as there aren’t cases of this happening. However, their habits with other bird eggs wouldn’t be out of the ordinary.

Is It Possible To Hunt Deer And Turkey Together

It is possible, as already mentioned, that they can be found in the same fields most of the time. However, turkeys and deer usually have separate hunting seasons. This makes it less possible unless the two seasons fall within the same months.

Another limitation to hunting deer and turkey is the weapons used. In most states, shotguns (with few exceptions) are the accepted firearms for taking down the turkey. Deer, on the other hand, are hunted using crossbows, compound bows, and or rifles. Thus, the archery season is the most likely time to hunt the two together.

In some states, turkey archery and deer archery seasons fall within the same months, especially during fall. This presents you with the opportunity to hunt both species. All in all, it is essential to check your state’s hunting laws and regulations on the possibility of hunting both.

Are Deer Easier To Hunt Than Turkey

This is an interesting question, especially considering two do graze together sometimes. It is not easy to say which between the two is easier to hunt through. They both have different habits. Deer tend to be more curious and have an excellent sense of smell.

However, this is only for young deer. Older mature bucks tend to be more alert and are harder to kill than young ones. On the other hand, turkeys are not as curious and will flee at the slightest sign of danger.

Also, as mentioned, they have excellent eyesight. This can make them a bit more challenging for new hunters. This is especially so since turkeys are hunted using shotguns. Shotguns are more effective at close range compared to deer hunting rifles.

This, coupled with the excellent eyesight of turkeys, can make them more of a challenge for new hunters. Deer, on the other hand, can be hunted for longer distances. However, mature bucks tend to be very elusive.

As such, they will not be as easy to hunt as other young deer.

Another important aspect of hunting is how competent you are with your hunting gear and skills. Here, you must be able to effectively hit your target from a distance. You need to have the steadiness and accuracy necessary in order to make clean shots under pressure.

In addition, good hunting requires an understanding of animal behavior. Knowing what signals an animal gives off can help you predict where it will next move and how best to take it down.

Conclusion

Deer and turkey do coexist and are known to hang around in the same fields quite often. However, deer are not big fans of the noise made by turkeys. Thus when the flock of turkeys is large and making a racket, deer will more often than not leave the area.

This is not a sign that deer are scared of turkey, though. It simply means that deer are uncomfortable with the kind of noise that turkeys sometimes cause. Overall, the two use each other for mutual protection, which is why they can be found close to one another.