By Justin Haag
Perhaps it’s the relatively small, featherless, wrinkly head on the big body that gives it comical appeal. Make no mistake, though, fighting among wild turkeys is serious business.
Similar to other wildlife species, most fighting among turkeys is related to the mating scene. Throughout the year, males establish a pecking order with the most dominant toms earning the right to breed and pass on their genetics.
The process of developing this hierarchy picks up in fall when turkeys gather in flocks. While spending all of that time together throughout the winter, social structures develop. Tough guys get a reputation. Inferior birds are shunned. Gangs form. Hens also squabble as they jockey for rights to food and nesting locations.
While much of the dominance has been determined come spring, the mating period is when some of the most dramatic fights occur. Toms have a one-track mind and are intent on their mission. As each day lengthens, so rises the level of testosterone in the males, making them more apt to get worked up.
When toms become agitated in a skirmish or excited at the presence of females, blood rushes to their heads. This changes the way light reacts with collagen fibers, causing them to emit the distinct red, white and blue appearance. This colorful head, with its odd snood, caruncles and wattle, is integral to the tom’s iconic courtship display of Thanksgiving decor: a bird in full strut, tail feathers erect and wings dragging on the ground.
Fighting toms and jakes don’t abide by any rules of engagement. Kicking, scratching and biting are allowed. There’s neck wrestling, wing flapping, pecking at heads, clawing and a lot of squawking.
One especially interesting sight is two birds with locked beaks, appearing as if they are trying to swallow each other. The conflicts can last a few minutes up to days.
For hunting purposes, it’s hard to know when to play upon the birds’ tendency for conflict. A gobble or fighting purr call paired with a full strut decoy might attract a battle-ready big tom, but others are likely to keep their distance for fear of getting their butts kicked.
Especially comical is when a confused tom beats up on a decoy or attacks some other thing that isn’t a turkey. Make no mistake, though, it’s serious business.