The Turkey Dog News
Sharing the history of hunting Wild Turkeys with a Dog in the U.S. and Canada. Associated with the TurkeyDog.Org web site.
New Puppies Coming Soon
If you'd like to get on the list, call or write soon.
Hunting Wild Turkey with a Dog
What bird?
What bird interests a dog the most? Tip - they're found in 49 states, but usually flush out of range. If they land, it's often at the top of the tallest trees.
And what dog will teach itself, if the owner gets them out enough, so they learn? And what upland bird hunting has the most growth potential?
For the First Time in Decades, Hikers Can Walk in Forests of Mature, Wild American Chestnuts
We got Lucky
The turkey dog in Wisconsin that got to chase more turkeys than any other dog ever has died. The Virginia Turkey Dog
Rest in peace, George Meyer
Hunting turkeys with dogs in Wisconsin owes everything to George Meyer, for shepherding it thought the maze of rules and regulations. And navigating through State politics (like hundreds of others he did).
On 8/31/09 George called to say thanks for this wingbone call, and tell me about the near catastrophe on the Turkey Dog rule. After 5 years of working on it, when it got to the Assembly Legislation committee, there was some controversy on the new bobcat rule and the open water hunting definition that nearly put Turkey Dogs back to Square One. George diplomatically avoided the Chairman's spat with the head committee woman (it was nothing but total politics).
Now all that has to be done is for the DNR to publish it. Because they're rules, the governor doesn't have to sign it. I said you know I never made a donation like I said I would, for the letters he sent on our behalf and was thinking I should buy him some gun raffle tickets? He said buy the WWF calendars, that’s even better, give them for presents. Typical George, always thinking of others. Wisconsin Loses Conservation Legend George E. Meyer
Wild Turkey Feathers
Wing feathers
Wild turkeys have eight to 10 primaries on each wing (I count 8) and 18 to 19 secondary feathers per wing (count 18).
Snow Buntings
Think turkeys have a tough time in this cold weather, but there's Snow Buntings everywhere. They spend Summer in the Arctic, fly 2500 miles to Winter in WI. Tough birds.
Trade Black Vultures for Wild Turkeys
If you have turkey dogs in Kentucky, Ohio, or West Virginia (or anywhere Black Vultures are, that allows Fall turkey hunting with a dog), you can help farmers deter vultures during calving season, in return for having more land to hunt turkeys on in the Fall. It's legal, guidelines here https://www.turkeydog.org/spring.html
Story here.
Happy Birthday Levi!
Today is Levi’s 6th birthday. We would’ve much rather hunted turkeys today, but pheasants are fun too!
How economic forces and industrial decline led to a Great Lakes tragedy
Never forgot sitting in a restaurant, having perch dinner in Menominee, Michigan in November 1975. The whole place went absolutely quiet when word got around - the Edmund Fitzgerald went down in Lake Superior. Turned out, with everybody onboard.
Gordon Lightfoot - "The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald"
Red compliments Black
Black compliments Red Some quail dogs the English brought to Virginia became turkey dogs
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Saw these mating June 7, 2025. Poults should hatch about 7/27/25, they'll only be 7 weeks old when the season opens September 13. For ev...
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They can outrun most dogs, or fly away when they can't. Here's proof of their fearlessness, walking right on Lucky, Suki and Red...
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Overharvest by Illinois tourists, collecting and drying rare porcupine eggs for floral arrangements, have made Porcupines an Endangered Spec...















