Anyone keep Ocellated Turkeys?

[Scottingitup]

I have been a turkey hunter for many years. I have gotten my Royal Slam which is the Eastern, Osceola, Merriams, and Rio Grande turkeys in America, and a Gould's turkey in Mexico. We were going to go to Guatemala for Ocellated turkeys to get our World Slam, but after we were told how they "hunt" the Ocellated turkey, we decided to pass. They don't gobble and come to a call like a traditional turkey does, but they have more of a singing call and most of them are shot off the roost, which didn't really appeal to me. I would love to hunt one, but I want to actually hunt it, not just "bang" shoot a bird sitting on a limb. I enjoy the "hunting" part of turkey hunting more than actually shooting them anyway. Anyone whose hunted wild turkeys knows how wary they are. Anyway, we had a friend who did go and hunt one, and he was very disappointed because the guide walked him to a tree, pointed up, and said "shoot". He said there was definitely no sport in it. As far as getting one out of there.... well anyone who has ever spent any time in Mexico or Central America knows that US dollars will buy you ANYTHING, but I would think getting it across the border back into the US would be some serious red tape. Like the others said, it just depends on how much you want to spend? And it'd be a tough gamble not really knowing how they handle captivity?

Well sounds like trapping one or two wouldn't be that hard then. I agree though that is a shameful way to "hunt".

 

[jak2002003]

I agree. Shooting roosting birds is pointless. Might as well have them in a small cage and shoot them in there.

Think i will have to give up on the idea of having a few of those turkeys around my garden.

 

[Zuni]

I've been looking for Oscelllated Turkey eggs to hatch for years...or poults.
Never had luck finding any breeders.
I live in northern New Mexico and would love to start a colony of this breed. I've raised eastern wilds, and many of the common ornamentals, but...
have always wanted to just raise Oscellated...any info would be greatly appreciated. My friend down the road raises Rio Grandes...and would love to raise the
Oscellated as well.
Thanks much...Zuni

 

[ivan3]

Zuni wrote: I've been looking for Oscelllated Turkey eggs to hatch for years...or poults.
Never had luck finding any breeders.
I live in northern New Mexico and would love to start a colony of this breed. I've raised eastern wilds, and many of the common ornamentals, but...
have always wanted to just raise Oscellated...any info would be greatly appreciated. My friend down the road raises Rio Grandes...and would love to raise the
Oscellated as well.
Thanks much...Zuni

Be prepared to write a big check for the eggs/turks, the housing and factor in the investment of time required to bone-up on their needs and behavior.
This thread had a contact: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/417739/ocellated-turkeys

There are other contacts in other threads. BYC Advanced search function is very good - (just remember to use SEARCH button at bottom of page)

This is pretty good general outline of habitat and behavior: http://www.nwtf.org/conservation/bulletins/bulletin_6_9-9-09.pdf

A thread with some shots of Ocellated turks taken by a member at the Dallas Zoo: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=104146&p=1

 

[SilverFeather]

Where are they from? They are GORGEOUS ! They look like a cross between a turkey and a peacock !

They are in Mexico . Heard of someone going hunting in Mexico and he paid $4,500 to get one. Sure don’t know how a person could kill a beautiful bird like this. , I though the same looking like a cross between a turkey and a peacock.

 

[Theresa Wiliamson]

I would rather keep them alive than kill them. My poultry free range.