For the past several years, here in Missouri's Ozarks, we are finally seeing turkeys again. Decades ago, when we first camped and hiked in this area, we saw dozens of wild turkeys, and were never surprised to see flocks wandering across fields, or crossing roads from one side of the forest to another.
That all changed when the local yahoo poachers began running "deer dogs". They ran them day and night, but mostly during the day, and usually several times per week. On our particular road, Reynolds County's Champion Poacher (who also happens to be an elected official) would head up to the top of the ridge, let his deer dogs (usually beagles) out of the dogbox, and then as the dogs began a southward journey, Mr. ChampionPoacher would head back out to the road, and would parallel the dogs, by listening to their barking and yelping. As they yelped their way down the valley, he would drive slowly, steering wheel in one hand, and other hand resting on his trusty poaching gun. He was always waiting with bated breath for a deer to be flushed out onto the road by the yelping mob; sometimes he was "lucky", sometimes not.
Well, you can imagine how Mrs. Turkey Hen-on-the-nest reacted to the barking, yelping, and threahsing through the brush of a bunch of mangy dogs. It was during the heyday of deer dog poaching in Reynolds County that the turkey began its steep decline in numbers. Turkey numbers continued to decline year after year, as deer dogging increased, until at some point we NEVER saw turkeys anymore. Never.
Then two things happened: Mr. Elected Official Champion Poacher moved about 10 miles from this road, and around the same time a "Sting Operation" was staged, in which many Reynolds County poachers, including the then-Sheriff, were arrested for illegal hunting activities, including running deer with dogs. Of course the then-sheriff managed to have his "record" sealed, unlike those of the common folk.
After the two events, wild turkey did eventually begin to be seen in this area, but it took several years. Now, although they are not as plentiful as in the 1970's, they are around, and it is hoped they recover completely from the idiocy and greed of a few.
A few pictures of these beautiful beings are attached. Enjoy.