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You Turkey

1197 Views 13 Replies 10 Participants Last post by  Retired Guy
So, heading in to Cabela's to get some ammo (for turkey) I came up on a Doge PU and was following at a correct distance at about 60 MPH as we went down into a wooded area aside a stream bridge. Then a turkey came across and hit the windshield of the truck and went up and over, I jogged left and ducked and the turkey flew over me by inches still flapping, feathers going every where. Then a second turkey was on intercept with me, I jogged right and docked, missing it by hardly nothing. A third turkey appears and I go on the binders hard to avoid it. And, to top it, on the way home, a mockingbird flew though my front wheel. WTH!

A couple of weeks back a fellow was killed by a turkey buzzard and his wife was badly injured. Watch out for birds!
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Sounds like the turkeys may be on to you.
Think about it.... You were on the way to buy ammo to hunt turkey.

Did you ever see the Alfred Hitchcock movie, The Birds?
Just sayin :surprise:
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So, heading in to Cabela's to get some ammo (for turkey) I came up on a Doge PU and was following at a correct distance at about 60 MPH as we went down into a wooded area aside a stream bridge. Then a turkey came across and hit the windshield of the truck and went up and over, I jogged left and ducked and the turkey flew over me by inches still flapping, feathers going every where. Then a second turkey was on intercept with me, I jogged right and docked, missing it by hardly nothing. A third turkey appears and I go on the binders hard to avoid it. And, to top it, on the way home, a mockingbird flew though my front wheel. WTH!

A couple of weeks back a fellow was killed by a turkey buzzard and his wife was badly injured. Watch out for birds!
It would seem the route you were taking is for the birds...

Seriously though, that is crazy! I've hit a few really big bugs that sounded like a shot going off and startled me. Can't imagine taking a turkey to the dome! :smile_big:
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It would seem the route you were taking is for the birds...

Seriously though, that is crazy! I've hit a few really big bugs that sounded like a shot going off and startled me. Can't imagine taking a turkey to the dome! :smile_big:
If a person did it would literally knock them off the bike depended on speed whether it was a direct hit or glancing. Direct would not be fun at all. I once hit a dove. There is nothing to them and the cloud of feathers proved it. But it still scared the heck out of me. It came from out of no where. Never saw it until BAM.

Sure was glad I had my full helmet on that day. It left a spot on the helmet that looked more like a fuzzy bug splat. No guts or blood at all. I was surprised at that. I was fortunate that I was able to turn my head just enough not to get the thing in my eye. Face shield was partially down and cracked it. Needless to say, I had to pull over and check my shorts.:surprise:
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Glad that you are OK. Wow!
I hit a turkey the day after my birthday in 2008.
Long story short=

Riding a spirited pace on a very familiar road. At full lean, scrapping pegs. The bird ran out in front of me and I didn't leave enough room on the "ragged edge" to react. The bird hit the front wheel, and I lost the front end. As the bike went down, I went over the bars. There was a scuff from my boot next to the filler cap on the tank.

Totaled the bike (2004 Victory Vegas).

But apart from some pretty deep bruises on my legs, my helmet and gear saved my hide as I tumbled down the road.

The turkey ran off, but I'm pretty sure he didn't go far.

I don't ride that "spirited" anymore:wink2:
I was on an unfamiliar Farm to Market road in Texas (a well maintained, paved, two lane highway) riding at about 60 MPH. I approached a rather sharp rise in the road. I did not expect a sharp curve that might call for a speed reduction, but I slowed down anyway. As I crested the rise, and went down the hill, a Turkey Vulture flew up (who had been feasting on some dead animal in my lane) DIRECTLY at my head. By then, I had slowed down enough that the vulture had time to gain enough altitude to miss me - but not by much.

I sometimes think that the Turkey Vultures are eyeing me as a meal when I ride past them, but this is the first time one came close to taking me out.
Like I mentioned before, a helmet-less cruiser rider was killed by a turkey vulture here recently, his wife critically injured. The vulture hit him in the head, I think the motorcycle went into a fence line. A turkey is at least as large.

I was on my Yamaha MT-07 and the ABS kicked in hard when I clamped on the binders to avoid the second turkey and braking PU truck. The road was not wet but damp. The ABS did help prevent loss of control.

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I've seen a lot of animals crossing highways this spring. Snakes, deer, squirrels, turtles. And one horse. All of which can become a clean up duty for Turkey Vultures, who are slow, big birds who will sit in the middle of the road and dine. If you see them in time, often a horn will scare them up and off the road. If those birds hit you or your ride, something bad is going to happen.
Those turkeys were only trying to stop you from buying the hunting ammo..can't blame 'em!

Glad your OK
Those turkeys were only trying to stop you from buying the hunting ammo..can't blame 'em!

Glad your OK
I bagged a couple of toms in my backyard this spring. Maybe it was revenge:devil:.
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Y'all might like another bird that is trying to help you(sorta). The Road Runner at least here, is scorned by hunters because they thin turkey populations by destroying(eating) turkey eggs. So in a way, Road Runners are helping to keep them from running into you on the road. That's just a little extra info on turkeys for you.
y'all might like another bird that is trying to help you(sorta). The road runner at least here, is scorned by hunters because they thin turkey populations by destroying(eating) turkey eggs. So in a way, road runners are helping to keep them from running into you on the road. That's just a little extra info on turkeys for you.
meep meep!!
I've never had a problem with birds but my cousin hit a buzzard in Tennessee once. He was riding his Heritage Softail Classic and came up on several buzzards eating road kill. As he approached they started flying off but then one of them changed directions. He said he yelled at his wife to "look out!" and he leaned over the gas tank and put his head down.
His wife said she was looking off to the side when she heard him yell at her and she looked forward just in time to see him lean over and the buzzard hit the windshield! She wasn't too happy with him. She had never seen the buzzards feeding on the road kill.
Didn't hurt his bike any but it did put a flat spot on his windshield where the metal strap goes across. He said he went back and saw the buzzard laying on the side of the road. It was still alive and it kept blinking its eye at him. A while later the buzzard was gone.
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