Jagdreise -

(Meleagris gallopavo)

The wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is a species of turkey originally native to North America. With a live weight of up to 10 kg (hens are significantly lighter), the wild turkey is one of the largest flight-capable birds on Earth. The plumage is dark brown to black, while the head and neck are entirely unfeathered. Recent research has shown (supported by banded specimens) that their life expectancy can certainly reach 10 to 12 years. However, the professional hunters of Palarikovo—our hunting area—assume a much shorter lifespan. The oldest gobblers harvested each year are five, at most six years old. Their age can be determined by the spur as well as the beard, which grows from the chest of the gobblers below the neck.