Unless you hold a game bird breeder license, I think the circumstances under which you are allowed to "possess a live game bird" are pretty limited in the wildlife code. Do your own research before buying wild game to keep as a pet.

What type of enclosure would I need to lock them up in for 3 months? I am interested in this. I have about 20 acres around my house that is good turkey habitat. Used to have quite a few wild ones around but the subdivisions have pretty much pushed them out. Still see or hear a few every year but it would be nice to have a group around again.

docb said:

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What type of enclosure would I need to lock them up in for 3 months? I am interested in this. I have about 20 acres around my house that is good turkey habitat. Used to have quite a few wild ones around but the subdivisions have pretty much pushed them out. Still see or hear a few every year but it would be nice to have a group around again.

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My reading of the wildlife code is that releasing them to re-establish a population is illegal.

Sec. 64.006. RELEASE OF TURKEYS. (a) Except as provided by this section, no turkeys may be propagated, purchased, sold, transported, or released for the purpose of establishing a free-ranging wild turkey population.
(b) The department may release turkeys in certain areas of the state for the purpose of maintaining a wild turkey population.
(c) The department may adopt regulations regulating the release of turkeys by persons other than department employees.
(d) This section does not apply to any turkeys maintained for agricultural purposes.
(e) The department may contract with private sector sources to release wild turkeys in certain areas of the state for the purpose of maintaining or expanding a wild turkey population.


Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 771, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 31, 1987.

Seems strange especially given the number of people that breed bobwhite and let them loose.

docb said:

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Seems strange especially given the number of people that breed bobwhite and let them loose.

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It is pretty well accepted that pen raised quail will not survive long in the wild and are released almost exclusively for canned hunts, so maybe that is why turkeys are treated differently? I don't know all of the rules and laws to know for sure either way, which is why I suggested that people do their own research before buying. That section I posted was one that stuck out as specifically applying to turkeys when I was doing my own reading of the wildlife code.

txags92 said:

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Unless you hold a game bird breeder license, I think the circumstances under which you are allowed to "possess a live game bird" are pretty limited in the wildlife code. Do your own research before buying wild game to keep as a pet.

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I am licensed with TPWD, and Texas Animal Health Inspection. I have very strict record keeping regulations that I have to follow. Yes, I spent a very deliberate year researching all aspects of this and Learning how to hatch and keep the babies alive and healthy. I am legit.

I wasn't trying to imply that you weren't, and apologize if it came off that way. I was referring more to the suggestion that people could buy from you and keep the birds in a pen (which I would define as possessing a wild game bird) for themselves without a similar license.

docb said:

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What type of enclosure would I need to lock them up in for 3 months? I am interested in this. I have about 20 acres around my house that is good turkey habitat. Used to have quite a few wild ones around but the subdivisions have pretty much pushed them out. Still see or hear a few every year but it would be nice to have a group around again.

Nothing more than what you would put chickens in. These birds are really tame when you raise them from poults. I raised pheasants and opened the gate to see what would happen. Those dudes took off like rocket man. I won't be messing with pheasants again. I did some bobwhites, too. You can release them, but not to hunt them. That is illegal. I release mine just to see what would happen. They stayed around for a week or so then all 75 of them disappeared. The turkeys - they like us. The only thing you gotta remember is to put them up at night or they will roost. That may mean on your roof or you car. Then your wife will not be happy with you. But they are very easy to heard and put up. You hold up a stick the right and they will walk left. I love my birds in any case.

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txags92 said:

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I wasn't trying to imply that you weren't, and apologize if it came off that way. I was referring more to the suggestion that people could buy from you and keep the birds in a pen (which I would define as possessing a wild game bird) for themselves without a similar license.

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No offense taken.

txags92 said:

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I wasn't trying to imply that you weren't, and apologize if it came off that way. I was referring more to the suggestion that people could buy from you and keep the birds in a pen (which I would define as possessing a wild game bird) for themselves without a similar license.

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Glad you brought that up, actually. My experience is that most people that have bought these things from me, you can tell them whatever and who knows what they do with the information. But... you can easily get the license to keep them for $27. Nothing to it. And I should have said that. Now, I am required to document name and address of any buyer and or seller. I should have been aware of my audience. Y'all are all well educated on things, unlike many on Craigslist.

Do your turkeys have any contact with wild birds? Just wondering how that would affect anything. I'll shoot you a text or e-mail as I think it would be fun and I have the room and suitable habitat.

We got the turkey police over here.

Silky Johnston said:

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We got the turkey police over here.

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Actually just the opposite. I think the main issue is mostly the thread title where they are called "wild". Without that, buying and selling turkeys is not really very regulated or problematic at all to me. But as anybody who has been around here long could tell you, I don't like the idea of buying and selling "wildlife" that by law belongs to the state. So seeing an ad for selling "wild" turkeys made me go read the code, and since it seemed ultimately unclear about what was or wasn't legal to do with a "wild" turkey, I just suggested people do their own research.

WaldoWings said:

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Yes, I spent a very deliberate year researching all aspects of this and Learning how to hatch and keep the babies alive and healthy. I am legit.

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I think you meant to type poults.

No 101 on the shelf. Amateur!

Sazerac said:

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No 101 on the shelf. Amateur!

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User name does not check out...it is the big bottle on the right!

How old is that bottle??
They have changed the design at least twice since then

2019 Japanese release

That should shut me up