Strategic Partnership?

If you spend as much time as I do napping in a deer stand or turkey blind one of the observations made during a hunter’s waking moments is that deer and turkeys sometimes hang out together.   It’s not all the time; yet, it isn’t a rare occurrence either.

The proximity of a flock of turkeys to one or more deer doesn’t scare-off the whitetails and the presence of the deer doesn’t seem to bother the birds.  By all outward appearances they seem to enjoy the company of one another.  What is the explanation for this curious wildlife behavior and what seemingly might be a symbiotic relationship?

Wild turkeys both see in color and their vision is incredibly advanced – possibly three times greater than that of a human with 20/20 vision.  Since turkey do not sport external ears their field of view is 270 degrees and they can detect motion a hundred yards distant.  Turkeys move about in sizeable flocks resulting in dozens of vigilant eyes.  Inasmuch as turkeys will immediately begin to distance themselves from any movement they conclude is suspicious whitetail deer place their trust in the instincts of their turkey pals and follow.

Similarly, it is the sniffer of a whitetail that is incredibly advanced. I’ve been busted by a deer that winded me long before the animal ever had an opportunity to detect my presence visually. In a group setting, if a deer goes on high-alert as a consequence of a whiff of danger the turkeys place their trust in the instincts of their whitetail pals and follow.

This photo of a whitetail fawn accompanied by a flock of wild turkeys likely includes about a dozen pair of sharp eyes and a minimum of one very good nose - further evidence of an inexperienced young deer mixing-in with a brood flock for safety's sake.

So, if you’re driving down the road some day and you spy a flock of turkeys keeping company with a doe and her fawns or any collection of whitetail deer there’s an explanation other than mere coincidence.

Some biologists have concluded that each species trusts the other’s best sense for their mutually-assured security.