State law also prohibits the release of pen-raised turkeys into the wild. Purchasing “wild” strain turkeys that are for sale by poultry hatcheries is also illegal since it is unlawful to ...

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD) – The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources is reminding citizens that taking wild turkey eggs and releasing pen-raised turkeys is illegal.

The S.C. Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) is frequently contacted concerning wild turkey nests that appear to be abandoned, resulting in concern for the welfare of the nest and eggs.

The female turkeys lay between eight and 14 eggs a year. But only about 60 percent of the eggs survive the bird’s natural predators. In the wild, the turkey’s natural enemies are the fox, the ...