WILD TURKEYS can fly. One took up residence in his backyard this summer. Every evening the turkey would eye the roof of the neighbor’s garage, fly to the top, eye the limbs of the giant tree in my son’s back yard, then fly up to the highest limb. I don’t believe this turkey could go long distances. His short flight took a lot of effort.
It was quite the sight to see the turkey fly out of the tree in the morning.
That’s been my experience too. I’ve seen turkeys fly, not well or far, but the can glide down slope fairly easily.