Richmond City Official Shoots Turkey

You may very likely have had turkey on Thanksgiving, and it wouldn’t be shocking if you had it again on Christmas, depending on which holidays you celebrate. But Contra Costa County – specifically Richmond, the biggest city in this fair county – has its own unique turkey rituals, and it’s not a bad idea to know about them if you’re considering buying a house here.

Take, for example, the Turkey Shoot. Participants include Richmond Councilmember Tom Butt, who along with other folks from the Point Richmond neighborhood has for years gathered in the town center, marched to the bar and engaged in

shooting Wild Turkey, an event in which no actual turkeys are harmed but a whole lot of Wild Turkeys of the Kentucky straight bourbon persuasion (as the local paper put it) are downed.

Which may sound wild, but further north in CoCo County, this turkey thing is even more out of hand. About a year ago, real wild turkeys invaded the town, and nothing has been the same since. Even police cars haven’t been immune, with one avian attacking a law enforcement vehicle (most likely its own reflection therein).

Of course, the Turkey Shoot is isn’t mandatory and you’re not really in any danger from the turkeys of Hercules. Like we said, it’s just a good idea to be prepared. (Photo: Kevin on flickr.)