Biglawe

I'm not a wildlife biologist, but I will tell you what Iunderstand from 20+ years of turkey hunting, speaking withturkey hunters more experienced than me,and what I have read from reliable sources (see linksin my previous postfrom Mississippi State University and the National Wild Turkey Federation website).

There are several "common" color phases of wild turkeys. These color phases are caused bythe expression ofa recessive chromosome in the DNA. The result is a perfectly wild turkey that is a different color (grayish-white, red, and black). These turkeys are in every way wild and capable of survival in the wild. I have seen several of them over the years though I haven't shot one (most of the white ones tend to be hens, though I have seen two "white" gobblers and almost got a shot on one strutting with a bunch of other wild turkeys in southern Mississippi). These grayish-whitish turkeys are not true albinos, which are totally devoid of pigment and are completely white.

In answer to your question, my impression is that the resultant offspring of a cross between wild and demosticturkeys lack the survival skills and instincts to survive in the wild. Domestic turkeys are typically fat, relatively immoble compared to the wild ones, andare notable to fly as well.

I will make an anology to coyotes. Coyotes in this area have been known to breed with domestic dogs, and the offspring is called a coydog. Wild coyotes cover vast distances daily in search of food,but the coydogs can't keep up with them and starve or run themselves to death trying.