Weird turkey
 

So I was driving home last night and caught a glimpse of some turkey's in a field by my house. Then I noticed a really light colored tom with some hens. I turned around and was able to snap a couple photos.

I went home and did some research and couldn't find this color accept one website that said it was a rare color phase. Wish I had a tag, but they only give out 30 tags in my area.

Sorry about the pic didn't have time to download it off my camera.

wow!!!that is one strange bird.

First I thought it was a red bourbon that got out but then I came across the erythristic color phase. Don't know.

Very cool! I hope I never kill one like it. I dont need any more taxidermy bills.

thats a taxidermy bill i would not mind paying:):):)

cool find i know what your sayin about wantin a tag but it is awsome to just see rare thing like that imo

Cool looking turkey! I think if I saw it and it has a abeard it would surely be getting shoot! As stated above I would not mind paying for the taxidermist bill...

Is Merriams what you have in that area??

You are correct! It is a Erythristuc color phase and a very nice one at that. Congratulations.

And I hope you don't mind but I grabbed your picture as it shows the "Reddish Brown" color nicely. I added to my Learn to Hunt Program on Wild turkeys.

There are 4 color phases,
Smokey gray color phase(white/black/gray colored feathers)
Melanistic color phase (all black colored feathers - no barring on the wings is easily seen),
Yours Erythritic color phase (reddish coloration)
And then Albino - but Albino could be a piebald. A true Albino has pink eyes. A pielbald turkey could be all white but have black eyes.
That is what I found doing some research.
Dave...JW

Neb yup merriams in my area. I've taken the eastern and merriams before. I think merriams are my fav. They can be very loud when calling and seem to come into calls a little easier IMO.

JW no problems with using the photos. Anything I can to do to hunt new hunters.