deernutz

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.

buckman11

wow!!!that is one strange bird.

deernutz

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

grinder67

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

buckman11

thats a taxidermy bill i would not mind paying

cammogunner

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

Phil from Maine

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...

neb

Is Merriams what you have in that area??

JW

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

deernutz

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.