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Author Topic: Smokey gray color phase  (Read 4831 times)

Offline Cowboy

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Smokey gray color phase
« on: April 09, 2020, 09:02:11 PM »
Was wondering how many of you have seen a smokey gray color phase turkey? Been doing some reading on it and appears they are around 1 out of 100. More common than I thought. I have seen 2 in about 32 years of hunting. The most recent was in Western Tennessee few weeks ago.

Offline Gobble!

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Re: Smokey gray color phase
« Reply #1 on: April 09, 2020, 09:09:40 PM »
Never seen one in 16 years of really paying attention.

Offline RossAnderson

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Re: Smokey gray color phase
« Reply #2 on: April 09, 2020, 09:13:15 PM »
Seen my first one earlier this year riding around in Cades Cove. Gatlinburg, TN. It was a smoke phase/gray hen in a big flock. She stuck out like a sore thumb. Sure was pretty though.


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Offline MISSISSIPPI Double beard

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Re: Smokey gray color phase
« Reply #3 on: April 09, 2020, 09:19:25 PM »
I've seen quite a few fall and spring. Everyone I have seen during the spring season had a gobbler with them.
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Offline mmorgan9812

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Re: Smokey gray color phase
« Reply #4 on: April 09, 2020, 09:20:19 PM »
Seen my first one earlier this year riding around in Cades Cove. Gatlinburg, TN. It was a smoke phase/gray hen in a big flock. She stuck out like a sore thumb. Sure was pretty though.


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I think I saw the same one... We go there all the time. I live about 45min from there

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Offline JeffC

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Re: Smokey gray color phase
« Reply #5 on: April 09, 2020, 09:20:37 PM »
we had 2 that were hanging around here a few years ago, last time I saw her a fox was after her, people have reported there is still a couple in a local flock. Awesome looking bird.
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Offline guesswho

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Re: Smokey gray color phase
« Reply #6 on: April 09, 2020, 09:35:32 PM »
I’ve seen a couple in TN, but never in Fl, GA or Al.  I did find a feather several years ago in Bama that looked like it came of a smoke phase.
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Offline Ol timer

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Re: Smokey gray color phase
« Reply #7 on: April 09, 2020, 09:39:20 PM »
Took this Smoked phased wings Tom a few years ago.

Offline mmorgan9812

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Re: Smokey gray color phase
« Reply #8 on: April 09, 2020, 09:53:26 PM »
Took this Smoked phased wings Tom a few years ago.
That's awesome!

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Offline Hook hanger

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Re: Smokey gray color phase
« Reply #9 on: April 09, 2020, 10:03:32 PM »
Seen 2 in the wild one in Missouri and another in Kansas.

Offline turkey_slayer

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Re: Smokey gray color phase
« Reply #10 on: April 09, 2020, 10:07:20 PM »
I've seen prob 10. Two were longbeards in the fall that were together. Could have legally killed one then but wanted to call one in gobbling. Never seen either nor heard of any being killed the following spring.

I was on a bird in Tennessee on a pretty steep mountain side. I kept noticing a white blob about 100 yards below me behind a blow down and for the longest time I kept thinking what the heck is that opossum digging for. Turns out the gobbler was with a smoke phased hen

Offline MK M GOBL

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Re: Smokey gray color phase
« Reply #11 on: April 09, 2020, 10:11:53 PM »
Pretty rare around here, but have seen a couple of toms and hens. Never out hunting... I did watch 2 "Red" Phased Jakes last year, passed on them on the chance of seeing them as gobblers this year!


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Offline Sir-diealot

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Re: Smokey gray color phase
« Reply #12 on: April 09, 2020, 10:39:04 PM »
Lovett E. Williams, Jr. talked about the color phases in his book "Book of the Wild Turkey" it was pretty interesting to read about the different color phases and also how the beards could have different colors. Good book if you ever get the chance to pick it up.


Several color phases of the wild turkey are recognized. The red phase occurs mainly in southern Mississippi and can be described as a rusty, reddish color on the tail, wings, or most body feathers. The smoky-gray phase occurs throughout Mississippi and is mistakenly thought to be a partial domestic turkey. Smokey-gray turkeys, usually hens, are whitish grayish in color on parts or most of the body. They are not part domestic and do successfully reproduce. Another color phase seen infrequently is the black (melanistic) phase. These turkeys have no other colors, just black. The true albino, with a total absence of any color, is rare.

https://wildturkeyzone.com/wildturkey/species1.htm
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Offline CALLM2U

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Re: Smokey gray color phase
« Reply #13 on: April 09, 2020, 10:54:52 PM »
30+ years of turkey hunting and I've seen 1 smoke phased hen. 

It's one of my 'dream birds' though. 

Offline Cowboy

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Re: Smokey gray color phase
« Reply #14 on: April 10, 2020, 05:28:09 AM »
Besides the one I saw in Tennessee, the only other one I saw was in Southern Missouri  back in the 90s. Also back in the late 80s or early 90s, my Grandpa shot a red phase gobbler one spring. It was a gorgeous bird as well.