Thought some would enjoy reading this. Very short so here is the link.
https://www.realtree.com/turkey-blog-with-steve-hickoff/rare-white-wild-turkey-gobbler-taken-by-tennessee-hunter?fbclid=IwAR389RRbP1e7F98Osv6_nbFTqhQUqqRbk9rv4jsPiqJksv_v5EwaYpjok38
I'd give it a solid 'maybe'...
We spotted an all white bird in the sandhills of Nebraska, miles from anything. My buddy hunted him for most of the season. Finally ended up tagging him in late May. Was bragging on his trophy at Wildman's (there's one guy on here at least who knows where that is/was) on Prime Rib night and an old boy let him know that there had been a couple domestic escapees that had mingled in with the wild birds a few years earlier. This was either a remnant escape or an outcross.
Similar deal in NE Colorado a couple years ago. There had been an all white 'wild' turkey mixed in with a flock for a couple of springs. The DOW had advised a few of us that they didn't care where, when, how or what season it was, to kill that sucker and call them - no tag required...
Quote from: spaightlabs on April 15, 2019, 04:55:20 PM
I'd give it a solid 'maybe'...
We spotted an all white bird in the sandhills of Nebraska, miles from anything. My buddy hunted him for most of the season. Finally ended up tagging him in late May. Was bragging on his trophy at Wildman's (there's one guy on here at least who knows where that is/was) on Prime Rib night and an old boy let him know that there had been a couple domestic escapees that had mingled in with the wild birds a few years earlier. This was either a remnant escape or an outcross.
Similar deal in NE Colorado a couple years ago. There had been an all white 'wild' turkey mixed in with a flock for a couple of springs. The DOW had advised a few of us that they didn't care where, when, how or what season it was, to kill that sucker and call them - no tag required...
Lovvett Williams talks about color phase turkey's in his book The book of the Wild Turkey. He talks about different feather coloration as well as different pigmentation of the beards, some almost clear, some kinda yellowish and white as well if I remember correctly.
Lovett used to post on here and there has perhaps never been and may never be a better authority.
All anyone knows for sure about this bird is that it is white, and just throwing Lovett's name in the article doesn't change that. That may or may not be a wild turkey...
Quote from: spaightlabs on April 15, 2019, 05:42:46 PM
Lovett used to post on here and there has perhaps never been and may never be a better authority.
All anyone knows for sure about this bird is that it is white, and just throwing Lovett's name in the article doesn't change that. That may or may not be a wild turkey...
No, no it does not, but you basically made it sound like they do not exits, that was the reason I brought what he had said about them up. I also doubt the Real Tree would post it if it were not a wild turkey. Edit: Noticed under the picture it says "Courtesy photo Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency" that gives it further verification.
The point I'm trying to make is that just because a turkey lives in the woods with other turkeys does not make it a wild turkey. The only way to tell if that it a true color phase of a wild bird is genetic testing.
Don't take Mossy Oak as a bible of sorts - they've posted up animals before that turned out to not be taken where they were originally reported to be taken...
Quote from: spaightlabs on April 15, 2019, 07:09:17 PM
The point I'm trying to make is that just because a turkey lives in the woods with other turkeys does not make it a wild turkey. The only way to tell if that it a true color phase of a wild bird is genetic testing.
Don't take Mossy Oak as a bible of sorts - they've posted up animals before that turned out to not be taken where they were originally reported to be taken...
First off you replied as I was editing my comment. I said Mossy Oak and it was Real Tree, my mistake and I apologize for that. The main part of my edit I am guessing you did not see was this comment "Noticed under the picture it says "Courtesy photo Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency" that gives it further verification."
Wonder if it's an albino? Can't see the head or legs from the picture.
It just verifies that it is a turkey that is white. The only way to tell if it is truly wild and a color phase versus and out cross of wild and domestic or a domestic that has been living with wild birds is a genetic test...
About 12 years ago or so there was a hen like this gobbler. They're pretty cool to see in the woods.
I'm a 'benefit of a doubt' kinda guy, so I say congrats!
Quote from: SinGin on April 15, 2019, 07:19:24 PM
Wonder if it's an albino? Can't see the head or legs from the picture.
Found this article I will post the link to it so you can go see the video as well.
Sorry, the way it is barred black on either side I thought it was a video, just a picture.
"TENNESSEE — A hunter in Tennessee gets the turkey of a lifetime.
According to Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Cameron Bond took what's called a 'leucistic' turkey in Rutherford County last week.
Leucism in birds is described as loss of pigmentation, according to TWRA. The bird's beard was dark, and the back feathers still hold some color.
The turkey weighed 20 pounds, and its beard measured 9.5 inches."
https://fox8.com/2019/04/15/turkey-of-a-lifetime-hunter-takes-rare-white-bird-in-tennessee/
Hate butterball is short one turkey now. :)
Quote from: 10splayer23 on April 15, 2019, 07:40:59 PM
Hate butterball is short one turkey now. :)
With what they charge I am sure one will not be missed :D
Cool looking turkey, sucky picture, and the internet investigative authorities are wide awake!
Where I live its not uncommon at all to see smoke phase or gray hens. Like spend a few hours riding on a day when turkeys are moving and you will see one. And I know a guy who killed a legit white wild gobbler. Not as white as that one but very close. I don't know the deal with that bird but they do exist.
Quote from: dublelung on April 16, 2019, 07:30:44 AM
Cool looking turkey, sucky picture, and the internet investigative authorities are wide awake!
Here is the picture from the second article I listed, I will add it up top too.
Quote from: J.D. Shellnut on April 16, 2019, 08:20:03 AM
Where I live its not uncommon at all to see smoke phase or gray hens. Like spend a few hours riding on a day when turkeys are moving and you will see one. And I know a guy who killed a legit white wild gobbler. Not as white as that one but very close. I don't know the deal with that bird but they do exist.
I'll be coming to visit you next year. :D
Better the hunter get him than yotes
Quote from: turkeyfoot on April 16, 2019, 09:56:02 AM
Better the hunter get him than yotes
I completely agree. I posted this elsewhere in a hunting group and the guy started to tell me it is unethical to shoot it the same as piebald or albino deer. As I told him they eat the same as one with proper color so why not?
beautiful bird! I heard of some smokey colored birds in my area but have yet to see one for myself!
Quote from: Sir-diealot on April 16, 2019, 09:51:58 AM
Quote from: J.D. Shellnut on April 16, 2019, 08:20:03 AM
Where I live its not uncommon at all to see smoke phase or gray hens. Like spend a few hours riding on a day when turkeys are moving and you will see one. And I know a guy who killed a legit white wild gobbler. Not as white as that one but very close. I don't know the deal with that bird but they do exist.
I'll be coming to visit you next year. :D
Cant kill hens la. Or I would have one mounted! Called her up several years ago she was solid gray with a black line across her back where her tail feathers joined her body. One the prettiest turkeys Ive ever seen.
Quote from: limbhanger777 on April 16, 2019, 11:26:27 AM
beautiful bird! I heard of some smokey colored birds in my area but have yet to see one for myself!
Somebody posted this picture of a smokey in another place I posted it. I would love to see either in the wild.
Quote from: J.D. Shellnut on April 16, 2019, 11:53:41 AM
Quote from: Sir-diealot on April 16, 2019, 09:51:58 AM
Quote from: J.D. Shellnut on April 16, 2019, 08:20:03 AM
Where I live its not uncommon at all to see smoke phase or gray hens. Like spend a few hours riding on a day when turkeys are moving and you will see one. And I know a guy who killed a legit white wild gobbler. Not as white as that one but very close. I don't know the deal with that bird but they do exist.
I'll be coming to visit you next year. :D
Cant kill hens la. Or I would have one mounted! Called her up several years ago she was solid gray with a black line across her back where her tail feathers joined her body. One the prettiest turkeys Ive ever seen.
I completely missed the word hen, sorry about that. I bet she was a marvel to see.
Here is one killed in MS earlier this year.
https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/outdoors/2019/03/25/turkey-hunter-bags-bizarre-white-turkey-mississippi/3210749002/
Let him come me or my bunch and I'll assure you he will be shot at then prob mounted with stories to be told for generations. Seems to me either way it's a turkey of a lifetime and if was a cross or escapee from a pen then should be taken out of the gene pool ASAP anyways so hey it's all good.
Probably just a domestic bird that got lose.
Quote from: bghunter777 on April 17, 2019, 01:06:12 PM
Probably just a domestic bird that got lose.
It was ruled to be a wild turkey if you read the article.
Quote from: REBELYELL on April 16, 2019, 09:26:33 PM
Here is one killed in MS earlier this year.
https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/outdoors/2019/03/25/turkey-hunter-bags-bizarre-white-turkey-mississippi/3210749002/
Thanks for the link. Pity the guy got attacked so much.
Quote from: MDSTRUTNRUT on April 17, 2019, 09:07:33 AM
Let him come me or my bunch and I'll assure you he will be shot at then prob mounted with stories to be told for generations. Seems to me either way it's a turkey of a lifetime and if was a cross or escapee from a pen then should be taken out of the gene pool ASAP anyways so hey it's all good.
The DEC (Or whatever it is called in his state I don't recall) said it was indeed a wild turkey.
The fellow who shot the bird in the original post is my kid's phys ed. teacher. He has apparently faced all kinds of negative comments and shaming on social media over shooting that bird.
Saw where one was killed in West ga On Ga Got forum also one looked like a royal palm
The body shape and head size of the turkey look to be that of a wild turkey. Domestic turkeys have much larger heads, heavier bodies and short legs. Different than the norm color variations happen in all animals and fish.
Quote from: Trax on April 17, 2019, 07:04:34 PM
The fellow who shot the bird in the original post is my kid's phys ed. teacher. He has apparently faced all kinds of negative comments and shaming on social media over shooting that bird.
I know I got a few complaints for sharing it in a hunting group on Facebook, said it was unethical to shoot it just like shooting a piebald deer so I bet he got tons of flack. I think they are both fine to shoot.
Quote from: oleman59 on April 17, 2019, 07:19:17 PM
Saw where one was killed in West ga On Ga Got forum also one looked like a royal palm
I would love to get one, but not this year, I would certainly want to get it mounted and don't have the money for that this year.
Quote from: oleman59 on April 17, 2019, 07:19:17 PM
Saw where one was killed in West ga On Ga Got forum also one looked like a royal palm
I had to look that up, did not know what a Royal Palm was. Pretty bird.
Quote from: larry9988 on April 17, 2019, 09:13:54 PM
The body shape and head size of the turkey look to be that of a wild turkey. Domestic turkeys have much larger heads, heavier bodies and short legs. Different than the norm color variations happen in all animals and fish.
I have seen that written about the second link that was shared. I will have to take your word for it though, I have not been around a domestic turkey other than on my plate in a very long time.