Smoke phase

[GAmountainman]

I got a hot tip yesterday from a friend who saw a gobbler on national forest that in his words "had some white mixed in its feathers." From what I've gathered it could be a smoke phase bird? Anyway gonna try him in the morning and was just wondering if anyone here has seen one or killed one before. Hope you all have one gobbling for ya this weekend!

[Zobo]

I let this guy walk up close and walk away.
Didn't shoot because he had beard rot.


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[Bowguy]

I've seen a few but never when hunting. Couple hours south of me they're supposedly common. Guess maybe it's like black or white squirrels. Some places they're actually a dominant phase

[Dhamilton1]

Check this out. They are doing a study and collecting samples on odd colored turkeys.

https://wildturkeydna.com

Dr. Mike Chamberland

Have heard about it on several podcasts.


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[JeffC]

Good luck in your hunt for him.

Shot this last year, there is a monster Royal Palm Tom running wild in the area, I am sure he has been shot at from road, I cant even get a picture of him, he runs as soon as you slow down. He hides out on private. Been there for a few years, probably the father to this one and the 2 Smoky hens running around.  Saw this one hanging with 2 Toms and 2 Jakes, got lucky, spotted them all together in field, had to let others get by me following a hen. Fought with them for a while before they came my way. Going back for the lead Tom this year. 

[mudlickman2]

I've never seen a gobbler or a Jake but every once in a while we'll have a hen or 2 on our family farm in Indiana. This pic was from spring '22. Such cool birds to see.


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[JeffC]

Had to find the pictures I did get.

[Dougas]

I have seen at least 7 smoke gray hens over the years. I killed a smoke gray tom in the spring of 2023, one in the spring of 2024 and doubled on smoke gray toms in the fall of 2024.

[CALLM2U]

I have seen at least 7 smoke gray hens over the years. I killed a smoke gray tom in the spring of 2023, one in the spring of 2024 and doubled on smoke gray toms in the fall of 2024.

You need to go buy a lottery ticket!

[Dougas]

I do need to. They were killed in the same area that is logging company open to the public that borders BLM land. There is a good gene pool there and it is quite a ways out away from civilization. I went out there last week to scout it and the timber company is clear cutting it all, so it will be off limits while they are in there. So, I'll have to figure that out eventually.

[Ol Timer]

Not a entire smoke phase but it has the primary wings got it fully mounted.

[TrackeySauresRex]

Not a entire smoke phase but it has the primary wings got it fully mounted.

Beautiful bird Ol' Timer. How'd the mount come out?

[Ol Timer]

Here he is finished mounted, work was done at Blackwing Turkeys Taxi in Fla.

[JeffC]

Not a entire smoke phase but it has the primary wings got it fully mounted.

And taken with your bow    that's awesome!! looks like the pines. 

[ferocious calls]

Shot a Tom many years ago that had almost pure white wings. I was on the trapline in the fall. I took him back to camp and breasted him and put him under the porch. Finished checking traps and went back to take care of the rest. The neighbors dogs took it. After an extensive search I found 1 white primary feather. Weren't too happy with those dogs.