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Author Topic: Mossy Heads  (Read 7939 times)

Offline Remington924

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Mossy Heads
« on: May 01, 2011, 11:44:02 AM »
what are mossy head" i read about them last month in turkey and turkey hunting magazine and it did really make it to clear to me so can you describe them and tell me how they different from regular/ Non-mossy headed birds?

Offline Lovett

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Re: Mossy Heads
« Reply #1 on: May 05, 2011, 06:21:16 PM »
Remington924,

I have seen nine male-plumaged hens in Florida and examined six of them in hand.  Three of the six I dissected.  None had a discernable ovary but all three had a macroscopic oviduct.   

I have seen one gobbler-plumaged hen with spurs and one with a beard.  If a gobbler-plumaged hen with a beard and spurs were found, the specimen would appear to be a dwarf gobbler.  There is more hair is on the heads hens than the gobblers and that could account for the legendary dwarf race of turkeys called “mossy heads” or “hairy heads” mentioned in some of the older writings including Mosby and Handley’s 1943 book The Wild Turkey in Virginia.

 

Offline Lovett

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Re: Mossy Heads
« Reply #2 on: June 10, 2011, 05:39:02 PM »
Remington924,

What is name and location.  I want your question in my column.