Mostly Black Turkey

[tlbradford]

Hey folks - Wanted to share a couple shots of this bird with all of you.  It is mostly melanistic.  All black until you get to the tips of the tail feathers.  It was a 2 or 3 year old from Colville NF.  Was spring bear hunting and a few were running up the road.  My buddy and I hopped out and busted them up.  Got in between the group of 2 or 3 and this guy was pushed down the hill.  Set up between them and started with some keekees and purrs.  He was fired up and gobbling a lot but super cautious.  He hit a landing and I pulled the trigger and click.  That was pretty loud.  I froze and waited for him to step out from a small tree he had ducked behind.  When he did I jacked a fresh shell in and put a couple bb’s through his breast.  My buddy hit him much harder and knocked him dead.  We got back to bear hunting quickly so no good success photos.  I skinned him out to save for fly tying material.  Picked up a second Tom later that afternoon on a call in after some hens ran in front of me on a forest service road.  Saw one hen with babies.  Did not see any bears.  Will be heading back up this weekend.

[Henrydog]

That's cool.  My first thought when I saw the color was tying material.,,,and then I read on.  Good choice!

[The Gobble-stopper]

Look like a black Spanish cross!

[bhawley76]

BTM

[HikerHunter]

That's a cool bird! Good luck finding bears!

[dilleytech]

My guess would be a domestic turkey?

[tlbradford]

My guess would be a domestic turkey?

It was in a pen   

[dilleytech]

My guess would be a domestic turkey?

It was in a pen   

Not in common for people to raise turkeys that are allowed to free rome often leaving to venture off into the wild.

[Parasite]

Turkeys, like deer, can be melanistic (all black). Just like albinism, but the opposite end of the spectrum.

[Lyons]

I shot a melanistic turkey a few years ago just north of Deer Park. Mine has black wing feathers, but a normal colored fan for Merriams. I ended up having it mounted. At the time I didnt realize how rare they were.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Interesting.  Thanks for bringing the post back up.

[bornhunter]

BTM

You beat me to it.

[Lyons]

Did I miss something?