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Other Hunting => Turkey Hunting => Topic started by: tlbradford on June 12, 2020, 12:13:40 AM


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Title: Mostly Black Turkey
Post by: tlbradford on June 12, 2020, 12:13:40 AM
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.
Title: Re: Mostly Black Turkey
Post by: Henrydog on June 12, 2020, 06:10:34 AM
That's cool.  My first thought when I saw the color was tying material.,,,and then I read on.  Good choice!
Title: Re: Mostly Black Turkey
Post by: The Gobble-stopper on June 12, 2020, 07:28:12 AM
Look like a black Spanish cross!
Title: Re: Mostly Black Turkey
Post by: bhawley76 on June 12, 2020, 07:37:19 AM
BTM :chuckle:
Title: Re: Mostly Black Turkey
Post by: HikerHunter on June 12, 2020, 04:05:18 PM
That's a cool bird! Good luck finding bears!
Title: Re: Mostly Black Turkey
Post by: dilleytech on June 13, 2020, 11:27:32 AM
My guess would be a domestic turkey?
Title: Re: Mostly Black Turkey
Post by: tlbradford on June 15, 2020, 11:31:21 PM
My guess would be a domestic turkey?

It was in a pen  :dunno:  :chuckle:
Title: Re: Mostly Black Turkey
Post by: dilleytech on June 18, 2020, 07:34:01 PM
My guess would be a domestic turkey?

It was in a pen  :dunno:  :chuckle:

Not in common for people to raise turkeys that are allowed to free rome often leaving to venture off into the wild.
Title: Re: Mostly Black Turkey
Post by: Parasite on July 27, 2020, 08:57:58 PM
Turkeys, like deer, can be melanistic (all black). Just like albinism, but the opposite end of the spectrum.
Title: Re: Mostly Black Turkey
Post by: Lyons on November 06, 2020, 09:05:57 PM
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.
Title: Re: Mostly Black Turkey
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on November 06, 2020, 09:15:14 PM
Interesting.  Thanks for bringing the post back up. :tup:
Title: Re: Mostly Black Turkey
Post by: bornhunter on November 06, 2020, 09:58:11 PM
BTM :chuckle:

You beat me to it. :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Mostly Black Turkey
Post by: Lyons on November 07, 2020, 07:43:21 AM
Did I miss something?
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