Smoke Phase Eastern Wild Turkey

We recently spotted this "smoke" phase eastern wild turkey while driving in nearby mountains. While some call this an albino turkey it is not. Wild turkeys have several rare color phases including black and red. Turkeys have different character similar to eye and hair color and physical differences in humans. The same rarities occur with multiple beards, multiple spurs and bearded hens in turkeys. According to records the smoky gray phase is more common than red or black phase. Most hunters believe that odd color turkeys came from breeding with farm stock birds. Biologists have found these genes are produced in the wild. Wild and domestic turkeys do have one main trait in common. We like to put them both on the dinner table. If you spot or kill one of the odd color turkeys during your hunting email us a pic and story and we'll share it with you. Good Luck!