A strutting turkey is one of the most remarkable spectacles you can witness while hunting. His varied, iridescent feathers fanned out as he parades around with all the pomp and circumstance of spring. Those very feathers make each turkey slightly unique. Then there are those wild variations, like smoky, jet black, orange, or even white-winged gobblers. Some without barred feathers or other odd plumage that strays from the typical turkey norm.
To better understand these genetic variations observed in odd plumage, Dr. Mike Chamberlain with the Wild Turkey Lab (in conjunction with the National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited, the Low Country Game Bird Foundation, and the University of Texas at El Paso) is spearheading research on wild turkey genetic diversity, inbreeding potential, gene flow, hybridization, and more. This collaboration falls under project wildturkeyDNA, which requires hunters to participate in this exciting research.
That’s where you come in. To get the word out about the work at wildturkeyDNA, MeatEater is hosting a photo contest for odd-plumage birds (enter in the comments below) and encouraging you to submit your photos to the wildturkeyDNA website.
If your bird is selected by the turkey scientists over there, you’ll follow a simple and free submission process. Selected hunters will receive a postage-paid kit with one or more vials. You can head over to wildturkeyDNA for more details. Feel free to submit an old photo of a turkey to our contest, but the folks over at wildturkeyDNA need photos from turkeys killed this spring to continue their research.
“When you harvest a wild turkey, simply clip the end of the tongue off, put it in the vial, and then freeze it,” Dr. Chamberlain said. “When you’re ready to ship the sample back to us, you put the vial back in the kit and drop it in the mail. There’s no cost to the hunter. Likewise, if you harvest a turkey with odd plumage, go to the website and request a kit, and we’ll take a look at pictures of your bird and determine whether we want to get a sample from it.”
Yes, winning prizes is cool, but actively participating in wild turkey research is even cooler. And the folks over at wildturkeyDNA need your help.
“This research hinges entirely on the willingness of turkey hunters to provide samples, and as such, those same hunters are driving the largest genetics project ever conducted on the wild turkey and one of the largest ever conducted—period. We appreciate turkey hunters helping with this research. Our success lies on their shoulders.”
There aren’t many convenient (and free) ways most hunters can participate in wildlife research. If you harvest a turkey with odd plumage this year, consider submitting your photos at wildturkeyDNA to help learn more about America’s favorite gamebird.
Even if you don’t harvest a turkey with odd plumage, there are other ways you can contribute to these research efforts, especially if you prefer to use decoys while turkey hunting.
Each spring, Dave Smith Decoys incorporates a limited run of odd plumage decoys.
“It’s been a cool way for us to showcase these plumage variations while also giving toward research,” DSD’s Brand Manager Mike Callian said. “This spring’s launch we are donating 20% of all revenue generated from the sale, along with 100% of the proceeds from the auction, to wildturkeyDNA. This year’s release replicates a plumage we haven’t attempted yet, and thanks to Dr. Chamberlain’s research, it’s confirmed it shows up in 100% wild birds, which makes it especially exciting for us.”
This year’s limited odd plumage decoy will drop later this spring. If you’re looking for an easy way to contribute to the research at wildturkeyDNA and add a unique decoy to your spread, stay tuned for more details.
So if you’ve shot a cool-colored tom in the past or even caught one on a trail camera, we want to see photos of it! To submit your photo, drop a picture in the comment section below before April 6. Our crew will select the three craziest color patterns for prizes. First place will receive a decoy from Dave Smith Decoys, second place will receive a $500 gift card to First Lite, and third place will receive an Edge 3 trail camera from Moultrie. To read the full rules of the contest, click here.
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