Unique smoke phase wings/turkey

[Harold Pickens]

Well, I am sure I missed a great time at the southern, but I had a great time at home. My wife desperately needed help with a youth tennis clinic that had more sign up than we could handle, so I stayed home to help out.
Friday morning found me on a hill top in fog so dense you couldnt see 50 yds--but that didnt stop the turkeys from gobbling, they carried on all morning. Stopped at a farm pond to catch some bluegill on the way home, but they werent biting, the channel cats were however and I brought home 3 ranging from 23 to 25 inches. What a battle on the little ultralight I was using.
Sat morning was crystal clear, but the turkeys had lock jaw, was hearing nothing. A grouse was playing a drum solo all morning keeping me entertained.
I was asleep at 10 am when a gobble boomed up in back of me. I yelped back, then laid the box call down as he gobbled back. Then I saw them coming in at least 4 red heads, and the one in strut had a mature tail, the others were jakes.
The mature bird spotted my decoy and started strutting, but the jakes started to get a little hinky and stated to move away. Would have liked him a little closer, but I yelped with my voice and he stuck his head up into a swarm of #4's. The jakes proceded to jump on him, spur and peck him as another mature bird strutted in, so 5 all together. The rest ended up about 10 yds away until I shook my cap at them.
The mature bird with 9 1/2" beard 1 " spurs had unique "ghost phase" coloration instead of the usual barring of the wings. My best friend Terry said, "thats a $600 bird"--Id have to have him mounted and it would probably cost $600. Well, I saved and preserved the wings. I'll post the pictures immeadiately after this thread. Sunday was my birthday, and we had rare venison tenderloin, batter fried catfish, and of course wild turkey for dinner.

[Harold Pickens]

Pictures

[Harold Pickens]

After dinner, my son gave me an English Setter stein, a walleye birthday card, and a bottle of Basil Haydens bourbon.

[Harold Pickens]

I have on 2 occasions seen a total smoke phase hen on my farm, white with the smokey streaking all over. Was about 5 years apart, so doubt it was the same bird, but who knows.

[Andy]

Happy Birthday Harold! Congrats on the bird, the food, the family and of course on the Basil Haydens!

[mobirdhunter]

Happy Birthday. By your tale, it must be one you'll remember for a while -- good for you.

[Double Lab]

Happy belated my friend. That's probably a genetic anomaly you are seeing in your "flock". I'd love to add one like that to my Thanksgiving table.

[Dollar]

Happy Birthday
That is a trophy here are a couple ideas that are far less than a full mount.

[charlie cleveland]

that's a beautiful bird....that meal you had was fit for a king.....charlie

[birddogdoc]

Awesome birthday!!