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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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24 Comments
I’m skeptical about the impact of this research on the overall wild turkey population, but I do think it’s interesting that the project is looking at gene flow and hybridization in addition to genetic diversity.
The involvement of the University of Texas at El Paso in the wildturkeyDNA project adds an academic and scientific rigor to the research that will help to ensure its validity and credibility.
The project’s focus on genetic diversity and inbreeding potential in wild turkeys could have significant implications for the long-term health and sustainability of these populations.
That’s why it’s so important for hunters to participate in the project and provide samples for the research.
The instruction to clip the end of the tongue off a harvested turkey and put it in a vial for the wildturkeyDNA project seems straightforward, but I wonder how many hunters will actually participate in this process.
It’s actually quite simple and the postage-paid kit makes it easy for hunters to send in their samples.
The fact that there are no costs to the hunter for participating in the wildturkeyDNA project makes it more accessible and encouraging for hunters to contribute to the research efforts.
The fact that the wildturkeyDNA project is one of the largest genetics projects ever conducted on the wild turkey is a testament to the importance and scope of the research being done.
And the fact that it’s being driven by hunter participation makes it a great example of collaborative conservation effort.
The collaboration between the Wild Turkey Lab, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited, and the University of Texas at El Paso on the wildturkeyDNA project is impressive and suggests a comprehensive approach to the research.
I’m curious to know more about the prizes that will be awarded to the winners of the photo contest and how they will be selected by the turkey scientists.
I’m concerned that the project may not be getting enough samples from certain regions or populations of wild turkeys, which could impact the accuracy and representativeness of the research findings.
The fact that Dr. Mike Chamberlain and the Wild Turkey Lab are studying genetic variations in wild turkeys, including those with smoky, jet black, or orange plumage, is fascinating and could lead to a better understanding of these unique birds.
I’ve seen some of these variation in the woods before, but never thought much about the genetic implications behind them.
I’m excited to learn more about the results of the wildturkeyDNA project and how they will inform conservation efforts and management strategies for wild turkey populations.
I’ve always been amazed by the iridescent feathers of turkeys, and the idea that each bird’s plumage is unique is a great reminder of the beauty and complexity of nature.
Yes, and the variations in plumage can also serve as a way to identify individual birds and track their movements and behaviors.
As someone who uses decoys while turkey hunting, I’m interested in learning more about how I can contribute to the research efforts beyond just submitting photos of odd-plumage birds.
I’m curious about the project wildturkeyDNA and how it plans to use the submitted photos and turkey samples to research genetic diversity and inbreeding potential in wild turkeys.
As a hunter, I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the wildturkeyDNA project and be a part of something that could benefit the wild turkey population as a whole.
According to Dr. Chamberlain, the success of the wildturkeyDNA research hinges entirely on the willingness of turkey hunters to provide samples, which makes hunter participation crucial to the project’s success.
The requirement for photos to be from turkeys killed this spring to be considered for the contest and research is a good way to ensure that the data collected is relevant and up-to-date.
The photo contest for odd-plumage birds hosted by MeatEater is a creative way to engage hunters and the public in the wildturkeyDNA project and raise awareness about the research being done.
The wildturkeyDNA project’s website and submission process seem user-friendly and easy to navigate, which should help to encourage hunter participation and facilitate the collection of samples and data.