
Wild Turkeys
Of the 6 subspecies of wild turkeys, 5 find their home here in the US. Gould's, a subspecies found only in the mountains of New Mexico are the largest and are heavily protected. At the turn of the century, total turkey numbers in the US had been reduced to less than 30,000. Today, hunting is allowed in 49 states and current estimates place the total turkey population at over 7 million.
Meleagris gallopavo silvestris
Tying with Wild Turkey Feathers
If you're tying nymph patterns, you need turkey tail quills. They make make good wing cases, the mottled brown coloration and texture make them a favorite for tying hare's ear, stonefly, and many other nymph patterns.
The long fibers and the streghth of the fibers make them perfect for full feather wings and married wings. The muddler minnow is a favorite for many. For the salmon fly tier turkey tail quills with their dark speckling is called for in many married and mixed wing flies.
- eastern
- rio grande
- merriam's
- fly patterns
- links to other exotics
| Eastern Wild Turkey Tails | $0.00 | ||||
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| Wing Quills - Secondaries | $0.00 | ||||
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| Marabou - Coming Soon! | $0.00 | ||||
The wings are covered with a lot of blue chrome feathers that can be used just about everywhere for the same uses as above. The back and wing coverts are of a bluish-purple color and make great full feather wing flies.
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| Rio Grande Wild Turkey Tails | $0.00 | ||||
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| Merriam's Wild Turkey Tails | $0.00 | ||||
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I'm looking for pictures of flies and the recipies you used to tie them. Please give me a call or email me for more information.
Thanks!
The name "turkey" was given to these fabulous birds, somewhat incorrectly, by Europeans who first imported them from the new world through the country of Turkey. Mistaking them as a type of Guineafowl, they called them "Turkey fowl" which was later shorted up to just "turkey". And as with peafowl, breeders have selectivly bred them into every size, shape, and color.
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| Wild Turkeys | Ocellated Turkey | White Turkey - Dyed | Heritage Turkey | |||||
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Muddler Minnow

Eastern Hen

Stonefly Pattern

Merriam's Gobbler

golde stonefly nymphs
Wet Fly Patterns

governor

telephone box

fish hawk

Hunting Day

Dave's Hopper

Rio Grande Gobbler

Nymph

The tail feathers on eastern wild turkeys have chestnut brown tips and purple and bronze reflections. 
The secondary wing quills are darker and a bit more speckled on the eastern.
The green iridescent pointed feathers below the nape can be used for sides, cheeks, body veilings, tail veilings, etc.
The tail feathers on Rio Grande Wild Turkeys have buff to very light tan tips and purple and bronze reflections.
The tail feathers on Merriam's Wild Turkeys have white tips and purple and bronze reflections. 