Females lay 4 to 17 eggs, and feed their chicks after they hatch—but only for a few days. Males take no role in the care of young turkeys. Domestic turkeys have white-tipped tails because they are the descendants of a Mexican subspecies that was taken to Europe for domestication in the early 16th century.

Clean your bird. If the turkey is not skinned, skin it, cut off its head and feet, and clean out the intestinal cavity.

Or follow Step 2. In , the National Wild Turkey Federation NWTF was founded with a mission that included the conservation of wild turkeys and the preservation and restoration of suitable wild turkey habitat.

Education is also a strong goal of the NWTF, and the organization leads many programs aimed to benefit wild turkeys and promote the appreciation of these unique and fascinating birds.

Today, more than 7 million wild turkeys are roaming forested areas of the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Every state in the U. Different states may offer different turkey hunting seasons in spring and fall, depending on the local bird populations and game management plans.

The wing feathers are very dark with smaller amounts of the white barring seen on other subspecies. Their overall body feathers are an iridescent green-purple color.

They are often found in scrub patches of palmetto and occasionally near swamps, where amphibian prey is abundant.

The Rio Grande wild turkey ranges through Texas to Oklahoma , Kansas , New Mexico , Colorado , Oregon , Utah , and was introduced to central and western California , as well as parts of a few northeastern states.

Population estimates for this subspecies are around 1,, Its body feathers often have a green-coppery sheen. The tips of the tail and lower back feathers are a buff-to-very light tan color.

Its habitats are brush areas next to streams, rivers or mesquite , pine and scrub oak forests. The Rio Grande turkey is gregarious.

The Merriam's wild turkey ranges through the Rocky Mountains and the neighboring prairies of Wyoming , Montana and South Dakota , as well as much of the high mesa country of New Mexico , Arizona , southern Utah and The Navajo Nation , with number from , to , birds.

The initial releases of Merriam's turkeys in resulted in establishing a remnant population of Merriam's turkeys along the east-slope of Mt. Hood and natural immigration of turkeys from Idaho has established Merriam's flocks along the eastern border of Oregon.

The subspecies was named in in honor of Clinton Hart Merriam , the first chief of the U. Biological Survey. The tail and lower back feathers have white tips and purple and bronze reflections.

Native from the central valleys to the northern mountains of Mexico and the southernmost parts of Arizona and New Mexico.

Gould's wild turkeys are heavily protected and regulated. The subspecies was first described in They exist in small numbers in the U.

A small population has been established in southern Arizona. Gould's are the largest of the six subspecies. They have longer legs, larger feet, and longer tail feathers.

The main colors of the body feathers are copper and greenish-gold. This subspecies is heavily protected owing to its skittish nature and threatened status.

The south Mexican wild turkey is considered the nominate subspecies , and the only one that is not found in the United States or Canada.

In central Mexico, archaeological M. It is unclear whether these early specimens represent wild or domestic individuals, but domestic turkeys were likely established in central Mexico by the first half of the Classic Period c.

AD — The south Mexican wild subspecies, M. By it was common enough so that Pilgrim settlers of Massachusetts could bring turkeys with them from England , unaware that it had a larger close relative already occupying the forests of Massachusetts.

It is one of the smallest subspecies and is best known in Spanish from its Aztec-derived name, guajolote. This wild turkey subspecies is thought to be critically endangered, as of The idea that Benjamin Franklin preferred the turkey as the national bird of the United States comes from a letter he wrote to his daughter Sarah Bache on January 26, Others object to the Bald Eagle, as looking too much like a Dindon, or Turkey.

He is a Bird of bad moral Character. Database Distilleries. Wild Turkey. Upload a picture. Number of bottles: 59 Bottles. Calculated from Peat Smoke:.

Dried Fruit:. Bonfire Smoke:. Show more. Dark Chocolate:. Medicinal Smoke:. Tropical Fruit:. Maritime Notes:.

Lemon Peel:. Details about the Distillery. The Whiskey. The Production. The name stuck. In , the Ripy brothers were bought out by Austin Nichols Distilling Company who were subsequently acquired by the giant, Pernod Ricard in This opened up a massive infrastructure with a superb distribution network and sales improved drastically.

On 9th May , one of the warehouses was destroyed by a fire and thousands of litres of maturing whiskey were spent down the nearby Kentucky River, killing thousands upon thousands of fish.

The distillery is unusual in that its standard bottling is at proof, considerably higher than the 80 proof norm. The current owners are the Campari Group who purchased the brand in Wild Turkey's Rare Breed Bourbons are bottled at cask strength, and are often absolutely staggering stuff.

This bottling of Wild Turkey has been aged for at least 6 years before coming out of the barrel at proof, it is only diluted slightly before bottling at proof with plenty of pep.

More info. This is the legendary Wild Turkey Bourbon flavoured with honey for a smoothly sweet flavour. This can be drunk neat or can be used as a creative cocktail ingredient.

Wild Turkey's Longbranch is the tasty result of a collaboration between master distiller Eddie Russell, and the distillery's creative director, who just so happens to be Matthew McConaughey.

A lower strength bourbon from Wild Turkey, bottled at 81 proof