Osceola turkeys are a subspecies of the eastern wild turkey. The season starts March 6 for Keith Kelly. This dark turkey with black wings that have small white bands on them and dark-brown-tipped tail feathers lives in south Florida.
How do I know if my turkey is Osceola?
Because there’s so much black on their wings, when they have their wings folded, the white triangle that’s formed is less visible on the Osceola than on the eastern. If you see one walking around, the wing patch will look pretty white on an eastern, whereas on an Osceola it’s darker.
What is the difference between an Osceola turkey and an eastern Turkey?
Osceola – The Osceola (or Florida) turkey has the narrowest range, occurring only in central and south Florida. They closely resemble Easterns except they tend to be leaner with longer legs, and their primary wing feathers have heavy black barring, as opposed to Eastern where the black-white barring is more even.
Why are Osceola turkeys only in Florida?
Historically, Osceola turkeys, along with their Eastern counterparts, were isolated in remote areas made up of timberland. These areas were ideal as a turkey habitat because they were almost inaccessible, which kept both legal and illegal turkey hunting down.
How big does the Osceola turkey get?
Osceola wild turkeys are found only on the Florida peninsula and are much smaller than farm-raised Thanksgiving birds. Adult males are known as “gobblers” or “toms,” weigh up to 25 pounds and reach an average height of 3.5 feet.
Can you buy Osceola turkeys?
We now have a limited number of Osceola Hybrids for sale
2022 Osceola Turkey Price list. Hatchlings up to one week old: $40.00 ea. Over one week old but less than three weeks old: $45.00 ea. Three weeks old but less than six weeks old: $55.00 ea.
What are the 4 types of turkeys?
Each subspecies has their own set of characteristics when it comes to physical appearance and aggressiveness of calling. The six types of wild turkeys are: Eastern wild turkey, Osceola wild turkey, Gould’s wild turkey, Merriam’s wild turkey, Rio Grande wild turkey, and the Ocellated wild turkey.
What are the 5 types of turkeys?
The National Wild Turkey Federation website explains that the two species of turkeys are the North American and the ocellated. The North American species has five subspecies, including the Eastern, Florida (Osceola), Rio Grande, Merriam’s and Gould’s.
What counties in Florida have Osceola turkeys?
Where to Find Osceola Turkey. The National Wild Turkey Federation and the FWC recognize, in their respective turkey registry programs, any wild turkey harvested within or south of the counties of Dixie, Gilchrist, Alachua, Union, Bradford, Clay and Duval, to be an Osceola subspecies.
What kind of turkey is in Florida?
Florida is home to two subspecies of wild turkey — the eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) and the Osceola or Florida wild turkey (M.g. osceola). The Florida wild turkey is best distinguished from the eastern subspecies, which it closely resembles, by the white barring on its wing feathers.
How much does an Osceola turkey hunt cost?
Osceola turkey is often described as the hardest gobbler to get. Its limited range and being coveted by diehard turkey hunters who need it to complete a slam influences prices. Osceola turkey hunts start at just over $2000 and may go as high as $3,000.
How do you hunt Osceola turkeys?
An excellent tactic for Osceolas is to build a blind. Once you’ve discovered where the birds head after flying down from their roost, make a blind in the late afternoon between their roost and their stomping ground. If you can, build the blind so that the rising sun will be at your back.
What do Osceola turkeys eat?
The breast feathers usually have black tips, while the body feathers are an iridescence of red-green and bronze. What do Osceola Turkeys eat? They forage on grapes, blackberries, beechnuts, acorns and other types of grains, as well as small insects and amphibians on occasion.
How did the Osceola turkey get its name?
osceola) (Scott, 1890) Most common in the Florida peninsula, they number from 80,000 to 100,000 birds. This bird is named for the famous Seminole leader Osceola, and was first described in 1890. It is smaller and darker than the eastern wild turkey.
How much do Osceola turkeys weigh?
Description and life history of the Osceola wild turkey
Males usually weigh between 15 to 20 pounds and females 8 to 12 pounds on average (NWTF 2018). Males have iridescent green and red hues on their feathers (not as bronze as the Eastern subspecies), while females have a dull feather finish.
What turkeys are in the Grand Slam?
The Grand Slam will take you around the country, chasing each of the four most common wild turkey subspecies in the U.S.: Eastern, Merriam’s, Osceola and Rio Grande. Add a Gould’s to your Grand Slam and you’ve got a Royal Slam.
Where do you find Osceola turkeys?
Florida Peninsula
The Osceola Wild Turkey is also known as the Florida Turkey and can only be found on the Florida Peninsula. The Turkey was named after the famous Seminole Chief Osceola in 1890.
Do turkey eggs taste the same as chicken eggs?
Turkey eggs are totally edible: Those who have backyard turkeys report their eggs taste remarkably similar to chicken eggs. They are slightly bigger, the shell slightly tougher, and the membrane between the shell and the egg slightly thicker, but otherwise, not too different.
What is a World Slam in turkey hunting?
A World Slam is the highest distinction turkey hunters can receive from the National Wild Turkey Federation.
What is the best eating turkey?
The Best and Most Popular Turkey Breeds
- Broad Breasted White Turkey. Broad Breasted White Turkey image © nyc.streetsblog.org.
- Bronze Turkey. Bronze Turkey image © learnnaturalfarming.com.
- Bourbon Red Turkey.
- Norfolk Black Turkey.
- White Holland Turkey.
- Slate Turkey.
- Narragansett Turkey.
- Beltsville Small White.
What is the biggest wild turkey breed?
Easterns
Easterns are the heaviest of the turkey subspecies, with weights regularly exceeding 25 pounds. They also have the longest beards and loudest gobbles, and compete with Osceolas for the longest spurs and darkest feathers. Their tail fans are copper to bronze in color.
