Feather I.D. Help please

[Tbob]

So this is my first year here in SD and decided to give it a go for turkey hunting this spring ( never hunted turkeys nor do I know how) been reading up, went to the turkey tune up and been watching youtube. So went out on my first scouting mission and found this feather. Was thinking it's a turkey feather, but I have no idea. Anyone know what this is?
Also, I couldn't believe my eyes, but I actually found some huntable turkeys on public ground closer to the evening! Still in shock over that one! Saw them about 400yrds out, got to with 90 or so of them (had my dog with me) so we just watched them for awhile, until they went up and over and out of site. Really cool experience though.

 

[invisible man]

Male turkey tail feather. Your in the right neighborhood. Keep tabs on them. Keep your distance and try and figure out where they roost. GOOD JOB !!!

 

[wiley]

Yep, your in the right area, good job, I have been scouting for weeks for my grandkids Junior hunt next weekend and haven't found as much...

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[ilovesprig]

Certainly looks like a tom feather (little hard to tell the length)......One things for sure, toms loose their tail feathers fighting this time a year......Hens pretty much don't......

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[Tbob]

Awesome! Thanks guys. Wasn't sure if it could possibly be a hawks feather? I left it in the field either way, but snapped the picture. Later in the day when I saw the Turkeys I was then like, ah, must be a turkey feather. I'm pretty sure I saw 2 toms and 4 hens in the group. There was 2 larger than the others and very dark in color. The four I thought were hens were considerably smaller and much lighter in color.

 

[ilovesprig]

Gobblers (jakes or toms) are noticeably bigger and darker than hens.....Late hatch jakes can kind of fool you.....One real noticeable feature is male turkeys have shiny black tipped breast feathers.....Unlike hens that have duller buff tipped breast feathers.

Last pic is a jake & a he/she....Spurs, beard, and somewhat black tipped, but the head is hen all the way....

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[Tbob]

Awesome! Great pix and thanks for all the replies. Good to know I'm on the right track at least.

 

[ilovesprig]

Few more things to look for on the turkey front................

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[Skunk]

That's some good info in this thread for a newbie like me. Appreciate the posts guys!


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