Turkey beard with red stripe in it

[adkhunter71]

My buddy shot a turkey a year ago and the beard had a red stripe in it. Is this very common? I haven't been around turkey hunting as long as a lot of you, but I have never seen this. Can't wait to get out this weekend!

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[turkeyfeathers]

Neat. I've never seen that.



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[moog5050]

Must be a Jamaican bird

[BizCT]

It's lipstick, just wipe it off


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[Grizz1219]

It's a sign of beard rot.... usually gets brittle or even breaks off there... 

[TACC]

Cool never seen one like that

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[Lawdwaz]

I think I have a couple jake beards that have some color......I'll take a look later.

[adkhunter71]

1 hour ago, Grizz1219 said:

It's a sign of beard rot.... usually gets brittle or even breaks off there... 

Thanks Grizz.  Glad that my buddy got him before it broke off.

[Uncle Nicky]

I shot one in NC last week that looked similar...not as pronounced red, but it is there (can't see it in this picture). Even weirder, the one I killed looked like beard rot at the 6" mark, but had a few stay whiskers that stretched out to 9". Bird really must have led a tough life, 1/2 of it's tail feathers were missing, and it's sternum was rubbed raw.

[turkeyfeathers]

I shot one in NC last week that looked similar...not as pronounced red, but it is there (can't see it in this picture). Even weirder, the one I killed looked like beard rot at the 6" mark, but had a few stay whiskers that stretched out to 9". Bird really must have led a tough life, 1/2 of it's tail feathers were missing, and it's sternum was rubbed raw.

How were the spurs ? Older dominant bird ?


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[helmut in the bush]

that's cool

[Pygmy]

Beard rot...It would have eventually broke off on the red line..

[Uncle Nicky]

47 minutes ago, turkeyfeathers said:

How were the spurs ? Older dominant bird ?


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No, was a 2 year old I think, 3/4" spurs. I think he was sneaking around breeding hens and got caught by the boss gobbler once or twice.

[turkeyfeathers]

Caused by malnutrition .I've never seen one prior to breaking off there but the few jakes I've shot I just told myself " it was a nice mature bird that succumbed to beard rot ". Spurs fell off for same reason.


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[moog5050]

Shoot whatever makes you happy even one with beard rot.  I have been holding out for an albino turkey.  

[WNY Bowhunter]

It's brittle strands from lack of melanin. The beard is actually a form of modified feathers. Jake's always have amber tipped beards. They will eventually wear off as the beard continues to grow.