Confusing fat?

[GetTothePoint]

So I've finally seen enough that I'm going to ask. I'm going on a few years of having to travel to SD for my bird hunting fixes because I'm fed up with KS wildlife department. The first year I noticed that when I clean birds the fat looks different from SD to KS. KS birds have thick yellow fat while the heavy, heavy majority of SD birds have what I would say is thinner whitish fat? This year is the first year I've hunted late season up north and while we have shot some mature birds with big tails, leading me to believe they're wild, they still have the white thin fat? Is it a genetic difference or are we really hunting that many turned out birds? I don't know their turnout protocol but I can't imagine the area I go and the places I hunt would be high on the list of stocking birds. I'm not bashing anything, I appreciate SD efforts for upland, but is really starting to make me wonder?

 

[cyclonenation10]

Not sure the answer to your question.. seems that most of the birds with much fat on them in Iowa that I clean have the yellow fat.

 

[Matt D]

So I've finally seen enough that I'm going to ask. I'm going on a few years of having to travel to SD for my bird hunting fixes because I'm fed up with KS wildlife department. The first year I noticed that when I clean birds the fat looks different from SD to KS. KS birds have thick yellow fat while the heavy, heavy majority of SD birds have what I would say is thinner whitish fat? This year is the first year I've hunted late season up north and while we have shot some mature birds with big tails, leading me to believe they're wild, they still have the white thin fat? Is it a genetic difference or are we really hunting that many turned out birds? I don't know their turnout protocol but I can't imagine the area I go and the places I hunt would be high on the list of stocking birds. I'm not bashing anything, I appreciate SD efforts for upland, but is really starting to make me wonder?

What is leading you to think they are turned out? Have you looked at toes and noses?

 

[Quailnerd]

So I've finally seen enough that I'm going to ask. I'm going on a few years of having to travel to SD for my bird hunting fixes because I'm fed up with KS wildlife department. The first year I noticed that when I clean birds the fat looks different from SD to KS. KS birds have thick yellow fat while the heavy, heavy majority of SD birds have what I would say is thinner whitish fat? This year is the first year I've hunted late season up north and while we have shot some mature birds with big tails, leading me to believe they're wild, they still have the white thin fat? Is it a genetic difference or are we really hunting that many turned out birds? I don't know their turnout protocol but I can't imagine the area I go and the places I hunt would be high on the list of stocking birds. I'm not bashing anything, I appreciate SD efforts for upland, but is really starting to make me wonder?

I’ve noticed the same thing, pheasant from Texas panhandle, Oklahoma and southern ks I’ve shot have the yellow fat. The limited thought I’ve given it made me think it was something in the diet down south other than corn, maybe one of our native Forbes or weeds. The sd birds I’ve shot the last 2 years it never crossed my mind they were pinned raised, I saw those standing on the middle of the road, but the fat was a different color.

 

[GetTothePoint]

What is leading you to think they are turned out? Have you looked at toes and noses?

Mainly the fat. I've shot pen raised birds in KS and they have that same fat. I don't think to check the beaks although I've told myself multiple times to look. We've also shot some small birds in the last few years but I attributed it to late hatches up north.

 

[Gatzby]

I've never noticed the fat being a different color, I'm just happy to see it there. Fat healthy birds in the late season makes me optimistic.

 

[Quailnerd]

Grass fed beef compared to grain fed definitely changes the fat color.. I’ve never done a late season northern trip, maybe they have already used the fat storage this time of year trying to stay warm?

 

[Weimdogman]

The only pheasants I have ever shot have been South Dakota birds with yellow fat.
Like Gatzby said i am happy to see it.

 

[remy3424]

Not sure the answer to your question.. seems that most of the birds with much fat on them in Iowa that I clean have the yellow fat.

Same on my side of Iowa.

 

[matto]

Here's my theory. I've noticed different colored fat on birds before too, but I think it's about food sources. Corn=yellow, beans=white, milo=orange.

 

[BrownDogsCan2]

I’ve noticed the same thing, pheasant from Texas panhandle, Oklahoma and southern ks I’ve shot have the yellow fat. The limited thought I’ve given it made me think it was something in the diet down south other than corn, maybe one of our native Forbes or weeds. The sd birds I’ve shot the last 2 years it never crossed my mind they were pinned raised, I saw those standing on the middle of the road, but the fat was a different color.

I think that it’s. Looking at it in the reading room. Diet high in beta carotene will change the color of fat to yellow. Greens are a good source. I wonder maybe if some of its winter wheat.

 

[Dakotazeb]

Yellow fat in South Dakota. I don't think the color of the fat has anything to do with where the birds come from. It's more likely diet.

 

[GetTothePoint]

Grass fed beef compared to grain fed definitely changes the fat color.. I’ve never done a late season northern trip, maybe they have already used the fat storage this time of year trying to stay warm?

I've noticed it early and late season now. I'll take some pics when I get home as I have some still soaking. In this instance these were three of the bigger birds I've killed in SD. All were in areas where corn would be a high majority of their diet and they have little to no fat and its white.

 

[Wind River]

Diet #1 Foods high in carbs like corn will convert to fat on the birds. Foods high in protein like soybeans not so much. Check the crops on the roosters. Depending on season you might find greens, insects, most seed crops and in Kansas we even found acorns.
I removed most of the fat before processing the birds, mostly yellow fat.

 

[A5 Sweet 16]

I don't recall every seeing a rooster with white fat. Always yellow.

 

[KEOutdoors]

I cant remember ever seeing white fat on a wild bird

 

[That1uncle1776]

Yellow is all I recall seeing. The only pen raised birds I've killed had been fed nearly 100 percent ground corn. They had yellow fat

 

[GetTothePoint]

Here's what I've noticed. The one on the right is a KS bird and is representative of most I've ever taken here, some even have more fat but the same color. The bird on the left is from SD, shot in grass right next to corn and his crop was full of corn.