Turkey Hen At Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge

On a trip to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma, I came across this beautiful Rio Grande Turkey hen. I was lucky enough to capture her on camera one morning when she was walking past me towards a small stream.

Wild Turkey Hen
Wild Turkey Hen

The refuge was teeming with wild turkeys and it seemed like wherever you looked or walked, you would either see or hear them. This particular hen was with a group of other hens that were a few yards away, trying to catch up.

One thing I noticed about these turkeys was their rich, vibrant colors, which I later learned is a sign of good health.

How I Got The Shot

I was standing outside my pickup truck, hand-holding my trusty Canon EOS 7D Mark II camera with a EF100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens attached. I was ready to capture this moment when the turkey hen came walking past me. It was a quick opportunity, but I was able to get a close shot of her before she disappeared into the distance.

Camera Settings

  • AV Mode
  • Aperture f8.0
  • ISO 640
  • Shutter speed – 1/1250 sec.
  • Exposure Compensation – -1/3 EV
  • Focal Length – 330 mm

Here is a photo I took of a Wild Tom Turkey during that same visit: Wild Tom Turkey