I've spent time in a number of areas in Nebraska. If you want pure merriams you may want to concentrate your efforts in the NW corner of Nebraska. I've shot pure white tail-feathered toms in the same flock as toms with buff/tanned colored toms elsewhere in the state. There are a lot of rio-crosses in the remainder of Nebraska. I hunt here in Colo and it's the same thing from the front range eastward to KS. Some white a some buff/tan toms in the eastern plains and river bottoms. I've shot pure with merriams in the foothills and mtns for several years but harvested a cream tail-feathered tom in the mtns this year where they are supposed to be pure merriams. I guess a lot depends upon whether it matters to you whether you want a pure strain of merriams?
