Which sup-species would you chase?
In California, I am shooting what many refer to as California hybrids... Mostly Rio's with some mixture of Merriam's and Easterns.
I have shot most of my birds in the rolling foothills, which in the spring is gorgeous country to be in... Tall green grass under oaks, with an abundance of wild flowers... And all the wild life that comes with it.
I have shot birds in horse pastures and walnut orchards as well, but I prefer the lush green rolling hills. As the birds are spreading to lower elevations, it looks like we will (at some point in the future) have the opportunity to shoot them in the riparian river bottoms and agricultural fields (we are already seeing this to the north to a growing degree).
Were I to travel and hunt, I would want to hunt some pretty country, and the forested areas of higher elevations really appeal to me... I love the smell of pine, and I enjoy that high country, and I like the idea of being able to hunt a big area in big country. Also, I think that Merriam's are one of the prettier sub-species of birds. I think I would enjoy hunting that country, and would love to get a good specimen for a cape/beard to put on display.
So for me, it would be Merriam's, followed by Easterns in the woods... Although, if I were to get an unexpected influx of finances, my preference might switch to Gould's in Mexico... High desert also appeals to me, but frankly I know little about these birds.
Were you to take a trip, what type of country and sub-species would it be???
Probably a goulds, if for no other reason than most diehard turkey hunters will never get the opportunity to do so. I suspect it's not much different than hunting for Merriam's or Rios. I'd also like to chase an Eastern here in Texas. I think it would be quite an accomplishment due to their relatively low numbers and more than likely needing to kill one on public land, as I don't have a private land connection with easterns.
I'm going to stick with a good ol eastern. Can't beat the thunderous gobbles and they are in all kinds of different habitats too for a wide variety of challenges
Easterns are my favorite, but my dream hunt is Rios in Hawaii, not sure why other than it seems like it would be cool. Would also like to go to New Zealand and try a Rio. Love hunting big sky country as well.
I would say my first choice would be the good ol eastern and my second choice would be a rio. I've always wonted to kill a rio
I haven't hunted anything other than easterns here in Iowa/Nebraska. My first choice would be Mariam's in Wyoming and the Easterns in the east.
Gotta love those hard gobbling Rios. When it's good in Rio country, it's real good!
Mirriams are the prettier bird but give me an Eastern on a large hardwoods ridge
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I have been fortunate enough to hunt and kill all 5 of the true Turkey subspecies.
The Goulds in Old Mexico was by far the greatest adventure - hunted at high elevation and thin air. That said, I grew up hunting and killing lots and lots of Easterns.
My favorite is the Merriams - they play the game right and live in the most beautiful places. Hard to beat.. super fun and always exciting !! I wish everyone had the chance to travel to new country and extend their season.
I love Easterns but, would love to go on a Osceola hunt down in South Florida.
Shot a ton of easterns so for me it would be Merriam's and then osceolas
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I've killed them all and enjoyed each hunt but I prefer the Eastern Wild Turkey in the woods be it swamp or pine /hardwood ridges. I am done chasing the others and any trip I plan is for Easterns.
I want to go to Everywhere. Everywhere is the place that I've been told there is lots of turkeys. Still looking for it but maybe someday.
I have killed gobblers in several states and my favorite hunts were the two Merriams I killed in Colorado at 8500ft elevation on public land.
I don't know. Although I think Merriams and Goulds are prettier turkeys, I just can't get over an Eastern's thunder.
I will be happy with easterns the rest of my life. If I had to choose another it would be the osceola. I really don't have much interest in the others.
I wanna go somewhere where the roost consists of a couple hundred birds
I think a goulds hunt sounds amazing.
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Quote from: Gooserbat on May 03, 2018, 08:40:04 PM
I want to go to Everywhere. Everywhere is the place that I've been told there is lots of turkeys. Still looking for it but maybe someday.
Just make sure if you do go everywhere, that you go yesterday... Yesterday is when all the birds are around...
I've killed a bunch of nice Easterns in New England on mostly highly pressure public land. Some of those longbeards just kick my but every year. I have a bucket list dream to get every sub-species and an Oscellated in Mexico. For me I really enjoy seeing the different places these birds live. My order; Merriam's, Rio's, Osceala, Goulds, Oscellated. I'd like to get my Merriam's and Rio's on public land DIY. I anticipate I'll need an outfitter for the others
I really enjoyed my merriams hunt in the black hills. It was nice to hear gobbling birds every day. Hunt mostly public land here in louisiana and may hear a couple gobblers 1 day then go a week without hesring another. The landscape i hunt here is mostly pine plantations and logged woods with some hardwood bottoms. Thick ad hard to maneuver sometimes. Have killed several rios in texas and that is fun when theyre doing it. Would like to hunt easterns in the some pretty hardwoods like what catman posts from tennessee or some missouri hardwoods.
Other than seeing different country, I just want to hunt my birds, but they have certainly gotten scarce lately.
Quote from: silvestris on May 04, 2018, 09:08:44 PM
Other than seeing different country, I just want to hunt my birds, but they have certainly gotten scarce lately.
As I have seen in my own area, that will likely change.
Turkey populations seem to be very dynamic and fluctuate fairly rapidly (based on habitat and weather).
Quote from: nitro on May 03, 2018, 05:06:57 PM
My favorite is the Merriams - they play the game right .......
Haha !!!
Tell that to these Wyoming birds who have spent the last 4 days handing me my arse......... Most ignorant birds I have ever hunted. They rival the Gould's for beautiful. But they are absolutely IGNORANT.
I've hunted Easterns in NY, VA, NC and IA. I hunted Rios in TX. Hunted Osceola in FL(duh). Hunted Merriams in MT and SD. Living in the east and having Easterns to hunt keeps me traveling for the other birds and I like it that way. I completed 2 Slams and just keep making the rounds. I would have to say that the Merriams was my favorite because they are beautiful and live in some pretty country too for a guy from the east.
For me, it is not about the subspecies, it is about the way the birds I am hunting are willing to play the game.
First off, if I am hunting somewhere that the turkeys are not willing to gobble and have a conversation with me, then as far as I am concerned, they can just stay in the woods. Turkeys that will gobble are a prerequisite for me hunting them. That doesn't mean every gobbler has to gobble and respond to my calling. There just have to be SOME around that will. If there are some out there that will do that, I will find them given enough time. If there are not, I will go home or go hunt somewhere else.
Secondly, I prefer hunting a population of birds that challenge my turkey hunting skills, both in terms of calling and woodsmanship. I suspect there are places in every state and with every subspecies that the turkeys are so lightly hunted that they are pushovers,...and there are also places where the birds have been hunted, and the numbers depleted, so much that they are nearly impossible. I prefer something in the middle.
I have hunted all five of the "regular" subspecies a number of times,...some more than others. Granted, my opinions are based on a somewhat limited selection of states hunted, but given the parameters outlined above, here is how I would rank them, and the reasons why:
1) Merriam's (public, hunted populations): Good talkers, willing to gobble, will "play the game" right,...that is, come in gobbling and strutting if you do your part. Hard-hunted populations will challenge your hunting skills while still allowing you to hunt birds that are willing to gobble and talk. A lot of the country they are hunted in is spectacular (probably the thing that puts them above Easterns in my book).
2) Easterns (where they are not hunted so hard that they are ghosts): Will generally gobble enough to let you locate them, will also play, again if you do your part. Love that Eastern-gobbler raspy, angry gobble. Really close to being on the same level as Merriam's,...just not quite in my book. (another qualifier: I have only hunted Easterns in the southeast states)
3/4) Rios and Goulds (tie): These are a tie, but for entirely different reasons. In the places I have hunted Rios, they have just been so conditioned to routines based around roost sites and feeders/ag fields/food plots that you have to base your tactics primarily on those rather than calling and woodsmanship skills. Goulds are here (on my list) because they are just too easy to kill,...the places I have hunted them, they have just not been hunted enough to have developed any "human hunter avoidance" instincts. Having said that, they do play the game right,...but are just too easy.
5) Osceola (sorry Osceola guys): My perspective on Osceola's may be "askew" because I have only hunted them four times, but from my observation, they are either too easy to kill (exclusive, private properties), or they are hunted so hard that they are just no fun. Plus, the habitat they live in is just so foreign to this western boy that I have a hard time adjusting to it. I'm not a real big fan of skeeters and high humidity...
The birds here are getting scarce also. Probably less than half the population from 15 years ago, here in Mississippi. Easterns are all I've hunted. Rios would be my next choice, then Osceola and Merriam.
Quote from: GobbleNut on May 06, 2018, 10:01:12 AM
For me, it is not about the subspecies, it is about the way the birds I am hunting are willing to play the game.
First off, if I am hunting somewhere that the turkeys are not willing to gobble and have a conversation with me, then as far as I am concerned, they can just stay in the woods. Turkeys that will gobble are a prerequisite for me hunting them. That doesn't mean every gobbler has to gobble and respond to my calling. There just have to be SOME around that will. If there are some out there that will do that, I will find them given enough time. If there are not, I will go home or go hunt somewhere else.
Secondly, I prefer hunting a population of birds that challenge my turkey hunting skills, both in terms of calling and woodsmanship. I suspect there are places in every state and with every subspecies that the turkeys are so lightly hunted that they are pushovers,...and there are also places where the birds have been hunted, and the numbers depleted, so much that they are nearly impossible. I prefer something in the middle.
I have hunted all five of the "regular" subspecies a number of times,...some more than others. Granted, my opinions are based on a somewhat limited selection of states hunted, but given the parameters outlined above, here is how I would rank them, and the reasons why:
1) Merriam's (public, hunted populations): Good talkers, willing to gobble, will "play the game" right,...that is, come in gobbling and strutting if you do your part. Hard-hunted populations will challenge your hunting skills while still allowing you to hunt birds that are willing to gobble and talk. A lot of the country they are hunted in is spectacular (probably the thing that puts them above Easterns in my book).
2) Easterns (where they are not hunted so hard that they are ghosts): Will generally gobble enough to let you locate them, will also play, again if you do your part. Love that Eastern-gobbler raspy, angry gobble. Really close to being on the same level as Merriam's,...just not quite in my book. (another qualifier: I have only hunted Easterns in the southeast states)
3/4) Rios and Goulds (tie): These are a tie, but for entirely different reasons. In the places I have hunted Rios, they have just been so conditioned to routines based around roost sites and feeders/ag fields/food plots that you have to base your tactics primarily on those rather than calling and woodsmanship skills. Goulds are here (on my list) because they are just too easy to kill,...the places I have hunted them, they have just not been hunted enough to have developed any "human hunter avoidance" instincts. Having said that, they do play the game right,...but are just too easy.
5) Osceola (sorry Osceola guys): My perspective on Osceola's may be "askew" because I have only hunted them four times, but from my observation, they are either too easy to kill (exclusive, private properties), or they are hunted so hard that they are just no fun. Plus, the habitat they live in is just so foreign to this western boy that I have a hard time adjusting to it. I'm not a real big fan of skeeters and high humidity...
You sir could teach me a thing or two! I appreciate your perspective!
Would have to say that I would like to go Merriams .Killed eastern and a pile of hybrids in Kansas. The hybrids are some crazy gobbling fools and play the game relentlessly.
Without a doubt, an Arizona Goulds. After that, a New Mexico Merriams. As far as the rest, I like the Easterns.
I have only hunted Easterns in my home state but if I ever had the opportunity to travel my top choice would be a Merriams because of the country they are in and the looks of them. Then probably a Goulds and Rio and lastly Osceola.
No one wants to come down here in the wet, hot, and bug infested swamps of south florida lol ?!? I cant wait to get out of the swamps and head up to the mountains and hunts Merriams next year. It is going to be a big change for me.
Finished my grand slam this year. Still want have to go back to Florida so I can have an all public slam and hopefully get a one year slam. That being said so far Merriams where my favorite bird to hunt. Osceola was great but very similar to my normal hunting in Louisiana.
If I had to choose only one would be a good ole Eastern. All of them have different things that I like about them but a big woods eastern is what I live for.
Most my birds have been easterns due to where I live have killed rios and they were fun but my favorites are merriams if I had choose just one to chase rest my days it would be them beautiful bird and many times can fire them up any hour of the day
I guess, at this point, I'd like to chase some Osceolas. I've chased them all but the Osceola. Each of the others has its own type of appeal. I'm sure the south Florida birds do too.
Heck..................just let me chase turkeys !!!
I really like the white in Merriam's I would like to hunt them in Montana (I have always wanted to go there anyway) and Goulds (Again for that white in them) in New Mexico.
Merriams because of the wide variety of terrain. High mountains, low lands, thick forests, open rolling hills, farm lands, desert, prairie. Hunting 10,000 feet elevation at the snowline down to a few hundred feet above sea level. But the best part for me is the distances you can call them in from, sometimes more than a mile. One of my favorite hunts was calling them from a mile away in South Dakota over to me in Wyoming and watching them coming from across a canyon. We spotted the three gobblers about a 1000 yards away coming to us and could watch them most of the way.
I've shot the four. My favorite is the Merriams in Ponderosa pine country. Lord willing, I'll be chasing them in Montana next spring.
The most satisfying though for me is getting them here in Pa on public ground.
Merriam. love the country, but i like anywhere i don't have to wait for him to gobble to make sure its a turkey and not a mosquito. Good ole Florida.
I love going to Texas so I would say Rio's in Texas.
I've taken eastern, Rio, and eastern/Rio hybrids. I've gone for merriams, and never gotten one, so it'd have to be those darn purty merriams!
Merriams have been my favorite to hunt. They love gobbling, which in my opinion helps you as a hunter.
Next would be Rios, for the same reason, although they don't seem to gobble quite as much as Merriams do.
Next would be Osceolas. Being a Floridian (for now), I cut my turkey hunting teeth on public land Osceolas, and find them to be more responsive than Easterns.
Easterns are more of a pain in the butt to my experience. I've killed them in several states, but have found them to be the hardest to hunt.
Quote from: Ross R on May 14, 2018, 01:45:48 PM
No one wants to come down here in the wet, hot, and bug infested swamps of south florida lol ?!? I cant wait to get out of the swamps and head up to the mountains and hunts Merriams next year. It is going to be a big change for me.
I grew up in Labelle, FL and learned everything I know from Osceolas down there in orange groves, cypress swamps, and giant oak hammocks. Moved out to the Black Hills this past year after hunting out here the previous 2 years. I LOVE it! Beautiful land everywhere you go and its soooo nice not having to crank up a thermacell everytime you stop.
Merriams for the beautiful land they inhabit, Easterns in the hardwood ridges and their gobbles that damn near blow your hat off.
Quote from: Gooserbat on May 03, 2018, 08:40:04 PM
I want to go to Everywhere. Everywhere is the place that I've been told there is lots of turkeys. Still looking for it but maybe someday.
I haven't hunted anywhere that I didn't like it. But I agree, everywhere would be a great place to hunt!
Oceola's all day long. Love my Easterns. Rio's are not as difficult to me.
Easterns followed by some high country Merriams.