Slam advice

[Happy trails]

My son and I are ready to start our slams together. I never really liked calling it that but use it here. Hoping for a bit of wise advise, maybe even an outfitter recommendation. Was thinking of starting with either merrimams or rios.We're coming from Mi so anywhere is going to be a two day drive. Appreciate any input, always best from someone who's been there or done that.

[Jstocks]

I know an excellent Osceola outfitter. I actually gave up my 1st week of the season spots last week. Maybe he still has them available......

Travel hunting to me is about how much time you have available to you. If you are an accomplished hunter, then public land may be an ok route.....except during a year like this year.

It's also about the experience......
Texas is king for Rios. No way would I drive down here from Minnesota unless I planned on hitting Texas and Oklahoma or Kansas together. In that case I'd line up a hunt with a reputable outfitter close to the panhandle of Texas and drive on into Oklahoma after the hunt.

Florida to me is about the pastures and the swamps. The closer to the lake the better. Spring comes early down there, and it's a great feeling to start off March with a bang.

I haven't experienced a lot of Merriams yet, but plan on doing the Black Hills with an outfitter. You get what you pay for and good outfits aren't cheap, but I don't have a week to spend, so I'll pay to play.

Decide what suits you as far as the part of the Spring cycle you prefer. I like early season hunting, but it can be tough due to hens and weather. Later season hunting, regardless of weather seems to be more spread out flocks, more like pockets of turkeys here or there in bigger areas out West. Sometimes harder to locate but easier to deal with than larger early season flocks and birds.

[GobbleNut]

My advice is that if you truly wish to pursue a 'true" grand slam of the four subspecies, do your research and....1) stick to the historic ranges of the subspecies; 2) avoid areas where the subspecies have mixed, either naturally or through transplants.  After that, either hunt public lands in those areas or find a reputable outfitter in those areas,...or do a combination of both for your hunts.   

[Jstocks]

I'll add this, I'm going with GobbleNuts son Ryan next year the first 5 days of the season. With travel a day there and a day back, that's a 7 day trip. That's pretty much max on my time away from the house with 3 small kids at home, but I have wanted to get to New Mexico and spend time in those mountains and have talked for 2 years about getting out there.

Do your research ahead of time. Kind of have a 2 year plan so to speak if you are using outfitters. They get booked quickly if they are good ones.

The one I plan on booking in the Black Hills is already booking 2022. As soon as this covid clears out I hope to secure a spot up there for 2022, but he books up quick so we will see.

[turkeyfool]

I don't know anything about Osceola's but I've hunted the other 3. I would say you shouldn't need an outfitter for the other 3 depending on where you go. The Rio for me was the trickiest finding them on public this yr

[Tom007]

My bother and I got the 3rd leg of our quest last season in Florida. We went with Osceola Shooter. Trevor owns and runs this operation. Believe it or not, he has a 100% success rate for the past 7 years. We got our Tom's by 1:00 the first day. They limit the amount of hunters, have plenty of private property. These are true Osceolas. My brothers bird had true 1 3/4 inch spurs. I never saw spurs like these. Trevor: 386-527-0093.  I also believe that Old Gobbler on this sight may have Fla. turkey hunt info. Good luck.....

[bigbird]

A lot of outfits are booked already for next year already due to the virus. You guys might try your hand at public land next year and have to use outfitter down the road if you need to

[bonasa]

You don't NEED an outfitter for Rios or merriems, they are filthy thick in the west on public land. Osceola I've only hunted public, walk in hunting areas not special opportunities or quota and still shot birds. For walk in hunting area of Florida look at their take per wma, also u might want to consider special opportunity or quota hunts, could take a few years for the better zones.

[deerhunt1988]

One of the first things I'll ask folks.. Do you want to buy your slam or earn it? And it is not as hard to earn it as most think.

[Tom007]

Amen, the only one I used an outfitter was Oseola. Only because I had no idea where to go. I did my own calling, they are great that way.......

[Happy trails]

I appreciate all those who chimed in. We were figuring on an outfitter but it would get pricey quick as I'm the one footing the total bill for the both of us!

[Tomfoolery]

I certainly would not use an outfitter for a merriams in the black hills. I drove up from Louisiana 3 years ago and was in turkeys the first hour I spent looking. I've killed rios on private land in Texas but would think they could be easily had on public. Only one I'm lacking is the osceola, and would like to do it on public land, as I've killed easterns and my merriams on public.

[CAPTJJ]

I would try to knock off the Merriam's and Rio in the same trip with all the travel involved, NE and KS are close and have each.