The author shows off a big Merriam gobbler harvested during April's first week. (Photo courtesy of Jace Bauserman)
April 15, 2025
By Jace Bauserman
Merriam’s are the second-largest subspecies of wild turkey, behind the Eastern. Populations are spread across the West. Though pockets of Merriam and Rio Grande birds have mixed, creating hybrids, pure Merriam strongholds are sprinkled through the Rockies and canyonlands.
Merriam birds are known for boisterous but weak gobbles, short spurs (rocks wear them down), and willingness to come recklessly to hen calls.
Labeled by many turkey hunters as the easiest of the four wild turkey subspecies to call in, Merriam...
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