Few birds inspire as many hunters as the American wild turkey. Across the country, it’s a pivotal part of the annual spring awakening as hunters wait in anticipation to hear a gobble thunder through the woods. The wild turkeys we chase across the country consist of five unique subspecies, each offering unique hunts and characteristics. The differences between these hunts are a pivotal part of what draws so many hunters to chase these birds every year. Whether it’s a hardwood bottomland chasing Easterns or a mountain top send chasing Merriam’s, the different subspecies cumulatively contribute to turkey hunting culture as a whole. Here’s everything you need to know about the different subspecies and where to find them.
Easterns
The Eastern wild turkey is the most popular and widespread turkey subspecies. Found throughout the east, their range extends from Maine, south to Florida, and west from Texas to Minnesota. The Eastern turkey played a pivotal role in early turkey hunting, being the target species throughout the southeast. At times, the Eastern turkey was extinct from some states altogether, but thanks to relocation efforts, it has rebounded and even grown from its historic range.
The Eastern turkey is considered the largest subspecies, with gobblers reaching upwards of 30 pounds. They also grow the largest beards with respectable spurs to match. The distinguishing characteristic of the Eastern turkey is it’s chestnut colored fan tips, in addition to distinct white barring along the wings. Easterns also have a distinct and powerful gobble. Of the subspecies, the Eastern turkey is one of the hardest to call in, only behind Osceolas in terms of difficulty.
Osceolas
The Osceola subspecies of turkeys is only found in the Sunshine State of Florida. According to FWC and NWTF, the cutoff line for Osceola’s runs from the Dixie to Duval county line. However, this line is often up for debate, with many birds in the northern range having eastern characteristics. For pure osceolas, the further south you hunt, the better. Hunting from Lake Okeechobee and south will guarantee you are hunting pure Osceolas.
The Osceola is one of the smaller subspecies hunters can target, with adults reaching just 20 pounds. These birds have the same dark chestnut tail feathers as easterns, so the best way to distinguish between the two is by size and primary feathers. An Osceola turkey has dark primary feathers with broken white patches, compared to the distinct barring of easterns. Osceolas are also known for their impressive spur size and long legs. Of all the subspecies, Osceolas are one of the hardest subspecies to hunt. They generally don’t respond well to calls, especially once they hit the ground. In addition, public land can be heavily pressured, or quota hunts can be tough to draw.
Merriam’s
Merriam’s turkeys are synonymous with Western turkey hunting. These mountain birds are found throughout much of the Rocky Mountains, ranging as far west as Washington. Their habitats consist of mountain hardwoods and open grasslands. Merriam’s turkeys are widely considered one of the easiest subspecies to harvest due to their willingness to respond to calls.
They are easily distinguished from other subspecies with their snow-white fan tips. The white coloration also extends down onto secondary tail feathers. The Merriam’s subspecies also has one of the weakest gobbles, as well as short beards and spurs. For hunters looking to shoot pure Merriams, target higher-elevation areas where this subspecies is best suited. Turkey’s relocation efforts have resulted in hybridization across much of its lower-elevation range. Hybrids generally have cream colored tips compared to the pure white of a Merriam’s bird.
Rios
The Rio Grande turkey, or Rio for short, is native to the arid climates of Texas, Oklahoma, and parts of Kansas. With reintroduction efforts, Rio populations have also made their way west to states like California and Oregon. Despite their love for desert regions, these birds still need water. Populations often congregate around water or creek beds.
Rios have unique tan tips on their fan and share a similar size to Osceolas. A big Rio will tip the scales at about 20 pounds. Their gobble is slightly sharper than that of a Merriam’s. Rios also have moderate beards and spur lengths. While hunting these birds is not necessarily difficult, getting access to land with Rios can be. Texas hosts a majority of these birds, and the lack of public land opportunities makes this a pay-to-play game.
Bonus: Gould’s
The Gould’s turkey is one of the most overlooked subspecies, likely due to its limited range and hunting opportunities. These birds are found only in Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico. Of the subspecies, these are the largest, living in high mountain elevations similar to Merriam’s. The Gould’s also look similar to the Merriam’s subspecies with white fan tips. However, Gould’s have long legs similar to an Osceola and a unique greenish hue to their body feathers.
For turkey hunters looking to harvest one of these birds in the states, this is a once-in-a-lifetime tag. New Mexico issues just two tags a year. Arizona is not much better, delegating tags between different draw zones. It typically takes upwards of 20 points to draw this hunt, and fewer than 80 tags are given out each year. Your best bet to kill a Gould’s turkey is to head to Mexico, where higher populations and more liberal regulations make this hunt achievable, as long as you have money for an outfitter.