Turkey Hunting Grand Slam:
In order to complete your Turkey Hunting Slam, you'll need to
bag all 4 of the US Turkey species: Osceola, Eastern, Rio
Grande and Merriam Turkey. After you get those 4, you can
also get the Gould's Turkey native to Mexico. In New
Mexico
you can hunt the Merriam Turkey and the Rio Grande Turkey.
 The
Rio Grande Turkey is primarily as western bird. The Rio
Grande turkey, at full maturity, is approximately four feet tall
and has strangely long legs. It is pale and copper colored
having tail feathers and tail/rump coverts (short feathers
located at the base of the tail) tipped with a yellowish buff.
An alternating color pattern includes tan feathers with medium
or dark brown buffed tips. The color is consistently lighter
than the Eastern or Florida Turkey, but is darker than the same
feathers in the Merriam or Gould subspecies. Feathers of the hen
breast, sides and flanks are tipped with pale, pinkish buff.
 The
Merriam Wild Turkey is located primarily in the
Western States. This bird enjoys the mountain environment.
The Merriam turkey weighs from 8-20 pounds. Although
approximately the same size as the Eastern, the Merriam has
different coloration. It is black with blue, purple and
bronze reflections. White feathers on the lower back and
tail feather margins distinguish the Merriam from other
subspecies of turkey. Toms have black-tipped breast
feathers, while the hens exhibit buff tips. Hens have a more
extensive white area on the wings giving a whiter appearance
when the wings are folded. The Merriam Turkey prefers a
pine forest habitat.
New Mexico Turkey Hunting Methods:
Turkeys can be hunted with the shotgun, bow
and arrow or black powder. Rifles are also allowed in some
states, but not so often used. Hunters use a wide variety of
calls to attract and ‘romance’ the gobbler into range. Turkey
calling is truly a well-practiced art and you’ll find many
competitions if you check into it. Along with sounding like a
hen, you’ll also need to sound like an owl to wake those birds
up and get them off the trees.
Turkey have excellent eyesight and hearing,
and they are constantly aware of their surroundings. You’ll
have to don your best camo and practice being very still and
quiet to bag a nice trophy bird! Wild Turkey are also very
mobile. Turkey can run at speeds up to 25 mph, and they can fly
up to 55 mph. Trophy birds are judged by three things:
Body size, spur size and length of the beard. Only the Tom
Turkey has a beard and spurs.
When mating season arrives, anywhere from February to April,
courtship usually begins while turkeys are still flocked together
in wintering areas. After mating, the hens begin searching for a
nest site and laying eggs. In most areas, nests can be found in a
shallow dirt depression, surrounded by moderately woody vegetation
that conceals the nest.
Hens will lay a clutch of 10 to 12 eggs during a two-week period,
usually laying one egg per day. She will incubate her eggs for
about 28 days, occasionally turning and rearranging them, until
they are ready to hatch.
A newly-hatched flock must be ready to leave the nest within 12 to
24 hours to feed. Poults (young turkey) eat mostly insects because
they need the protein, while
adults will eat anything from acorns and berries to insects and
small reptiles. Turkeys usually feed in early morning and in the
afternoon.
Wild turkeys like open areas for feeding, mating and habitat,
which makes them easier to hunt. They
use forested areas as cover from predators and for roosting in
trees at night. A varied habitat of both open and covered area is
essential for wild turkey survival.
Our friends at the National Wild Turkey
Federation have been working hard to keep Turkey Hunting a safe
and valued tradition in our country. They offer a
helpful guide to assist in turkey hunting safety and
success.
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