5 Quick Tips for Hunting Merriam's Turkeys

Dress warm, and don't forget that seat cushion.

Read the weather forecast, but don't trust it completely. I've spring turkey hunted places like Wyoming, South Dakota and Nebraska in snowy conditions. Days later it all melted in the warm sunshine.

Pack for all conditions you might encounter.

(© Bill Konway photo)

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Use your calls, even if some western guides (in my experience) will tell you Merriam's don't respond well to calling. That's simply not true.

Call. A lot. Or at least the way you would to Easterns, Rios or Osceolas in certain situations.

(© John Hafner photo)

Don't worry about the weather shutting down birds. I've had a number of great western turkey hunts in the snow – fallen, falling or otherwise.

They'll strut right to the calls through it, especially if the day is sunny and warm, with snow on the ground.

But I've also called strutters right in as the snow fell. And as so-called "thunder snow" dropped down (a mix of rain, thunder, lightning and snowy conditions).

It's all good.

(© Images On The Wildside photo)

Depending on the western state, you may or may not have killed a Merriam's.

For instance, in Montana you'll find two subspecies and hybrid wild turkeys.

(© John Hafner photo)