Colorado
35,000
Wild Turkey Population
Merriam's and Rio Grandes
Turkey Subspecies
20,118
Number of Licenses Sold Annually
Varies (see regulations)
Cost of Resident License and Permit
Varies (see regulations)
Cost of Non-Resident License and Permit
Photo by Russell Graves
Merriam’s are Colorado’s prime species and are located west of Interstate 25 and along the southern portions of the Front Range. Rios are also present but limited to the river bottom habitat of the Platte and Arkansas rivers, as well as other tributaries in the eastern portion of the state.
Most of the western portion of Colorado is state, National Forest and Bureau of Land Management lands. As a result, finding a place to hunt with good populations is typically not a problem. The best locations for hunters to bag a Colorado Merriam's are the southwestern and western regions, and along the Southern Front Range. Top-producing counties include Archuleta, Delta, Garfield, Mesa and Yuma. Not only do the southwestern and western regions boast the greatest density of Merriam's, but that's also where public-land hunters find the highest success.
Merriam's live in some rugged country. Their nomadic traits can really spread them out and test your physical endurance. So there's that if you want a challenge. Recent harvest data indicates that about 5,694 birds taken during the 2023 season.
