Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region via Wikimedia Commons (PD) · PD · Source: commons.wikimedia.org
Conservation status
Least ConcernTag difficulty (general)
OTC in most statesVaries by state and unit.
Methods generally used
The wild turkey is the largest game bird in North America and a major conservation comeback. Continental population dropped to an estimated 30,000 birds by the 1930s, recovered to roughly 6-7 million today, and that recovery — trap-and-transfer programs run by state agencies in partnership with the National Wild Turkey Federation — is why the species is now huntable in 49 of 50 states.
Five subspecies are recognized in the U.S. and each has its own geography. The Eastern (M. g. silvestris) covers the largest range — essentially everything east of the Great Plains plus introduced Pacific Northwest populations. The Osceola or Florida (M. g. osceola) is endemic to peninsular Florida and exists nowhere else; it is the smallest and darkest. The Rio Grande (M. g. intermedia) holds the southern Plains from Texas north into Kansas and west into New Mexico, with introductions in California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii. Merriam's (M. g. merriami) is the mountain subspecies of the West, in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, the Dakotas, and the interior Northwest. Gould's (M. g. mexicana) is the rarest in the U.S. — extreme southeastern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico only, with the bulk of its range in Mexico's Sierra Madre.
Pursuing one of each subspecies — the "Grand Slam" — is the recognized achievement. None of those slams come fast.
Established huntable populations exist in every U.S. state except Alaska. Eastern subspecies covers the eastern two-thirds of the country plus the Pacific Northwest. Osceola is restricted to peninsular Florida. Rio Grande covers the southern Plains and has been introduced to California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii. Merriam's holds the interior West from the Rockies through the Black Hills and into the Cascades. Gould's is limited to extreme southeastern Arizona and a small slice of southwestern New Mexico in the U.S., with most of its global range in northern Mexico.
Mature hardwood and mixed forest with open understory, broken by clearings, pasture, agricultural edge, or burn-managed pine. Turkeys roost in trees overnight and need a mosaic of cover and openings to feed during the day. Eastern birds use hardwood ridges and creek bottoms; Osceolas use cypress strands and palmetto flats; Rio Grandes use riparian cottonwood corridors through grassland; Merriam's use ponderosa pine and oak-juniper woodland; Gould's use madrean pine-oak in sky-island canyon country.
Uncommon and not permitted in most states for turkey hunting. Where rifles are allowed for turkey (a small minority of states, mostly for the fall season), they tend to be small-caliber rimfire or sub-.22 centerfire — the legality varies enough that hunters check their state regulations every year.
A growing method, particularly with the spread of pop-up ground blinds. The challenge is the bird's eyesight at the draw; most archery turkey hunting happens from a blind with a decoy spread set within 10-20 yards. Mechanical broadheads designed for thin-skinned game are the norm.
The dominant method by a wide margin. Standard turkey loads are 12- or 20-gauge with 3-inch or 3.5-inch shells in #4, #5, or #6 lead or tungsten-super-shot. Range is typically inside 40 yards with traditional loads, extended to 50-60 yards with modern TSS payloads. The hunt is a calling-and-decoy game played at close range to a wary bird that has good eyesight and an instant response to anything wrong.
Legal in nearly every state under either archery or general firearm frameworks depending on the regulation. Same close-range tactics as vertical bow.
Legal methods, weapons, and seasons vary by state and unit — confirm with the issuing agency before you hunt.
Frank Schulenburg via Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-4.0) · CC-BY-SA-4.0
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region via Wikimedia Commons (PD) · PD
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service via Wikimedia Commons (PD) · PD
10 states