New Mexico Merriam's Turkey

History
A relative new sub species of the wild turkey in North America believed to have evolved from the domestication probably of the Mexican or Gould's turkey by pre Colombian Anasazi and Mimbres cultures inhabiting present day New Mexico and parts of Arizona. First described by the Spanish in 1540, some of the turkeys (alive about 2 dozen) were sent back to Spain to the court of King Phillip as a prize of interest from the new world and became the progenitor of all domestic turkeys. During settlement of New Mexico in the early 19th century, settlers, cowboys, and the military made reference to the turkey as being in great numbers throughout the region as a valuable food source and some even made note to the difference in coloration (bright tail and rump outlining the very dark body). In 1900, naturalist Dr. E. W. Nelson described and noted this turkey and named it honoring the first chief of the U.S. Biological Survey Clinton Hart Merriam. Market hunting and over grazing had a serious impact on the populations until the New Mexico Game Department started to protect the bird with seasons and bag limits. Reintroduction of the Merriam's turkey by trapping and releasing the native Merriam's turkey into historic ranges has been very successful and is considered one of North America's wildlife success stories. Today, New Mexico along with Arizona and southern Colorado are considered native Merriam's Turkey range however, the bird has been introduced into non native state including: Utah, Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, California, Oregon and Washington. It is believed that many of these non native locations are producing a mix strain of non pure Merriam's turkey.

Today
New Mexico has the highest numbers and growing population of native Merriam's turkey to be found. Weather and management have helped the populations grow and in recent years the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish has allocated a harvest of three turkeys per year for licensed hunters. The mountain regions of New Mexico all hold good populations of Merriam's turkey. The Gila and Black Range of Southwestern New Mexico, the Sacramento of south Central as well as select areas in the Sangre de Cristo and Jemez mountains of Northern New Mexico are good choices to start your search. In New Mexico, season runs April 15 - May 10. Licenses required to hunt are available over the counter from license vendors and at NMDG&F offices state wide as well as on line at www.wildlife.state.nm.us

Habitat
The mountains of the Southwest (6500'- 10,000' feet) provide the cover and food required by the Merriam's turkey. Snow levels in the winter dictate how far down in elevation the birds need to go to be able to scratch and search for their food source of heavy mast. Juniper berries, pinon, acorns and other pine nuts are very important food sources during this time. In the spring as the snow levels recede the birds move up in elevation along the edge of the melting snow. By Mid April and May during open spring hunting seasons this means the birds are usually inhabiting the ponderosa pine forest at mid elevations (8000'- 9500'). After mating the flocks can be found in the highest reaches of the mountain ranges. Water, cover and the availability of food are the determining factors in good Merriam's turkey habitat.

Life cycle of the Merriam's turkey
The mating season starts as soon as the warmer weather arrives the turkey's habitat. This can be as early as March in some areas and as late as June in others. Either way, birds will start to gobble as early as the weather permits and continue into early summer. The toms and hens only mix flocks during the mating season. During the mating season Merriam's toms will collect harems of hens depending on their ability to drive off all other toms and immature toms with aggression. Once the hens are mated they lay their eggs (8-12) in shallow impressions, usually on north steep slopes where the ambient temperatures are more consistent and the hen can evade predators with quick flight as not to spread tracking scent. All the eggs in the clutch usually hatch in the same day and the poults can leave the nest almost immediately. Throughout the summer hens and their broods feed in mountain meadows and clearings on bugs, seeds and plants. Large flocks of hens and combined broods are not uncommon this time of the year. The flocks of toms always remain separate throughout the year except during breeding. As Winter arrives the flocks travel back down the slopes into the transition zones to feed on heavy mast throughout the winter months.

Natural Predators
By far, coyotes, bobcats and lions are the major predators of the juvenal and adult Merriam's turkey while skunks and raccoons are nest effective predators. Several studies have proven that in order to have stable populations of wild Merriam's turkeys predator numbers need to be controlled.

Merriam's Appearance
Notably different and much more colorful than eastern Florida or Rio Grande turkeys, the Merriam's has a cream or buff colored tail fringe and rump markings that stands out against it's unusually dark body covered with iridescent purple, green, blue and gold. Most experienced hunters of the eastern subspecies always remark on the birds shocking appearance of highlights. Averaging 20 lbs, the harsh conditions of its native mountain habitats effect beards and spurs by wearing them down. Beards average 9 inches and spurs about an inch.

Hunting Characteristics
The Merriam's like many other western species of game sometimes don't seem as wily or as "smart" as their heavily pressured eastern relatives. In fact, many of the Merriam's turkeys in the remote regions of the southwest, may have never been hunted or called to by hunters. Hunting the Merriam's is not your typical stroll into the back yard or wood lot of the east. They thrive in the remote reaches of the expansive southwestern mountain ranges at high altitudes. The terrain can be rugged and the weather can be extreme and unpredictable in the high country. Snowstorms are common during the hunting season as well as 70 degree day time temps. As for calling and calls for Merriam's turkeys, all 5 species of turkeys in the United States seem to "speak" the same language and respond to the same calls. Typical turkey hunting methods of locating roosting birds in the evening and calling them into gun in the morning do work. However, understand that the areas the Merriam's can roam during its daily or seasonal wanderings are much larger than low elevation birds and they rarely go back to the same roost tree repeatedly. If you expect to be successful in harvesting a trophy Merriam's turkey, you will need to do your home work as to where populations are the highest, a lot of scouting in advance for where the birds are right now and then a lot of ground pounding to actually catch up with one.

Some other good sources for more Merriam's turkey information include, the game departments of Arizona and New Mexico and the National Wild Turkey Foundation.

For more information and tips on where to find Merriam's turkeys, how to hunt Merriam's turkeys or guided hunts for the Merriam's turkeys please contact the Santa Fe Guiding Company.

PH (505)466-7964

Back