Merriam's turkey hunts April 15- May 10
The Santa Fe Guiding Company LLC outfits and guides hunts for Merriam's turkey.

Merriam's Turkey History
New Mexico, Arizona and southern Colorado are hostically the native range of the Merriam's turkey.  Once domesticated by the Anasazi and Mimbres Indians of the region, Spanniards reported the unique bird while conquering the new world back in 1540. 
Merriam's Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo merriami) was named in 1900 by Dr. E.W. Nelson after the first cheif of the U.S. Biological Survey. 
Today, many western states have transplanted the Merriam's turkey into non native range and in some areas the Merriam's has mixed with other wild turkey species.  If you want to add a truely wild native Merriam's turkey to your grand slam you should hunt one of these native populations. 

Native New Mexico Merriam's Turkey
Here in New Mexico the birds are all wild in their native range and found throughout the mountain regions with some areas offering better opportunities to harvest a trophy tom.  New Mexico has had great weather for turkey production in the past few years and therefore is allocating a two bird limit per hunter with the purchase of a second tag.  The birds grow big averaging 20 lbs,  9 inch beards are average and short spurs about 1 inch are the norm due to the rough habitat they live in.  the Merriam's turkey are the most colorful of the six sub species of wild turkey found in North America.  Hunters accustomed to hunting eastern, Rio Grande or Osceola turkeys really notice the Merriam's bright cream tipped tail and rump highlights on their dark irredescent bodies each time a tom struts into close viewing range.

Hunts with the SFGC 
The areas we guide hunters in are very remote and therefore the wild Merriam's turkey being hunted have very little hunting pressure to the extent that they have probably never been called to by a hunter!  This is a relatively "high country" hunt.  Expect elevations to be encountered to range from 8000- 10,000 feet, sometimes steep mountains and thin air.  Good physical condition is an asset however, some of our areas and methods can produce birds regardless of the hunters physical condition.  The Merriam's toms start gobbling long before our state hunt opens on April 15 therefore the trophy toms are usually flocked up with harrems of nesting hens leaving the lonely toms wondering and looking for love. We spend out evenings locating roosted birds to set up on in the morning and attempting to call the toms off the roost into gun and the rest our day afield walking ridges and water courses calling to surprise and bring running in a lonely tom.  Our guides are expert turkey callers that can really talk the birds into gun range.  We always hope hunters want to call themselves to add the experience and sucess to their hunt. 

We customize each hunt to what you need from single day to multi day outtings.

Single Day Hunts
Being located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the SFGC is surrounded by great habitat holding high numbers of wild, native Merriam's turkey within an hours drive from town.
If you are here enjoying all that Santa Fe has to offer and desire a day out in the field we can accomodate you in fine fashion with an excellent almost always productive Merriam's turkey hunt.  We get an early start and can be back in town on your schedule.  Our guides can even pick you up and lend you a strait shooting 12 ga. if you prefer.

Multi Day Hunts
The SFGC fully outfitted camps are the best in the west!  We have fantastic private land access and National Forest permits that provide us the the best Merriam's turkey hunting opportunities available.  Whether you want to sleep in a motel or camp out in the back country we can do it.  Our outfitted tent camps enable us to stay way back in the middle of the back country and to awake right in the middle of the gobblers.  This is a total turkey hunting experience.  Our camps are tented, with full services including our famous western style dining and all the ammenities to make your outting comfortable and enjoyable.

Licensing
Each hunter is required to purchase from the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish:  Spring turkey license, a second tag if desired, Federal Habitat Stamp, and a State Habitat Management/Access Validation.

For rates, availability and info please do not hesitate before calling or contacting us.

PH (505)466-7964

Learn more about Merriam's Turkey