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How to identify Eastern vs Rio Grande turkeys?
#4123726
03/15/13 08:47 PM
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 134
chesterc
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 134 |
Hi,
I'm new to turkey hunting. Been doing some research about how to identify an Eastern Turkey versus a Rio Grande Turkey and have come up with this:
- Eastern has darker color on the tips of some of their feathers, Rio has light tan color.
- Eastern has black and white bars on their breast feathers.
- Eastern are typically heavier and have shorter legs than Rios (though if they're not standing side-by-side how can you tell?).
Is there anything else? Something a little more full-proof? I'll be hunting in a county with only an Eastern season ... does that typically mean that the county probably doesn't have a Rio Grande population?
Am I over-thinking this?
Thanks!
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Re: How to identify Eastern vs Rio Grande turkeys?
[Re: chesterc]
#4124679
03/16/13 01:26 PM
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 334
LittleD
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 334 |
Just look up the speices ranges and you will generally get an idea of what turkey your hunting.Texas has Rio and eastern and Kansas has both Rio and eastern with the Rios being more to west and the eastern being more to the far east.typically a Rio is a bigger bird than the easterns in the southern states.and the rio in full strut has a lot more whiter colors than a eastern.Both are fun to hunt whichever one you go after good luck.
Danny
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Re: How to identify Eastern vs Rio Grande turkeys?
[Re: LittleD]
#4127638
03/18/13 02:30 AM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,506
kmon11
junior
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junior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,506 |
What county are you hunting. There are a few counties in Texas that have both but not very many. Actually there are 3 species of turkey in Texas.
Rio turkeys have light buff colored tips on the tail feathers Eastern have chestnut colored tips on the tail feathers Merriam turkeys have White colored tips on the tail feathers
lf the saying "Liar, Liar your pants on fire" were true Mainstream news might be fun to watch
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Re: How to identify Eastern vs Rio Grande turkeys?
[Re: kmon11]
#4127851
03/18/13 05:20 AM
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,836
SweetTea
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,836 |
Merriams in Texas????????
OMG, this is the best slumber party ever!
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Re: How to identify Eastern vs Rio Grande turkeys?
[Re: SweetTea]
#4127955
03/18/13 11:41 AM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,236
Gamblinman
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,236 |
Yes..up in the tip of the Panhandle, there are a few in both TX and OK.
Gman
" I don't hunt turkeys because I want to, I hunt turkeys because I have to."
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Re: How to identify Eastern vs Rio Grande turkeys?
[Re: kmon11]
#4128464
03/18/13 04:02 PM
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 134
chesterc
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 134 |
I plan to hunt in Fannin County which, I believe, is on the western edge of the Eastern Turkey's range. The maps I've seen show a buffer area between there and where the Rio's range starts. However, I don't know how accurate those maps are.
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Re: How to identify Eastern vs Rio Grande turkeys?
[Re: chesterc]
#4135690
03/21/13 03:35 PM
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 397
Texas Turkey Hunter DFW
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 397 |
Merriams are located in more than just the tip of the panhandle! many Western counties have Merriams, I killed two Merriams in Tom Green County many years ago, The NWTF even took DNA samples to verify the sub species.
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