Just like the title says. Does anyone have the hook up for a Merriam turkey?

You can do a public land DIY hunt up this way.
We did a trespass fee hunt through Lobo Outfitters in Pagosa Springs, CO many years ago. We hunted down in Northern NM , private land unguided and took our birds.

I was leaning towards South Dakota but I hear Nebraska has a good population also. Public doesn't bother me but getting close to some feed lots makes it easier. Does anyone have any input about the Black Hills area?

That would be a good question for the biologist up there,Joe Sandrini, joe.sandrini@wyo.gov or 307-746-4646
I know they had some rough weather up that way this spring. You could also hunt those birds on the S Dakota side.
We've had past luck near Newcastle and up near Sundance.
Some decent numbers near Laramie Peak down our way.
Nebraska has plenty of birds but lots of hybrids, as does the black hills.
You can find birds on the public areas in Nebraska.
Fishing can be good that time of the year too up this way and in Nebraska.
Early season may have wet and snowy conditions though, it was this past spring.

A lot of Nebraska, unless you are in the fart NW corner are hybrids. I have a couple pretty good connections in Wyoming. I am heading up there this year myself. I think its $550 for 3 days of hunting including lodging and food. You do your own calling/hunting. The landowners just point you in the right direction. On the way there though I will also be hunting Nebraska, but the birds their are 100% hybrid.

You can find pockets of merriams in Nebraska, been hunting over there for about 25 years, but not everywhere.
I will say this, we have not been over in about 4-5 years so things may have changed, I will defer to Clark8907.
Lots of ranchers do not like the turkeys in NE Wyoming, you may find access for pretty cheap by making some calls. Start with the biologist , he may know some landowners.
Most landowners will charge a NR, just the way it is , but for turkeys it own't be high.
Good numbers can be found on the NF too, look into the smaller scattered parcels as well as the Black Hills.
Your hunt sounds like a good deal Clark, you should look into getting a second tag where it's available.

On by the way, PIzza Barn, Newcastle, has great prime rib on weekends but get there early.

Yes parts of Nebraska still hold true merriams. The place I am going this year is a buddies and it is 100% hybrid. That is what I meant by my post. Where a lot of people get caught up on merriams is think if they dont have these awesome white tail feathers they aren't a merriam. Truth is, a lot of merriams that are killed in true merriam areas are not white. They are more buff than anything else. However, all the other characteristics (beard, wing color, spurs) are that of a merriam.

I killed a rio this year in Oklahoma, near Altus, that was more white than half the merriams I have seen killed. However, he was 100% rio.

I can't thank you guys enough for all the info. I'll have to do some calling around after the holidays. I obviously picked the right place to post a question! Thanks Again!!!

If your interested, I can put you in contact with some landowners in Nebraska and Wyoming. Shoot me a PM.

I am also interested in hunting turkeys in Nebraska. Some good information. Thanks.

Clark8907 did you hunt this past spring up thus way? We had some snowy conditions until May-ish. Just wondering if you had success.

If you hit Nebraska at the right time the fishing is good as well on the public access spots.
Some of the small towns newspaper offices and real estate offices sell landowner plat books that show property boundaries and landowner names and contact info. Worth the price of you plan to hunt there often. I've had good luck calling folks we found in the plat books. They usually go by county.

I did not make it up there last year. Had a couple buddies head up there the last week of April and they both killed their birds in Wyoming and then both killed their 3 birds a piece in Nebraska. I have become pretty decent friends with several landowners throughout Nebraska. I will be in Nebraska this year April 26-29 and in Wyoming Apr 29-May 2. Before that I will hunt Florida Mar 9-12, Texas Opening weekend in South Zone, and Kansas Apr 24-26. I will also probably run up and hunt a buddies place in Oklahoma as well.

Any info on merriams in new mexico or colorado?

Let me look. I used to have a good contact for new mexico. Be careful with Colorado. They brought in Rio's there a couple decades ago to certain parts of the state.

Thanks Clark! I prefer DIY hunts, but dont mind paying a land access fee and being pointed in the right direction by the landowner or guide.

Yea I wont go to a guided place. I more or less want a place to lay my head and tell me hey we see birds here sometimes and then let me do my own thing.

I know a guy who does Merriam hunts on Pine Ridge up in SD...tons of birds and usually books up pretty quick due to the high success rate. Message me if you'd like the info..

I was born and raised in Chadron Nerbaska (the severe NW corner) and my dad has been a turkey guide for 15+ years. They are mostly pure Merriam's, but there are some hybrids (Merriam and domestic turkey).

I could help you out, or point you in the right direction.... I just moved to Texas a few years ago and maybe you could help me out down here.... seems hard to find any public land around here?

There you go. Looks like a win win for both of you.
By feed lots you mean areas they go to feed , not actual feed lots for cattle ?

I hope he means feed lots like food plots.... feed lots out in Nebraska keep most everything well away.... although when I get home, I roll the windows down and smell it.... no smell like home!

I know exactly what you mean, feed lots are not food plots up this way, lol.

Biologist or this local contact will be able to let you know how the bird numbers are up this way.
May could be really cold and snowy, check the weather before you come up.

Wytex, this may not be the place to discuss, but My dad and I are looking at a Wyoming Pronghorn hunt this fall. He has 3 points and I have 2.... that should be enough to get a decent unit with a lot of public land right?

Maybe not lots but you should get a decent area. It seems 4 PP is about the magic number for good public access.

pm sent

I used to shoot a good number of them over by Parachute, CO when I lived out there. The western part of CO has pretty decent turkey hunting along the river banks.