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New Mexico turkey hunts, merriams turkey hunts, New Mexico merriams turkey guides, Arizona guided merriams wild turkey hunts, merriam's turkey hunting, New Mexico merriams turkey, gould guides, Arizona New Mexico turkey hunts, outfitters, Goulds turkey, merriam's turkey, merriam turkey, Goulds arizona turkey, hunts Merriam's Turkey Hunts New Mexico Arizona Merriam's Turkey Guides and Outfitters Hunt Native Merriam's Gobblers
About the Arizona and New Mexico Merriam's Wild Turkey Characteristics: The bright colors of the Merriam's turkey will amaze hunters that are only familiar with the other turkey subspecies. Merriam's have a creamy white accent on the outer edge of the tail feathers and rump, unlike the Eastern, Osceola, and Rio Grande turkeys. The primary wing feathers are mostly white with small black accent bars (the opposite is true with the wing barring on the other 3 sub-species). Mature Tom Merriam's Turkeys grow beards averaging 9 inches, although we have taken some over 11 inches. Since the terrain is rough and rocky, the spurs are typically worn or rounded. They usually do not exceed 1¼ inches. Three-quarter to one-inch worn spurs are the norm on mature 2 to 4 year old mountain Merriam's. The size of our wild turkeys are big, averaging over 21lbs. Typically, the mature Toms we harvest will weigh from 20 pounds to 25 pounds! Another interesting feature, the Merriam's tail fan is larger than the other three U.S. wild turkey subspecies in the Grand Slam. These are just a few common features among "true" Merriam's. If you want a real Merriam's turkey with no hybridization that shows pure traits, come hunt with us in their native habitat of New Mexico and Arizona. This is arguably the most beautiful sub-species of the Turkey Grand Slam and every Grand Slam hunter should add a "pure" Arizona or New Mexico Merriam’s to his collection!
About Our Merriam's Hunts
These are fully-guided turkey hunts. Hunters are led into the field daily by an experienced Merriam's turkey guide in order to provide the highest chances for success. Our guides are very familiar with the area, terrain, where the birds hang-out, and more importantly, the techniques needed to effectively hunt native mountain Merriam's turkeys. Hunters are encouraged to bring a partner because this is primarily a 2-on-1 hunt. However, there is an option of 1-on-1 guide service at a slightly higher rate if one cannot bring a partner. We keep camp sizes to a minimum to ensure the utmost quality of the hunting experience. There are only 2 to 3 hunters in camp per scheduled timeframe. Hunters should be in good enough physical condition to hike far away from the road and into the quality turkey areas. Daily hikes could be anywhere from ½ mile to 1½ miles from the end of the road, depending upon where the birds are hanging at the time of your hunt. Our guides will typically call for the hunters, but experienced turkey hunters can call for themselves or join-in with calling, whichever is preferred. Like Spring turkey hunting anywhere, there are many tactics to use while hunting these mountain birds. We are most successful using aggressive turkey hunting techniques. Primarily, we walk large ridges and set-up when we strike a gobbler. We also set-up in known corridor areas and "cold call" against pine trees or in a make-shift blind to see if a weary gobbler will come to investigate. Calling birds off the roost in the early morning can often be effective. You can also request to sit a ground blind at a water hole, which is effective during a dry springtime. If you are looking for a very original turkey hunt in a wilderness-type setting where you will be hunting native birds, we have the Merriam's hunt for you!
2012 Turkey Seasons/Licenses/Bag Limits
New Mexico
Arizona
2012 RATES
*New Mexico Hunts: add 5.125% New Mexico Gross Receipt State Tax *This is primarily a 2-on-1 fully-guided Merriam's turkey hunt where you bring a partner and share a guide. If you cannot bring another hunter, it is no problem. The 1-on-1 rate is $1,500.00. One-on-one means you will have a personal guide all to yourself!
Our Turkey Hunts are nearly ALL-INCLUSIVE! Included: a complimentary ride to camp if flying (pick-up/drop-off point: Tucson Airport Hotels Only). This saves you from renting a vehicle, meals are included (most others turkey hunts do not provide food), accommodations are included, transportation while hunting, a guide, trophy prep, and many extras. Package Details: Camp is a Western style outfitter set-up located many miles from civilization. Accommodations are normally in outfitter tents with cots and pads, but depending upon the number of hunters in camp, a camping trailer might be used. Meals are provided, which usually consists of a quick breakfast with coffee, cooked brunch, and hot dinner. If you are successful, preparation of your trophy for transport will be provided. If flying, it is easiest to donate the meat to your guide and put the packaged turkey cape into your luggage or carry-on bag. A complimentary airport pickup/drop-off can be provided for hunters that fly into Tucson, Arizona. This is the closest airport. Driving hunters will meet us either in Tucson, at camp, or a town near the hunt area, whichever is most feasible. Flying hunters should get a flight into Tucson on the evening prior to meeting us, get an airport hotel room, and we will pickup the morning prior to the hunt for a ride to camp. For example, if your hunting starts on a Friday, you should get a flight into Tucson late Wednesday evening, get a hotel room, and we will pickup early Thursday morning (about 7-8am) for the drive to camp. This eliminates loss of hunting time if your flight is delayed or cancelled, which is becoming a common occurrence. We typically arrive back in Tucson in the late afternoon or early evening of the last day (around 4-6pm). So, flying hunters should get a flight out the evening of the last day or the morning after the hunt (hotel required). The possible hotel stay before/after the hunt is not included and is the hunter's responsibility.
Additional Information Booking Info: A minimum 50% non-refundable deposit and some paperwork is required to book the hunt. In NM, the deposit is required upon booking. In AZ, it is required only after tags are drawn. The remaining balance is due at least 21 days prior to the hunt. We recommend cancellation insurance for all of our guests. Visit our policy page for more details on booking and cancellations. Non-Hunter Fee: Invite someone as a non-hunter or observer while on your guided turkey hunt for a fee of $400.00. Camo Pattern: Hunting attire (clothes, vests, packs) must be fully camouflaged. We hunt Ponderosa Pine forests, which are primarily dark brown and dark gray in color. Therefore, the best camo patterns for our areas are Realtree AP, Mossy Oak New Breakup or Infinity, Advantage Timber, or Cabela's Seclusion Conifer. Bright greens do not blend-in here, so stay away from Mossy Oak Obsession or Realtree APG. Face nets/masks and gloves are required. Shotgun: It’s the law that only shotguns or bows be used for turkey. We recommend shotguns to be camouflage and chambered for 3" or 3-1/2" in 12 gauge. The best loads we have found are Hevi-Shot (Hevi-13) brand with 2 or 2¼ ounces of either #5's or #6's or the new magnum blend of 5, 6, 7. We have witnessed stubborn Toms taken at 65 yards with Hevi-Shot! Choke tubes should be "turkey super full," to produce the tightest patterns possible for your particular gun. Shotgun Pattern: It is recommended that you pattern your shotgun prior to arrival. Patterning is well worth the time and money, considering how much is spent on turkey hunting. Buy a few different boxes of shells to see which loads produce the most hits or tightest pattern. Quality turkey shells are quite expensive, so it's wise to split the cost of these test loads with your hunting partner. Set up a paper plate or target at 40 yards to test the pattern. Count the number of pellet hits. The magic number is 100 or more hits inside a 10" circle at 40 yards. If you count less than 100 hits, try a different load or load/choke combination until the magic number is achieved. It is proper hunter ethics to have a very tight pattern so that you either "put down" that big ol' Tom or miss him completely. The wider the pattern, the higher the risk of crippling a bird. Nobody wants to see a trophy Tom get away injured, knowing he'll only die later in the woods. Bows:
Although we prefer
that hunters use a shotgun for their turkey hunt, some would rather use a bow.
Bows must
shoot an arrow with a broadhead diameter of 1" or larger metal cutting
edge. Some notable laws for NM: The bow cannot have magnifying sights, lenses
or any lights (including lights for the pins).
Turkeys cannot be shot out of a tree and electronic calls cannot be used in NM either. Our Success Rate: Averaging-out the past 14 years, our turkey hunters have experienced a 95% shot opportunity (calling a bearded gobbler to within shooting distance) with a very high success rate! We are proud to say that many seasons have been 100% success! Unfortunately, due to the nature of turkey hunting, some seasons have been as low as 70% success. Bad weather (snow storms or high winds), "henned-up" gobblers, hunter's physical limitations, or just "plain missing" were usually the limiting factors for the few unfortunate hunters. Putting all statistics aside, you can "rest-assured" that we will do our best and work very hard to ensure that you have an enjoyable hunting experience! We do not just cycle a multitude of hunters through our camps. But rather, we keep camp sizes to a minimum to ensure the utmost quality. It is our rule that only 2 to 3 hunters are in camp per scheduled timeframe. Please feel free to contact our references and view testimonials. Our Guides: We utilize three turkey guides throughout the Spring season: Pat, Eliot and Bryan. Each has many years of experience guiding Merriam's turkey hunters. Your main turkey guide for our New Mexico hunt is also the outfitter, Pat Feldt. Even though he is a big game guide throughout the year, his true passion is turkey hunting. He is a 42 year-old turkey hunting fanatic who has been pursuing wild turkeys his whole lifetime. Pat is very experienced in all calling methods, but prefers to use ceramic, crystal or slate pot calls because of their realistic sound. Occasionally you'll see him using a "raspy old hen" mouth diaphragm or a box call when nothing else seems to be working. Pat is also a firm believer in the use of decoys to aid in enticing a gobbler (if given ample time to set one up). He has taken dozens of Merriam's gobblers himself and has hunted various states for the other subspecies in the Grand Slam. The outfitter also enjoys crafting turkey calls in his spare time. He has combined just the right components to produce some excellent Turkey pot and peg friction calls or slates.
Latest Turkey Hunting Photos
Kevin Cross from Wyoming came on his first turkey hunt and shot this big 22 pound, 1.25" spurs, 10" beard Merriam's Gobbler (2011)
Peter Sempsis from Alaska with a nice Merriam's turkey taken at 40 yards. (2011)
Thirteen year old Michael shot this nice 21 pound Tom during the NM Youth Season. Watch the video. (2011)
Benny Vargas and his big 4-year old, 22 pound Merriam's Tom with large 1.25" spurs and 10" beard. (2011) Video of his hunt
More Recent Merriam's Turkey Photos Also, be sure to view our general info page, list of items page, turkey calls for sale, and references page.
Visit our favorite turkey hunting websites, the National Wild Turkey Federation and Wild Turkey Zone
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Arizona and New Mexico are home to the Merriam’s wild turkey. Historically, these mountain
dwelling birds were
only found in Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. Merriam's have been
transplanted from these three states to all parts of the country, but the true
place to hunt them is in their indigenous area. Our Arizona and New Mexico gobblers are wild and native birds.
This is where they originated, so they are pure. There is no
hybridization in Arizona
or New Mexico like some other areas
of the country that offer Merriam's turkey hunting. 
We
are proud to offer quality Merriam's turkey hunts in both New Mexico and
Arizona. The birds we hunt
are primarily in a wilderness-type setting and live many miles from human
civilization. Unlike Nebraska or other transplant States, these are truly "wild turkeys."
They live in their natural habitat with no
food plots, no farm fields, no feeders or other human
influence. In fact, the turkeys in most areas we hunt have never seen a
human! Since Merriam's are mountain dwelling turkeys, our hunts take place in the
Ponderosa Pine
forests at elevations around 7500 to 8500 feet. The hunt area has breathtaking scenery and great temperatures of around 60 degrees in the day
and 30 degrees at night. Our hunting areas
include the infamous Gila National
Forest of New Mexico and the Apache-Sitgreaves
National Forest of Arizona. These two Forests are not small tracts of land,
but rather millions of acres of unspoiled country and prime hunting grounds. Turkey tags in New
Mexico are over-the-counter, but the tags in Arizona are on a special lottery
draw. Most of our hunters book for New Mexico, but some do choose to hunt
Arizona. Regardless of which State you choose, the quality of birds are
the same and each hunt is just as exciting or rewarding! 
