Our Mission

Merriam’s wild turkey were named for C. Hart Merriam, the first chief of the U.S. Biological Survey. Though indigenous to ponderosa pine forests of Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado, the subspecies did not exist in Montana or the rest of its current range, a total of 14 states, prior to the mid-20th century. They’re a turkey success story due to trap-and-transfer programs. For example, in 1954, Montana imported 13 Merriam’s from Wyoming, followed by 18 in 1955 and then 26 more in 1956 and 1957. The turkeys were released in three locations in the central and eastern parts of the state. All other releases in Montana were the offspring of these initial birds, plus a few more from Nebraska. The last release was in the early 2000s. Today, there are approximately 120,000 Merriam’s wild turkeys in Montana.

Merriam’s and Gould’s wild turkeys look similar, with their white-tipped fans; however, the tail margins on a Merriam’s wild turkey are not as pure white nor as wide. Merriam’s are comparable in size to the Eastern wild turkey. Gould’s are larger, with longer legs, larger feet and larger central tail feathers. 

Range

The Merriam’s subspecies (Meleagris gallopavo merriami) is hunted in 14 states and some Canadian provinces. 

CHARACTERISTICS

• Snow-white tips on tail feathers.
• More white and less black on wings.
• Adult males weigh 18 to 30 pounds (heaviest entered in NWTF Wild Turkey Records: 31.5 pounds).
• Adult females weigh 8 to 12 pounds.
• Weakest gobbles of all subspecies.
• Shortest beards of all subspecies.
• Shortest spurs of all subspecies.