Well guys and gals I leave for New Mexico one week from today on my quest to kill a Merriam with my bow. If I'm successful I'll need an Eastern to complete a lifetime slam so I have high hopes for this hunt. I hear there is a 50% success rate on the National Forest land around Ruidoso so things look good.
Only thing is I've never hunted mountain birds, (or Merriams), so don't know if I need to do anything different. The Osceola I killed was in a Florida swamp and the Rios have all come from the Texas plains. I know some one out there has some pointers for me. What do ya'll think?
From what we found out in Colorado. They like to roost in the same spot. I mean the exact same spot. If you locate a roost site you should do fine.I think all turkeys do what they want no matter where they live.
Start up high early, you can drop down on a bird much easier than you can climb up. I Like to start up high along a ridge were I think I may be able to locate one then move along the ridge to get closer, try to get level with the bird before fly down. They seem to gobble alot earlier than rios and easterns well I dont think it is actually earlier in time but is much darker becouse of the mountains when they start. My tube call really helped alot. Could not locate one till I got it out after that I located several and had one triple gobbling every time I hit it. Killed him the next morning. (sorry had to throw that in)
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You! You can be my wingman anytime.
x Legion General and tkycaller gave you some good advise.
I hunt Colorado every year (Co. native).
If you can locate your birds at fly up time before you hunt you almost have it made. I use an owl call to roost em and a high frequency call is good to find em during the day and call em in from a long distance.
I have found Marriam's at snow line and atlow elevations but they almost always roost near water on a hillside or mountainside. They will be on the s or e side as they get the early sun and less wind and blowing snow.
Yes they almost always use the same roost even after they have been spooked or one killed there. If not on that sameroost they will be close in another favorite tree. They also use the same strutt zone even after being disturbed. I have called em both up hill and down, but it is best to get above or on the same level.Start locating high then go lower.
Any tips on mountain Merriams?
