I' ve hunted easterns in Wisconsin and Merriams in Nebraska.

I feel the easterns are harder to hunt but that was probably because there were more hunters in WI and less turkeys in the area I was hunting compared to the honey hole I have here in NE.

I feel the merriams are better looking than easterns as far as mounting a trophy. There is just something about the blonde highlights in the feathers that I like over the chestnut brown of an eastern. Probably why a married a blonde too!!!