In my opinion the eastern is the toughest to hunt. The osceola is right up there just b/c of all you have to deal with, gators, palmettos, swamps, mosquitos, and thck pines. The merriams and rios are not as weary as our easterns. They all have their challenges and our different in their own way. My wife told me that I need to go to Mexico and hunt the goulds. I love that woman!