I know some may disagree with me.. But, I normally look for a small stream or run off as well. I hunt easterns though and do not know anything about merriams. I find most of my birds around wet areas and normally within 400 yards of the streams or run offs.. Most of the time much less than that. It would also depend on what the weather has been like where you are hunting.. If it has been warm and fairly dry I would most deffinately check areas around these types of places as we.. They should be around them if the food source is some place close..