RE: Black Hills turkeys
 

My relatives say that Merriam Turkeys are dumber than Eastern, Kinda' like Mule Deer have 1/100th the brain of a Whitetail.

RE: Black Hills turkeys
 

thanks, I will get a topo in rapid city whenwe get out their..The weather better straighten up, looks like i'll have to put on the longhandles...Thats allright I am getting used to it being cold the weather man says anywhere from 3-5 inches of snow tomorrow, that's really gunna shut down the turkeys here....

RE: Black Hills turkeys
 

Look for birds in the lower elevations early in the season. There'll be more birds there and they'll be more receptive. They'll have hens as they always do, especially eary in the season. Anyone who tells you the Merriams are dumb and easier than their eastern cousins haven't hunted them much. Easterns are way easier. Just less vocal. A henned up Merriam tom is tougher than any henned up eastern I've ever hunted.

Find one away from the hens and they'll be much easier to work. Then again that's true for all wild turkeys. :D

RE: Black Hills turkeys
 

Merriam's turkeys are easier to hunt then Easterns. Make sure youtake optics when hunting for them as you can see farther then in Wisconsin. Also, a Merriam's gobble isn't nearly as loud asa Eastern. If you can hear a Merriam's, he is close enough to go after. They will sound like they are farther away then they really are. Don't be afraid to go after them if they aren't responding to calls. You can get away with some movement.