What is your favorite turkey subspecies?
 

For you guys and gals that have hunted more than one turkey subspecies, what is your favorite one to hunt and why?

eastern is what i have in my area and i havnt hunted anything else haha

Osceola, because when they hit the ground tey are quiet. Now That is or can be tough hunting...

Merriam's...I like their coloring.

Without a doubt, hands down- its the one that I happen to be hunting at the time.
Rio's are probably the most fun to hunt as they like to gobble alot.
The florida turkey is the most frustrating, they tend to be less vocal and getting a good place to hunt them can be tough and expensive.
jmo

I have to go with the Eastern. They can be down right tough to hunt. I've never hunted the Osceola, but from everything I hear, they can be just as tough to hunt as the Eastern. IMO, Rio's are a whole lot easier to kill than Easterns. I hear Merriams are even easier than Rio's. I do love going to south Texas to hunt Rio's, but as for a challenging hunt, it's hard to beat the Eastern.

No doubt they are all fun to hunt and each has their own characteristics and coloration. I am partial to Merriam's. Granted, their gobble sounds Jakey, they have pencil beards and stubby spurs (for the most part) but the country they live in, those white feathers and the fact that they gobble a lot trips my trigger.

Osceola.......because they've put me through hell and back every year......

Haha that bird can do it. Many would agree that the Osceola is the toughest of them all.

That is a good but very tough question.

I would have to say easterns are my favorite. We have heavy birds, with good beards, and spurs, and no other subspecies can out gobble the thunder of an easter.

Second would be rios. They gobble alot, always run in big groups and I love the hooks on them.

Next is the merriams. I have never hunted a bird that gobbled so much and repsonded to the call and decoys like they do and you just can't beat those white fan tips.

Last would be the osceola which I have only hunted once. They are a tought hunt but have long beards and great spurs. Their downfall is location and cost to hunt.