What species is this?
#1

I was wondering if you could help me out. I called this one in for my dad this morning and it almost seems to me that this is a merriams turkey. I hunt in WI. Is this a merriams or an eastern with really light colored tips? Thanks for the help!
#7

It does resemble a Rio, but the base of the tail on a Rio is more buff colored. Plus, if this bird was killed in Wisconsin, it's not a Rio. I have killed a couple of buffed colored Easterns, but not quite like this one.
#8

Yeah this bird never gobbled once and we saw him for literally 30 seconds before my dad shot. And this was the reddest i have ever seen a turkies head, it was almost a reddish-orange when it was sneaking up behind pretty boy. My dad didn't let him get that far tho haha
He weighed in at 25lbs, 1 5/8 spurs, and 11 inch beard.
He weighed in at 25lbs, 1 5/8 spurs, and 11 inch beard.