which state would "LIKELY" give me my best chance at a Merriam
 

I am a KS resident and have always wanted to bag a pure Merriam.

Since I will have to travel and obviously pay all of the non resident fees....

What state (in your opinion) would:

1. Make the most sense financially.. I'm not rich (fees, drive versus fly etc).
2. Density of birds in a given area.
3. Difficulty vs ease of access to land
4. ?

Thanks for any input.
* I'm not looking to rush it and go this season (but not out of the question)

SD has some affordable archery hunts for Merriam's.

Nebraska in my opinion. I'm headed out there for the first time in about 3 weeks and from what I can tell it would make the most sense if all you want is to kill a merriams and keep things fairly affordable. You thinking of going guided, semi guided, or public land?

if you want a "pure" merriam you could go to New Mexico. Or if you want a bird that looks like a merriam you could go to Nebraska. Biologist in the pine ridge area told me that their merriams are not a "pure" strand. I went there a few years back, and they look like merriams to me.

I don't care if the DNA says it's a Robin :s2:

I would just love to shoot a bird that "LOOKS" like a Merriam.

I've been blessed with some amazing turkey hunting, but I would like to shoot something besides an Eastern some day.

Thanks for the input!

I would rather go on my own, but if it's elbow to elbow on public land I may have to rethink it.

Carpool? :)

:barmy:

Look at WY or Montana or Idaho or the Dakotas.

And Donnie I moved this topic to the General Turkey Hunting Forum as it will get more traffic and is not a Contest topic.

I am also interested in a Merriam.....I'll be following this topic?

Dave...JW

Hey JW... let's you and I go grab Jepcho, and chase down some Merriams :)

BIG DONNIE BRASCO
I would be willing to trade hunts next year, A Merriam in Colorado for an Eastern in Kansas, either taking you out to my fav. area or just giving you all the area info, numbers are not high but you should be able to get one, you will be into them for sure.

PM sent :)