How many sub-species of turkey?
 

My buddy and I are trying to figure this one out and could use some help. How many different sub-species are there? And where/what states can find each one?

Thanks for the help...

RE: How many sub-species of turkey?
 

1. Easterns in about 2/3 of the eastern states.
2. Rio Grandes in the southwest mostly along the river drainages.
3. Mirriams in the mountainous regions of the western states for the most part and on the plains
4. Gould's in the border country of Arizona and New Mexico and down into Mexico
5. And if you REALLY want to get all of them, there is the Oscellated turkey in southern Mexico and Central America.

That's all I know of

RE: How many sub-species of turkey?
 

Right on, barefoot.

RE: How many sub-species of turkey?
 

Add Osceola subspecies in Mid to southern Florida

RE: How many sub-species of turkey?
 

I saw the oscellated and missed the Mexico/Central America in number 5. I always though that oscellated was another name for osceola. What is an oscellated turkey?

RE: How many sub-species of turkey?
 

But do you have to get all 5 for it to be considered the "Grand Slam". I thought for that you just have to get the main 4...Eastern, Rio, Merrium and Osceolas.

RE: How many sub-species of turkey?
 

The Eastern, Osceola, Merriam's, Rio Grande and Gould's are actually all sub-species aren't they. Isn't the Osceolated its own species? I'd have to look back at some Turkey Call's to be sure.

The grand slam is the 4 US birds Eastern, Osceola, Merriam's Rio Grande. Add the Gould's and you get a royal slam add the Oscelated and you get a World slam.

RE: How many sub-species of turkey?
 

Ryan, you are right.

There are only two species of turkey in the world; the North American wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), divided into five distinct subspecies, and the ocellated turkey (Meleagris ocellata).

Hal

RE: How many sub-species of turkey?
 

Aught Six, the ocellated turkey looks kind of like a peacock. It has a neon blue head and colorful feathers. I saw someone hunting them on tv the other day and they said they are mostly killed off the roost with some people doing spot and stalk. The way they talked, you can't really hunt them like we do.

RE: How many sub-species of turkey?
 

Check this link for ocellated turkeys.

http://www.nwtf.org/all_about_turkey...ld_turkey.html