Gobbler Grand Slam The ultimate turkey hunter's challenge...bagging all four gobbler species All wild turkeys have razor-sharp eyesight, keyed-up hearing and a suspicious view of the world that send them hightailing at the mere suggestion of danger. But our nation's wonderfully diverse landscape has also honed unique versions of these magnificent birds, giving virtually every corner of the country its own special stamp of wild turkey. Tied to specific habitats, these birds collectively comprise the turkey hunter's holy grail...the cherished and much-sought-after grand slam. Texas is probably the best state in the nation to set off for a grand slam. Not only is Texas the Rio Grande capital of the nation, but it has a rising tide of easterns and even a tiny population of Merriam's wild turkeys. Furthermore, Texas is relatively close to other states that have good populations of subspecies that may be scant or nonexistent in Texas. The four subspecies that make up a grand slam...the Rio Grande, Eastern, Merriam's and Florida turkey...have distinct physical and behavioral traits that soundly challenge a hunter's woodsmanship and calling. Hunters must fine-tune their tactics to accommodate the various hunting conditions and behavioral quirks associated with each subspecies. The difficulty of this is compounded by the fact that for at least one subspecies, the Florida bird, hunters must cross state lines and hunt what will likely be unfamiliar territory. Gathering core information about each subspecies will give you a big leg up on what to expect in the field so you can make the most of your hunting time. Here is a brief profile of each subspecies, where hunters can find them and an outline of dilemmas that are frequently encountered with each type of bird: Rio Grandes For many people, the Rio Grande subspecies is the definition of a Texas turkey. Rios are adapted to arid habitats and have buff-colored tail tips. Although over 80% of the nation's Rio Grandes live in Texas, populations are scattered across the country in places like Washington state, Kansas, northeast Mexico and Hawaii. Despite the drought that has hampered brood production over the past few years, biologists say adult turkeys appear to be doing fairly well. Some of the best counties to try for Rios are Collingsworth county in the Northern Panhandle, Sutton and Schleicher counties in West Texas, and Brooks and Kenedy counties in South Texas. The mid-day heat in Rio country often compromises a gobbler's willingness to come to calls. A drought magnifies the problem, as gobblers concern themselves more with daily survival rather than courting hens. To make the best of this situation, get on a gobbler first thing in the morning, before high temperatures melt his amorous mood. Ideally, you'll have roosted him the night before and know which tree he is in. Wait to see if he'll gobble on his own; then make contact with some soft yelps. If he responds, answer back briefly with a round of cackles; then shut up. Keep your ears cocked for the sound of fly down and have your gun ready. The idea is to avoid killing his appetite for seduction by over-calling. Easterns The eastern subspecies is another Texas turkey that has chestnut tail tips and a neurotic skepticism of his surroundings. Habitat for easterns ranges from good to marginal in Texas, but still supports a huntable population of these wily monarchs. This spring, 10 counties will have a two-week season for shotgun hunters, with a one-gobbler limit. Red River, Bowie, Cass, Marion, Harrison, Cherokee, Nacogdoches, Trinity, Jasper and Newton are the counties to look at if you want your slam to be as Texan as possible. However, if you don't mind crossing a few state lines for more generous numbers of easterns, Missouri is the place for you. Biologists estimate roughly 400,000 easterns haunt Missouri, which is why many consider it THE destination for this crafty bird. When hunting easterns, you're likely to run into rainy weather. Nobody likes to hunt in the rain, but it can actually work in your favor if you capitalize on a turkey's standard response to it: Head for open fields. Rain in the woodlands is noisy, and compromises a turkey's ability to hear and see. However, open fields are comparatively quiet and let the birds rely on their superior eyesight. If legal, set up a few decoys out in the field and yelp on a box call that is protected from the weather in a plastic bag. Yelp loudly so the calls will carry through the rain. As always, keep an eye out for approaching, but silent birds. If there's an up side to hunting in the rain, it's that you'll probably have more of the woods to yourself. Many hunters flatly give up in soggy weather, seeing the situation as hopeless. But if you arm yourself with good rainwear and slip on waterproof rubber boots, rainy days can be some of the most productive, if slightly uncomfortable, hunting conditions you can have. Merriam's Merriam's are mountain birds associated with Ponderosa pine ridges and are identified by their ivory-colored tail tips. In 1982, 46 to 48 Merriam's were trapped in New Mexico and released in the Davis Mountains in Jeff Davis county. Today, biologists estimate 200 Merriams traverse the area, making them the third subspecies of wild turkey to live in Texas. Texans may not want to rely on this population to help complete their slam, though. In addition to having a limited population, these birds reside mostly on private land where hunting access is not a given. Some also question the genetic integrity of this flock since Rio Grandes wander the base of the mountains and may interbreed with Merriam's. New Mexico offers a nearby choice for Texans to pursue these birds. The Sacramento Mountains of Lincoln National Forest have a good concentration of Merriam's, as does Gila National Forest further west. Merriam's may not be the wariest birds, but tagging one isn't a given. Mountain acoustics can make a gobbler sound only a couple hundred yards away when it is actually a mile or more. At that distance, any gobbler that responds to your calls could be intercepted by a real hen and be whisked away without you even realizing it. Making sure that doesn't happen requires stealth in wide-open Merriam's country. These birds often form big flocks, and all those eyes are very good at picking out incoming danger. Use binoculars to carefully scan an area before you advance and use the available cover to conceal your movements. Set up just behind a rise and offer some high-pitched cutting on a box call. Merriam's will gobble to just about anything, so you shouldn't have much trouble tracking your bird's approach. However, birds have been known to come in silently, so you need to keep your ears keyed for other sounds such as feet walking across the forest floor or the low, guttural sound of a gobbler drumming. Obviously, make certain the feet you hear belong to a turkey and not a turkey hunter by identifying your target before firing. Osceola or Florida Living only in Florida and numbering about 100,000 birds, the elusive Osceola or Florida subspecies is the rarest of the grand slam four Stick to the central and southern parts of the state if you want to hunt pure Osceolas. The north has both easterns and eastern/Osceola hybrids. Osceolas look much like easterns, except that they are smaller, have proportionately longer legs and have primary wing feathers that are dominated by black instead of white. Getting an opportunity to hunt Osceolas is difficult. Some of the best spots are on cattle ranches, which are often tied up by leases. Subsequently, opting for an outfitted hunt may be the most productive route in the long run. Osceolas like to roost in cypress swamps that border cattle pastures. At first light, Osceolas fly to these pastures to feed and display for hens. The first hint of Florida heat sends Osceolas to the relative coolness of the cypress swamps, where they quietly settle in for the rest of the day. Knowing the location of these preferred strutting areas is a huge advantage when trying to bag an Osceola. Once you've pinpointed these spots, set a decoy out just within your maximum shooting range and conceal yourself behind a simple blind. Because Osceolas are shy and choosy about responding to calls, your best bet is to give soft clucks and yelps. Hunting a grand slam takes an adaptable hunter who knows how to tailor time and money to fit his or her sport. Being within reasonable driving distance of all of the subspecies puts Texans in a prime position to launch a grand slam quest. Shooting a grand slam is more than traveling to different places and dropping the hammer on the local version of wild turkey. It's a learning experience that forces you to key in to the details of each bird's environment. It will build your expertise as a hunter and, most of all, generate cherished hunting memories to last a lifetime.   THE NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION The National Wild Turkey Federation is a nonprofit conservation and education organization. The mission statement of the NWTF is: the conservation of the wild turkey and the preservation of the turkey hunting tradition. To become a member of the NWTF, call 1-800-THE-NWTF or write to The National Wild Turkey Federation, P.O. Box 530, Edgefield, S.C. 29824. For information about local NWTF chapters or starting a chapter in your area: contact Jim Lillis, Regional Director, NWTF, 903-870-0211. The following is a list of NWTF chapters in Texas and dates for upcoming Super Fund Banquets:   February 8th Northeast Texas Chapter Shawn Roberts Rt. 7 Box 825 Mt. Pleasant, TX 75455 903/572-1857 February 18th Texarkana Longbeards Marty Moore 6315 Northern Hills Dr. Texarkana, AR 71854 501/772-8211 February 20th Harrison Co. Chapter George Whaley 100 N. Olivar Marshall, TX 75670 903/935-1062 March 8th Red River Chapter Mike Fuller Rt. 6 Box 2320 Paris, TX 75432 903/982-5280 March 11th Parker Co. Chapter Bill Pedigo 1405 Ft. Worth Hwy. Weatherford, TX 76086 817/594-2794 March 13th East Texas Chapter Tom Patterson Rt. 3 Box 394 D Hallsville, TX 75650 903/668-4800 March 15th Houston Chapter Diane Hatton 503 Longview Sugar Land, TX 77478 713/242-5893 March 18th Texoma Chapter Lester Terrell 518 E. Lamar Sherman TX 75090 903/892-6148 March 20th Pineywoods Chapter Don Dietz Rt. 5 Box 4300 Lufkin, TX 75904 409/831-3630 March 27th Cherokee Co. Chapter Ron Beron 750 S. Jackson Jacksonville, TX 75766 903/586-2213 March 28th Wichita Co. Chapter Dean Kucharski 2313 Ellingham Dr. Wichita Falls, TX 76308 817/322-8360 April 4th Tarrant Co. Chapter Robert Cantrell 3821 Southwest Blvd. Ft. Worth, TX 76116 817/731-3402 April 17th North Post Oak Chapter Mike Coker 4540 Kinsey Dr. Tyler, TX 75703-1005 903/592-5378 August 14th Deep East Texas Chapter Todd Stewart Rt. 1 Box 33A Wingate, TX 75977 409/565-4173 August 28th Lone Star Longbeards Thomas Neuberger 410 Manley Navasota, TX 77868 409/825-1760 ⌐ Texas Fish & Game Publishing Co., L.L.C. All rights reserved.