2025 Turkey harvest pics

View attachment 869498View attachment 869499
Montana bird! Franchi 12 gauge #9 TSS

He came in completely quiet behind me and a buddy. Some fancy maneuvering got me a shot at 15 yds as he was leaving haha!

As far as I know it’s a Merriams but he does have really brown tips and judging by pics almost looks more like a Rio? I’ve never shot anything other than Merriams so really don’t know.. Is there any sure fire way of telling the difference??
It certainly looks like a Rio. I know that they both live in some areas. Southern Oregon I would see both, some pockets of birds were almost 50/50 rios and merriams. Regardless, sounds like a fun hunt and great bird👍
 
Wish I would have taken some pictures when I cooked up my daughter’s bird this past Friday. Cut the breast into cubes and soaked in pickle juice for about an hour and a half. Dipped in milk and egg mixture then into seasoned flour. Fried in rendered pork fat. They were delicious and didn’t last long. I saved the legs and thighs to make a pot pie later.
 
I’ve only ever killed Rios at my place in NW Oklahoma, and I decided earlier this year I wanted to start hunting other sub species. I got on a lease in SE Oklahoma a couple months ago that has a decent population of easterns. I called this one in and was able to check an eastern off my hunting bucket list on opening evening last Wednesday.
IMG_2160.jpeg
 
Back
Top