US Super Slam for Turkeys?

[Derekc6713]

Anyone on RokSlide in the process of completing a US Super Slam or has already completed it? If you are how many states have you completed? Which state was the toughest? Most pressured? Easiest? Any tips? I’m interested in attempting it over the course of my lifetime. Seems like it’s a difficult slam that is actually achievable with enough time and effort. So far I just got one lol. My home state of PA. Hoping to tag one in NY this Spring.

 

[Steve O]

Not sure what that is but I am missing the Osceola for my Royal Slam. I have a Gould’s from AZ and that was a long time coming. I’ve found the Osceola to be the most difficult because I don’t want to spend $3000 for a turkey hunt and the public I’ve been on in southern Florida has not worked out.

I’ve hunted 14 states for turkeys. Is a super slam hunting them in all 49 states?

 

[Derekc6713]

Yep the super slam is a turkey in every state except Alaska. I’ve heard the Osceola is a more difficult bird to tag if you don’t go guided. A lot of pressure on public makes them tone down their gobbling. I haven’t done a ton of research but I’m pretty sure there are some WMAs that you can to apply for where they limit the amount of hunters and the hunting is better. That’s awesome you managed to get Goulds tag in AZ. Is that as a non res? How long did it take to draw ? I figure I’ll be going to Mexico when I attempt a Goulds hunt.

 

[flathead#2]

Not sure what that is but I am missing the Osceola for my Royal Slam. I have a Gould’s from AZ and that was a long time coming. I’ve found the Osceola to be the most difficult because I don’t want to spend $3000 for a turkey hunt and the public I’ve been on in southern Florida has not worked out.

I’ve hunted 14 states for turkeys. Is a super slam hunting them in all 49 states?

Florida public is a nightmare.

 

[Steve O]

Yes it took about 15 years to draw as a NR. Awesome birds. Took a Merriams in AZ as well.

 

[deerhunt1988]

Finished my super slam last year in Delaware. All states have been public land/open trespass except Nevada and Texas. I drew a good Texas WMA quota hunt this spring. Sitting on 5 bonus points in Nevada, hopefully I can draw one of the two public land tags there in the next decade or so.

Toughest States: For simply killing a turkey, deep south easterns are about as stubborn as they come. And they also get pressured more than any others except public land Osceolas. I've killed a fair amount of public land Osceolas and on the places I've hunted, they aren't any more difficult than deep south easterns. Other hunters are the issue.

Most Pressured: At a regional level, Southeast public land. Although with this new turkey craze its getting pretty ridiculous all over. I've hunted some atlantic states recently that kind of blew my mind with the pressure. Last year two of those was CT and Rhode Island. One state where the pressure REALLY caught me off guard was California. We'd roosted some birds evening before the opener and ended up having like 10 trucks parked on us opening morning. And there was only like 1,100 acres to hunt. it was outright dangerous. Crazy morning but we got one and decided to relocate. Found more birds an hour or so away and they had almost just as many people after them.

The new "toughest" state for slammers is going to be Nevada simply due to access. When I started applying for Nevada, there were 7 or 8 non-resident tags in the draw and only 48 non-residents applied in 2019. I'm willing to bet the number of applicants has at least tripled since due to slam popularity and the number of tags has dropped to FOUR. The most popular area for landowner tags recently got snatched up by an outfitter and the same tag i paid $300 for in 2023 now has an asking price of $3,000+.


Tips: Hurry the hell up and get it over with ASAP because the cost and difficulty is increasing at an astronomical and alarming rate. States are having to limit non-residents due to the travel turkey craze and jacking prices up. Go ahead and pay the $3,000 for a Nevada bird before it becomes a $7,500 turkey.

The popularity of the US Super Slam has grown exponentially in the last few years due to social media. It is to the point I'm almost embarrassed to even admit i'm a slammer. A lot of the folks deciding to do it now had no clue what a super slam was 5 years ago. It used to be somewhat of a "sacred" thing, but has since been tarnished. Folks are willing to do whatever it takes to kill a turkey and "check" that state off. I've witnessed things in recent years that will blow your mind. And hear stories every spring from my turkey buds that just make me shake my head.

I'm thrilled to be finished and can hunt a lot less stress free now. Back to hunting more with family and friends. This spring I'm revisiting some of my favorite states, one I haven't hunted since 2012. Already had to buy tags and apply for two of the states, states that I could just go buy OTC tags for last time I hunted them at much cheaper prices. Thanks to the turkey craze I'm paying a lot more money for fewer tags. The amount of lost opportunities in recent years is mind blowing. Oh well, hopefully all the new, and incoming non-resident restrictions help the hunting quality.

All that being said, Good Luck!

 

[deerhunt1988]

I'll leave you with one of our new favorite jokes.

"How do you someone is a super slammer? Just wait a minute, they'll tell you"

Think on that one a minute.

 

[Kellum]

To quote what DH88 is saying it's not the same as it was years ago as nobody hardly knew what a super slam was. Matter fact I'm sure that it did not even have the term " super slam" until it was popularized by NWTF. Which by the way they charge per each turkey to register in every state to "certify" your slam lol.

Anywho, as someone who thought about accomplishing a super slam a few years ago that idea no longer appeals to me. Like already mentioned many states are making changes to combat struggling populations with draws, price increases, and shorter seasons. On top of all this, pressure is at an all time high for public and outfitted hunts are even increasing in price. Personally i just focus on traveling to places i always "wonted" to go rather than "where" i should go. By all means to the OP do whatever makes you happy but just know this slam thing can take the fun out of it. Good luck this spring!


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[Derekc6713]

Finished my super slam last year in Delaware. All states have been public land/open trespass except Nevada and Texas. I drew a good Texas WMA quota hunt this spring. Sitting on 5 bonus points in Nevada, hopefully I can draw one of the two public land tags there in the next decade or so.

Toughest States: For simply killing a turkey, deep south easterns are about as stubborn as they come. And they also get pressured more than any others except public land Osceolas. I've killed a fair amount of public land Osceolas and on the places I've hunted, they aren't any more difficult than deep south easterns. Other hunters are the issue.

Most Pressured: At a regional level, Southeast public land. Although with this new turkey craze its getting pretty ridiculous all over. I've hunted some atlantic states recently that kind of blew my mind with the pressure. Last year two of those was CT and Rhode Island. One state where the pressure REALLY caught me off guard was California. We'd roosted some birds evening before the opener and ended up having like 10 trucks parked on us opening morning. And there was only like 1,100 acres to hunt. it was outright dangerous. Crazy morning but we got one and decided to relocate. Found more birds an hour or so away and they had almost just as many people after them.

The new "toughest" state for slammers is going to be Nevada simply due to access. When I started applying for Nevada, there were 7 or 8 non-resident tags in the draw and only 48 non-residents applied in 2019. I'm willing to bet the number of applicants has at least tripled since due to slam popularity and the number of tags has dropped to FOUR. The most popular area for landowner tags recently got snatched up by an outfitter and the same tag i paid $300 for in 2023 now has an asking price of $3,000+.


Tips: Hurry the hell up and get it over with ASAP because the cost and difficulty is increasing at an astronomical and alarming rate. States are having to limit non-residents due to the travel turkey craze and jacking prices up. Go ahead and pay the $3,000 for a Nevada bird before it becomes a $7,500 turkey.

The popularity of the US Super Slam has grown exponentially in the last few years due to social media. It is to the point I'm almost embarrassed to even admit i'm a slammer. A lot of the folks deciding to do it now had no clue what a super slam was 5 years ago. It used to be somewhat of a "sacred" thing, but has since been tarnished. Folks are willing to do whatever it takes to kill a turkey and "check" that state off. I've witnessed things in recent years that will blow your mind. And hear stories every spring from my turkey buds that just make me shake my head.

I'm thrilled to be finished and can hunt a lot less stress free now. Back to hunting more with family and friends. This spring I'm revisiting some of my favorite states, one I haven't hunted since 2012. Already had to buy tags and apply for two of the states, states that I could just go buy OTC tags for last time I hunted them at much cheaper prices. Thanks to the turkey craze I'm paying a lot more money for fewer tags. The amount of lost opportunities in recent years is mind blowing. Oh well, hopefully all the new, and incoming non-resident restrictions help the hunting quality.

All that being said, Good Luck!

Congrats on that accomplishment and thanks that's alot of great information! Nevada and Delaware are the only ones that come to mind that are draw states are there any others? How did you get your North Dakota bird since the spring season is resident only? Did you shoot one in the fall or go onto a reservation?

Some of the small states that you mentioned like CT and RI I was worried about how the pressure might be being that they are so small and the public land so limited. Those were ones I might really try to do some door knocking see if I can get lucky.

It seems like everything hunting is more popular than it used to be. Especially when it comes to achieving slams and hunting out of state. Like you said social media is a huge part of it. I have a love/hate relationship with hunting media. I do enjoy hunting content such as guys like the hunting public while also recognizing that it's increasing the demand for out of state hunting making everything more competitive.

At this point in my life with work and young kids I'll be lucky to get in 1 state a year starting with states bordering PA then be able to make some trips to multiple states later on down the road. Maybe by then the craze will have blown over a bit haha.

 

[Derekc6713]

To quote what DH88 is saying it's not the same as it was years ago as nobody hardly knew what a super slam was. Matter fact I'm sure that it did not even have the term " super slam" until it was popularized by NWTF. Which by the way they charge per each turkey to register in every state to "certify" your slam lol.

Anywho, as someone who thought about accomplishing a super slam a few years ago that idea no longer appeals to me. Like already mentioned many states are making changes to combat struggling populations with draws, price increases, and shorter seasons. On top of all this, pressure is at an all time high for public and outfitted hunts are even increasing in price. Personally i just focus on traveling to places i always "wonted" to go rather than "where" i should go. By all means to the OP do whatever makes you happy but just know this slam thing can take the fun out of it. Good luck this spring!


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I hear yeah. I just enjoy hunting and traveling. Maybe throughout the course of my life I'll accomplish it. If I don't oh well I wont lose any sleep over it. Not planning to get it NWTF certified anyway. Like you said hunting is supposed to be fun don't need to add additional stress to my life.

 

[deerhunt1988]

Congrats on that accomplishment and thanks that's alot of great information! Nevada and Delaware are the only ones that come to mind that are draw states are there any others? How did you get your North Dakota bird since the spring season is resident only? Did you shoot one in the fall or go onto a reservation?

Some of the small states that you mentioned like CT and RI I was worried about how the pressure might be being that they are so small and the public land so limited. Those were ones I might really try to do some door knocking see if I can get lucky.

It seems like everything hunting is more popular than it used to be. Especially when it comes to achieving slams and hunting out of state. Like you said social media is a huge part of it. I have a love/hate relationship with hunting media. I do enjoy hunting content such as guys like the hunting public while also recognizing that it's increasing the demand for out of state hunting making everything more competitive.

At this point in my life with work and young kids I'll be lucky to get in 1 state a year starting with states bordering PA then be able to make some trips to multiple states later on down the road. Maybe by then the craze will have blown over a bit haha.

Ah, I forgot about ND. Since a NR can't get a bird there in the spring on public, you do have to hunt a reservation in the spring.

More and more states are going draw. This is Kansas's second year of being a draw. Last year there were like 80 leftovers, so there won't be any this year. Nebraska put a 10k cap on NR permits two years ago. They go on sell in mid-January. First year they sold out in March. Second year late January. This year in 31 hours. So probably will sell out in about 24 hours next year. As of this year, all of South Dakota state tags are a draw for NR. Mississippi public lands in March are now all draw as of 2022. Other states are discussing the prospect of going to draw/limited tags for NR too. This is why I despise turkey hunting content on social media and the Slam craze. We are losing hunting opportunities at a crazy fast rate.

Iowa has been all draw for NR for as long as I can remember. It used to be about a 100% draw but thanks to The Hunting Public posting tons of Iowa videos over the year, many units now take 1pt for 100% draws. Effectively making your tag $300+ if you have to draw with a point.

Arizona is either draw or reservation.

Another tip: It is more important than ever to hunt openers. A decade ago you could go late season to a bunch of states and still get on birds easily. But now days most of the birds are dead or boogered so bad it can really be a grind. Openers are more crowded, but you want the most targets available. So just deal with the crowds and go kill your bird.

 

[KHNC]

South Carolina turkey population has absolutely plummeted beyond belief! Coons, possums, bobcats, coyotes , hawks and owls are taking their toll! Seasons have been changed, tag prices increased and bag limits reduced to try and restore them. I have even heard of some type of disease that is killing them as well. I see almost zero poults last few summers now, and very few adult birds.

 

[Derekc6713]

Ah, I forgot about ND. Since a NR can't get a bird there in the spring on public, you do have to hunt a reservation in the spring.

More and more states are going draw. This is Kansas's second year of being a draw. Last year there were like 80 leftovers, so there won't be any this year. Nebraska put a 10k cap on NR permits two years ago. They go on sell in mid-January. First year they sold out in March. Second year late January. This year in 31 hours. So probably will sell out in about 24 hours next year. As of this year, all of South Dakota state tags are a draw for NR. Mississippi public lands in March are now all draw as of 2022. Other states are discussing the prospect of going to draw/limited tags for NR too. This is why I despise turkey hunting content on social media and the Slam craze. We are losing hunting opportunities at a crazy fast rate.

Iowa has been all draw for NR for as long as I can remember. It used to be about a 100% draw but thanks to The Hunting Public posting tons of Iowa videos over the year, many units now take 1pt for 100% draws. Effectively making your tag $300+ if you have to draw with a point.

Arizona is either draw or reservation.

Another tip: It is more important than ever to hunt openers. A decade ago you could go late season to a bunch of states and still get on birds easily. But now days most of the birds are dead or boogered so bad it can really be a grind. Openers are more crowded, but you want the most targets available. So just deal with the crowds and go kill your bird.

I feel like eventually the hunting content will dry up and then eventually the craze will follow it's just not sustainable. People will find some new thing to follow and flock to. Thats my hope anyway.

You mentioned in your first post witnessing things that would blow my mind when it came to people going after turkeys... Do tell! I always appreciate wild stories haha! Did you have any states that were easier than you expected? Like it wasnt as bad as you thought it would be or you just lucked out and got one right away?

What area of PA did you go to to get your bird? I hunt the mountains of north central PA. Turkey density isnt as high and they are very wary. But you have a ton of public land to roam to get away from other hunters which is nice and fits my hunting style, I'm a bit of a roamer.

 

[Mojave]

I didn't know this many people were into this. Learn something new every day.

 

[dtrkyman]

I considered it for a minute, I have 13 states. The slam takes the fun out of it. I can hunt a cluster of states and minimize travel every year and just have a good time!

A good friend of mine is considering the same, he has 20 plus states!

Pressure is no joke now, states I hunted without pressure just a few years ago are a real zoo these days!

Mojave, it is kind of the current flavor in the turkey world, used to be just a grand slam, then went to world slam I guess you call it, now it's "chasing" 49. Hell I haven't even done Florida!

 

[Derekc6713]

I didn't know this many people were into this. Learn something new every day.

There’s slams for everything now. Waterfowl slams, deer slams, whitetail deer slams, upland bird slams, squirrel slams. Alright I made the squirrel slam up but give it enough time. Come to think of it maybe that’s the slam I need to chase, a squirrel in all 50 states.

 

[deerhunt1988]

I feel like eventually the hunting content will dry up and then eventually the craze will follow it's just not sustainable. People will find some new thing to follow and flock to. Thats my hope anyway.

You mentioned in your first post witnessing things that would blow my mind when it came to people going after turkeys... Do tell! I always appreciate wild stories haha! Did you have any states that were easier than you expected? Like it wasnt as bad as you thought it would be or you just lucked out and got one right away?

What area of PA did you go to to get your bird? I hunt the mountains of north central PA. Turkey density isnt as high and they are very wary. But you have a ton of public land to roam to get away from other hunters which is nice and fits my hunting style, I'm a bit of a roamer.

Man, I've been thinking it'll slow down for 5 years now. But each year it gets worse and worse. The future generation is who is going to suffer the most.

As far as stories that will blow your mind.....

Nevada: Very limited roosting areas, everyone highly invested with flight and tag costs, needing that Nevada bird for their slam. I know TWO different folks the past 3 springs that have a bird shot off the roost right in front of them on opening morning. Proud way to take your Nevada bird, huh? The landowner we hunted on told us about the opening morning limb lift that happened a few days before we got there. He was still PISSED over it and kicked the hunters off the property. Last year in Nevada a dude was literally driving back and forth, keeping a gobbler from crossing a road, so other hunters couldn't kill it whom were set up by the trees the gobbler was going to roost in. The guy doing this didn't have permission to hunt either side of the road was hoping the bird would be pushed to where he could hunt.

Tennessee: Highly pimped out by YouTubers, especially Catman and The Hunting Public. A few central TN WMAs on opening weekend are an absolute ZOO now days because of it. I'm talking about outright dangerous. Doesn't matter how many trucks are at a gate, folks are coming on in you if there is a gobbling bird. And its such a shame because they used to be such incredible areas to hunt.

Massachusetts: Last spring I'd saw a gobbler cross a road onto public land. I turned around and pulled into a parking spot to go after him. About that time an older dude comes sliding in, hops out and grabs his gun that was loaded and just sitting in his seat. He gives me a poop eating grin and starts to RUN towards where the gobbler went into the woods! We exchanged words and it got heated so I started filming in case anything happened.

Here is the encounter if you want to watch it. *language*

https://imgur.com/21Phhwo

Pennsylvania: Last spring I'd roosted a bird evening before the opener. Got in TIGHT opening morning. Unfortunately the bird was just ~200 yards from a gate. I get to watch a young dude park right on top of me, and proceed to sneak on in and set up on the bird. Of course neither one of us killed it because he spooked it. I gave him an earful.

California: Set up on roosted gobblers on opening morning. We literally have to direct hunter traffic with our flashlights. Getting close to fly down time and I see a dude sneaking in. I wave him off. He just does a half circle around me and sneaks up right beside my buddy who is 50 yards from a roosted gobbler. The hunter is walking towards the gobbler with his gun up and spooks it before he can get a shot. They exchange words. The hunter then has the gall to set up just 70 yards away from us. As luck would have it, one of the gobblers pitches right down in front of him and he kills it. My buddy ends up killing one too thankfully. We go encounter the other guy and its a Hmong hunter and his wife. I go "Were you the one walking all up on his trying to shoot a roosted gobbler?" and he does "Yes, yes, that's me!" LOL What in the fk?!?! Bag limit is 1/day in California. He was back in there hunting that afternoon.

I could go on and on but thats just a small sample. Ethics and etiquette seem to have left the building now days.

Easier than expected/lucked out: Arkansas and Louisiana. Two states a lot of people really struggle with. But I scouted two entire days in Arkansas before opening day in 2024. The first bird I worked opening morning got by me and another hunter got him. I was standing at his truck waiting to talk/congratulate him when I heard another bird firing off in the distance. Got him, so was done in Arkansas after 2 days of scouting and a couple hours hunting. Louisiana, got beat to where I was going on opening morning and that RARELY happens unless they sleep at a gate. So I went in across the bottom opposite of them. Heard them shoot and it made me sick. I heard no turkey. Walking out I made a loop through some thinned pines and one hammered on the ground. He was dead shortly after. Done in LA on morning 1.

Last year I just got to hunt opening morning in PA and hunted sorta north central along NY border on a state game lands. I killed in PA in 2017 and hunted some game lands in southwest PA. Beautiful state, that is for sure!!!

 

[deerhunt1988]

Even though I've encountered a ton of butts and rude, inconsiderate hunters in recent years, and the frequency of encounters is ever increasing, one of the best things about the slam is all the GREAT folks I've met. My phone is full of contacts from all across the nation. I touch base with many of them every spring. I even met a Hawaii native on here and we hunted together while I was in Hawaii. It was an AWESOME experience!! I still stay in contact with a California guy I met on here too. We never actually met in person, but he helped me out with info while I was in Cali. I just wish more of these new turkey hunters weren't so dang desperate with the "kill at all costs" mentality so they can get a photo for the gram.

 

[Steve O]

People ruin everything. I have my own “slam” I’d like to have just for me someday.

A Royal with bow, shotgun, and flintlock. I have Eastern and Rio done many times over. Need a Flintlock to finish out the Merriams, a bow and flinter Goulds, and all the Osceolas. No pressure, just a lifetime of opportunities and memories.









My AZ Goulds; I did trespass in Old Mexico for the photo.

 

[fatlander]

Coupling the current diminishing rate of wild turkey recruitment with states’ insatiable appetite for more hunters, I seriously doubt someone starting out today will have the opportunity to hunt all of the states that turkeys currently reside in. I hope I’m wrong, but the writing is all over the wall.


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