Big Sky Outdoor News & Adventure

BY CHUCK ROBBINS

Wild turkeys are not Montana natives. Merriam’s subspecies first arrived in central Montana from Colorado in 1954; with subsequent releases near Ekalaka and Ashland. As the flock grew so too did the trap and transfer operation and in 1958 Montana ordered a first ever hunting season; hunters bagged about 90 birds, statewide.

Meanwhile, Flathead Valley sportsmen, apparently miffed at being left out, anxious to get their own flocks established imported Eastern subspecies from Pennsylvania. By the late 1980s the Flathead flocks had grown to become a nuisance. Early Flathead hunting was by permit only; however, in 2002 FWP issued the areas first over the counter tags.

The best Merriam’s habitat consists of about one-half ponderosa pine woodlands, the rest a mix of grasslands, deciduous trees and shrubs, scattered openings, riparian areas and deep rugged canyons; the more edge the better. Eastern prefer a similar diversity with or without the ponderosas. Both are eclectic eaters, nuts, seeds, fruits, tubers, flower heads, green leaves, insects, you name it. I once found a bunch of jakes (young gobblers) squabbling over the remains of one very dead, real rank cow. Cultivated grain ranks high, as do snowberry, bearberry, hawthorn, serviceberry, chokecherry and rose hips; young and old alike seem to relish the sport of chasing down grasshoppers.

Easterns west of the 100th Meridian are unique, which makes the Flathead flocks special. Hunters wishing a change of pace and some say a bigger challenge might consider trying Eastern. For what its worth, to me the “challenge” thing seems a bit overblown. I have hunted individuals of both who, for days on end, would strut and dance, limb hop and gobble like to choke to death, often for hours on end, yet would not come no ��matter how sweet or raucous the hen gibe. Conversely a single muted cluck often brings Tom running, regardless the pedigree; the sort of response always begs the question was it really self-defense?

Seriously, one big difference between the two is the Merriam’s propensity to wander—I swear some of our southeastern birds hold second mortgages in Wyoming and South Dakota; and the most important gear item is good glass.

Either species, a good strategy is hit ‘em hard and often with a variety of calls, until Tom hints otherwise. You call, Tom gobbles—call right back, even cut him off a few times but change gears quickly should he suddenly go shut mouth.

Should it become obvious Tom’s not moving, then it’s your move; give him something else to think about. Be aware gobblers do hang up, refuse to cross even the shallowest ditch, the tiniest crick, the most broken down barbed wire, anything stands in Tom’s way is a potential block; flip side, don’t bet on it. So play it by ear. Tom hangs up, do an end run, tease him from the backside.

Shock and awe is good—coyote howls, crow caws, owl hoots, sometimes just slam the truck door or rattle the fry pan (though it seems Tom’s getting smarter and, with the latter two, days are numbered). Once he opens, close in fast, set up, hit him with a run of clucks, cuts and yelps; then shut up, let Tom dictate the next move. As a rule, with Merriam’s more and louder is better. Eastern? Well, I keep telling myself coy is best, but I sure wouldn’t bet the farm.

Decoys work, but can be dangerous to your health, be alert, use blaze orange and above all watch your backside. One final piece of advice, employ a variety of call types, if nothing else they’re fun to play with when Tom’s not…