The National Wild Turkey Federation’s Grand Slam is a mighty challenge coveted by many turkey hunters. For those thrill seekers that love a challenge and are curious enough to take it on, it requires you to bag one each of a Eastern, Rio Grande, Merriam’s and Osceola turkey. Luckily, you don’t have to bag them all in the same year, so that takes a bit of the pressure off. It’s a test of your technical skills, your bowhunting abilities and, in some ways, your ability to plan. Check out our tips below for some of the top states for hunting multiple turkey subspecies.

Bang for Your Buck

If you want to kill two – or in this case, four – birds with one stone, you’ll need to choose your states accordingly. Try to travel to states that house multiple species on the list that also offer multiple tags for one season.

In Texas, Oklahoma, Washington and South Dakota you could score a Merriam’s, Eastern and Rio Grande turkey in one trip. You can take up to four birds a year in Texas and Washington, two in South Dakota and one in Oklahoma.

You might have to travel to different regions of the sate to find the different subspecies. For example, in Texas you will find the Merriam’s bird in West Texas, the Rio Grande turkey in Central Texas, and the Eastern turkey in East Texas. So, in theory, you could work your way across Texas from left to right and bag three of the four subspecies in one trip, thanks to Texas’s generous bag limit.

In Oklahoma, Mirriam’s are only found in a very slim sliver of the far left section of the panhandle where it borders New Mexico. The majority of the state hosts Rio Grande turkeys and Eastern turkeys can be found in the eastern section of the state. With Eastern turkeys in East Texas and Eastern turkeys in East Oklahoma, the subspecies is obviously very aptly named.

Consider Timing

If you want to go on multiple turkey hunts in one year, time your hunts according to the states’ opening day. The start dates for spring turkey season vary wildly by state, so you could potentially have a month-long head start by traveling to a state with an early season. For example, the season opened on March 16 in Florida, so if you want to score an Osceola, start your journey with a trip to Florida. Florida is the only state in which you’ll find an Osceola, so check that one off your list early. South Dakota’s season lasts until May 31, so in addition to having multiple species, it has a late season. Consider ending with this state.

Wherever you go for your turkey Grand Slam adventure, you can take the comfort of a Stump blind with you. Our blinds easily hook up to a truck with the rigid steel hitch attached to the blind. Once you get to your turkey hotspot, you’ll be able to pull the blind right onto the land. Check the state’s regulations on blinds before you travel. Some states might require a blaze orange covering on the blind. Minnesota recently enacted this guideline, so check all regulations before you travel to avoid unwelcome surprises. Once you’ve done your homework, it’s time to load up the blind and bag some birds!

What do you think are some of the best states for hunting multiple subspecies of turkey? Where have you had success? How did you plan your trip? Let us know in the comments below!

 

 

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