Five subspecies of wild turkey live in the United States: the Eastern, Osceola, Rio Grande, Merriam’s and Gould’s. Taking the first four is known as the Grand Slam.
| Subspecies | Where | Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern | Most of the East | Largest range, longest beards |
| Osceola | Central and south Florida | Toughest to call |
| Rio Grande | Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas | Plains and brush country |
| Merriam’s | Mountain West | White-tipped tail, softest gobble |
| Gould’s | Arizona, New Mexico, Mexico | Long legs, white tail tips |
Eastern
The most widespread wild turkey, found across much of the eastern U.S. A full-grown tom can weigh up to 30 pounds, and Easterns are considered second only to the Osceola in how hard they are to call in.
Osceola
Also called the Florida turkey, the Osceola lives only in central and south Florida. It is darker and smaller than the Eastern, and is considered the toughest turkey to call.
Rio Grande
Rio Grande turkeys live in the drier country of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas, with transplanted flocks farther west. Roosts and food sources are often easy to find in open country.
Merriam’s
A mountain bird of the West, the Merriam’s has white-tipped tail feathers and the weakest gobble, shortest beards and shortest spurs of the subspecies.
Gould’s
Found in the U.S. only in Arizona and New Mexico, with most of its range in Mexico. Gould’s turkeys have long legs and light tips on their tail feathers, and they are the least hunted subspecies.