One reason Nebraska claims to have the nation’s best turkey hunting is its variety of subspecies of the big bird.

Bryce Gerlach, a forester for the National Wild Turkey Federation and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission who is an avid hunter, said the Cornhusker State is special because three of the four subspecies of the federation’s popular Grand Slam reside within the state’s borders.

Once extirpated from Nebraska, the wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) is a conservation success story here and throughout the United States. Nebraska’s flourishing turkey population derives from 28 birds of the Merriam’s subspecies (M.g. merriami) that were released in the Pine Ridge in 1959, and ensuing releases of Rios Grande (M.g. intermedia), eastern (M.g. silvestris) and a hybrid of subspecies at other points of the state.

The Merriam’s of the Pine Ridge attract a lot of attention from hunters near and far. Considered a bird of the Rocky Mountains, the Merriam’s is at home in the rugged sandstone ridges and pine forests of northwestern Nebraska. Nebraska’s Merriam’s are positioned on the eastern edge of the subspecies’ range in a region with sizable tracts of public land, so they are the closest inviting target for hunters of eastern states pursuing the subspecies.

Even though the Merriam’s has what is considered to be the weakest gobble, shorter spurs, and a shorter beard than the other subspecies, it more than makes up for it with its plumage. The wide bright white stripe on the tom’s fanned tail feathers certainly makes it stand out. The subspecies got its name in 1900 in honor of Clinton Hart Merriam, the first chief of the U.S. Biological Survey.

Another subspecies found in the Panhandle, and into southwestern Nebraska, is the Rio, a bird native to the central plains with long legs suited to a prairie habitat. Similar to the Merriam’s toms, Rios have a lot of variation of feather brightness. It has tan-colored tips on its tail feathers.

Points east in Nebraska are appropriately home to the eastern, the most abundant wild turkey subspecies in North America. It can be found in 38 states and parts of Canada. With chestnut brown tail feathers, they have the strongest gobble and longest beard of all.
Tom easterns and Merriam’s are the largest of the three weighing in at upwards to 30 pounds, while the Rios weight about 20.

Reports indicate there of more than 5 million easterns in America while the population of Rios is estimated to be 1 million, and Merriam’s just 350,000. The other slam subspecies, the Osceola (M. g. osceola), lives only in Florida where 100,000 are estimated to reside. The toms of that species are about half the size of the Merriam’s and easterns.

While most of Nebraska’s turkeys retain the appearance of their respective subspecies, the flocks have no doubt intermingled and hybridized in places. They are all beautiful birds when in strut, though, and, regardless of genetics, they count toward the slam based on which subspecies they most closely resemble. Besides that, they all taste good at the dinner table.

Along with diverse appearances, there is variation in how each subspecies behaves. Gerlach said there is a difference in how a person might hunt an eastern wild turkey compared to a Merriam’s, for instance.

“Merriam’s are more of an open country bird. Easterns live in deep timber most of the time, so they behave a little bit differently,” he said.

In open country, the bird can use its incredible eyesight to see you from farther away, for example, so concealment is especially important.

There are no doubt fewer nonresident hunters seeking turkeys in Nebraska this year. Because of the coronavirus issue, Nebraska’s nonresident permits were limited. While unfortunate, Gerlach said the situation provides a special opportunity for residents of the region to explore public land close to home.

“Our public lands offer a lot of great opportunity right now with a lot less hunting pressure,” he said. “You can find some great birds that are easier to call in and they gobble more because of less pressure.”

Whether it be a Nebraska Merriam’s, Rio or an eastern, hunters have until the end of May to pursue it. They’re just being encouraged to hunt them close to home and follow health guidelines. Permits and other information may be found at outdoornebraska.org.

- Justin Haag / Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

Commission approves deer, antelope and elk hunting recommendations

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission approved recommendations for 2020 deer, antelope and elk hunting seasons at its meeting May 8 in Lincoln.

Commissioners adopted the proposed staff amendments to Commission orders pertaining to season dates, bag limits, permit quantities and areas open for deer, antelope and elk hunting.

The following is a summary of the big game recommendations that were approved:

Deer – Many units have seen bag limit and permit quota changes to accomplish management goals and a few units will see a bonus antlerless white-tailed deer added to their regular and season choice permits.

Elk – Bull permits will increase 25% and antlerless permits will increase 40%. The antlerless season will be extended and run from Aug. 1 – Jan. 31, 2021, with three units being split between early and late antlerless seasons.

Antelope – Most units will see an increase in permit quotas in response to population levels and social tolerances. Similar to the Landowner October Firearm bag limit change in 2019, the Landowner Late Doe/Fawn permits also will include a bonus doe/fawn tag to help landowners harvest more doe/fawn antelope on their land if they desire.

Staff said it is continuing to address depredation issues through regulations, outreach to landowners about available resources, encouraging public hunting access and promotion of antlerless deer opportunities.

To see all of the big game recommendations that were approved, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov/regulations.

In other business, the commissioners approved a staff recommendation for waterfowl hunting boundary changes. The changes will go on to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for approval, and will go into effect in the fall of 2021.

In addition, staff presented an update on mountain lion research. Results from the latest mountain lion survey of the Pine Ridge population provide an estimate of 34 mountain lions in the Pine Ridge during the survey period of May and June of 2019. The previous estimate from 2017 was 59 mountain lions in the Pine Ridge. The estimated density of mountain lions in the Pine Ridge had been higher than most western states, but now is on target with management goals and similar to other states. No livestock depredations have been documented in the Pine Ridge since the 2019 harvest season began. Additional harvest will likely be needed to maintain the population within management objectives.

Seven mountain lions were harvested in 2020. Four (three males and one female) were taken in the south subunit of the Pine Ridge during Season 1. No mountain lions were harvested during Season 1 in the north subunit, so an Auxiliary Season was held, where three mountain lions (two males and one female) were harvested.

Regulated harvest seasons have allowed the population to remain resilient and healthy, while bringing the density of mountain lions in the Pine Ridge in line with western states that allow mountain lion hunting.

For more information about mountain lions in Nebraska, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov/mountainlions.

Also, the commissioners heard a report on Free Fishing and Park Entry Day being delayed because of COVID-19 concerns until later this year when more of the public might participate. There is not yet a rescheduled date for Free Fishing and Park Entry Day.