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South Dakota Merriams #7255698
05/01/21 10:59 AM
05/01/21 10:59 AM
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 253
NY
J
Jc Fitzy Offline OP
trapper
Jc Fitzy  Offline OP
trapper
J

Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 253
NY
Looking to add one or 2 to my man cave .Can anyone point me in the right direction for next years hunt or possibly this fall ?Im looking for towards a DIY hunt ,most likely public lands .Thanks in advance.

Re: South Dakota Merriams [Re: Jc Fitzy] #7255765
05/01/21 12:24 PM
05/01/21 12:24 PM
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,420
SE SD
D
DWC Offline
trapper
DWC  Offline
trapper
D

Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 2,420
SE SD
Id go Nebraska if it was me.

Re: South Dakota Merriams [Re: Jc Fitzy] #7255817
05/01/21 01:39 PM
05/01/21 01:39 PM
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 683
SD
T
Tray Offline
"Wilson Jr."
Tray  Offline
"Wilson Jr."
T

Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 683
SD
Look at the Black Hills, lots of turkeys and tons of public ground.

Re: South Dakota Merriams [Re: Jc Fitzy] #7255853
05/01/21 03:04 PM
05/01/21 03:04 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Law Dog Offline
trapper
Law Dog  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Been out to the Hills 3X was snowed out the first 2 times just got back worked birds both days it’s tough the hens are still in the trees here at night, they are sitting on nests in MO what a difference. I’m in the higher country so things are behind up there, the roads are a mess ruts in the snow packed trails with runoff flowing down the roads, some spots impassable.

Did not see 10 hunters the first 2 trips just yesterday I seen TX, MN, MS, FL, MO hunters all looking for their Merriam birds, so pick a window before the fair weather hunters pile in or hunt lower elevations early. Seen a bunch of birds in the snow trips did not see many when it was nicer.

Heading back tomorrow for a few days I have some located to work on if the weather holds, the trick is to get close in the AM before the hens fly down to work the gobblers once the hens fly down they will follow them.

You want a true Merriam stay away from the towns or you could end up with a hybrid in some places.

This looks to be a true Merriam.
[Linked Image]


Last edited by Law Dog; 05/02/21 08:30 AM.

Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: South Dakota Merriams [Re: Jc Fitzy] #7255854
05/01/21 03:09 PM
05/01/21 03:09 PM
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 496
SD
T
Turd Furgeson Offline
trapper
Turd Furgeson  Offline
trapper
T

Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 496
SD
I was coyote hunting two days ago out in a very desolate area of NW SD, not a tree around for miles. Up pulls a truck behind me with Mississippi plates in all camo and I knew right away.. “There many turkeys out here” I told him he was in about the worst area for turkeys in a 100 mile radius. He just saw the BLM ground and got excited.

Re: South Dakota Merriams [Re: Jc Fitzy] #7255891
05/01/21 04:43 PM
05/01/21 04:43 PM
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 253
NY
J
Jc Fitzy Offline OP
trapper
Jc Fitzy  Offline OP
trapper
J

Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 253
NY
Nice lawdog .I figured I better start planning now .I’m thinking somewhere in central SD .

Re: South Dakota Merriams [Re: Jc Fitzy] #7255913
05/01/21 05:50 PM
05/01/21 05:50 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Law Dog Offline
trapper
Law Dog  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Prairie tags are different in some counties some of the bigger ones with public lands set a percentage aside for NR hunters, if not the leftovers are up for grabs to anyone in the later drawings.

The only thing you have a better chance of getting hybrids in the flatlands and Missouri River breaks, I read that we have 3 species of turkeys here in SD but in the farmlands hybrids are very common here. The true Merriam species are found in the Hills in places.

You decide to come out drop me a PM we will go over the options.


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: South Dakota Merriams [Re: Jc Fitzy] #7255935
05/01/21 06:20 PM
05/01/21 06:20 PM
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 253
NY
J
Jc Fitzy Offline OP
trapper
Jc Fitzy  Offline OP
trapper
J

Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 253
NY
Thanks Lawdog .If you’re referring to the Black hills ,I’d have no problem going there if need be .

Re: South Dakota Merriams [Re: Jc Fitzy] #7255947
05/01/21 07:01 PM
05/01/21 07:01 PM
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,833
Michigan
M
Michigander Offline
trapper
Michigander  Offline
trapper
M

Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,833
Michigan
Law Dogs observations mirrored mine 2 weeks ago. We ran into hunters from Oregon, Iowa, Idaho, Mississippi, Louisiana and other Michiganders. On my flight back there was at least 15 other turkey hunters and it was still pretty early . There is plenty of land to escape pressure though. The jake population was very strong this year so next year there should be no shortage of toms around.


Re: South Dakota Merriams [Re: Jc Fitzy] #7255958
05/01/21 07:19 PM
05/01/21 07:19 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Law Dog Offline
trapper
Law Dog  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Yep seeing a lot of jakes they just need to make it through the winter, not sure how they survive that harsh winter weather.


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: South Dakota Merriams [Re: Law Dog] #7255969
05/01/21 07:51 PM
05/01/21 07:51 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,292
East-Central Wisconsin
B
bblwi Offline
trapper
bblwi  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,292
East-Central Wisconsin
When our VVA tour group was out in SD May of 2019 I saw several toms in the Black Hills area. They are strikingly impressive birds. Much more color than our eastern WI birds. 4 days in now and still vegetable soup! The area I hunt is quite different this year and the birds are fewer and spookier to date. Big pipeline going through the property, no work being done now but have been at it off and on for several months.

Bryce

Re: South Dakota Merriams [Re: Jc Fitzy] #7256014
05/01/21 09:30 PM
05/01/21 09:30 PM
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 415
South Dakota
P
Prn Offline
trapper
Prn  Offline
trapper
P

Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 415
South Dakota
[Linked Image]

Not to high jack this thread. The subject of mixed breeds got brought up so I thought I would ask. My daughter and myself shot these two within about 1/4 mile of each other. After looking at this picture I am starting to question which sub species (two different ones)we have here. Yes mine is a jake, I have no shame haha. After my daughter shot hers we took pictures and started the 1/2 mile walk back to the truck. We stumbled upon 3 Jake's and I asked my daughter if we should try calling them in. She said "well yeah!" We got set up and they came in on a string. I had to use my daughters youth 20 ga, because I didnt even bring my gun with. My turkey was still flopping and my daughter said "Dad are we that good of hunters or did we get lucky?" My response was "We are just that good." Lol Anyways any thoughts on sub species here? These were shot east of the mighty mo if that matters.

Re: South Dakota Merriams [Re: Jc Fitzy] #7256077
05/01/21 10:32 PM
05/01/21 10:32 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Law Dog Offline
trapper
Law Dog  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
WI Eastern my buddy last year.

[Linked Image]




Last edited by Law Dog; 05/01/21 10:34 PM.

Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: South Dakota Merriams [Re: Jc Fitzy] #7256208
05/02/21 08:48 AM
05/02/21 08:48 AM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Law Dog Offline
trapper
Law Dog  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 34,751
Central, SD
Originally Posted by Jc Fitzy
Thanks Lawdog .If you’re referring to the Black hills ,I’d have no problem going there if need be .



Yes the Black Hills NF areas at the West end of the State that is where you find the true Merriam turkeys, fly into Rapid City rent what you can for a 4X4 and try to get good tires to get around it’s not a issue in the lower elevations but a game changer in the high country.

Pulled out 2 guys that were stuck the night of that full moon they were stuck in some snow pack with a 4WD Suburban with highway tires that was high centered. Found them the next day the Toy pulled them right out no problem more about the tires then anything else really. That icy snow is like grease once your stuck into it rocks are your friends then for traction.


Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!

Jerry Herbst
Re: South Dakota Merriams [Re: Jc Fitzy] #7256250
05/02/21 09:53 AM
05/02/21 09:53 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,657
Minnesota
330-Trapper Online content

trapper
330-Trapper  Online Content

trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,657
Minnesota
Nice Birds All


NRA and NTA Life Member
www.BackroadsRevised@etsy.com




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