| A hunter, or in particular a turkey hunter, will | | | | 5.2 million birds of the eastern subspecies in North |
| know what a grand slam is, but for those that | | | | America. Around 1871, this bird was also |
| are merely interested in the topic for those who | | | | sometimes called forest turkey. |
| are just starting out, here some tips on grand | | | | The second major subspecies is the Osceola, or |
| slams, what they are and what it means. | | | | often also called the Florida turkey. It is only found |
| A grand slam in turkey hunting means that the | | | | on peninsulas in Florida and there are only around |
| hunter has to shoot four different turkeys, each | | | | 90,000 Osceola birds in the United States. It was |
| from one of the four major subspecies in the | | | | named after the Seminole chief Osceola and has |
| United States. The four major subspecies are Rio | | | | not been known for as long as the other turkey |
| Grande, Osceola, Merriam’s and Eastern. For a | | | | species. The Osceola turkey is smaller than the |
| grand slam, the turkeys need to be hunted in | | | | Eastern turkey and also darker in color. Its wings |
| spring and need to be fully grown toms that were | | | | are of very dark color and less of the white |
| called in and shot with either a shotgun or a bow. | | | | spotting is seen on this turkey in comparison to |
| Even bigger than a grand slam is the scoring of a | | | | the other subspecies. The majority of the body |
| North American grand slam, where a Gould’s | | | | feathers are of an iridescent color that resembles |
| turkey is added to the list mentioned above. | | | | a green and purple coloring. |
| Hunting is a passion, but some of the hunters out | | | | The Rio Grande, the third major subspecies, is |
| there have a lot of spare time and money, some | | | | most commonly found in the lands between |
| do not. For the ones with enough time and | | | | Texas and Oklahoma, in Oregon, parts of |
| money, a grand slam can be achieved in one | | | | California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Kansas and |
| spring, but for most hunters, that is not very | | | | as an introductory animal in Hawaii. There are just |
| realistic and the approach to scoring a grand slam | | | | over 1 million birds of this subspecies found in their |
| is by taking good old time. To be able to make | | | | natural habitats, which are natively the central plain |
| sure that a hunter catches the right subspecies, | | | | states. Their distinctive mark is the disproportional |
| he first of all needs to know the differences | | | | long legs. The feathers of this bird are also |
| between the subspecies of turkeys. There are | | | | iridescent but take a green-copper sheen in their |
| subtle differences in coloration as well as a few | | | | color spectrum. Another very distinctive mark is |
| other marks. | | | | the tail tip feathers and lower back feathers, |
| The first major subspecies is the Eastern turkey, | | | | which are of a very light tan color. |
| the species that was first seen and hunted by the | | | | Lastly, there are the Merriam’s subspecies. |
| early settlers in America, the puritans. They are | | | | This subspecies can be found in the mountain |
| most common in the eastern half of the United | | | | ranges of the Rocky Mountains, in parts of |
| States, as some might have guessed by their | | | | Wyoming, South Dakota, Montana and New |
| name. The turkey’s coverage extends as far | | | | Mexico. There exist currently around 340,000 |
| southeastern as Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec and | | | | birds in those areas altogether. This bird can also |
| some of the maritime provinces of Canada. This | | | | be recognized by its iridescent sheen of green |
| species can reach up to four feet in height and | | | | and bronze colors and the white color of the tail |
| they recognizable by a chestnut brown coloring on | | | | and lower back feather tips. |
| the tail covert tips. There are anywhere around | | | | |