Merriam's in Nebraska

[martomic]

I am planning a Merriam's hunt in Nebraska next spring. I would like to keep it as far to the eastern part of the state as possible. I know there are hybrids on the east side and just into Iowa along the Missouri River but I want a straight up Merriam's.

Any advise on where to go from your experience? I am looking at the Holt County/Niobrara River area.

Thanks

[VaTuRkStOmPeR]

your post is slightly contradictory.

you'll be hard pressed to find a pure merriams in that state.  i killed 3 with one shot in nebraska 2 weeks ago.

the first was what most would consider a "true merriams" but the other two were what many would consider "true rios". 

even if it looks like a pure specimen of a subspecies, it most likely is not in nebraska.

[OLE RASPY]

North west nebraska.I hunted in crawford nebraska and they are true merriams.

[hobbes]

You cant stay as far east as possible.  you must go  west.  Merriams does not always mean pure white tips.  They range from buff to white.

[martomic]

Ok thanks for the info

[joey46]

I hope to do a hunt out west next spring and have been following all these NE post closely.  I have not seen a bird from the Chadron (N/W area) area that did not give the appearance of a white tipped Merriam.  Now I am confused.  Anyone else want to comment on this?

[hobbes]

When I get back Ill post the variations from Chadron.  If I dont get dried out it may only be one frrom 2011.  The birds I kill in the CO mountains have yet to be pure white but instead buff, and they are Merriams.  Now........back to drying out.

[crenshawco]

Here is a bird I killed a couple of weeks ago north west of Harrison, NE. I was probably within 10 miles of the Wyoming line. I would agree with most of the other posts, I think you should head to the northwest part of the state.

[TRKYHTR]

Thats pretty right there. I killed this gobbler in Valentine NE this year. Valentine is near the SD border east of Chadron a few hours.

TRKYHTR

[Sherrell]

Head to New Mexico,Arizona or Colorado.then you'll know you have a true Merriam's.
Their true original home range.

[mudhen]

I agree with the CO\NM\WY comments.

But there are many nice buff to 80%+- white birds to be found along the Niobrara.  I'm no expert, but I'd say the decent buffs start around the Atkinson mark.  The further west and north, the better.  The birds north of 20 seem a bit lighter, north of the river is even lighter.

Good luck!

mudhen

[OLE RASPY]

Ikilled this one last year in crawford ne


This pic really dont do this bird justice i ve got the original pic on my comp desk and that pic is whiter than white, but u get the point.

[fallhnt]

The legs of a true Merriam are short too.This will put the beard in the 8-8.5 in. range.I hunted Chadron area for years and have many good archery birds.I would be no further E. than Valintine.Good luck

[OLE RASPY]

The legs of a true Merriam are short too.This will put the beard in the 8-8.5 in. range.I hunted Chadron area for years and have many good archery birds.I would be no further E. than Valintine.Good luck

Chadron not that far from crawford.While we were there we eat at chadron.My beard was 7.5