Photos & Text by Dan Towsley
Black Hills Merriam's are a force to be reckoned with, and if you have hunted these wild birds before, you know that you're hunting the hills just as much as you are the turkeys. Elusive, clever, and skeptical. Merriam's oms require patience, stealth, and a pair of comfortable boots for all the miles you'll hike chasing them.
Good times with a good guide make for many great memories, and sometimes, the guide's most valuable asset is his knowledge of the hills and the birds' seasonal movements. But when you finally put a hand on a Black Hills gobbler, those white-tipped feathers and gnarly battle scars will heighten your experience, which goes far beyond just pulling the trigger.
