Contributors to this thread:
I haven't gotten an eastern tom yet and was wondering how far east in Northern Kansas I would have to go before coming across easterns? I imagine there are hybrids along the line somewhere?
Jims:
Most likely most turkeys in Kansas are hybrids. I hunt in Chase County West of Emporia and often see birds in the same flock that look like pure Rios, pure Easterns and somewhere in between. These birds are surely all hybrids. The farther east you get the greater chance of finding an Eastern and then it may look like an Eastern but could be a hybrid.
The bottom line is if you want an Eastern go as far East as you can and shoot a bird that has Eastern characteristics. It may be a hybrid but no one will know the difference.
There are lots of easterns or eastern type birds north of Tokpeka.
Here's a general picture from KDWP. It's pretty consistent to what I've seen. You can find eastern looking birds in the Beloit/Courtland area, but I'd say Washington-Clay Center-Council Grove and east is where you'll start finding the darker birds outnumber lighter ones. Again, if you're dead set on a true eastern, keep driving. In these areas you might call in two 3 year olds and one will be the picture perfect eastern and the other a bright beautiful rio. But maybe they're brothers for all I know? Good luck!
Interesting. We've had turkeys in strong numbers for 30 years, and they always know to stop at those lines so they don't mix with the wrong subspecies. :-)
Stick to the eastern tier of counties, though Rio blood has to be making its way eastward.
I think the point of the maps is to illustrate how and where they do mix, isn't it Mike? :-)
No, across Kansas are those thin, wavy lines and the birds can't cross them.
Why.....I once sat on a ranch in Montgomery County and worked a bird for six hours, and he stopped six inches out of range. Figure out later it was a pure eastern and I was across the hybrid line so he couldn't come over.
We were both very frustrated.
Writer, I heard the same thing is true on the Merriam/Rio line! I wonder if the hybrid lines are expanding each yeaer? At some point in time there may be nothing but hybrids in every county in Kansas...and nothing to stop them from expanding into Missouri and Iowa?
Could be.
I don't care.
They're all fun to call and kill.
They're turkeys, not terrorists.
Well, there are days when the danged things seem....
I hunted "Rios" w K and K Outfitters in Kansas through Cabelas last spring. Great folks. Able to accommodate all skill levels given Kansas's regulations regarding corn. They also have a camp for Easterns. Would def recommend.
Five days and counting until Merriams in AZ!