Eastern birds

[bigbeamhunter]

So is there. Boundary line or is it just the bird that distinguishes it I know the there are three different types
I've shot them in the in sioxon unit just wondering g if there was a boundary
Thanks guys

[turkeydancer]

The WDFW bases the sub-species by county of kill.  Basically Easterns are the sub-species planted in Western Washington. 
Note for turkey hunting purposes the Klickitat is considered Eastern Washington (Merriams were planted there).

[bow4elk]

Easterns prefer the thicker habitat and thus have done well in Western Washington.  They often sneak in quietly.  I've come close many times but never killed one 

There are some overlaps between the Rios and Merriams in NE WA.  I shot a big bugger in 2011 that had more Rio coloration than Merriams.  makes no difference to me - a loud mouth tom gets treated the same, regardless 

[bigbeamhunter]

So what are the birds in skamania county merriams or eastern.
Years ago I met a older gentleman while putting gutters on his house and we started talking about turkeys and I told him that I had shot one one the east side of Yale reservoir and he them told me had something to so with the transplants of the birds there I think his name was Troy Kilgore does that ring a bell for anyone

[mtnseth]

According to the regs, the Siouxon unit 572 is not considered part of the southwest, but rather the Klickitat region, so I'm not sure a bird harvested in that area is considered an "eastern" in the state's eyes, regardless of its genetic lineage.  Probably worth a call to WDFW if you're considering a bird harvested there as part of the slam.

I killed an "eastern" once in Little Pend Refuge that had really dark brown tail feathers that must have been part of a liberated, feral group that had joined his wild counterparts on the refuge.  There were a couple gobblers that looked the same...no white to speak of.  But according to the state, that's a Merriams. 

[bigbeamhunter]

Thanks guys went on a mt bike ride this morning I was coming down the trail I looked up and there was a Tom full strut a jake and 6 hens shot gun was in the truck thought about going back but I've never seen em there ever so I think I'll let em be I gobbled with my voice and he wouldn't shut up. It would be to easy so will let em populate awhile

[Wacenturion]

So what are the birds in skamania county merriams or eastern.
Years ago I met a older gentleman while putting gutters on his house and we started talking about turkeys and I told him that I had shot one one the east side of Yale reservoir and he them told me had something to so with the transplants of the birds there I think his name was Troy Kilgore does that ring a bell for anyone

Troy was one of three senior voulunteer for the westside wild turkey monitoring program spending time in the field talking with landowners, recording sightings etc.  He and the others spent years working with WDFW's wild turkey program staff beginning in the 90's, assisting on trap and transfer and releases as well.  Great guy, put a lot of volunteer time and effort in for the cause.

There was expansion of birds from Klickitat after numerous reintroduction releases into that county during the 80's and 90's.  If where you took the bird was drier and the habitat like that of Klickitat you can probably be 100% sure it was a Merriam's.  Once one gets into western Skamania county the habitat becomes more western Washington like.  There is that possiblity that some Eastern expansion might had gone that far east over the years, but not very likely.

[turkeydancer]

 
The original plant was at the east end of Lake Merwin (Speelyia Creek) and they have spread up to the Swift Creek Canal and north to Lake Merrill and above.  You probably got an "Eastern", but WDFW still classifies the bird as a Merriam due to the county of kill.   

I thought Yale Res was in Clark County if your on the south side of the lake and Cowlitz if on the north side ... if so it would be an Eastern ... Swift Creek Canal and Swift Creek Res is in Skamania .... but when I hunted and fished that area was 40+ years ago so I may be suffering from "old-timers".   

My dad worked for the USFS as a cat and grater man ... put in the Chelatchee Ranger Station, Swift Creek Ranger Station and  Campground, maintained the roads up there, etc.

Yes, and I also know who Troy is ...

[bigbeamhunter]

Thanks guys Troy was very interested in where I got my bird   I actually got him In the canyon creek drainage almost 10 miles as the crow flys from the original plant
Thanks for the answers guys