Lincoln County Gobblers

[tgomez]

Filled 2 tags, both Rio Grande on public land. 24th and 25th turkey of my lifetime. God is good!
 
🎫#1: Shot @ 19 yards on 4/17/2025
* 19 pounds 5 oz.
* 8 6/8" beard
* 5/8 & 7/8" spurs

🎫#2: Shot @ 48 yards on 4/20/2025
* 22 pounds 3 oz.
* 8 7/8" beard
* 1-2/16 & 1-3/16" spurs

 🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲💥🦃🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

[hunterednate]

Love those hooks on the second bird. Congrats!

[tgomez]

Love those hooks on the second bird. Congrats!

Thank you. I was more than pleased  when I saw them. Figure he was around 4 years old. Very rocky area where most spurs are rubbed down, and the beards as well. Very sharp tips of the spurs.

[mboyle0828]

I always look forward to your turkey posts. Love the stats that you include along with the pics!

[Mfowl]

Great birds! Congrats! Rio's are my favorite!

[Jake Dogfish]

Well done!

[Dan-o]

Nice.

Those are some serious spurs. 

[tgomez]

Nice.

Those are some serious spurs.

They are my personal best on a Rio Grande in my 26 years of turkey hunting. Truly blessed Easter Sunday.

[Wanttohuntmore]

Congrats, those spurs!!!

[Tree Killer]

Nicely done, congratulations!   

[Dan-o]

Hey, how do you tell those are Rio's?

I believe you, but to my untrained eyes the fans look just like the Merriams I've been shooting for years. 

I keep meaning to go chase Rio's, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

[Russ McDonald]

Hey, how do you tell those are Rio's?

I believe you, but to my untrained eyes the fans look just like the Merriams I've been shooting for years. 

I keep meaning to go chase Rio's, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

Covert or butt feathers are the tell tale sign.  Those are cream colored which is common on both Merriams and Rios plus Rios are known to have a little longer legs.  There was Rios planted in Lincoln county.  I would say those are Rios.  There are also Merriams in the county to.

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk

[Limhangerslayer]

Hey, how do you tell those are Rio's?

I believe you, but to my untrained eyes the fans look just like the Merriams I've been shooting for years. 

I keep meaning to go chase Rio's, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

mainly they are classed as Rio because of where they are.  There are Merriams mixed in Lincoln county just like there are Rio’s in Klickitat, Yakima, Steven’s county you name it.  We shot 7 birds the first four days of the season between my buddy and I.  Steven’s and Spokane county in Washington.  One of the 7 had all the characteristics of a Rio, but came from Spokane county. 

[Russ McDonald]

I don't think in that area you will truly know what species they are unless you do a DNA test or foe that matter any where in the state. So really it is a SWAG at times .

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk

[tgomez]

Hey, how do you tell those are Rio's?

I believe you, but to my untrained eyes the fans look just like the Merriams I've been shooting for years. 

I keep meaning to go chase Rio's, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

* Tan colored tips of tail feathers
* Same amount of black and white barring on wings
* Unit and Location bird was harvested

WDFW Biologist/Wardens have told me they are Rio Grande turkey in years past.