Rios and Merriams

[Gunslinger]

Got back Saturday from a whirlwind trip that involved Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, and Kansas. We left many tags unfilled, but this was expected when you only alot 2 days in each spot. Overall, we had another great trip and made it home with 22 dead birds between the 4 of us. Kansas was the only spot on the trip that we'd hunted before, and we all filled our tags there. Colorado was beautiful. We hunted merriams in canyon country. The scenary was outstanding and we heard/saw ample turkeys as well as elk, bighorn sheep, muledeer, tarantulas, and other critters someone from MS never sees. We hunted a cool cattle ranch in the canyons and bunked in an old post office. The ranch houses were over 100 years old and I shot my turkey within site of a old abandoned stone schoolhouse dating back to the 1800s. Oklahoma and Texas were the most difficult stops of the trip. The locals in both said the early spring and decreased numbers from past years had the turkeys scattered and made hunting difficult. Our TX contact reported usual roost counts of 200-300 birds on power poles behind his old ranch house alone...the most we saw on the ranch poles was about 15-20. We still managed to take a few birds from TX. I stepped on a rattlesnake while making a move on a bird and nearly shat my pants. He buzzed as soon as my foot came off of him, and I jumped/turned to see his head 10" off the ground in the strike position you always see them mounted in. Anyway, here's a few pics from the trip.

[champcaller]

great trip! looks like you kept an eye out for some good white tips

[38930]

Good gosh what spurs!!!! How long were they?

[LawDawg]

4 inches, give or take a few? Those are some great hooks

[kris Schaumburg]

I returned from Key West saturday and had been off the forum for a week or so. I had a party to attend yesterday, and read your post late last night after a few beers just before laying down. Damn if i didn't have a dream of having the exact same experience with the rattle snake, thanks! Woke up sat straight up in sweats, and had to go have a glass of water and calm down for 15 min. I don't even dislike snakes all that much, but the dream was pretty vivid.

[bigoak]

Those Colorado pics are beautiful. Would love to hunt that area. Where did you hunt in Colorado? What was the nearest town?

[Gunslinger]

Those Colorado pics are beautiful. Would love to hunt that area. Where did you hunt in Colorado? What was the nearest town?

Pritchett, CO (southeastern CO)