How do you tell the difference between rio grand and a estern? I haven't been hunting much so wouldn't know. I was wondering becacuse I think the season opens up this weekend, and i was going to call up my couzin. See, he has a hundred acre lease and everytime we drive up to the blinds i see about 20-30 huge turkeys. I just don't know what type they are, but i want to harvest one. Also from far away they seem to be beardless, is it that you don't see it till you shoot them. respond asap!!

Where are you hunting?That will be the main thing to tell you what birds you have.Rio's are smaller than a Eastern and the tips of thier tail feathers will be a yellowish buff to a tan color where a Easterns will more of a chestnut/darker brown tips on his tail.The beard should be visable from some distance if it is a bird of any age at all and this time of year a gobbler head will be BRIGHT!!!!red.Remember there are bearded hens and the spring season is gobblers only so be sure before you pull the trigger.Good luck!

Thanks fourtrax, I hope I will do my best to follow your advice. I am actually hunting jim wells county south of Alice.

Should be all Rio's down there.

Then they are Rios.

Rios......

Reals'

I was thinking they were all rio's. So i guess i'll try to bag a rio. Thats if he doesn't work this weekend, becuase they might work. Anywayz turkeys are huge, and no one hunts them. If i go, I'll let yall know how it turned out.