| Rio Grande Turkey 2
| New To ManyKansas Rio Grande Turkey hunting is new to many turkey hunters to include those that make Kansas Rio Grande Turkey hunting an annual spring event with most never having previously considered Kansas as a Rio option. In our attempt to remove as much Kansas turkey hunting mystery as is possible to do so with text and pictures we present in great detail the Kansas Rio Grande Turkey in pictures and the habitat they occupy so as to "break in" the first time Kansas Rio Grande hunter. We will also recommend to that same turkey hunter right to numbered property that he can find on his map sheets where Rio flocks have been observed through the year. All this is meant as a jump start as most do it yourself turkey hunters once breaking into an region or hunt will quickly take subsequent hunts or scouting trips on their own accord. ChoiceRio Grande Turkey roam in large wild flocks in central and western Kansas providing one more spring turkey season option. The large flock comment was drawn from some Texas members that tell how on a good day in Texas they may see three birds. Kansas flocks have been seen to number past 100 and are typically above 50 birds. Distribution
County names and acreage under lease within each county and the relative location within Kansas.
HabitatRio Grande Turkey hunts are along the tree covered streams where intermittent underbrush provides ground cover preferred by these birds more than the Eastern Turkey. The roost trees are typically the same as found for Easterns. A Rio Grande Turkey hunter more than for Easterns scouting point, is the areas inhabited by these turkeys is typically drier with the available water more dispersed. This makes making water source locations good scouting spots. This is as opposed to our Missouri and eastern Kansas lease land where water is readily available and typically not as much of a factor in selecting where to hunt. The Kansas wild Rio Grande Turkey is frequently around grazing animals and with deer often seen in and around flocks. Our experience has shown the Rio simply does not care what animal is around it deer, cattle or dog for that matter. Not until being pressured by a dog running full tilt right at the Rios will they flush like quail. A bird dog working edge within sight of a Rio flock will get the flock's attention, but will not push the turkeys to flight. This is much different than our application Eastern Turkey hunt where any turkey, single or flock, once flushed would fly across the valley to the far ridge completely safe by distance and elevation from pursuit. The Texas turkey hunter comparisons were their Rios would fly far enough over the low ridges or the tall brush to get out of sight and simply not be pursued for a number of reasons. Kansas Rio Grande Turkeys apparently motivated by habitat seek to remain within a very small home range and seek to regroup immediately after any breakup. Upland bird hunters frequently tell of seeing a Rio turkey flock and it keeping about a 100 to 200 yard distance from the hunters with dogs running about. Bird dog owners will tell further how a turkey flock that is heavily pressured by the surprised appearance of a dog will stand still or mill about before giving to run or flight. Such bird dog and Rio Grande Turkey encounters frequently have the dog within the flock before flight. What this tidbit brings the turkey hunter is that comparatively the Rio Grande Turkey seems easier to bring into shooting range than the Eastern and the Rio far more forgiving of hunter mistakes. Given the same bird hunter, dog and turkey encounter in Missouri with Eastern Turkey and the eastern Turkey will take to flight far more quickly. This continues as a cattle filled pasture does not degrade any lease's turkey hunting potential. That last point about cattle will serve many turkey hunters as the Rio Grande Turkey range overlaps heavily with Kansas pasture country rather than crop areas. The point being is hunt where the Rio Grande Turkey is scouted and not discount a lease due to preconceived turkey habitat ideas.
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