There are two sub-species of wild turkey that find their home in Colorado, the native Merriam’s and the Rio Grande which was introduced to the State in 1980. The Merriam’s is primarily found in mountainous zones east of I-25 such as open meadows, oak brush, ponderosa, and pinion-juniper stands. The Rio Grande are found in eastern Colorado near agricultural areas, cottonwood and riparian areas.
The above Merriam’s species was found along the lower Bear Lake Road in Rocky Mountain National Park.
This Rio Grande species was found at Jackson Lake State Park in Northeastern Colorado.
