Species / Wild Turkey / Gould's Turkey
Gould's Turkey
Subspecies of Wild Turkey · Meleagris gallopavo
Sierra Madre Occidental mountains of Sonora and Chihuahua, Mexico; small U.S. population in the Peloncillo, Animas, and Chiricahua Mountains
Male weight
18–25 lbs
Female weight
10–14 lbs
Overview
Meleagris gallopavo mexicana is the giant of the turkey world — the heaviest subspecies with the longest legs, largest feet, and most impressive body mass of any turkey in North America.
Identifying Features
Largest and heaviest subspecies; brilliant white tail tip banding broader than any other subspecies; blue-green breast iridescence; extremely limited U.S. range
Hunting This Subspecies
U.S. Gould's hunting is extremely limited — Arizona and New Mexico each issue a handful of tags annually with multi-year draw waiting periods.