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The Merriam Turkey is a class 1 turkey in theHunter: Call of the Wild, found on Layton Lake District, Silver Ridge Peaks, Te Awaroa National Park. It can reach Medium difficulty, weighs 3.6-11 kg. This guide covers how it behaves, when it feeds, drinks and rests, which weapons and ammo to use, how to hunt it, and the best places to find one.
The Merriam Turkey in the Game
1 official image from the game's store page. Tap it to enlarge.
Behaviour
Turkeys move in flocks through open woodland and fields, have very sharp eyesight, and gobble often, which makes them easy to locate but hard to approach.
Daily routine (need zones)
Like every species, the Merriam Turkey splits its day between feeding, drinking and resting zones. These are the published windows (in-game time). Find the zones on your save, then be there at the right hour.
| Where | Feed | Drink | Rest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Layton, Silver Ridge Peaks, Te Awaroa | 04:00–08:00, 08:00–11:00, 14:00–17:00, 17:00–20:00 | — | 00:00–04:00, 11:00–14:00, 20:00–00:00 |
Best Weapons for the Merriam Turkey
The Merriam Turkey is class 1, so you need ammo rated for class 1. Ammo class decides what is legal and clean; the gun mostly changes handling and range.
Our picks:
- Caversham Steward 12G with 12 GA Birdshot
- Nordin 20SA with 20 GA Birdshot
- Kullman .22H with .22H Soft-Point
- Virant .22LR with .22LR Jacketed Hollow-Point
- Bow: Hawk Edge CB-70 with 300 gr Small Game Point arrow
| Weapon | Type | Ammo that covers class 1 | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawk Edge CB-70 | bow | 300 gr Small Game Point arrow | Base game |
| Razorblack Lite CB-60 | bow | 300 gr Small Game Point arrow | Base game |
| Cacciatore 12G | shotgun | 12 GA Birdshot | Base game |
| Caversham Steward 12G | shotgun | 12 GA Birdshot | Base game |
| Alexander Longbow | bow | 350 gr Broadhead (traditional arrow) | Silver Ridge Peaks DLC |
| Bearclaw Lite CB-60 | bow | 300 gr Small Game Point arrow | Free DLC/download |
| Houyi Recurve Bow | bow | 350 gr Broadhead (traditional arrow) | Weapon Pack 1 |
| Koter CB-65 | bow | 300 gr Small Game Point arrow | High-Tech Hunting Pack |
| Stenberg Takedown Recurve Bow | bow | 350 gr Broadhead (traditional arrow) | Ambusher Pack |
| Crosspoint CB-165 | crossbow | 300 gr Small Game Point bolt (incl. tracer) | Weapon Pack 1 |
| Dahler Reverse Draw CB-150 | crossbow | Small-game bolt | Peru Hunting Reserve |
| Andersson .22LR | handgun | .22LR Jacketed Hollow-Point, .22LR Truncated Cone | Weapon Pack 3 |
| Mangiafico 410/45 Colt | handgun | .410 Birdshot | Weapon Pack 2 |
| Anantha Action .22 Mag | rifle | .22 Mag ammo (Jacketed Hollow-Point / Hollow-Point) | Pump, Flip and Fire Pack |
| Joneros .17HMR | rifle | .17HMR Full Metal Jacket, .17HMR Polymer-Tip | Multi-Class Weapon Pack |
| Kullman .22H | rifle | .22H Soft-Point, .22H Polymer-Tip | Mississippi Acres Preserve DLC |
| Virant .22LR | rifle | .22LR Jacketed Hollow-Point, .22LR Truncated Cone | Weapon Pack 1 |
| ZARZA-15 .22LR | rifle | .22LR Jacketed Hollow-Point, .22LR Truncated Cone | Modern Rifle Pack |
| Benelhag 12G | shotgun | 12 GA Birdshot | Scotland Hunting Reserve |
| Cassidy Combination Gun | shotgun | .22 Mag Jacketed Hollow-Point / Hollow-Point, 12 GA Birdshot | Multi-Class Weapon Pack |
| Couso Model 1897 | shotgun | 16 GA Birdshot | Rancho del Arroyo DLC |
| GOPI 10G Grand | shotgun | 10 GA Plastic Birdshot | Salzwiesen Park DLC |
| Giddings SSC .410 Coyote | shotgun | .410 Birdshot | Pump, Flip and Fire Pack |
| Grelck Drilling Rifle | shotgun | 16 GA Birdshot | Weapon Pack 2 |
| Humphrey 10G Coach Gun | shotgun | 10 GA Birdshot | Old West Weapon Pack |
| Miller Model 1891 | shotgun | 10 GA Brass Birdshot | Smoking Barrels Weapon Pack |
| Nordin 20SA | shotgun | 20 GA Birdshot, 20 GA Steel Birdshot | Duck and Cover Pack |
| Strandberg 10SA Executive | shotgun | 10 GA Birdshot | High Caliber Weapon Pack |
| Strecker SxS 20G | shotgun | 20 GA Birdshot | Wild Goose Chase Gear |
29 weapons can legally take a Merriam Turkey. Data from our weapons database; class ranges can change with patches.
How to Hunt the Merriam Turkey
- Locate them by sound, then set up ahead of the flock’s line of travel.
- Stay completely still when they are in sight; movement is what gives you away.
- Use a shotgun or a small-calibre rifle within the legal class.
- Use a turkey caller from cover where the store offers one.
- Trophies: only max-difficulty animals can reach diamond. Check the trophy rating with binoculars, use in-class ammo and kill with one clean shot to pass the harvest check.
Best Places to Hunt the Merriam Turkey
The Merriam Turkey lives on 3 reserves. Here is each one, with its Great One status where we have verified it and the drink window.
- Layton Lake District: 9 species on the reserve.
- Silver Ridge Peaks: 9 species on the reserve.
- Te Awaroa National Park: 10 species on the reserve.
Trophy Scores and Rare Furs
| Silver | Gold | Diamond | Weight range | Max difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.36 | 4.08 | 4.62 | 3.6-11 | Medium |
Rare furs: Albino (Very Rare), Leucistic (Rare), Melanistic (Very Rare).
Related Animals
Sources: our species database (class, thresholds, need zones and furs compiled from community trackers and checked in game where possible), official store screenshots, and community guides. Compiled October 2026. Spotted something off? Tell us and we'll fix it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What class is the Merriam Turkey in Call of the Wild?
Where can I hunt the Merriam Turkey?
What is the best gun for the Merriam Turkey?
What score is a diamond Merriam Turkey?
Can the Merriam Turkey be a Great One?
What rare furs can a Merriam Turkey have?
When does the Merriam Turkey drink?
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