Southern Arizona Gould's Turkey Hunts
Arizona Gould's Turkey Guides and Outfitters
About Our Arizona Gould's Turkey Hunts
We
are pleased to offer hunting trips in southern Arizona for the rare Gould's
turkey. The Gould's turkey is primarily a mountain dwelling bird
that inhabits the extreme southern portions of Arizona in higher altitude
areas known as "Sky Islands" (forested mountaintops that rise above
the vast sea of desert). The Gould's sub-species is geographically separated from
the northern Arizona Merriam's by hundreds of square miles of surrounding desert. Therefore, the chance for hybridization is
slim to none. The Gould's is the
largest of the turkey subspecies with longer legs, larger feet, and
larger tail feathers and wings than all the other subspecies.
They also have a higher level of iridescence to their feathers. But, the most notable difference from the other turkey subspecies is
that the Gould's turkey typically has whiter tips on the rump and tail feathers
(Merriam's have a cream-white).
The Gould's turkeys that we hunt live in a natural habitat with no food plots, no farm fields, no feeders and typically no other human influence. Since Gould's are mountain dwelling turkeys, our hunting takes place in the Oak Woodlands to Ponderosa Pine forests at elevations of 6000 to 8000 feet. This high altitude hunt area has breathtaking scenery with very enjoyable Springtime temperatures of around 80 degrees in the day and 45 degrees at night. In order to eliminate over-harvest, Arizona Gould's Turkey tags are on a special random lottery draw through the Arizona Game and Fish Department. If interested in booking a hunt with us, contact the outfitter on how to apply and which hunt numbers to use. Once a tag is drawn for our recommended area, we can then book the hunt.
We have a 100% success rate with shotgun hunters!
These are nearly all-inclusive fully-guided turkey hunts. Hunters are led into the field daily by an experienced turkey guide in order to provide the highest chances for tagging a bird. Our guides are very familiar with the area, terrain, where the birds hang-out, and more importantly, the techniques needed to effectively hunt Gould's turkeys. We have a 100% success rate with shotgun hunters! Since southern Arizona is such a vast and dry environment, Gould's turkeys tend to have a very large home range and are more spread-out than other turkey sub-species. Gould's turkeys live in the mountains in their natural habitat setting. In order to increase odds for success, hunters should be prepared to hike away from the road and into the quality Gould's turkey habitat. Like Spring turkey hunting anywhere, there are many tactics to use while hunting these mountain birds. Since their habitat is so vast, we primarily walk large ridges and set-up when we strike a gobbler. We also set-up in known corridor areas and "cold call" in blinds or against oak and pine trees to see if a weary gobbler will come to investigate. Calling birds off the roost in the early morning can sometimes be effective, if the gobblers aren't henned-up. Our guides will typically call for the hunters, but experienced turkey hunters can join-in with calling, whichever is preferred. If you need your Gould's turkey for the Royal Slam and want to stay within the United States, we have the Gould's hunt for you!
Turkey Draw Info
Arizona Gould's Turkey hunting is on a random lottery draw through the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Hunters that are interested in booking a hunt with us can be emailed general instructions on how to apply and which hunt numbers to use. The online draw application period for Spring Turkey is late September through early October. If you apply and are lucky enough to draw a tag, we would then book the hunt. As with any lottery draw, persistance is the key. Some hunters are lucky and draw after only 1 or 2 tries, while most are not so lucky and take several years to draw. You never know when you will be drawn, but you can build bonus points to increase your odds. Each time you apply and are not drawn, you receive a bonus point. An additional turkey bonus point can also be obtained in late May instead of applying for fall season Merriam's turkey. Therefore, 2 turkey points can be accumulated per year. For each turkey point you have, you get an additional entry into the draw, thus increasing your odds over time. If you would like to hunt with us for turkey, Contact the Outfitter so he can point you in the right direction on how to apply for the draw and which hunt numbers to use on the lottery draw application.
Turkey Licenses and Tags
Hunting License Fees: $37.00(Resident) or $160.00(NonResident)
Note: The State requires everyone to have a nonrefundable hunting license in order to apply in the draw. The turkey permit-tag fee will only be charged if you are drawn.
Turkey Permit Tag Fees: $38 (Res) and $105 (NonRes)
Turkey Season
Arizona Spring Gould's Turkey Seasons for 2025 are May 2 through May 22. Hunters are drawn for a certain week within a given area.
Bag Limit
Arizona Bag Limit: The Arizona bag limit is ONE turkey per year (either a Merriam's or a Gould's, not both).
2025 GOULD'S TURKEY HUNT COST
The price for a fully guided, up to *3 days, southern Arizona Gould's turkey hunt:
$2,900.00/person (1-on-1)
$2,400.00/person (2-on-1)
Choose a "Hunter to Guide Ratio" of either 1-on-1 or 2-on-1. The 1-on-1 hunt means one hunter per guide. 2-on-1 means two hunters per guide (share a guide). In order to increase odds, we recommend each hunter have his own guide (choosing 1-on-1). If choosing 2-on-1, it is a requirement that you bring the other hunter to share the guide with. They must have also drawn a tag. If you cannot find a hunting partner or your partner was not drawn for a tag, you will have your own personal guide and get the 1-on-1 rate.
Non-Hunter Fee: Some hunters like to bring along a buddy to camp and share the experience while they hunt. There might be an option to invite one person as a non-hunter or observer while on your guided turkey hunt. Non-hunter space is very limited. Based upon availability. Turkey Hunt Non-Hunter Fee: $800.00
Gould's Turkey Hunts Include: complimentary accommodations (remote tent camps), complimentary meals, a guide, trophy prep (skinning/caping), and *up to 3 days of hunting (depart camp about noon on last day of hunting).
* Arrive to camp the day prior to hunting. Depart camp about noon on the last day of hunting. Hunters depart sooner if they tag out early. So, it's best if flying non-resident hunters arrive in Arizona the evening prior to meeting us (two days before hunting), rent an SUV from the airport, get a hotel room and we will meet the next day about noon in the hunt area about 2 hours from the Tucson Airport or 4 hours from the Phoenix Airport. These are the closest major airports. Flying hunters will meet near the hunt area and can follow us to camp with their rental vehicle. Flights should be scheduled to depart the morning after the hunt. More details on the general info page.
BOOKING INFO: The first step is to contact the outfitter to get on the list for a possible turkey hunt. In September he will point you in the right direction with applying for tags and licenses. Once a turkey permit-tag is drawn for our preferred area, hunters will book the hunt by signing a contract and submitting a 50% non-refundable deposit. The remaining balance is due at least 21 days prior to the hunt. We recommend cancellation insurance for all of our guests. Visit our policy page for more details.
Other Costs and Considerations that are the hunter's responsibility: licenses and tags, transporting yourself to/from the camp, optional vehicle rental, optional taxidermy, transporting your animal home, airport hotel stay before/after the hunt (if flying). Gratuity for your guide is gladly accepted and customary (15% is typical).
Accommodations:
Our complimentary accommodations are basic southwestern
style outfitter tent camps which are often located many miles from
civilization. Sleeping quarters for turkey hunts are typically in
deluxe outfitter tents, unless noted otherwise. If you are looking for a hunt with fancy lodges, this is NOT the hunt for you!
Tent camps are used because Gould's turkeys live in remote areas. The
deluxe tents consist of large outfitter Kodiak Canvas brand tents. The size of our tents are tall and spacious
inside; typically 10X10 or 10X14 and stand 6.5 feet tall.
Cots with
thick pads are provided, but all hunters must bring their own sleeping bags. For those that own a camping trailer and would
like to bring it to camp to stay in are more than welcome to do so,
but we cannot discount the hunt any. It must be very short and high
enough for ground clearance on rough, rocky dirt roads. Please ask for road
conditions before bringing one.
Video of our typical
camp.
WEAPONS: It is Arizona law that only shotguns, crossbows, or bows be used for turkey.
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Shotgun Pattern: It is recommended that you pattern your shotgun prior to arrival. Patterning is well worth the time and money, considering how much is spent on turkey hunting. Buy a few different boxes of shells to see which loads produce the most hits or tightest pattern. It is proper hunter ethics to have a very tight pattern so that you either "put down" that Tom or miss his head/neck completely. The wider the pattern, the higher the risk of only hitting the bird in the body, thus crippling him. Nobody wants to see a trophy Tom get away injured, knowing he'll only die later in the woods.
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Crossbows and Bows: Archery turkey hunting is the ultimate challenge, but the Crossbow Craze is quickly gaining popularity. The outfitter recommends that bowhunters and crossbow hunters use a broadhead with a very large metal cutting edge, since the kill zone on a turkey is rather small. Using a big 2-blade mechanical broadhead designed only for turkey hunting, such as RAGE Turkey X-treme, is preferred. This broadhead is designed with "meat hooks" to help the arrow to stay in the bird! That way, if the turkey is hit poorly (or sometimes hit well but he flies and disappears across the canyon into a sea of trees), there is a higher chance for recovery. Tip for archery/crossbow turkey hunters: After your bird is hit with an arrow, sit tight, be silent, and just let him expire. If bringing a bow, make sure you practice shooting on your butt or knees. It is rarely feasible to use blinds. Standing up to shoot a bow at a turkey results in a running/flying bird.
Shotguns and Loads: We recommend shotguns to be chambered in 12 gauge using 3" or 3-1/2" magnum loads. But, a 20 gauge 3" magnum will also do the job with the proper load/choke combo (like Indian Creek tube with TSS). The best turkey shells we have found are loads with Tungsten or Tungsten Super Shot (TSS), such as the brands Hevi-shot, Federal TSS, Apex TSS, etc. If you prefer lead, Winchester Long Beard XR #5 shot produces good results. Chokes should always be "turkey choke tubes" in order to produce the tightest and most uniform patterns possible for your particular gun. Indian Creek brand turkey choke tubes have proven to produce superior patterns. A turkey choke tube paired with either Hevi-shot, Tungsten shot, Tungsten Super Shot (TSS), or even Winchester Long Beard XR produces excellent long range results, if the need arises.
About the Outfitter: Pat Feldt earned a Bachelor of Science in Renewable Natural Resources with a major in Wildlife Management from the University of Arizona, which adds to his credibility as a full-time outfitter. Even though he is a big game guide throughout the year, his true passion is turkey hunting. He is a 54 year-old turkey hunting fanatic who has been pursuing wild turkeys his whole lifetime. Pat is very experienced in all calling methods and you'll see him using most types of calls while on the hunt. But, he prefers to use raspy mouth diaphragms coupled with friction pot calls. Pat is also a firm believer in the use of decoys to aid in enticing a gobbler (if given ample time to set one up). He has taken dozens of native mountain Merriam's gobblers himself and has taken all the subspecies in the Grand Slam, as well as completed the US Royal Slam. His Gould's turkeys were taken within Arizona. See some of Pat's personal turkey harvests.
Arizona Gould's Turkey Hunt Photos
Congrats to Doug for getting this gorgeous southern Arizona Gould's turkey! Video of hunt
James finished his Royal Slam with this beautiful southern Arizona Gould's turkey. Congratulations James! Video
A big congrats to John for winning the AZ Super Raffle turkey tag (for the second time) and getting this big, beautiful Gould's gobbler!
Congratulations to Paul from DE for finishing his US Royal Slam on this beautiful AZ Gould's turkey!
We hunted hard in high winds amongst henned-up gobblers before Andras from GA shot this big Arizona Gould's Turkey
David from PA finished his Royal Slam on this big southern Arizona Gould's turkey
Phillip from AL shot a great southern Arizona Gould's turkey finishing his Royal Slam.
Dan from OH finished his US Royal Slam on this big southern Arizona Gould's turkey. Video of Hunt
Russ from OK shot this nice southern Arizona Gould's gobbler at 33 yards. Video of Hunt
Blake from Alabama harvested this beautiful southern Arizona Gould's Turkey
This nice Arizona Gould's Turkey is Billy's first turkey ever! Congratulations Billy! Video of hunt
James from TX finished his US Royal Slam with this Arizona Gould's turkey
Scott from NY shot this giant Arizona Gould's turkey that the locals named "Goliath!"
Michael shot his Arizona Gould's turkey with a crossbow at 20 yards!
Pat Feldt with his archery Arizona Gould's turkey taken at 2 yards - NO Blind!
Mike from Virginia shot this big Arizona Gould's turkey at only 7 yards with a crossbow!
Joe shot this big Arizona Gould's turkey with his bow without a blind!
AZ Super Raffle Winner John with his beautiful Gould's Turkey
More Gould's Turkey Hunt Photos
Contact the outfitter at arizonagh@aol.com to start the process of booking a guided Arizona Gould's turkey hunt.
We also offer northern Arizona Merriam's Turkey Hunts
