Kahlerts Achieve Grand Slam in Turkey Hunting
- Debra Meyer-Myrum
- 23 minutes ago
- 1 min read
by Debra Meyer-Myrum
Mike and Marilyn Kahlert, owners of Great Bear Taxidermy in Osakis, have earned a rare and celebrated honor in the world of turkey hunting: the United States Grand Slam. This accomplishment, achieved by harvesting all four major subspecies of wild turkey in the U.S.—Eastern, Rio Grande, Merriam’s and Osceola—has been a multi-year journey of persistence, adventure, and a deep respect for nature.
Their turkey hunting journey began in 2014, when Marilyn harvested her first Eastern turkey with the help of mentor Ralph Warzecha. Inspired by the experience, Mike joined her in the field the following year, also bagging an Eastern. From there, the couple was hooked.
“Reading about the Grand Slam made us think it was something to shoot for,” they said.
While their first turkey hunts involved mentorship, they quickly began learning on their own. Each hunt presented its own challenges and rewards. Their most difficult bird? The Merriam’s.
“We hunted with Two Leggings Outfitters, east of Billings, Montana,” said Marilyn. “It was rugged country. We called every ten minutes, just trying to locate the birds. It wasn’t until the final morning that we finally succeeded.”
In contrast, their Rio Grande turkey hunt in Lyons, Kansas, with K&K Outfitters was the easiest.
“We sat in the blind, called, and turkeys came in fast,” they recalled.
Florida’s Osceola turkey offered another memorable chapter. Marilyn bagged hers in 2024, Mike in 2025, both hunting in orange groves near Okeechobee. That same year, they completed their Grand Slam with an unforgettable Merriam’s hunt...
