Fall Turkey Season Opens Sunday

Hunters looking to bag a wild Idaho turkey can start hunting on Sunday, September 15. The general fall turkey season will open in the Panhandle and Clearwater regions. Fall controlled hunts open in a few places in the state. For specific hunts check the turkey rules brochure, available at license vendors, Idaho Fish and Game offices and online at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov General turkey seasons open:

• September 15 through December 15 in game management units 1, 2 (except Farragut State Park and Farragut Wildlife Management Area) 3, 4, 4A, 5 and 6.
• September 15 through October 9 in game management units 8, 8A, 10, 10A, 11, 11A, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 16A, 17, 18, 19 and 20.
• November 21 through December 31 on private lands only in game management units 8, 8A, 10A, 11, 11A, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 18.

Controlled hunts open:

• September 15 through October 9 in units 22, 32, 32A and 31.
• September 15 through November 30 youth hunt in units 50, 51, 58, 59, 59A, 60, 60A, 61, 62, 62A, 63, 63A, 64, 65, 66, 67 and 69.
• September 15 through December 31 in parts of units 54 and 55.
• September 15 through November 30 in Unit 71.
• September 15 through December 31 youth hunt in Unit 71.
• September 15 through October 31 in units 73, 74, 75, 77 and 78.

The daily bag limit is one turkey of either sex per day in the fall. No more than three turkeys may be taken per year, except in Units 1, 2, 3 and 5, where up to five turkeys may be taken during the fall season; they may be taken in a single day. Turkey hunters will need a general or an extra tag. General tags not used in the spring general or controlled hunts are valid for the fall hunt. Special unit tags are valid only for the fall season in Units 1, 2, 3 or 5. Resident turkey tags are available at all license vendors for $19.75. An extra turkey tag costs of $12.25, and the special unit tag costs $5. Nonresident turkey tags and extra tags cost $80. Hunters must also have a valid Idaho hunting license. Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. It is unlawful to hunt turkey with lead shot exceeding BB size or steel shot exceeding T size. Wild turkeys are not native to Idaho but were transplanted here beginning in 1961. Since then, more than 150 translocations have been conducted statewide. Three turkey subspecies have been introduced to Idaho. More than 90 percent are the Merriam's wild turkey, the first subspecies introduced. It has been by far the most successful, and it is widely distributed in the mountains of the Panhandle, Clearwater and Southwestern regions. The Rio Grande wild turkey was introduced to Idaho in 1982. It is present in small numbers in riparian areas adjacent to the Snake, Boise, Payette, and Weiser rivers. The Eastern wild turkey has been introduced to a few sites near Dworshak Reservoir, and some birds may still be found there. Hybrids occur in many areas of the state. For more information see the turkey rules book or the Fish and Game Web site at: http://fishandgame.idaho.gov.