Some Turkey Tags to Cost Less, Seasons Grow

As wild turkey seasons continue to be liberalized, the cost of the tag for late spring and fall controlled hunts will be reduced. Meeting in Boise November 28-30, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission adopted the recommendations of the department that include lowering the price of the tag and increasing hunting opportunity. The new seasons and fees will go into effect for the 2002 turkey seasons. Tag fees for the spring general hunts will stay the same at $18. The spring controlled hunt tags will still cost $18. The $13 in controlled hunts fees applies to both spring and fall controlled hunts. The general late spring, good from May 10-October 31, and all fall tags will be $12. Further, the general late spring/fall tag can be exchanged for a fall controlled hunt tag before September 15 with the payment of $13 for hunt permit and application fees. Hunters with unused spring tags have not been able to exchange them for fall tags up to now. The daily bag limit remains at one turkey per day and no more than three turkeys may be taken in any calendar year. No more than two bearded turkeys can be taken in the spring and no more than two turkeys (either sex) in fall hunts. Commissioners approved the following hunt structure for 2002: Spring general hunts (bearded turkeys only) Panhandle: May 1-25; late spring tag season May 10-25 Clearwater: April 15-May 25; late spring tag season May 10 -25 Southwest: April 15-May 25; late spring tag season May 10-25 Spring controlled hunts (bearded turkeys only) Panhandle: April 15-May 25 (525 permits) Unit 38: April 15-May 25 (75 permits) Unit 50: April 15-May 25 (10 permits, limited access) Unit 54: April 15-April 30 (three permits, youth hunt only), May 1-May 14 (three permits) Unit 68A: April 15-21, April 22-April 30, May 1-14 (15 permits per hunt) Hunt area 77: April 15-21, April 22-30, May 1-14 (50 permits per hunt, an increase of 20 permits per hunt or 60 total permits) Fall general hunts: (any turkey) Panhandle: September 15-October 31, (increase of 31 days) Clearwater: September 15-October 9, (increase of nine days) Hunt Area 77: September 15-October 31, (increase of 31 days) Fall controlled hunts (any turkey) Southwest: September 15-October 4 (750 permits, increase of four days) Units 8, 8A, 10A: November 21-December 10 500 permits, increase of 20 days. In presenting recommendations to the Commission, turkey program manager Jeff Gould noted that Idaho's estimated wild turkey population is 30,000. More than 20,000 turkey tags were sold in 2001.