A Turkey Behind Every Bush!

IDAHO FALLS - While there may not be a turkey behind every bush yet, IDFG has been busy this winter translocating wild turkeys from other parts of the state into the Upper Snake Region. This year a total of 416 new birds were released at sites along the various branches of the Snake River around Idaho Falls. The growth of Idaho's turkey population has been truly incredible! Back in the early eighties there were only a few hundred birds in the state. Today, Idaho boasts around 30,000 gobblers. While turkeys are prodigious breeders, IDFG wildlife biologists have helped things along through an aggressive program of trapping and translocating birds. Last year, 91 turkeys were released in the Archer and Roberts area. Some of this year's birds were released to supplement last year's release sites, along with sites first attempted in the early eighties. According to Regional Wildlife Biologist Dave Koehler, "It seems that the Merriam's subspecies being released now are better suited to the region than the Rio Grande subspecies that was tried in the eighties." While no formal studies have been conducted on turkeys released last year, according to Senior Conservation Officer Bruce Penske, "I've seen lots of birds and it's obvious that some reproduction has occurred. The males are already starting to strut around in preparation for breeding this spring." Translocation efforts in the Upper Snake Region from the late nineties are already starting to pay off. This spring, ten permit holders will be heading out for the first controlled hunt on turkeys introduced to the Mackay area back in 1997/1998. Biologists are hopeful that the newly established Snake River populations will be at the point where controlled hunts will be available in the very near future.