Turkey Hunting Begins April 15

Finish Form 1040 or head for the start of spring turkey hunting? Tough decision. Those who have done the right thing and finished with taxes before the deadline can expect to find Idaho's wild turkey populations in good shape. Idaho is home to more than 30,000 turkeys, mostly of the Merriam subspecies. The general season youth turkey hunt runs Saturday and Sunday, April 7 and 8. Youths 15 years or younger on April 7, may participate in the youth hunt. All youth hunters must have a valid hunting license and must be accompanied by a licensed adult 18 years or older. The general spring turkey hunts open April 15 and runs through May 25. Dates vary for controlled hunts, listed on page 7 of the brochure. Turkey hunting seasons and rules can be found in printed form at all Fish and Game offices and at license vendors statewide. The brochure is also on the Fish and Game web site at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov in PDF format. The brochure includes maps showing the general areas of wild turkey distribution across Idaho. Hunters also can use the convenient Idaho Hunt Planner, found in the hunting section of the Website, where detailed maps are available. Hunters must have a valid hunting license and a turkey tag. They may buy an extra tag for the spring hunts, but the limit for the year is three turkeys with no more than two taken in either the spring or fall seasons. The extra tag is valid from May 1 to 25 and may also be used in the fall turkey season. Resident adults pay $19.75 for the first tag and $12.25 for an extra tag. But hunters need only buy a first tag if he or she wants to hunt in April. Spring turkey hunters who chose to hunt only in May, may buy the extra tag as their first tag and not buy a general tag. Discounted tags for youth, seniors and disabled veterans are $10.75. Nonresident turkey tags cost $67.50, except for junior mentored tags priced $10.75. Turkey hunting requires special attention to safety in the field. Hunting information and safety tips are found at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/apps/releases/view.cfm?NewsID=3094 on the Fish and Game Website.