Turkey Seasons Approved

Idaho turkey hunters will have more chance to hunt and more uniform seasons in 2003. Meeting in Boise December 11-13, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission approved department recommendations on the new season structure. Increasing numbers of wild turkeys and, in some areas of Idaho, numbers of landowner complaints about depredation, prompted the department to recommend changing the fall controlled hunts to general hunts as well as taking other actions to increase turkey hunting opportunity. Changes in seasons would also make spring turkey hunts begin on the same day statewide, April 15. The application period for controlled hunts is January 15 to February 15. The wild turkey harvest has grown from 487 in 1992 to more than 4,000 in 2002 while the number of tags sold has gone from about 2,000 to more than 20,000 in the same time.