Turkeys Galore!

ROBERTS - Wild turkeys are not native to Idaho, but introduction efforts started in the early Sixties have really begun to pay off in recent years for most portions of the state. Turkey populations in the Clearwater and Panhandle Regions have done so well that wildlife biologists are looking at having nearly a thousand birds available for transplanting to other parts of the state. Prior to last year, the last introduction attempt in the Upper Snake Region was back in 1984 and involved the release of 32 Rio Grande wild turkeys. For a variety of reasons that attempt failed, but the Merriam's sub-species released last year in the Upper Snake have proven to be a hardier bird. Last year 91 turkeys were released in the Archer and Roberts area. So far this year 114 birds have been trapped in the Panhandle Region area and transplanted to the Upper Snake Region. Survival so far has been very good. Last week 47 were released outside of Rexburg, near Cartier Wildlife Management Area. Friday, 67 were released near Market Lake Wildlife Management Area in Roberts. According to Regional Wildlife Manager Brad Compton, "Cooperation with local ranchers is the key to the success of turkeys here in the Upper Snake. Willingness of ranchers to allow turkeys on cattle feedlots to pick for leftovers is crucial to their survival during the long local winters when more traditional food sources are not available." Because the goal of this project is to establish a viable population, no hunting seasons of any type are planned for these birds in the near future. Biologists hope that in a matter of five or ten years turkey numbers will have grown sufficiently to the point that hunting by means of controlled hunt permits can start and eventually lead to general hunts. Efforts to trap excess birds are still underway in other portions of the state and future releases will occur in the Upper Snake Region, as birds become available.