Turkey Outlook Good

Mild winter weather is good for wild turkey survival, and this year that should be good news for Idaho hunters.

Fish and Game biologist Don Kemner says hunters should have more success filling their turkey tags this spring than they did in the spring of 2004.

"This past winter was mild, so we expect turkey hunting to be good this spring" Kemner said.

Last spring, hunters experienced a general decline in success in the Clearwater and Southwest regions. Success rates were generally down in those regions by 20 percent to 30 percent from the previous year. Kemner blames that on harsher weather during the winter of 2003-2004.

Fish and Game doesn't track turkey populations on a wide scale, but Kemner believes the warm dry weather this winter will mean more turkeys for hunters throughout Idaho this spring. That applies to the southeastern part of Idaho as well. In fact, populations in the Southeast Region have reached a point that justifies a general season for turkeys. That season applies to units 73,74,75,77 and 78. Units 68a and 71 will be limited to controlled hunts again this year, as will all hunts in the Upper Snake River region.

For more information on wild turkey hunting in Idaho log on to the Fish & Game website at the following link:
http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/hunt/turkey/home.cfm

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