Spring turkey hunting outlook good for 2021 and similar to 2020
IDFG photo A boy with his turkey.
By BRIAN PEARSON
Conservation Public Information Specialist
Youth turkey season opens today, and general turkey season opens April 15
According to Idaho Fish and Game biologists around the state, turkey hunters in Idaho can expect more of the same in 2021 — which is great news for hunters looking to bag a gobbler during the spring season.
“The turkey outlook for the 2021 spring season is looking pretty positive,” said Jeff Knetter, statewide upland game bird manager. “Turkey populations, in general, were pretty healthy heading into this winter. This winter was relatively mild throughout the state, and we’ve had no major events that give us cause for concern regarding turkey survival. Last year was good for turkey hunters, and there’s no reason to believe it would be different in 2021.”
Knetter noted that harvest was up in 2020, and so were the numbers of turkey hunters in general season hunts, which is something that wildlife managers would continue to monitor going forward.
“I believe that spike in the number of turkey hunters in the spring of 2020 may have been due to the pandemic, but we will keep an eye on this to see if that increased participation continues and has the potential to reduce turkey populations,” Knetter said.
Youth turkey season opens today, and the general turkey season and many controlled hunts open April 15. Hunters can see which units have general hunts in Fish and Game's turkey hunting rules, in addition to details about the seasons.
Hunters will find most general hunting opportunity in the Panhandle, Clearwater, Southwest, and Southeast regions, while most other areas are limited to controlled hunts. In each of the regions with general hunting opportunity, turkey populations are faring well, and the hunting outlook is as good or better than recent years.
Fish and Game’s regional staff gave an overview of what’s happening with turkey hunting in their regions:
Panhandle Region
The outlook for spring turkey hunting in the Panhandle Region looks good. Valley and lowland snowfall in parts of the region was relatively mild and winter survival has been high. Production the last few years has been good and hunters should see plenty of turkeys again this spring. Lower elevations are quickly greening up and current conditions should help spread turkey numbers out across the landscape.
The highest concentrations of turkeys in the Panhandle can be found in the lower elevations of GMUs 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Hunters may want to look toward the lower Priest River and lower Coeur d’Alene River drainages, as well as the lower elevations adjacent to the Kootenai River for higher densities of turkeys. Units 2 and 5 also provide for good opportunities.
The Large Tracts Program offers public access to thousands of acres of prime turkey hunting lands. These are great places to start your pursuit. For more information, visit https://idfg.idaho.gov/access/large-tracts or find properties to hunt on Fish and Game’s Hunt Planner.
As always, please remember to respect the land and the landowner, and to ask permission prior to hunting private lands.
— Micah Ellstrom, Panhandle Region wildlife manager