Targeting fall turkeys

Wild turkeys continue to boom throughout the Inland Northwest, seemingly impervious to the whims of spring weather that often thwart production of pheasants and mountain grouse.

Idaho and Washington wildlife agencies are responding by offering more tags and encouraging fall hunting to keep the birds from reaching nuisance status on private land, where they congregate during winter.

“We’re trying to put a lid on it,” said Mick Cope, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife upland bird manager.

Starting last year, Washington schedules an early fall general either-sex turkey season in units 101-124. It runs Sept. 22-Oct. 5 this year. Hunters can buy a tag and participate in this fall hunt regardless of their spring season harvest. Hunters also had the option to apply in May for special fall permit seasons.

North Idaho has a new wild turkey tag for some fall hunts to help thin turkey flocks.

For the Sept. 15-Dec. 15 fall season, Idaho residents can buy up to three “special unit” turkey tags for units 1, 2, 3 and 5, in addition to the two tags available for any Idaho turkey season. Each special tag costs $5.