Expanded Turkey Hunts Possible

Turkey hunters could see expanded hunting opportunities in Idaho next year as wild turkey populations continue to expand.

Proposals for more liberal general hunts are being considered for next year’s spring and fall hunts.

Comments on turkey hunting proposals will be taken by Idaho Fish and Game officials during a public meeting Thursday, 7-8:30 p.m. at the department’s Panhandle regional office, 2750 Kathleen Ave., in Coeur d’Alene.

Proposals to be considered for the Panhandle region include:

Option 1: Spring controlled season April 15-30 with 525 permits followed by a spring general season May 1-25. A second tag would be valid May 10-25.

Option 2: Spring general season April 15-May 25. A second tag would be valid May 10-25.

Turkeys tend to remain concentrated on their winter grounds until May 1 in the Panhandle, department biologists say in their rationale for the proposals. Offering an early spring controlled hunt ensures a low hunter density that reduces access conflicts on private property, improves hunter safety, and reduces the frequency of hunter disturbance from other hunters, they say.

Alternatively, if a general hunt began April 15, more hunters would have the opportunity to hunt during the peak of gobbling activity, the cost would remain at $18, and general season dates would be consistent across the state.

Proposals for fall seasons are:

Option 1: Fall general season Oct. 20-31.

Option 2: Fall general season Sept. 15-30.

Both proposals for fall general seasons would be a change from the controlled hunt held last year.

They would reduce the cost of the hunt to $18 and do not overlap with big-game rifle seasons in the same area.

The October season would occur when poults are larger in size.

The September option is four days longer and would run concurrent with other fall seasons in the state.

PDO derby names winners

Randi Herron caught her 30-pound, 8-ounce rainbow on the first day of the Lake Pend Oreille Thanksgiving fishing derby, and nobody came close to matching it in the nine days before the event closed Sunday afternoon.

Official results won’t be announced until tonight, but Herron, of LaClede, Idaho, is in first place for the $750 top prize in the rainbow division. Jerry Pierce of Sandpoint caught a 21-pound, 3-ounce lake trout to win the $750 top prize in the mackinaw division.

Erin Katozich, an 11-year-old from St. Maries, caught a 19-pound rainbow to win the Youth A division and Henry Owens, 8, of Spokane, won the Youth B division with a 6-pound 9-ounce rainbow.

The derby awards will be presented Saturday, 6 p.m., at Bonner Mall in Sandpoint.

Turkeys on docket

Turkey hunting season proposals will highlight the Idaho Fish and Game Commission meeting in Orofino on Dec. 6-8. The commission will meet at the Konkolville Motel. However, the public hearing is set for 7 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Ponderosa Restaurant at 220 Michigan Ave.