Turkey Hunt Promising Numbers High In Both Washington And Idaho

Fresh wild turkey could grace a few hundred tables in Washington and Idaho for Thanksgiving this year.

A high percentage of the 405 hunters who won permits to hunt wild turkeys in Washington Oct. 1-5 should be successful, since turkey populations are at an all-time high, according to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Department.

A permit holder can take either a tom or hen turkey during this new fall controlled hunt.

A total of 330 of the permits are for hunting turkeys in the Spokane region. The other 75 permits are for hunting in Klickitat and Skamania counties.

Hunted hard by a small army of hunters last spring, adult turkeys have had time to settle down and won’t be skittish on opening day. Most of the region’s turkeys were hatched after the hunting season.

Unsuccessful applicants will accrue points toward future drawings.

Only shotguns or archery equipment can be used. Use of dogs is not allowed for turkey hunting in Washington, although Idaho allows dogs during its fall hunt.

Idaho’s expanded fall controlled hunts for wild turkey began Sept. 15 in the Southwest and Clearwater Regions on Friday. The season starts Oct. 20 in the Panhandle Region.

Limited fall turkey hunts debuted in the state in 1998. Additional hunting was approved for this fall by the Fish and Game Commission because Idaho’s wild turkey flocks have continued to expand dramatically, state Fish and Game Department officials said.

Game-bird biologists say turkeys have spread into virtually all of the state’s high quality turkey habitat.

In some areas, landowners complain that turkeys cause damage to crops and other property.

Only 500 permits were offered for the fall season in the Panhandle, 200 in the Clearwater and 250 in the Southwest Region.

However, fall hunting rules are more liberal than the rules for the spring seasons. Hunters who drew the fall permits are allowed to shoot either a hen or a tom. Idaho allows hunters to use hunting dogs during the fall seasons, although dogs are not allowed during any turkey hunt in Washington.

This sidebar appeared with story: IDAHO OUTFITTERS Guided turkey hunts on trial basis

For a three-year trial period, Idaho outfitters may use their own deeded property to take clients turkey hunting.

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission decided in August to allow guided turkey hunting on an trial basis. The Idaho Outfitters and Guides Licensing Board will have the final say as to whether to continue the program.

Sportsmen including some members of the Idaho chapter of the National Turkey Federation argued against allowing any outfitted turkey hunting, noting that turkey hunters lost access to large portions of Montana when outfitting was allowed there.

Correspondent Fenton Roskelley contributed to this story.