09-10-2007, 03:10 PM
SALT LAKE CITY - The chance of drawing a permit to hunt wild turkeys in Utah next spring just got a lot better.
Photo from U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service At their Sept. 6 meeting in Salt Lake City, members of the Utah Wildlife Board approved the largest wild turkey permit increase in the state's history.
Permits increased from 3,020 in 2007 to 7,706 for hunts in spring 2008.
Productive birds
"More and more hunters want to hunt turkeys in Utah, and we want to give as many of them a chance to hunt as we can," says Dennis Southerland, upland game coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources. "There are enough turkeys in Utah that we believe we can do that without affecting the turkey populations."
When it comes to reproducing, Southerland says upland game are different from big game and many other wildlife species.
"Turkeys and other upland game reproduce at a high rate," he says. "It's not unusual for a single male turkey to breed as many as 10 females. And female turkeys are very productive. They usually lay a clutch of between 10 to 12 eggs.
"Only male turkeys are hunted in Utah. We think an increase in permits even as big as the one the board approved will not have an impact on the state's turkey populations. And it will give more hunters a chance to get out and enjoy turkey hunting this spring."
Turkey hunting in 2008
The rules the board approved combine the type of turkey hunting Utah's hunters are used to with a new way of hunting:
Three hunting seasons will be held on most units. The first season begins on April 12. The last season ends on May 31.
The first two seasons are very much like the seasons Utah hunters are used to: a limited number of permits are available for the first two seasons, and hunters must hunt in the unit they draw a permit for.<br />
The third season is where most of the changes will occur. The third season is 27 days long. Twice as many permits are available for it than are available for the first two seasons. In three regions-the Northern, Central and parts of the Northeastern-hunters are not required to hunt in a single unit. Instead, they can hunt in almost any unit in the region.<br />
After the hunting seasons, DWR biologists will survey a sample of turkey hunters, including those who hunted during the third season. If the hunters liked the changes, and the harvest data shows turkey populations are not declining because of the changes, even more permits could be offered in 2009.
"More hunters will be in the field during the third season," Southerland says. "But in two of the regions, and a part of a third, hunters can hunt across the entire region. Allowing hunters to hunt across the region should give everyone plenty of room to spread out."
Turkey plan
Giving more hunters a chance to hunt turkeys is one of the goals of Utah's Wild Turkey Strategic Management Plan.
A committee that included DWR biologists and members of the National Wildlife Turkey Federation and Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife drafted the turkey proposals that the board approved.
Applications available
Applications for 2008 wild turkey hunting permits will be available starting Nov. 28 at wildlife.utah.gov. Turkey applications will be accepted only online this year.
For more information, call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR's Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.
Photo from U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service At their Sept. 6 meeting in Salt Lake City, members of the Utah Wildlife Board approved the largest wild turkey permit increase in the state's history.
Permits increased from 3,020 in 2007 to 7,706 for hunts in spring 2008.
Productive birds
"More and more hunters want to hunt turkeys in Utah, and we want to give as many of them a chance to hunt as we can," says Dennis Southerland, upland game coordinator for the Division of Wildlife Resources. "There are enough turkeys in Utah that we believe we can do that without affecting the turkey populations."
When it comes to reproducing, Southerland says upland game are different from big game and many other wildlife species.
"Turkeys and other upland game reproduce at a high rate," he says. "It's not unusual for a single male turkey to breed as many as 10 females. And female turkeys are very productive. They usually lay a clutch of between 10 to 12 eggs.
"Only male turkeys are hunted in Utah. We think an increase in permits even as big as the one the board approved will not have an impact on the state's turkey populations. And it will give more hunters a chance to get out and enjoy turkey hunting this spring."
Turkey hunting in 2008
The rules the board approved combine the type of turkey hunting Utah's hunters are used to with a new way of hunting:
Three hunting seasons will be held on most units. The first season begins on April 12. The last season ends on May 31.
The first two seasons are very much like the seasons Utah hunters are used to: a limited number of permits are available for the first two seasons, and hunters must hunt in the unit they draw a permit for.<br />
The third season is where most of the changes will occur. The third season is 27 days long. Twice as many permits are available for it than are available for the first two seasons. In three regions-the Northern, Central and parts of the Northeastern-hunters are not required to hunt in a single unit. Instead, they can hunt in almost any unit in the region.<br />
After the hunting seasons, DWR biologists will survey a sample of turkey hunters, including those who hunted during the third season. If the hunters liked the changes, and the harvest data shows turkey populations are not declining because of the changes, even more permits could be offered in 2009.
"More hunters will be in the field during the third season," Southerland says. "But in two of the regions, and a part of a third, hunters can hunt across the entire region. Allowing hunters to hunt across the region should give everyone plenty of room to spread out."
Turkey plan
Giving more hunters a chance to hunt turkeys is one of the goals of Utah's Wild Turkey Strategic Management Plan.
A committee that included DWR biologists and members of the National Wildlife Turkey Federation and Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife drafted the turkey proposals that the board approved.
Applications available
Applications for 2008 wild turkey hunting permits will be available starting Nov. 28 at wildlife.utah.gov. Turkey applications will be accepted only online this year.
For more information, call the nearest Division of Wildlife Resources office or the DWR's Salt Lake City office at (801) 538-4700.