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Montana’s Spring Turkey Hunting Season Coming Soon

Turkey Hunting

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

Montana --(AmmoLand.com)- Montana’s spring turkey gobbler season opens April 10thand ends May 16, 2010.

Licenses are available from all Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) offices, on the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov and from FWP license providers across the state.

The 2010 Spring Turkey regulations with details on turkey hunting in the general and special permit hunting areas are available online and at FWP regional offices and FWP license providers beginning in mid March. Internet users should find the FWP homepage, locate the Hunting tab and the drop down menu to Regulations, click and scroll down to spring turkey regulations.

Hunters should remember when transporting a spring turkey within the state of Montana, one leg and foot must be left naturally attached for evidence of sex.

Hunters in FWP, Region 7 can purchase up to two turkey licenses per year, which are valid during the spring and/or fall seasons. In the spring, hunters can only harvest gobblers (males). Any turkey license not used during the spring season can be used in the fall beginning September 1st and are valid for gobblers or hens.

Reports from some landowners seem to indicate that resident turkey populations may be lower than previous years. Wildlife biologist, Don Sasse from the Ashland Ranger District suggests that several locations within the Custer National Forest that previously held healthy resident turkey populations may not support many turkeys this spring. Several ranchers living in or adjacent to the national forest who normally feed and overwinter populations of resident wild turkeys have not seen many turkeys this winter. These birds typically scatter throughout the national forest once spring conditions occur.

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Turkey Hunters Encouraged To Put Safety First

Turkey Hunters Encouraged To Put Safety First

GoHuntGeorgia.com

SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga --(AmmoLand.com)- Successful hunting trips require a combination of skill, patience and most importantly, preparation. As turkey season rapidly approaches, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division encourages preparation first, hoping that hunters will brush up on important turkey hunting safety tips before hitting the woods.

“Hunters should always be sure to identify their target before pulling the trigger and should never shoot at sound or movement,” advises Lt. Judd Smith. “Turkey hunters have to utilize their firearms safety knowledge and remember ways to keep themselves and others safe while in the woods.”

Hunters are encouraged to review the following turkey hunting season safety precautions.

Season opens on Sat., March 20:

• Never wear red, white, blue or black clothing while turkey hunting. Red is the color most hunters look for when distinguishing a gobbler’s head from a hen’s blue-colored head, but at times it may appear white or blue. Male turkey feathers covering most of the body are black in appearance. Camouflage should be used to cover everything, including the hunter’s face, hands and firearm.
• Select a calling position that provides at least a shoulder-width background, such as the base of a tree. Be sure that at least a 180-degree range is visible.
• Do not stalk a gobbling turkey. Due to their keen eyesight and hearing, the chances of getting close are slim to none, but a hunter in motion greatly increases his/her chances of being mistaken for game.
• Be careful using a turkey call. The sound and motion may attract other hunters. Do not move, wave or make turkey-like sounds to alert another hunter to your presence. Instead, yell in a loud voice so other hunters know you are in the area.
• Be careful when carrying a harvested turkey from the woods. Do not allow the wings to hang loosely or the head to be displayed in such a way that another hunter may think it is a live bird. If possible, conceal the turkey in a blaze orange garment or other material.
• Although it’s not required, it is suggested that hunters wear blaze orange when moving to and from a vehicle and hunting site. When moving between hunting sites, hunters should wear blaze orange on their upper bodies to lessen chances of being mistaken for game.

Additional Safety Tips

Turkey hunters must possess a valid hunting license and a big game license to legally hunt turkeys in Georgia. If hunting on a Wildlife Management Area, hunters must also possess a WMA license. Sportsmen and women must always obtain permission from the landowner before hunting on private land. Only male turkeys may be harvested, and the season bag limit is three gobblers per hunter.

For additional turkey hunting information or turkey hunting safety tips, visit www.gohuntgeorgia.com , contact the nearest Wildlife Resources Division Law Enforcement office or call (770) 918-6414.

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