DWR proposes expanding Utah's turkey hunt

Every person who wants to hunt wild turkeys next spring could if the Division of Wildlife Resources' proposals for Utah's 2010 hunts are approved.

And there would be more places to hunt turkeys than ever before.

"Even though we'd be putting more hunters in the field, we don't think that would have a negative effect on Utah's turkey populations," said Dave Olsen, upland game coordinator for the DWR.

"Each hunter in Utah is restricted to taking only one male turkey. And female turkeys in the state are very successful at reproducing."

Olsen says DWR biologists have watched and studied turkeys in Utah closely for more than 20 years. He says the biologists are comfortable allowing more hunters into the field.

"Turkeys and other upland game birds reproduce at a high rate," Olsen said. "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.

"Because one male will breed several females, and because female turkeys are so productive, removing males out of the population will have little effect on the overall number of turkeys in Utah."

Olsen says the DWR is proposing a total of three hunts would be held in 2010. The first hunt would run April 10-29. Permits would be available for the hunt on a regional basis: Northern, 400; Central, 500; Northeastern, 250; Southeastern, 250; Southern, 1,100.

"This first hunt should be less crowded than the hunt in May because only 2,500 permits would be offered for it," Olsen said. "Also, if you drew a permit for the April hunt, you wouldn't be confined to hunting one specific area like you have been in the past. Instead, you could hunt an entire region."

The second hunt for ages 15 and under would be held April 30-May 2. Permits would not be limited in number. Youth hunters could hunt anywhere in the state that's open to turkey hunting.

The third and final hunt would be a statewide hunt held May 3-31. There would be no limit on the number of permits offered for the hunt, which will also be open statewide.