CraigCraig — Saturday marks the beginning of the 44-day spring turkey-hunting season and the annual onset of one of the fastest-growing hunting sports in the United States. — Saturday marks the beginning of the 44-day spring turkey-hunting season and the annual onset of one of the fastest-growing hunting sports in the United States.
Craig — Saturday marks the beginning of the 44-day spring turkey-hunting season and the annual onset of one of the fastest-growing hunting sports in the United States.
From April 13 to May 26 some 12,000 hunters will take to the fields and woods of Colorado to pursue turkeys on public and private lands.
Last year, Colorado Parks and Wildlife issued more than 15,000 spring turkey tags and hunters bagged approximately 3,300 gobblers, according to Parks and Wildlife news release.
The 22 percent success rate makes turkey hunting one of the most rewarding experiences for hunters.
“Success is often a combination of scouting, persistence and patience, but that’s what makes it fun and challenging,” said Mike Brown, a district wildlife manager for Parks and Wildlife.
Colorado is home to two subspecies of wild turkeys, the release states. The Merriam’s wild turkey, native to Colorado, inhabits areas of ponderosa pine, oak brush and pinion juniper woodlands of the southeastern plains, Front Range and western Colorado.
The Rio Grande wild turkey, native to the central plains states, was introduced into eastern Colorado in 1980 and primarily inhabits cottonwood stands and river bottoms adjacent to agricultural lands.
During the spring season hunters can harvest two bearded turkeys, of which one must be taken with a limited draw license. The other may be taken with an over-the-counter license.
For more information, visit www.cpw.state.co.us.
Joe Moylan can be reached at 875-1794 or jmoylan@craigdailypress.com.
Joe Moylan can be reached at 875-1794 or jmoylan@craigdailypress.com.
Joe Moylan can be reached at 875-1794 or jmoylan@craigdailypress.com.