If you’re a turkey hunter, you have some time to wait, unless you have a Type 3 limited quota tag. The general spring turkey season doesn’t start until April 20th. It starts tomorrow in Natrona, Campbell, Johnson and Sheridan counties if you have a Type 3 license, though. If you don’t have a license yet, there’s still time to get one. You won’t be able to get a limited quota license, but you can get a general tag from most Wyoming hunting license vendors.
There aren’t specific hunt areas anymore for wild turkeys. The whole state is Area 1. The only difference between the general tag and the limited quota tag is that the limited quota gets you out in the field earlier, but it does limit you to those four counties, then opens it up to Converse County, too, on April 20th.
There might be a limited amount of public land where you’re likely to find turkeys, but there are also a few walk-in areas on private land that have been opened to the public. The Game and Fish doesn’t print the walk-in atlases anymore, but you can still find them online. Check out the walk-in areas in the region you plan to go hunting, and you’ll probably find a good place to go get a turkey.
Spend the next few weeks practicing with your turkey calls. This is the time of year when you’ll have the best results with a call. Spring is mating season for turkeys, and the toms will be more territorial than usual. If you’re good with a call, you should be able to lure a bird within shotgun range.
Keep in mind that the only legal birds in the spring are males, or those with visible beards. Make sure you can see the beard before you pull the trigger.
Use this time to get ready for the opener. Pattern your shotgun using the loads you’ll use when you hunt. Find all your hunting clothes, and make sure they’re in good order. And with it being spring, be sure you have a waterproof layer or two.
Good luck. Now get out there and get over your cabin fever.
Be the first to comment