Spring turkey season underway
The local spring turkey hunting season looks promising, according to Stasney’s Cook Ranch wildlife manager Billy Hill.
“There are not quite as many birds as we’ve had the last two years, but there are still an adequate number,” Hill said. “The first morning (of the season) we got three. It should be a good spring.”
Hill added that they do not plan to harvest as many birds as normal on the Stasney.
“We want to make sure to leave enough birds so the population can rebuild,” said the wildlife manager.
Season Dates
The North Zone general Rio Grande spring turkey season opened last Saturday, March 30 and runs through May 12. It will be followed by a spring youth-only weekend season on May 18-19 for licensed hunters 16 years of age and under.
Season Outlook
With lots of mature toms across the Rio Grande turkey range, persistent Texas hunters should have a good shot at a long beard this spring, according to wildlife biologists with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. They added that conditions are shaping up for a productive nesting season, which could also make for challenging hunting.
“Much of Texas is looking really green due to winter rains and a mild winter,” said Jason Hardin, TPWD turkey program leader in a March 4 news release. “Toms are already strutting and calling, and although hens are nowhere near ready yet, you can expect to see some early nesting behavior in the next few weeks.”
Early in the season, Hardin predicts toms will be “henned up” first thing in the morning, and hunters will have better luck later in the day.
“Don’t be surprised when the gobblers hang up,” he said. “They are going to be spoiled to hens coming to them like nature intended. The best hunting will be during the middle to latter part of the season.”
Hardin recommends hunters rely on their decoys to do most of the work and minimize calling as late season gobblers will be wary of calls, especially in areas that receive moderate to high hunting pressure. He stressed that those hunters willing to put in the time and patience this spring should have an opportunity to harvest a boss tom.
New this season, hunters have the option of using pre-charged pneumatics (air guns) as legal means for harvesting Rio Grande turkeys in Texas. Details on required specifications can be found online at the TPWD website.
