03-06-2008, 11:10 PM
Turkey hunting is one of the fastest growing hunting sports in North America. Colorado's 2008 Spring Turkey Season opens April 12 and the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) is hosting two free seminars to help novice hunters learn more about hunting wild turkeys.
The first seminar is Tue., March 18 in Denver from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Hunter Education building at 6060 Broadway. The second is Sat., April 5 in Colorado Springs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the DOW office at 4255 Sinton Rd.
The seminars will provide hunters with an overview of turkey hunting in Colorado. DOW biologists will discuss turkey habitat, locating birds, safety tips, current laws and regulations as well as hunting tips and techniques for the novice hunter.
"These classes are geared for the novice and first time turkey hunter," said Steve Lucero, an education coordinator with the DOW. "It's a great opportunity for an introduction to turkey hunting."
The seminars are free, but class sizes are limited, so participants must pre-register. For more information or to register, call (303)291-7545 for the Denver class, or (719)227-5200 for the Colorado Springs class.
Consistently, successful wild turkey hunting requires a high degree of skill. Wild turkeys are extremely wary and possess keen color vision and very good hearing ability. Turkeys can see in a radius of 270 degrees.
Scouting for sign left by turkeys is a great way of increasing the odds of a successful hunt. Signs to look for include roost trees, droppings, feathers scratch and dusting areas and listening for gobbling.
Colorado is home to two subspecies of wild turkey: the native Merriam's and the Rio Grande, which was introduced to the state in 1980. Merriam's are primarily found in open meadows and in ponderosa, oak brush and pinion juniper stands in mountainous zones west of Interstate 25. The Rio Grande species inhabit cottonwood and creek bottoms adjacent to agricultural lands in the eastern portion of the state.
The population of wild turkeys in North America reached a low point in the 1930's, but conservation programs by state wildlife agencies and private partners have restored the birds throughout most of their historical range.
Today, wild turkey populations are booming in Colorado thanks to transplant efforts, protection through game laws, and habitat improvement projects - funded in large part by sportsmen's dollars. "There are more turkeys in the state than ever before," said Lucero.
The price of a turkey-hunting license is $21 for Colorado residents, $11 for Colorado Youth, and $101 for non-residents.
For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.
The first seminar is Tue., March 18 in Denver from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Hunter Education building at 6060 Broadway. The second is Sat., April 5 in Colorado Springs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the DOW office at 4255 Sinton Rd.
The seminars will provide hunters with an overview of turkey hunting in Colorado. DOW biologists will discuss turkey habitat, locating birds, safety tips, current laws and regulations as well as hunting tips and techniques for the novice hunter.
"These classes are geared for the novice and first time turkey hunter," said Steve Lucero, an education coordinator with the DOW. "It's a great opportunity for an introduction to turkey hunting."
The seminars are free, but class sizes are limited, so participants must pre-register. For more information or to register, call (303)291-7545 for the Denver class, or (719)227-5200 for the Colorado Springs class.
Consistently, successful wild turkey hunting requires a high degree of skill. Wild turkeys are extremely wary and possess keen color vision and very good hearing ability. Turkeys can see in a radius of 270 degrees.
Scouting for sign left by turkeys is a great way of increasing the odds of a successful hunt. Signs to look for include roost trees, droppings, feathers scratch and dusting areas and listening for gobbling.
Colorado is home to two subspecies of wild turkey: the native Merriam's and the Rio Grande, which was introduced to the state in 1980. Merriam's are primarily found in open meadows and in ponderosa, oak brush and pinion juniper stands in mountainous zones west of Interstate 25. The Rio Grande species inhabit cottonwood and creek bottoms adjacent to agricultural lands in the eastern portion of the state.
The population of wild turkeys in North America reached a low point in the 1930's, but conservation programs by state wildlife agencies and private partners have restored the birds throughout most of their historical range.
Today, wild turkey populations are booming in Colorado thanks to transplant efforts, protection through game laws, and habitat improvement projects - funded in large part by sportsmen's dollars. "There are more turkeys in the state than ever before," said Lucero.
The price of a turkey-hunting license is $21 for Colorado residents, $11 for Colorado Youth, and $101 for non-residents.
For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.