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September 16, 2010

Upland game bird seasons open soon

By Ed Mitchell, IDFG

   The early fall general turkey season begins Tuesday, Sept. 15, and seasons for sage-grouse, quail and partridge begin Sept. 18.

   A separate permit is required for hunting sage- and sharp-tailed grouse. Sharp-tailed season opens Oct. 1.

Turkey

·   Sept. 15 - Dec. 15: General fall hunt in game management units 1, 2 (except Farragut State Park and Farragut Wildlife Management Area) 3, 4, 4A, 5 and 6.

·   Sept. 15 - October 31: General fall hunt in game management units 73, 74, 75, 77 and 78.

·   Sept. 15 - Oct. 9: General fall hunt in game management units 8, 8A, 10, 10A, 11, 11A, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 16A, 17, 18, 19 , 20, 22, 23, 24, 31, 32 (except that portion in Payette County), and 32A. Units 33 and 39 are closed to fall hunting.

·   Nov. 21 - Dec. 31: General fall hunt in game management units 8, 8A, 10A, 11, 11A, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 18. This hunt is open on private lands only.

   The daily bag limit is one turkey of either sex per day in the fall. No more than three turkeys may be taken per year, except in Units 1, 2, 3 and 5, where up to five turkeys may be taken in a single day during the fall season.

   Turkey hunters will need a general or an extra tag. General tags not used in the spring general or controlled hunts are valid for the fall hunt. Special unit tags are valid only for the fall season in Units 1, 2, 3 or 5.

Chukar and gray partridge

   Sept. 18 -Jan. 31, 2011

·   Daily bag limit - eight chukar and eight gray partridge.

·   Possession limit after first day - 16 chukar and 16 gray partridge.

Bobwhite and California quail

   Sept. 18 – Jan. 31, 2011

·   Daily bag limit - 10 total.

·   Possession limit after first day - 20 total.

·   Area 2 in eastern Idaho is closed.

   Consult the rules brochures for details and exceptions.

   The season for forest grouse, which includes ruffed, spruce and dusky (blue) grouse, opened Aug. 30 and runs through Dec. 31, except in the Panhandle Region where it runs through Jan. 31, 2011. The daily limit is four, whether all of one or mixed species, and eight in possession after the first day. Hunters only need a valid hunting license to hunt quail, chukar, grey partridge and forest grouse.

   All hunters need a valid 2010 Idaho hunting license. Hunters will find upland hunting rules and shooting times in the rules brochure at license vendors and Fish and Game offices as well as the department Web site at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov.

Sportsmen's Report sponsored by John and Lorraine Weiland