September 6, 2012

Upland game bird seasons open

By Niels Nokkentved, IDFG

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

Forest grouse seasons opened Aug. 30.

Turkey

§ Sept. 15 through 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 through Oct. 31. General fall hunt in game management units 73, 74, 75, 77 and 78.

§ Sept. 15 through 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 through Dec. 31. General fall hunt in game management units 8, 8A, 10A, 11, 11A, 13, 14, 15 and 16. 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 five turkeys may be taken in a 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 for the fall season in Units 1, 2, 3 or 5.

Chukar and gray partridge: Sept. 15 through Jan. 31, 2013.

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

§ Possession limit after first day - 24 chukar and 24 gray partridge.

Bobwhite and California quail: Sept. 15 through Jan. 31, 2013.

§ Daily bag limit - 10 total.

§ Possession limit after first day - 30 total.

§ Area 1 in eastern Idaho is closed.

Consult the rules brochures for details and exceptions.

The season for forest grouse, which include ruffed, spruce and dusky grouse, opened Aug. 30 and runs through Dec. 31, and through Jan. 31 in the Panhandle Region.

The daily limit is four, whether all of one or mixed species, and 12 in possession after the first day. Hunters need only a valid hunting license to hunt quail, chukar, grey partridge and forest grouse.

The sage-grouse season runs through Sept. 21. Sharp-tailed grouse opens from Oct. 1 through 31. A separate permit is required for hunting sage- and sharp-tailed grouse.

Seasons on cottontail rabbits and snowshoe hares opened Aug. 30. Cottontail season runs through Feb. 28, 2013, and snowshoe season runs through March 31, 2013. There is no season on pygmy rabbits.

All hunters need a valid 2012 Idaho hunting license. Hunters will find upland hunting rules and shooting times in the rules brochure at license vendors, Fish and Game offices and online at www.fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/hunt/rules/?getPage=67.