Utah turkey hunters

What I know about turkeys in Utah makes for a very small book. I would like to start putting in for a tag. I think they would be a blast to hunt, but I dont know squat about it. Does anyone here hunt Utah turkeys that would be willing to share any info. I've seen birds in American Fork canyon and lots of birds in Butterfield canyon. Are those areas you can hunt? I realize I'm sounding like a moron, but hey, cant hurt to ask.

Justin
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hound_hunter
hopefully this turns out to be a good post. i made my whole family put in this year but none of us know anything about turkeys, haha
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Default Avatar
I have hunted turkeys for years.......well I haven't been able to draw a tag, my luck as usual, but family members have and friends. In my mind it is a blast. There is nothing like a gobbler coming into the call and the anticipation between when you see him and when the shot goes off. One thing I would caution you about though is that the birds are a lot smarter than you would think. They have excellent eye sight and are very cautious; which makes for a very interesting hunt. I would recommend it to anyone.
Cory
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zrider2
I will have 3 points this year, i dont know much about turkies either. I have seen a lot out near Grantsville in the South and North Willow canyons. When do they rut??
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proutdoors
"zrider2" wrote:I will have 3 points this year, i dont know much about turkies either. I have seen a lot out near Grantsville in the South and North Willow canyons. When do they rut??
Turkeys 'rut' in April and May. South and North Willow get lots of pressure during turkey seasons, but there are lots of turkeys out here in Tooele County.
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kinzysdad
Is Butterfield canyon open to turkey hunting?
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79Ford
Only turkeys I have seen have been up Spanish Fork Canyon, and some up Daniels Canyon.
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Wasatch Wonder
I'm not sure if these areas are huntable, but I have also seen lots of turkeys up Provo Canyon by Big Springs (it's off the South Fork). I have also seen Turkeys just up from midway going toward Guardsmans pass.
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kinzysdad
This just sucks. I can see the pump gun all wrapped nice and pretty under the tree but I cant put in for the tag untill after christmas. I dont want to give away that I know what it is. ugggg lol
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AntlersOutWest
I ususally do not read this upland game forum,just because I have never hunted them but I would like to this up comming season.
Look on Utah's game proclamtions.
The DWR transplanted some turkeys in Francis a few years back and I see them all over the Kamas Valley now.. Good luck to you
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NotEnufTags
Hey Kinzysdad,

From what I know of butterfield canyon, you can drive through it but not hunt or recreate in it. I believe it is entirely owned by Kennecot. I'm pretty sure you can hunt turkey in American Fork Canyon. I know you can hunt deer, elk, moose, rocky mountain goat, big horn sheep, and grouse there so I can't imagine why you wouldn't be able to hunt turkey too.

I've seen turkey up diamond fork canyon, on provo peak, and a bunch near flaming gorge. I think diamond fork is a very popular spot for turkey. Good luck on your draw.
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proutdoors
Turkeys are everywhere it seems. Butterfield Canyon is off limits, but the Tooele side is open if you draw the right tag.
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79Ford
"kinzysdad" wrote:This just sucks. I can see the pump gun all wrapped nice and pretty under the tree but I cant put in for the tag untill after christmas. I dont want to give away that I know what it is. ugggg lol
 Mine is sittin' under the tree too my friend. I asked the wife if I could open it early and take it on my duck hunt this morning....... Yeah, that didnt go over too well.
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kinzysdad
I need to go to the DWR office to figure out the hunt boundries. Good grief, I thought the big game boundries were bad. This one blows. Anyone need anything while I'm there getting maps? lol
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79Ford
Save yourself a trip and a few $$ and look at them online. Then you only have to go and buy a map if you draw.

http://wildlife.utah.gov/maps/2009_turkey/
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MULEY7MM
If you draw a tag i have written permission to hunt property up Butterfield canyon i hunt it every year with my bow and see lots of turkeys but it is all private except the tooele side the guy that gives us permission just has us do some service in trade like fixing the fences or hanging sighns easy work and it is worth it
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kinzysdad
I got my app in this morning.
Everyone, thanks for all you help and insight. If I draw, I may lean on you a bit more. Thanks again. I think its amazing that so many are willing to share knowledge in a time when everyone else seems to be out for themselves.You guys are great. :thumb
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79Ford
It sure is nice to have such a good group of people on here isnt it.

Good luck with drawing a tag. I might have to put in for next year, I am no where even near ready for a spring turkey hunt. It is something I have always wanted to try though.

So are bands on turkeys considered a bit of a "trophy" like the bands on ducks and geese?
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camodup
I drew out last April on the turkey up here on the Cache a boundary. It was freaking ridiculous all the people we had to fight through to get a spot to hunt though. they give out landowner tags like theyre candy but everywhere theres tukeys up here theres also private property. Turkey huntings way fun but if your gonna do it i would say stay out of cache valley and go a little more south.
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Heads or Tails
Just my Opinion, but along with what camodup said... I think they are giving way too many turkey tags out right now.
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proutdoors
I'm confused. How can they be issuing too many turkey tags? They are increasing every year in numbers, and the designed purpose of the first turkey transplants 20+ years ago was to have OTC turkey hunting, you know like almost EVERY other state in the nation. They were NEVER intended to be a 'trophy' hunt nor a LE hunt. they were LE as to help increase the populations to desired numbers. Now that they are there, it makes no sense to keep the number of tags so restricted. A male turkey will only live 3-4 years in the wild, if you don't issue enough tags you are not helping the flocks, but you would be denying many hunters the opportunity to HUNT turkeys. I drew a Central Region tag last year, which had 700+ permits issued and was the third season. I had a blast, so much so that I applied for the same tag again this year, even though they doubled the number of tags for 2009 over 2008 for this hunt. Kudos to the DWR and the conservation groups like SFW and NWTF for making this possible!
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camodup
I was just saying theyre isuing too many up here in the north cuz there really isnt many turkeys. the flock i watched and the tom i got out of mine was one of 5 male turkeys, the other 12 were all hens. i guess thats a good thing but you still need toms to make more turkeys
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