HUNTING -- The unusually cold, wet weather and seemingly endless season of new snowfall just off the valley floors has affected bears, turkeys and the sportsmen who hunt the spring seasons.

Following are obervations posted this afternoon by Jim Hayden, a hunter and Idaho Fish and Game Department regional wildlife manager.

Turkey season:  Remember, the longer you put off going, the earlier you’ll need to get up in order to catch them coming off the roost.  Hunting has been pretty good this year so far even though birds have not spread out quite as much as most years.  The late spring means less vegetative development at higher elevations, and birds are a little more concentrated lower than usual.  That’s good for folks who hunt near winter flocks, but not so good for those who wait for birds to spread out more.

Bear season: Late grass development so far means that bears will probably stay a little lower later as well.  If you only have one weekend to hunt, I’d suggest waiting until at least the second week of May (the harvest usually peaks in mid-May anyhow). 

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