The Division of Wildlife Resources shared some information this week on the local fishing conditions, as well as, the upcoming turkey hunt which will be taking place in the spring.
The lack of winter weather has made it quite difficult for local fisherman to enjoy a season of ice fishing. “Places like Millsite, Huntington North and even Joe’s Valley, a lot of these waters the ice has left,” said Conservation Outreach Manager, Morgan Jacobsen. “A lot of the waters still up on the Manti still have some ice, Scofield Reservoir last I heard still had some good ice, places like Mammoth Reservoir, Cleveland Reservoir, a lot of those areas still up high should still have some ice.” Fisherman are advised to take safety precautions by assessing the ice for cracks, cracks, weak spots or abnormal surfaces and color before venturing out further on to the lake. Regardless, the ice off makes for great fishing conditions and the water levels will provide a great fishing season in the warmer months.
Turkey hunting is another great outdoor sport that will be starting up April and running through till May. “You know there has never been a better time to be a turkey hunter in Utah. Over the past 20 years Utah’s wild turkey population has just boomed, they have done tremendously well,” stated Jacobsen. As always, there will be a limited entry spring turkey hunt that will take place April 14 through April 26 but the application process for this particular hunt has passed. After the limited-entry hunt is over, the general statewide turkey hunt happens for the entire month of May. Permits for this hunt are not limited and will go on sale February 22.
If this is your first year to hunt wild turkeys or would like to be more proficient in the field this spring there will be a Turkey Hunting Clinic held on March 17 at the Blanding Arts and Events Center at 715 West 200 South in Blanding. The clinic will run from 10:00 am to 11:30 am, is free and hunters must pre-register. Hunters that are unable to attend will have an opportunity to take a clinic offered in Parowan on March 24. Further details will need to be obtained from the DWR office at (435) 613-3707.
More information about Utah’s 2018 spring turkey hunting season is available in the 2017-2018 Utah Upland Game and Turkey Guidebook. The free guidebook is available at wildlife.utah.gov/guidebooks or at your local DWR office and from hunting and fishing license agents across Utah.