Turkey populations stable ahead of spring opener

Montana's spring turkey season is set to open on Saturday, April 15. Southeast Montana's turkey populations are relatively stable across the region and handled the drought conditions well, according to FWP Region 7 upland game bird biologist Justin Hughes. However, populations of turkeys that are more isolated on the plains in mediocre habitat will be impacted more by recent weather patterns than turkeys living in riparian areas that had higher soil moisture and better vegetative growth.

Turkeys in the southern half of the region are still dealing with lots of winter storms and snow as of late...