(Radio Iowa) – Spring turkey hunting season opens this weekend in Iowa. The D-N-R’s Nate Carr says things get started with the youth season Saturday and the other turkey seasons will follow. Carr says you should check now to be sure you have the proper paperwork. “You need your hunting license if you are 16 and over. You need your habitat fee if you’re ages 16 to 64, there are some exceptions if you are a landowner — but for the most part — make sure you get those two things,” Carr says.

The first two seasons after the youth season Saturday runs from April 11th to the 14th and then April 15th to the 19th. The third season begins on the 20th. “It’s a little bit longer, you’re looking at a seven-day season and it has a weekend in it. And then the fourth season is really what’s going to provide a lot of opportunities. Hopefully, the weather is warmed up by then and you might be able to find a lone Tom,” according to Carr. “I think it’s about 19 days — it runs the 27th (of April) through the 15th of May.”

Carr he expects around 50-thousand hunters for the turkey seasons. “About 20 to 22 percent of tags are filled each year — so really if you are getting two tags it’s probably not 50-thousand hunters — it’s probably less than that,” he says. Carr says there should be some 10-thousand-500 turkeys harvested by the end of the season There is more information on the turkey season at www.iowadnr.gov.