Several hunting courses are coming up and so is turkey hunting season

By Thomas Nelson, tnelson@charlescitypress.com

The Ikes and Floyd County Conservation are both gearing up for the upcoming hunting season.

Turkey hunting season will begin April 7 for youth and the Ikes will be offering a youth hunting field day course this weekend.

The course will be on Saturday, March 24, at the Nashua Fish and Game Club.

Floyd County Conservation will also be offering an education course in August, said Floyd County Conservation Naturalist Heidi Reams. The Conservation’s course will be for ages 11 and above.

The Floyd County Conservation Board has approved youth turkey hunting on the grounds of Tosanak Recreation Area, Reams said.

Five permits will be issued for youth hunters and applications are being accepted until April 1.

“The application is online,” Reams said. “The youth season is typically before the regular seasons.”

The public drawing for the permits will be held at 8 a.m. Monday, April 2, at the Fossil and Prairie Center.

The area open for this limited season will be south of the designated refuge line and 40 acres east along the Shell Rock River, Reams said. Youth hunters will be assigned a designated site at Tosanank.

“Typically we do not allow hunting in there,” Reams said. “The only hunting we do allow is by permit and it was decided we do youth only.”

Youth need a mentor, an adult over 21, with them when they are hunting, Reams said.

To apply, submit the online form at www.floydcoia.org/190/Conservation.  For more information or questions, please contact Floyd County Conservation 641-756-3490.