Make turkey hunting, not just turkey-eating, a family tradition this year by purchasing one of about 400 general season fall turkey tags still available.

Fall turkey hunting in Eastern Oregon is limited and requires advance application, but anyone can purchase a tag for the general fall turkey season which runs through Dec. 31, 2008, in Linn, Benton, Polk and Marion counties, as well as six others in western Oregon. ODFW offers 3,000 tags for this hunt and sells them on a first-come, first-serve basis through the end of the season.

Turkey tags cost $18 for residents and $64 for non-residents. The bag limit is one turkey of either sex.

Turkey hunting is growing in popularity nationwide and in the West. The National Wild Turkey Federation estimates there are now more than 3 million turkey hunters nationwide. Though 3,720 people hunted turkey in Oregon during 1990, last year 16,493 people hunted turkey in the state and hunters can now participate in both a fall and spring season.

ODFW often traps and relocates turkeys to supplement flocks in other parts of the state where hunters have access to more public land. The turkeys are usually taken to Eastern Oregon, where ODFW increased hunting opportunities by adding 200 limited-entry fall tags this year.

Finding a place to hunt is challenging in Western Oregon. At this time of year, turkeys are found at lower elevations in areas with mixed hardwoods (such as oak savannah) and pasture - the type of habitat found mostly on private lands, although some BLM and Forest Service lands feature this habitat. To find a hunting spot, talk to friends whom you know have turkeys on their property or the type of habitat turkeys use. Remember you must ask permission to hunt on private land and build good relationships with landowners if you expect to come back and hunt next year.

Those who don't get a chance to fall turkey hunt can go during the statewide spring season April 15-May 31, 2009. Spring turkey tags went on sale Dec. 1.

For hunting tactics and important safety tips, download ODFW's turkey hunting brochure or visit the National Wild Turkey Federation website.