HYRUM – As thoughts turn to Thanksgiving and turkeys during the month of November, it is also a great time to learn about Utah’s wild turkeys. The Division of Wildlife Resources reported an estimate of 30,000 to 35,000 Rio Grande and Merriam’s wild turkeys in the state as of 2024.
DWR is giving the public an opportunity to learn about the large game birds by visiting the Hardware Wildlife Education Center during the month of November for their Turkey Tails exhibit.
Hardware Wildlife Education Center is opening a wild turkey exhibit during the month of November.
The Hardware Wildlife Education Center is a beautiful place to drive to this time of year. It is located at the Hardware Wildlife Management Area in Blacksmith Fork Canyon in Cache County. The education center opens seasonally for various exhibits in the fall and during the winter months the sleigh rides and elk viewing take place.
The center will be open again this year in November for the Turkey Tales exhibit. This free exhibit will be open from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. on three weekends in November:
- Nov. 7, 8 and 9
- Nov. 14, 15 and 16
- Nov. 21, 22 and 23
“We can’t guarantee you’ll see wild turkeys, but there’s a decent chance you will,” DWR Hardware Wildlife Education Center Director Marni Lee said. “Dozens and dozens of wild turkeys live on the wildlife management area and fall and winter are two of the best times to see them.”
Once the public arrives at the center, Lee has created displays and activities to help visitors learn about wild turkeys in the state.
The family-friendly exhibits and activities include free craft projects and hourly story times. A walking path near the center will become an educational walk with enlarged book pages offering fun animal activities.
“Many Utahns aren’t aware that wild turkeys live in Utah,” Lee said. “The exhibit provides fun facts about the birds and lots of information about wild turkey biology.”
Hardware Wildlife Education Center can be reached by traveling 15 miles east of Hyrum on state Route 101. The fall colors should be on full display on the drive through Blacksmith Fork Canyon.
As visitors drive up the canyon, they should also keep their eyes peeled for wild turkeys, there are usually plenty to spot before arriving at the WMA.
Fall is great time to fish the Blacksmith Fork River that flows down the canyon.
For more information about the exhibit or activities at the center during November, call the Hardware Wildlife Education Center at 435-753-6206.