Mainers would have expanded opportunities for turkey hunting under two bills heard by the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife last week.

Reps. Tim Marks (D-Pittston) and Craig Hickman (D-Winthrop) are the primary sponsors of two separate bills.

Marks’ bill would extend the spring junior turkey hunting season from a single Saturday to a full week during April school vacation. The bill aims to give young hunters more opportunity to participate in the spring season and provide flexibility for parents and favorable weather.

“We want to encourage young hunters to get more involved in Maine’s sporting culture, and I think this bill does that,” Marks said.

Hickman’s bill would establish an open season for hunting wild turkeys for the month of October, during which there would be no bag limit.

“Farmers struggle enough as it is to make ends meet, so we don't need our crop decimated daily by flocks of up to 45 wild turkeys,” Hickman said. “We must find a way to control the population of wild turkeys in Maine and I believe that expanding hunting opportunities is the best way to do it.”

The committee will hold a work session on both bills in the coming weeks, and will then make a recommendation to the full Legislature.

Marks is serving his first term in the Legislature and represents Wiscasset, Alna, Dresden and Pittston.

Hickman is also serving his first term in the Legislature and represents Winthrop and Readfield.