The spring turkey hunt is almost here! Get all the info you need here before stepping into your blind

135,307 permits issued for 2017 spring turkey hunt - remaining permits available beginning March 20

The 2017 spring turkey permit drawing has ended and 135,307 successful applicants will receive spring wild turkey permits. A total of 240,768 permits have been made available for the spring 2017 turkey season - remaining permits will be available through over-the-counter sales beginning March 20with Zone 1.

Postcard notifications to successful applicants have been mailed, and hunters can also monitor permit status online through GoWild.WI.gov   or via the DNR Customer Call Center from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, at 1-888-WDNRINFo (1-888-936-7463). Turkey hunters will be able to purchase their turkey permits starting in mid-March once the new license year begins.

Starting in 2017, the spring turkey season will begin on the third Wednesday in April. The season will run from April 19 through May 30, with six seven-day periods running Wednesday through the following Tuesday. A total of seven zones and Fort McCoy will be open for hunting.

CORRECTED - Tagging, Transport, and Possession

All harvested turkeys must be registered either online (gowild.wi.gov) or via phone at 1-844-GAME-REG (1-844-426-3734) by 5:00 P.M. the day after harvest. No in-person registration stations are available. Immediately upon killing a turkey, validate this tag by writing the date of kill and circling AM or PM. This tag must remain intact and legible and must be attached to the turkey before leaving the carcass unattended. 

Licenses/Stamps/Permits

Hunters must purchase a turkey license, turkey stamp, and permit (also called a carcass tag) valid for a specific season. These items must be carried while hunting and presented to a conservation warden if requested. Permits are awarded to applicants via preference drawing, and successful applicants will be notified by postcard.*

(*Note: permits will not be mailed.)

Exception: Patron license holders successful in the fall drawing will receive their tag in the mail. Patron license holders successful in the spring drawing will be issued a permit at the time they purchase a patron or spring turkey license for the upcoming season. Senior Citizen Recreation Cardholders who are awarded a permit must present their card to a license agent to obtain their free permit.

Spring turkey hunting regulations can be found within the 2016 Small Game Hunting Regulations, 2016 Fall Turkey Regulations, and 2017 Spring Turkey Regulations.

Leftover spring turkey permits go on sale March 20

The 105,464 leftover permits for the 2017 spring turkey hunting season will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis beginning Monday, March 20 at 10 a.m. Leftover permits will be first issued for sale by zone, one zone per day.

The following zones have leftover permits, and scheduled sales dates are as follows:

• Zone 1 - Monday, March 20;

• Zone 2 - Tuesday, March 21;

• Zone 3 - Wednesday, March 22;

• Zone 4 - Thursday, March 23; and

• Zones 5, 6 and 7 - Friday, March 24 (due to the low number of permits left in these units, sales have been combined into one day).

Hunters are encouraged to check the turkey zone map [PDF] to verify where they would like to hunt and use the department’s turkey permit availability page to see if permits are available for the period and zone in which they wish to hunt.

After zone-specific sales, all remaining turkey tags will be made available for purchase Saturday, March 25. Extra turkey tags can be purchased at a rate of one per day until the zone and time period sells out or the season closes.

Leftover turkey permits cost $10 for residents and $15 for non-residents – each will have equal opportunity to purchase over-the-counter permits. All hunters are required to purchase a spring turkey license and 2017 Wild Turkey Stamp, unless they have previously purchased the license and stamp or are a 2017 Conservation Patron License holder. Leftover permit purchases will not affect preference point status for future spring or fall turkey permit drawings.

Leftover permits can be purchased online through GoWild.WI.gov   and at all license agents. Hunters with any questions regarding permits should contact the DNR Customer Call Center, open 7 a.m. through 10 p.m., seven days a week, at 1-888-WDNRINFo (1-888-936-7463).

For more information regarding turkey hunting in Wisconsin, search keyword “turkey.”