Wisconsin Spring turkey hunters register another record turkey harvest
Fall season permit applications due August 1
MADISON – Preliminary figures show that hunters set yet another spring turkey harvest record, registering 52,814 turkeys during Wisconsin’s 2008 spring wild turkey season. This is a 3 percent increase from the 2007 spring harvest of 51,306 birds. The statewide hunter success rate for all hunting periods was 25 percent, the same as in 2007.
“This spring’s season was great,” says Hull. “Despite the tremendous snowfall events experienced by the southern half of the state and concerns about increased mortality, Wisconsin’s turkey population has certainly proved that it is hardy enough to handle even the toughest of conditions.”
A total of 208,972 permits were issued for the spring hunt according to licensing officials. This was an increase of more than 3,600 permits sold compared to 2007. Over the counter sales also increased, accounting for more than a quarter of the permits issued.
Hunter success rates continued to be quite good. As in past years, success rates generally were highest during the early and middle hunting periods.
“Despite unfavorable weather in parts of the state during the early part of the turkey season, hunters recorded a 33 percent success rate during the first period,” Hull says. “Success then dropped to 28 and 25 percent for the second and third periods, which is expected but is still telling of decent hunting conditions.”
The preliminary counts showed that adult toms comprised 80 percent of the total harvest, which is slightly higher than the long term average of 72 percent.
Zones 22 and 23 yet again appear to have produced the highest overall turkey harvests at 5,925 and 2,473 respectively. The best hunter success rate appears to be in unit 34 with a preliminary success rate of 37 percent, unit 35 at 33 percent success, followed by several units (33, 30 and 26) at 32 percent success.
The fall 2008 wild turkey season will run from Sept. 13 through Nov. 20. The deadline for applying for a fall permit through the lottery process is August 1. Regulations for the 2008 fall turkey season are available online from the DNR Wild Turkey Web page and are available in hard copy at license vendors and DNR Service Centers.
Applications cost $3 and can be purchased: over the Internet through the Online Licensing Center; at DNR service centers during their regular business hours (check service center link for hours of operation, which vary by service center; service centers are closed Saturdays); at automated license issuance system sales locations; or by calling toll-free 1-877-WI LICENSE (1-877-945-4236).
REMINDER: New Turkey Zones for Fall 2008
https://hfwa.centraltechnology.net/wi_public/goHome.doTurkey hunters are reminded that beginning with the fall 2008 season, the number of turkey hunting zones will be reduced to seven large zones instead of the more than 40 small zones previously in place.
Each of the new zones combine a number of the current smaller zones and will allow hunters more flexibility to move about in search of game within a larger zone. The new zones were established based on habitat characteristics, harvest success rates and hunter interference rates.
“The concept of a smaller number of larger zones has worked well in other states similar to Wisconsin,” said Hull. “Missouri, Illinois, Ohio and Iowa all manage turkeys and turkey hunting with fewer zones. I think once hunters get used to the new structure, they’ll really like the ability to move around more within their chosen zone. In addition to a larger potential hunting area, there will be fewer zone boundaries to deal with.”
A map of the new zone structure (pdf) and additional information
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/hunt/turkey/fallmap.pdfcan be found on the Wild Turkey page of the DNR Web site.
http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/hunt/turkeyFOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Hull, Upland Wildlife Ecologist (608) 267-7861 or Sharon Fandel, Assistant Upland Wildlife Ecologist (608) 261-8458
