Wild turkey report 2007
This fall, 94,800 wild turkey permits will be available to hunters. This is an increase in permits compared to 2006 when 90,600 permits were issued. Brood counts will be completed in August and should provide us with additional information on brood survival.
Historically, wild turkey occupied much of southern Wisconsin with the northern boundary of distribution fluctuating in response to severe winters. Following reintroduction efforts throughout the state, coupled with several years of mild winter weather and expanded habitat development and improvement, the Wisconsin wild turkey population now extends well into the northern part of the state.
In fall, wild turkeys tend to move from open or field habitats to forested habitats. Flocks make extensive use of areas dominated by oak and hickory. This habitat shift coincides with food availability as succulent vegetation and insects become less available and mast becomes more available. Mast crops, such as acorns, can influence hunting success. In years of poor mast production, turkey flocks are drawn to localized areas where food can be found; often this results in turkeys frequenting farmland and open fields where they become more visible and vulnerable. Turkey hunters should monitor the mast crop in the area they hunt to determine where turkeys will be feeding.
Following the fall permit drawing, any remaining permits will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis beginning Thursday, Sept. 6, at 10 a.m. The fall 2007 season will run from Sept. 15 through Nov. 15 for all permit holders, which is an extension of 21 days over last falls’ season. This straight season allows for more hunter opportunity and flexibility and differs from the spring season which is divided into six, five-day hunting periods. Also new for fall 2007, Zone 45 is open to fall hunting for the first time. In addition, all turkey hunters statewide are now required to wear at least 50 percent blaze orange clothing above the waist during the youth firearm deer hunt on Oct. 6 and 7. The clothing requirement also applies during chronic wasting disease October gun hunts. The Disease Eradication Zone season is Oct. 13-21 and affects portions of Turkey Management Zones 4, 5, 11, 12, 16, 27, and 29. The Herd Reduction Zone season is Oct. 18-21 and affects portions of Turkey Management Zones 3, 4, 5, 11, 12, 16, 17, 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29.
The 2007 fall bag limit is one turkey of any age or sex per hunting approval. Hunters should remember they must bring their tagged turkeys to a designated registration station no later than 5 p.m. the day after it is harvested. As an additional reminder, most turkey hunting occurs on private land so it is important to keep landowner relationships a high priority. Landowners in Wisconsin are usually willing to allow hunters to use their land as long as they ask politely for permission to do so. And as always, remember to focus on safety during the fall hunt!
Additional information on wild turkey is available on the DNR’s wild turkey page of the DNR Web site [http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/hunt/turkey/index.htm].
Over the counter sales of remaining available fall turkey hunting permits begins Sept. 6, at 10 a.m.
Fall turkey season
Sept. 15 through Nov. 15 (Blaze Orange required statewide Oct. 6 &7 due to youth gun deer hunt and during October gun hunting in CWD Disease Eradication units Oct. 13 – 21 and in CWD Herd Reduction Zone units Oct. 18-21)
Bag limit: one turkey of any age or sex per permit
