56,000 remaining spring turkey permits on sale March 28
Hunting and fishing licenses on sale March 10
MADISON – More than 56,000 remaining 2008 Spring Turkey permits will be available for sale on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 10 a.m. March 28.
“Opening over-the-counter sales on March 28 should still give hunters plenty of time to plan their outings,” said Scott Hull, DNR upland game ecologist. “While the majority of leftover permits are for later periods in the season, hunters will notice a couple units have leftover permits available for period three. I expect those will go very quickly.”
The lottery for spring permits has been concluded and those receiving permits have been notified. More than 56,275 permits across nearly all units in the fourth through sixth hunting periods remain and are available for over-the-counter sales. The number of permits in each unit is limited and many are expected to sell out quickly.
The permits 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). . An updated listing of units with leftover turkey permits and the numbers of permits available can be found on the turkey hunting pages of the DNR Web site at or by contacting a DNR service center.
There are still disabled hunter permits available for early periods (periods one through three) in a number of state park turkey hunting zones. Hunters interested in Disabled Hunt Units (5B, 10B, 11A, 12A, 15B, 25A) must visit a DNR Service Center to purchase their permit.
2008-2009 licenses go on sale March 10
All hunters must buy a 2008 spring turkey license and 2008 turkey stamp in order to buy a permit unless they are a 2008 Conservation Patron license holder. DNR encourages patron license buyers to purchase their license before March 28 to expedite buying additional spring turkey permits. Hunting, fishing, trapping and other 2008 licenses and harvest permits for fish and wildlife activities in Wisconsin will go on sale March 10; the 2007-2008 Wisconsin hunting and fishing licenses expire on March 31, 2008.
Hunters will be able to purchase one additional turkey permit per day until each zone and time period is sold out. Permits cost $10 for residents and $15 for non residents. Permits cannot be purchased for another individual, with the exception that parents/guardians can purchase a permit for their minor child.
Six 5-day spring hunting periods runs April 16 – May 25
The spring turkey hunting season will run from April 16 through May 25. The season is divided into six 5-day (Wednesday through Sunday) time periods. A total of 46 zones, 15 state parks and Fort McCoy will be open for hunting. The state’s second 2-day Turkey Youth Hunt will take place the weekend before the season opener, April 12 and 13.
In 2007, there were 206,925 permits issued with a record harvest of 52,428 birds and a success rate of 25.5 percent. Winter wild turkey survival should be good this year in most areas, according to wildlife managers. Despite recent heavy snow cover in parts of the state, turkeys are resourceful at finding other food sources such as waste grain in farm fields. Turkeys are hardy birds and can handle nearly any Wisconsin winter say biologists.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Hull 608)267-7861 or Sharon Fandel 608)261-8458
