More than 6,000 spring turkey hunting permits still available
MADISON – The 2007 spring turkey hunting season kicked off on April 11. Hunters still interested in hunting the spring season can buy one of the 6,000 harvest permits still available. Permits can be purchased: over the Internet through the Online Licensing Center; at any DNR Service Center; at automated license issuance system sales locations; or by calling toll-free 1-877-WI LICENSE (1-877-945-4236).
“More than 37,000 permits have been sold over-the-counter and through Internet and phone sales since they went on sale March 23,” said Diane Brookbank, director of DNR’s license sales bureau. “Sales really took off at the start. During the first three hours more than 16,000 licenses were sold.”
Sales continued hotly throughout the first day with almost 22,000 being sold by the end of business on March 23. Another 5,200 were purchased on Mar 24 and almost 2,000 on Mar 25.
Turkey hunting is popular in Wisconsin and many hunters buy permits for more than one period, stretching out the season and providing more opportunity or perhaps to have a fallback plan in case of bad weather. More than 24,000 of the over-the-counter permits were sold to hunters who had already received a permit through the drawing process. One hunter purchased 11 permits, and three others purchased 10 each.
Over-the-counter sales also gave a second chance to 2,700 hunters who put in applications but missed out in the drawing and to 10,600 hunters who never applied for a permit but decided to hunt anyway.
The remaining 6,000 spring turkey permits are for the last two time periods, May 9-13 and May 16-20. Turkey mating activity usually slows during these later periods but it’s still a nice time of year to get out in the woods, wildlife officials say.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: DNR Customer Service and Licensing (608) 266-2621
