Fall 2026-Spring 2027 Wisconsin Hunting Regulations

Note: To hunt turkey in a state park that is open to hunting, you must hold a harvest authorization for the general zone (i.e., zones 1–7) in which the park is located.

A downloadable version of the Wild Turkey Management Zone Map is also available.

Turkey Registration is Mandatory

All harvested turkeys must be registered either online via GameReg or by phone at 844-426-3734 (844-GAME-REG) by 5 p.m. on the day after recovery.

• Hunters will need to use their authorization number to register a turkey.
• No in-person registration stations are available.
• Hunters will be given a harvest registration confirmation number for their records when registration is complete.

*Be aware that the general hunting regulations also apply, in addition to the species-specific regulations below. Read the info in the General and Licensing Requirements section in the Wisconsin Hunting Regulations.

General Turkey Hunting Regulations

It is illegal to:

• Hunt wild turkeys by any means other than a shotgun or muzzle-loading shotgun, crossbow or a bow and arrow.
• Hunt wild turkeys with any ammunition other than an arrow, bolt or shot shell that consists of more than one projectile.
• Use recorded or electrically amplified bird calls or sounds or possess any type of device that produces recorded or electronic amplifications of bird calls or sounds while hunting wild turkeys.
  Note: This does not apply to hunters possessing a Class A or B disabled hunting permit which authorizes hunting from a stationary vehicle and which is issued for more than one year or to hunters who are deaf or severely hard of hearing as verified by a medical professional.
• Hunt wild turkeys with the aid of dogs, except during the fall turkey season.
• Use live or electronic decoys for the purposes of enticing wild turkeys.
• Possess a firearm, airgun bow or crossbow during the spring turkey season without also possessing a turkey hunting license, stamp and valid, unused harvest authorization if you or a member of your hunting party possess a turkey decoy or calling device while afield.

Spring Harvest Authorization Drawing System

Turkey harvest authorizations are distributed by a drawing using a cumulative preference system that determines when applications go into the drawing. For more information on the turkey drawing, visit the website and click the “Turkey Hunter FAQ” tab.

Bonus Fall Or Spring Turkey Harvest Authorizations

Spring harvest authorizations that are not awarded through the drawing, as well as bonus fall harvest authorizations, will be sold at license sales locations and at gowild.wi.gov. For more information, click the “Turkey Hunter FAQ” tab on this page.

Assisting Other Hunters

No license is required to call turkeys for another hunter if the caller does not possess a firearm, airgun, bow or crossbow. However, a guide license is required if a fee is charged.

Baiting Turkeys

It is illegal to use bait to hunt turkeys. However, hunting over agricultural crops and wildlife food plots planted and left standing is legal.

Youth Turkey Hunt Rules And Regulations

• Open to residents and nonresidents who are 15 years of age and younger and possess a spring turkey license, stamp and valid harvest authorization for spring 2026. Youth ages 11 and under and youth without hunter education must hunt under the Hunting Mentorship Program.
• Harvest authorizations issued for any spring 2026 turkey hunting time period may be used during the youth hunt. A youth may fill a single harvest authorization valid for the zone in which they are hunting during the youth hunt, regardless of which time period the authorization is also valid for.
• A youth who does not harvest a turkey during the youth hunt may use their unfilled harvest authorization during the time period and in the zone for which it was issued.
• Youth hunters must be accompanied by an adult 18 years of age or older during the two-day youth hunt.

Special Turkey Hunts For Disabled Hunters

Hunters with a Class A or C permit or with a Class B permit issued for more than one year and which authorizes hunting from a stationary vehicle are eligible to participate in a special disabled spring turkey hunt on private land. Interested hunters are required to obtain permission from a landowner willing to sponsor a hunt and meet all application requirements. 

Note: A hunter who applies for a disabled turkey hunt on private lands may not apply for a harvest authorization through the regular spring turkey drawing. For information or special hunt applications (Forms 2300-271 and 2300-271A), please visit the DNR's Spring Turkey Hunting Opportunities For The Disabled webpage or contact the DNR Call Center at 888-936-7463 or the game bird ecologist at 608-212-7923.

Learn To Hunt Turkey

Hunters interested in learning more about turkey hunting are encouraged to participate in one of the Learn to Hunt Turkey events held statewide just prior to the opening of the spring turkey season. To learn more, visit the DNR's Learn to Hunt webpage.