Turkey hunting and management
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Getting ready for the season
Attention Fort McCoy Hunters: Starting March 2019, Fort McCoy hunting and fishing permits will no longer be available through Go Wild, instead hunters will have to use Fort McCoy’s license system, iSportsman. For the 2019 turkey season, hunters must purchase their Wisconsin Spring Turkey License and 2019 Turkey Stamp though Go Wild and their Fort McCoy turkey permit through iSportsman. For more information, visit the Fort McCoy website.
The spring turkey drawing for 2020 has been completed, you can check your application status by visiting your account on Go Wild.
Wild turkeys in Wisconsin
The wild turkey is truly one of Wisconsin's wildlife management success stories. A key role in the success of the wild turkey management program can be attributed to hunters through their purchase of the Wild Turkey Stamp which provides vital financial support in providing for future opportunities for turkey management and hunting in Wisconsin.
Since wild turkeys were first successfully reintroduced into Wisconsin in 1976, population levels continue to increase and expand statewide. Successful restoration of the wild turkey resulted from tremendous hunter and landowner support, good survival and high-quality habitat.
Wild turkeys are susceptible to avian influenza and hunters are advised to take appropriate precautions [PDF exit DNR]. If you observe sick or dead turkeys (or waterfowl, raptors and avian scavengers) while out turkey hunting, please make a note of the specific location and report your observations to your county wildlife biologist (in the DNR staff directory, narrow the search results by using the "counties served" field).
Check out the 2020 Wild turkey spring hunting forecast.
Season information
Season dates
Regulations
Hunter resources
- Map of turkey management zones [PDF]
- Turkey hunting FAQ
- Transfer your turkey harvest authorization
- FREE First turkey certificate
Publications
- Turkey hunting safety tips [PDF]
- Wisconsin turkey hunter's guide [PDF]
- Should We Feed Wild Turkeys? [PDF]
- Guidance for hunters - Protect yourself and your birds from avian influenza [PDF exit DNR]
Wild turkey harvest registration procedures
Register your turkey by 5p.m. the day after harvest. All registration is electronic and available 24 hours a day. No in-person registration stations are available.
- Register online at GameReg
- Register by calling the Harvest Registration Hotline: 1-844-426-3734
The following information is necessary to successfully register your turkey:
- Harvest authorization number (formerly known as a tag number)
- Harvest date and time
- Harvest location (county and turkey management zone)
- Age (adult or juvenile) and sex (gobbler or hen) of your turkey. Use the graphic below, the Aging and Sexing Eastern Wild Turkeys [PDF], or the Small Game Hunting Regulations to determine the age and sex of your turkey.
A 10-character confirmation number will be issued after successfully registering your turkey. This number is for your records.
NOTE: Only the first two primary wing feathers need to be examined when determining whether your turkey is an adult or a juvenile.
2020 spring season
Season information
- 2020 Wisconsin Wild Turkey Update [PDF]
- Bonus harvest authorizations - Spring 2020
- 2020 spring turkey hunting information [PDF]
- Spring turkey youth hunt
- Spring turkey hunting opportunities for the disabled
Harvest
Preliminary 2020 spring turkey harvest. Last updated 06/10/2020.
| Zone | Harvest |
| 1 | 11,691 |
| 2 | 10,943 |
| 3 | 11,270 |
| 4 | 6,986 |
| 5 | 2,183 |
| 6 | 1,132 |
| 7 | 633 |
| Fort McCoy | 144 |
| Total | 44,982 |
2020 fall season
Season information
One fall turkey harvest authorization is included with each fall turkey or conservation patron license purchased. Customers will need to specify their zone of choice at the time of purchase. Bonus fall turkey harvest authorizations (formerly known as leftover tags) will be sold over the counter starting August 15.
Harvest
2020 Fall turkey harvest. Last updated 11/24/2020.
| Zone | Harvest |
| 1 | 533 |
| 2 | 982 |
| 3 | 833 |
| 4 | 449 |
| 5 | 170 |
| 6 | 305 |
| 7 | 165 |
| Fort McCoy | 0 |
| Total | 3437 |
Where to hunt
Find properties open to public hunting
- Public land access
- Use this resource to find public land for any outdoor activity including hunting, fishing, hiking, camping and wildlife viewing.
- Turkey Hunter Access Program
- THAP is a program where landowners open their properties to the public March 1-May 29 for spring turkey hunting. Hunters can find properties enrolled in THAP using the THAP interactive map.
- Voluntary Public Access program
- Through this program, hundreds of landowners have opened their land to the public for hunting, fishing, trapping and wildlife viewing year-round. Over 30,000 acres of private land are accessible to the public and can be found using the VPA interactive map.
- Hunt Wild Wisconsin
- Use the new DNR mobile app to explore public lands, brush up on hunting regulations, listen to podcasts and see up-to-the-minute shooting hours.
Management
Wild turkey stamp
Turkey stamp funds have been providing opportunities for turkey management in Wisconsin since 1995. Sale of the turkey stamp currently brings in over $750,000 annually for developing, managing, conserving, restoring and maintaining the wild turkey population within the state. A few turkey stamp projects are highlighted below
Turkey Advisory Committee
The Turkey Advisory Committee, a diverse group representing government agencies, non-governmental organizations, tribal interests and conservation groups, meets to discuss issues relating to turkey management and the Wild Turkey Stamp program. The Committee advises the Wildlife Policy Team on a variety of topics such as hunting regulations, surveys and research priorities.
The goal of Wisconsin's wild turkey management program is to maintain turkey populations in all suitable range and optimize quality turkey hunting opportunities in spring and fall.