The wild turkey hunting season will have an extended hunt in all but the two northernmost management zones of Wisconsin this year. Under a two-year trial period that has passed legislative review, turkey hunters in zones 1-5 will be able to take advantage of the late season this year.
The regular fall turkey hunting season this year runs from Sept. 12 through Nov. 19 in all seven turkey hunting zones. The extended season starts Nov. 30, the Monday following the November gun deer hunt, and runs through Dec. 31 in zones 1 through 5 only. There is no extended season in zones 6 and 7 in northern Wisconsin.
The extension does not appear in the printed hunting regulations because it was approved after publication deadlines.
All of Douglas, Bayfield and Sawyer counties are included in zone six. Small sections of Burnett and Washburn counties are also part of zone six. Areas of the counties north of Highway 77 and east of Highway 53. The remainder of Burnett and Washburn counties are part of zone four.
Management zones six and seven had the first and third highest success rates of the seven zone in the state. Hunters had a 17.3 percent success rate in zone seven and a 15.2 percent success rate in zone six. The two northern regions also had the fewest number of permits issued and the fewest number of total birds harvested.
ADVERTISEMENT
"We are pleased to offer this additional opportunity to our hunters," said Department of Natural Resources Secretary Matt Frank. "The reestablishment of wild turkeys in Wisconsin is a wildlife success story, and both the spring and fall turkey hunts have become tremendously popular. Turkey hunting is often a family activity, and it is helping to introduce new generations of youngsters to the beauty and excitement of Wisconsin's great outdoors."
Following the extended season in 2010, DNR wildlife managers will evaluate the results and the Natural Resources Board will consider whether the extended season should be made permanent.
