MADISON - The preliminary count from the fall 2007 turkey season reveals hunters harvested 11,925 birds. The count may increase slightly, according to Department of Natural Resources officials, as a few late registration stubs could still be out there.
The count is down slightly from 2006 when 12,033 turkeys were registered. The numbers fell despite a longer fall season that extended from Sept. 15 through Nov. 15.
In addition to the longer season, hunting with dogs was available on a trial basis in a nine-county area in southwestern Wisconsin, according to DNR upland game ecologist, Scott Hull.
"We don't have specific harvest statistics to compare yet for those counties, but anecdotal reports suggest that the trial season went well," he said.
Turkey managers had set a permit level of 94,800 for the fall season. The agency issued approximately 80,000 permits in a lottery drawing and sold another 13,071 permits over-the-counter after the drawing. The success rate was 14.7 percent in 2007, compared to 15.4 percent the previous fall.
The DNR will begin the drawing for spring, 2008 permits in late January, according to an agency press release. There will be approximately 213,000 permits available for the spring season.
While hunters in some units will see their opportunity to obtain a permit increased slightly, most permit numbers will stay the same as 2007. Thirty-nine hundred permits will be available in Zone 11 (portions of Iowa, Lafayette and Grant Counties). Hunters in Zone 12 (portions of Iowa, Lafayette, Green and Dane Counties) will share 4,500 permits.
Zone 16 (eastern Green County and southeastern Dane County) has 3,150 permits available. With the exception of a small area north of State Hwy. 59, all of Rock County falls within Zone 27 where 1,800 permits will be issued.
Any permits available after the late January drawing will go on sale at all license outlets beginning March 28 at 10:00 a.m. Hunters may purchase one over-the-counter permit per day until the quota is met. The permits will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
The first of six five-day periods starts April 16. However, younger hunters will get first chance at shooting a turkey during the spring youth hunt the weekend of April 12. The season ends on May 25.
Hunting opportunities for the disabled are also available at two area parks - New Glarus Woods State Park (Zone 11A) and Belmont Mound State Park (Zone 12A). Disabled hunters may elect to have an assistant but must contact the park involved one week prior to the hunt.
Turkey management zones to change
The state will move to reduce the number of turkey management zones from the more than 40 zones currently in place to seven larger zones for the fall, 2008 season. The change will allow hunters to move over a much larger area than the current system allows, thereby offering a greater opportunity to harvest a turkey.
Iowa, Grant, Lafayette and Green Counties will all fall in Turkey Management Zone One. The dividing line between Zones One and Two (southeastern Wisconsin) follows State Hwy. 104 and County Hwy. T between Rock and Green Counties.
The count is down slightly from 2006 when 12,033 turkeys were registered. The numbers fell despite a longer fall season that extended from Sept. 15 through Nov. 15.
In addition to the longer season, hunting with dogs was available on a trial basis in a nine-county area in southwestern Wisconsin, according to DNR upland game ecologist, Scott Hull.
"We don't have specific harvest statistics to compare yet for those counties, but anecdotal reports suggest that the trial season went well," he said.
Turkey managers had set a permit level of 94,800 for the fall season. The agency issued approximately 80,000 permits in a lottery drawing and sold another 13,071 permits over-the-counter after the drawing. The success rate was 14.7 percent in 2007, compared to 15.4 percent the previous fall.
The DNR will begin the drawing for spring, 2008 permits in late January, according to an agency press release. There will be approximately 213,000 permits available for the spring season.
While hunters in some units will see their opportunity to obtain a permit increased slightly, most permit numbers will stay the same as 2007. Thirty-nine hundred permits will be available in Zone 11 (portions of Iowa, Lafayette and Grant Counties). Hunters in Zone 12 (portions of Iowa, Lafayette, Green and Dane Counties) will share 4,500 permits.
Zone 16 (eastern Green County and southeastern Dane County) has 3,150 permits available. With the exception of a small area north of State Hwy. 59, all of Rock County falls within Zone 27 where 1,800 permits will be issued.
Any permits available after the late January drawing will go on sale at all license outlets beginning March 28 at 10:00 a.m. Hunters may purchase one over-the-counter permit per day until the quota is met. The permits will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
The first of six five-day periods starts April 16. However, younger hunters will get first chance at shooting a turkey during the spring youth hunt the weekend of April 12. The season ends on May 25.
Hunting opportunities for the disabled are also available at two area parks - New Glarus Woods State Park (Zone 11A) and Belmont Mound State Park (Zone 12A). Disabled hunters may elect to have an assistant but must contact the park involved one week prior to the hunt.
Turkey management zones to change
The state will move to reduce the number of turkey management zones from the more than 40 zones currently in place to seven larger zones for the fall, 2008 season. The change will allow hunters to move over a much larger area than the current system allows, thereby offering a greater opportunity to harvest a turkey.
Iowa, Grant, Lafayette and Green Counties will all fall in Turkey Management Zone One. The dividing line between Zones One and Two (southeastern Wisconsin) follows State Hwy. 104 and County Hwy. T between Rock and Green Counties.
