Wisconsin Administrative Code
Department of Natural Resources
NR 1-99 - Fish, Game and Enforcement, Forestry and Recreation
Chapter NR 10 - Game And Hunting
Subchapter I - General Provisions
Section NR 10.25 - Wild turkey hunting

Universal Citation: WI Admin Code ยง NR 10.25

Current through August 26, 2024

(1) LICENSES, STAMPS AND CARCASS TAGS.

(a) Authorization to hunt.
1. Except as provided under subd. 2., no person may hunt wild turkey unless he or she possesses a wild turkey hunting license and stamp issued by the department and turkey harvest authorization issued by the department or Ft. McCoy military reservation. All licenses, stamps, and harvest authorizations shall be valid for the current hunting season.

2. Persons possessing a senior citizen recreation card issued prior to January 1, 1992 do not need to possess a turkey hunting license or stamp.

(b) Landowner preference. Qualified Wisconsin resident landowners or persons assigned eligibility under s. 29.164, Stats., may request first preference when applying for authorization to hunt wild turkeys provided the zone applied for:
1. Is open to wild turkey hunting.

2. Contains at least 50 acres in one parcel owned by the Wisconsin resident applicant.

(c) License application procedures. Persons applying to hunt wild turkeys on the Ft. McCoy military reservation shall apply to that facility. During a fall season when the department will issue at least one license to all applicants, it is not necessary to apply for authorization to purchase a fall turkey hunting license. All other applicants shall apply for an authorization to purchase a turkey hunting license as follows:
1. Application for authorization to purchase a turkey hunting license shall be made on forms provided by the department.

2. All fall and spring hunting season applications shall be postmarked no later than the deadline dates indicated on the form or received by a department service center location on those dates to be considered for selection. The annual deadlines may not be sooner than July 1.

Note: The department conducts extensive publicity on the application deadlines beginning several months prior to any deadline. Application deadline dates are published in news releases, the department web site at http://dnr.wi.gov, license outlet handouts, and pertinent regulation pamphlets. Department service center hours may vary by location.

3. If a maximum of 10 persons wish to hunt together, each shall complete an application form for individual licenses. The group application shall be treated as one application for purposes of random selection or consideration for a license. Landowner preference may be requested by group applicants provided all individuals are eligible under par. (b).

(d) Licensee selection procedures. If the number of applications for licenses for a wild turkey hunting zone and time period exceeds the available quota of licenses, successful applicants shall be randomly selected in accordance with any statutorily established landowner preference system.

(e) License purchase requirement. Except for persons who purchase a license in accordance with par. (f) 2. or during a fall season when the department will issue at least one license to all applicants, no person may purchase a turkey hunting license without presenting the license vendor with the department-issued purchase authorization.

(f) Harvest authorization issuance.
1. `Oversubscribed zones and time periods.' Each successful applicant for a turkey hunting license shall be issued a harvest authorization by the department.

2. `Undersubscribed zones and time periods.' If the number of applications for licenses for a wild turkey hunting zone is less than the available quota of licenses, the department may make available to any person the remaining harvest authorizations for the zone and time period for purchase at a rate of no more than one harvest authorizations per day per person.

(g) License and harvest authorization restrictions.
1. Except for youths participating in the youth turkey hunt established in s. NR 10.01(2) (f) 4., licenses and harvest authorizations issued under this section are only valid for the zone and time period indicated on the harvest authorization. Harvest authorizations used during the youth turkey hunt are valid only for the zone indicated on the harvest authorization, but are not limited to the time period indicated on the harvest authorization.

2. Licenses or harvest authorizations issued under this section may not be transferred to or used by any person other than licensee.

(2) TAGGING AND REGISTRATION. No person may possess a turkey carcass in violation of the requirements for registration established under s. NR 10.086.

(3) RESTRICTIONS. No person may hunt wild turkeys:

(b) By the use or aid of recorded or electrically amplified bird calls or sounds or imitations thereof, or while in possession of any type of device that produces recorded or electronic amplifications of bird calls or sounds. This paragraph 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. This paragraph does not apply to hunters who are unable to proficiently use a turkey call because they are deaf or severely hard of hearing due to some pathological or functional cause as verified by a medical professional.

(c) With the aid of dogs, except during the fall season for hunting turkeys described in s. NR 10.01(2) (f) 2.

(d) With live or electronic decoys for the purposes of enticing wild turkeys.

(4) HARVEST QUOTA. The number of wild turkey hunting licenses or harvest authorizations issued annually for the spring and fall seasons shall be determined by the department. The department shall base its determination for each wild turkey hunting zone upon:

(a) The abundance and distribution of wild turkeys;

(b) Trends in hunter success rates;

(c) Hunter distribution and density; and

(d) Zone size and forested acreage.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Wisconsin may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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