Turkey Season Structure

Some complain that the DNR got the Season Structure wrong but I think it is one of the best systems in place. I would not change a thing. What do you guys think?

Foundry Rat, I just dont get the "Now unethical hunters can wait at the roost area and shoot a bird as it tries to go to bed" comment How is this no any less ethical than getting into the woods at 4 and finding a roosted gobbler to set up and wait for coming off the roost.? or... Sitting in a field you scouted the past week knowing perfectly well that theyll be in it in the morning in full strut willing to come right into your dekes/calling? or setting up on a known food source? or... stalking a bird that is hung up about 100 yards away? Hunting is hunting. You are there to shoot a bird. Its not like p.m. hunters are shooting them out of the trees. A comment like this is no different than an archery hunter calling a gun hunter unethical because of the added advantage of gun power

First I questioned the extended times and the 7 day hunt....I've heard from some that this has ruined the hunt....I for one, don't hunt the afternoons, but for others that can't hunt the mornings, I think it was a good call....With that being said, I'm all for limiting hunters to 2 birds per season...

I'm ok with it for the most part. Shot a Tom on first day of first season within 20 minutes of season opening. Bought OTC tags for 2 other zones and periods. Hunted unsuccessfully one of those periods, but barely got out due to family/ work. The last tag took me a couple days to fill and was the hardest I hunted this spring. Less birds and not at all active on public land. Managed to tag a Jake about 5:00 the second evening. Only hunted briefly in the morning as I had a migraine. This found me camped out in truck napping by 8:00. Fortunately I felt better by noon and got back out to the woods. This is the latest I've ever shot a turkey. Usually right away in morning or just after noon. My point with all this is that having the longer hours and days is great for folks that don't have an easy time getting off work or have other family obligations. There are more opportunities for them to enjoy time in the woods doing something they enjoy. I personally like the various zones and seasons as I'm able to hunt different areas. The 6 season structure also makes for less competition, especially on public lands. Makes it harder later in the season by having a lower number of birds and educated at that. Fine by me as I like the challenge.

I think season should stay the same. I think it's good for the workin person....closing season at 2 or 5 is great if you are able to take off a week during season or if you guide and get them every day. For someone like me changing to this basically gives me two day season..in reality getting one headed to roost is no different than stealing up on one, waiting on a food plot, etc..everyone to their own on how they want to harvest their bird.....I won't shoot more than 2 but don't mind if others do...I say have a management number and sell tags based on that (which I think they already do)....many stop when it's warmer, fishing starts, etc. if a guy wants to get a late season permit go for it....I know that this is place for a reason but nothing drives me more nuts than the reports that state a bearded hen only came out so we shot it....bearded or not I'm not a big fan of taking a hen just because I caor only see

I agree with you SH. I would not want to change the youth hunt Keep it as it is. I would like to see it go to weds-sunday. Be done by 3pm. Limit to 2 Toms per spring. Like you said SH. More then 2 just dont sit right with me....seems like overkill. I like that the DNR is trying new things however...Maybe they will keep trying new stuff..

Ok people, lets not get carried away by saying that predators are the cause of subpar deer hunting seasons. In my opinion, the DNR is to blame. But that's another story, and I'm done talking about it. Anyway, the new season structure seems alright to me. I personally didn't get out the woods this year to turkey hunt, but it's definitely nice to have an entire week to hunt rather than Wednesday to Sunday. Taking a bird as it's heading to bed is about the equivalent of taking a deer right before the end of shooting hours. I don't see anything wrong with it really. It's just good woodsmanship and knowing when and where to hunt. If the DNR wants to put a cap on when you can hunt, that's fine with me, too. In New York, fish & game allows you to shoot 2 toms and hunt the entire month of May. However, you can't hunt past noon. Frankly, it makes the most sense to me. When I hear about people taking their third, fourth, or even fifth bird of the season, it makes me shake my head in disgust. A little self-control will ensure a good hunt the following season. That's why I like the 2 tom limit. The entire month ensures ample time to find and shoot both birds, too. Moreover, the noon closure rule probably lets the birds settle down and keeps them on a regular schedule through the season. I don't know for sure, but it seems logical. I'm not trying to start a comment brawl. I'm just contributing to good discussion.

I hate the new season. First it was made all day and I did not like it. Now unethical hunters can wait at the roost area and shoot a bird as it tries to go to bed. This was bad enough but now the turkeys are hunters 7 days a week. No time off, they are chased constantly, sunrise to sunset, 24/7. On the public land it is awful! The birds are driven right off. This slot I have seen 6 different bucks, a few hens and zero toms, (excluding the ones on private). I only heard 1 tom gobbling and that was on private. This is the most pitiful excuse of a hunt I have ever had. I have filled all my tags in the last 15 years except 1. I stumbled into morels on my inlaws property and quit hunting to pick 1 1/2 paper grocery bags full of shrooms. This is not the wining of an unskilled novice. I wish it would close at 5 PM and run 5 days only. This structure sucks!

So why doesn't trapping help control predators? I trap maybe that is why there are so manybirds in my area! I shot my 1 bird yesterday. I passed up 18 different jakes the previous two mornings. There are still 10-12 differnt Tom's roaming around the approx. 150 acres I hunted(that I observed). No one else will probably go there. No birds I guess

I think they should do like most states. One straight season 2 weeks and 2 bearded birds per license. Some of those states do not allow shooting hens even in the fall of the year. All it takes is 1 mature gobbler to breed numerous hens. The trapping does not help either. Where I am from in Southern Wisconsin take a drive on a cool evening. I drove 5 miles and saw about a dozen raccoons, a few possum, skunks, and a coyote run across the road. That's where your main predators come from. I remember watching a hen during spring time. ( I knew it was same hen because she had light colored flight feathers) She started out the spring with a batch of 14 little guys. As the weeks went on and got bigger they hung out by the bird feeder. She came in with 11 young. A few weeks later came by with 5. Right towards fall she had 2 young with her. Some predator was getting his fill.

I didn't consider Hy 10 the north woods. I am indicating that may be close to the northern range of habitat that will support a large numberof birds. I f you can't give a county or what for your location forget it. Too many bozo's here saying there are not turkeys. If there aren't any than maybe don't go. I guess I will have to call the DNR and register every wood tick and flying blood sucker I kill also. No one has stated any good reason for the zones and time periods or applications required. Not one It is an outdate mechanism that has run its course of usefulness. Or do you guys just need more government control in your lives.

I'm hunting zone 3 mostly. I echo what brews4995 and blckbrd said. I think weather played a fairly big part in how it is now, predator and tag numbers didn't help. Based on how many over the counter tags there are for zone 3, I'm guessing there are places overran with turkeys, just not anywhere near where I hunt. I wouldn't consider north of hwy 10 the northwoods though lol! Hopefully this past winter/spring will do them some good.

I think alot of farmers will let you on land. Some have guys hunting certain periods; and you can go when they are done. Turkeys are everywhere in S. Wi. Almost any farm hassome on it or moving through.

Personally, I hunt in 3 completely different zones in two different states all with minimal hunting pressure and varying from alot of ag land to no ag land and have a high level of success hunting and there is no "Pollution" of birds by any means. These are private parcels that are diverse in flora and fauna and prime hunting areas. All areas hold around 20-30 birds, but the populations vary very little and they don't get hunted too hard. They range from 120-320 acres. I know of areas you talk about Trapper, but they are becoming fewer and have almost 0 opportunity for gaining permission because I ask! So I would say your situation is an exception rather than the rule. The DNR is now completely about money though and it is ruining hunting. Overhunting has definitely caused the overall harvest % per hunter to go down, and game really needs "Days off" Look at the deer harvest in 2011, as good if not better than 2010 with many fewer gun seasons and doe tags. Might even be 15000 tags left for zone 3 turkeys yet I haven't checked in the last 2 days, but I hunt remote public land in zone 3 and they recieve little pressure and birds are not very prevalent in the last few years. There are certain concentrations of birds in certain areas that definitely could use thinning. But the bird #'s were great until the DNR started selling way too many extra tags and now basically a continuous 6 week season, will only make things more difficult.

Where I hunt in central Wi the numbers are down from where they were 10 years ago and even 5 for that matter. I feel there are a few reasons for this: 1: More hunters than there were 10 years ago. I used to be able to hunt anywhere I wanted in a 5 square mile area because no one turkey hunted and everyone though it was dumb to hunt turkeys. Now more people hunt which means more birds killed and more pressured birds which means less sightings and success. 2: A few very hard winters the previous 3 years and some wet springs which means less young make it to be a year old. Even the older birds had a hard time making it through a few winters ago. A nice spring this year will make a big difference in the upcoming years.

Well lake shinner where do you live or hunt? When turkeys were introduced in Wi. they were never intended to be established in the North Woods. I would say just about anywhere South of Hy 10 has numbers. North of there is habitat and weather issues. Some people apply and never go. Just open it up and let people who want to hunt get a few birds. S. Wi. has trappers out in force controling some predators. coyotes are the most numerous predator that isn't trapped as much as the others. If areashave low er populations ; I guess people will not hunt there as much and the harvest will be lower. You could always structure some zones of lower population; etc. Maybe , i should just become a turkey guide. I mean even the public land is full of birds.