Wisconsin Ag Connection - Fall Wild Turkey, Ruffed Grouse Seasons Now Open

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Fall Wild Turkey, Ruffed Grouse Seasons Now Open
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 09/19/2014

Prospects are good for both the fall wild turkey and ruffed grouse hunting seasons, both of which opened this past week in Wisconsin. This year, the state has seen continued strong interest in the fall turkey hunt. More than 80,000 hunters applied for a fall permit in each of the past two years, compared to just under 60,000 applications in 2012.

"It's great to see this increased interest in fall turkey hunting, which offers some enjoyable challenges compared to the spring season," said Scott Walter, upland wildlife ecologist for the Department of Natural Resources. "We are anticipating good numbers for this fall's hunt, even with the wet weather we experienced early this spring and summer."

The fall turkey season runs through November 20 statewide, while an extended fall season in Turkey Management zones 1-5 runs from December 1-31.

As in recent years, the use dogs to hunt wild turkey this fall is allowed statewide.

The DNR says Wisconsin's wild turkey population remains strong. After 30 years of sustained population growth and expansion across the state, wild turkeys are now found statewide, and turkey numbers appear to be stabilizing at levels suitable to available habitat.

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