Wisconsin Ag Connection - Deadline Approaching for Black Bear, Spring Wild Turkey Permits

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Deadline Approaching for Black Bear, Spring Wild Turkey Permits
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 12/08/2020

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reminds black bear and wild turkey hunters the 2021 season application deadline is before midnight on December 10. Hunters can purchase applications for permit drawings at GoWild.wi.gov or through an authorized license agent.

Harvest numbers from the 2020 black bear season are not finalized, but preliminary estimates show that hunters shot more than 4,100 bears. DNR staff and the Bear Advisory Committee are currently determining 2021 harvest quotas.

Due to the high level of interest in this hunt, bear hunters must apply for several years before receiving a permit through the drawing process for most bear management zones. Bear permit applicants must apply at least once during any period of three consecutive years to retain their accumulated preference points, or all accumulated preference points will be lost. If the hunter is selected in the drawing, their preference points will be reset to zero, even if they do not purchase the harvest permit.

Applicants are also reminded of the new bear management zone boundaries, as their usual hunting grounds may change to a new unit start date in 2021.

Meanwhile, December 10 is also the deadline to apply for a spring turkey harvest authorization, previously known as a tag or permit. Turkey harvest authorizations are issued through a preference-based drawing system.

Applicants may choose up to two time period and zone combinations that they would like to hunt. As a third choice, applicants may choose one zone in which they will accept a harvest authorization for any period. This third choice can be the same zone as the first and/or second choice. The second and third choices are optional, but applicants are encouraged to provide second and third choices to maximize their likelihood of drawing a harvest authorization.

Successful applicants will be notified by mail after the drawing results are finalized.

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