Spring Turkey Hunting Seasons

Winter is finally over and turkey hunting is here! As the turkey population has continued to increase, so has the amount of turkey hunters. There are now more than 7 million wild turkey in the United States. This is in large part due to the success of planting these wild birds in hand-selected suitable habitats, such as Wisconsin, and watching them thrive.

Also, the spring turkey hunt limits hunters to bearded turkeys only, which has allowed for their continued growth and expansion throughout the U.S. Get out of your winter roosting site, and strut into action by participating in the turkey hunt this spring. Here are some details about season dates and eligibility requirements in Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa in order to prepare for the hunt this spring.

Michigan Turkey Hunt

Michigan’s spring turkey hunting season lasts from April 23rd until May 31st. Turkey hunters had between January 1st – February 1st to apply for their license. The cost was $5 and allowed you the opportunity to select the zone and season of your preference. Each of these applicants were randomly drawn and this determined where they will be hunting and if they will be hunting.

If you didn’t apply early do not worry. On March 19th, all leftover licenses will be available for every hunter to purchase on a first come first serve basis. However, some zones may not have any leftover licenses available for purchase. A spring turkey hunting license in Michigan costs $15. On top of this, turkey hunters must also have a Michigan Base License. This costs $11 for Michigan Residents and $151 for Nonresidents.

Wisconsin Turkey Hunt

Wisconsin’s spring turkey hunt started on April 14 and 15 with the youth hunt and lasts up until May 29th. The spring drawing took place on December 10th and the application fee was $3. This allowed applicants the opportunity to select their top two zones corresponding with their top three dates in which they wanted to turkey hunt. Leftover turkey authorizations will be sold on a first come first serve basis.

Each zone will have a designated sales date, and the first zone went on sale March 19th. The turkey authorization includes: the Spring Turkey License – $15, Spring Turkey Tag/Harvest Authorization – $10, and the Turkey Stamp – $5.25. All of these prices are assuming you are a Wisconsin Resident. Prices will increase if you are a Nonresident.

Wisconsin Blain’s Farm & Fleet store locations have all of the licenses and permits you need to turkey hunt in Wisconsin, but purchases must be made in store. Also, hunters are no longer required to attach a tag to the turkey they harvest. There is a new call-in registration program in which hunters must authorize their  harvest by 5 pm the next day.

Iowa Turkey Hunt

Iowa’s spring turkey hunt lasts from April 7 all the way until May 20. The early application period in which hunters are allowed to select their season of choice started on January 1st and went up until the last weekend in January. All hunters are guaranteed the fourth season if they so choose. The turkey population in Iowa is extremely high, so they hold a fourth season that is 19 days long. Therefore, the early applicants are choosing their season of preference from one of the first three seasons.

In order to be eligible to hunt in Iowa, you must obtain a Iowa Small Game Hunting License, Turkey Permit, and a Wildlife Habitat Fee. For Iowa Residents, the Habitat Fee is $13, the Small Game License is $19, and the Turkey Permit is $24.50. Nonresidents pay the same price for the Habitat Fee, but $102 for the Nonresident Turkey Permit and $112 for the Nonresident Small Game License. Blain’s Farm & Fleet sells Iowa Turkey Hunting Licenses in all of the Iowa store locations.

Illinois Turkey Hunt

Illinois’s spring turkey hunt starts at the end of March and lasts until mid-May. The first season is the youth hunt which takes place March 31 – April 1 and April 7 & April 8. A series of three lotteries took place to select hunters for the 2018 spring turkey hunt. These were held on December 23 of 2017, January 29 of 2018, and March 5 of 2018. In conclusion of the lotteries, turkey permits are sold on a first come, first serve basis. Illinois is divided into a North and South Zone for the turkey hunt. The season dates vary based upon zone.

In order to be eligible to hunt, you must have three separate items. Hunters must purchase an Illinois Hunting, Sportsman, Youth, or Apprentice License, a Turkey Permit, and a Habitat Stamp. For Illinois Residents, the Habitat Stamp costs $5.50, the Turkey Permit costs $15, and the price varies for the Illinois Hunting License depending on which one you purchase. All Illinois store locations have turkey licenses and permits available to purchase in store.

Turkey Hunting Supplies

Now that you know how to become eligible to hunt in your state, you need to prepare for the hunt. Blain’s Farm & Fleet has plenty of turkey hunting supplies to suit your needs! Check out all of our turkey calls, turkey decoys, ground blinds, and additional turkey hunting accessories online at www.farmandfleet.com. Also, go to your local Blain’s Farm & Fleet store to pick up a shotgun and ammunition so you are ready to make the perfect shot! For more tips, check out our additional turkey hunting blog posts.