Less Spring Turkey Permits to be Issued

The Wisconsin DNR is reducing the amount of over the counter Spring Turkey permits in certain zones due to losses in the turkey population this winter. See all the details in this article from Wisconsin Outdoor Fun.

MADISON — Remaining over-the-counter permits in Turkey Management Zones 6 and 7 will not be issued and over-the-counter permits in zones 4 and 5 will be reduced by 25 percent in response to hunter feedback requesting a conservative approach to the number of permits issued for this spring's hunt, due to concerns that increased winter mortality has depressed turkey numbers.

Although Department of Natural Resources biologists recognize that spring harvests do not play a significant role in wild turkey population dynamics, it is clear that prolonged periods of cold and deep snow have impacted turkeys throughout the northern part of the state.

Full Story DNR: Spring turkey permits reduced to address concerns over winter losses

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Hunting and Fishing in Wisconsin

Sure spring is coming....eventually.  But hunting seasons will be here snow or not!

Get ready by checking out dates and times for all hunting and fishing seasons in Wisconsin for 2014 - get the flyers here 2014 Wisconsin Hunting - 2014 Wisconsin Fishing

And new hunting and fishing licenses go on sale today - get details from the WI DNR here New fishing, hunting licenses go on sale March 5

And find your perfect Wisconsin hunting or recreational parcel here BuyWisconsinLand.com

Wisconsin Deer Classic and Hunting Expo

Trying to stay warm and get ready for the upcoming hunting seasons?

Head to Cedar Creek Mall in Rothschild for the Wisconsin Deer Classic and Hunting Expo at the Patriot Center February 21st-23rd. See Firearms, Hunting Gear, Wildlife Art & Gifts, Guides & Outfitters, Outdoor Equipment and more.  Also at this event is the Wisconsin Taxidermists Association Convention and the WTA Championship Competition.

See the Wisconsin Deer Classic event page here Wisconsin Deer Classic and Hunting Expo

See WTA Convention and Competition Information here 2014 WI Deer Classic

Find great hunting land across Wisconsin here BuyWisconsinLand.com

Turkey Hunting

The Wisconsin DNR has released the numbers for the Fall Turkey Hunt - 4,633 birds were registered, which was down from 2012.  You can also see harvest information for the Spring Turkey Hunt, and if you did not enter the drawing for a Turkey License, 10,000 permits will be available in mid-March.

 MADISON -- Wisconsin wild turkey hunters registered a total of 4,633 birds during the fall 2013 wild turkey season, a decrease of 34 percent from the 7,054 turkeys registered during the 2012 season. Success rates also decreased, from 12.9 percent in 2012 to 7.1 percent during the 2013 season.

"The late spring and wet June last year translated into poor overall reproductive success for turkeys, so with fewer young birds out there we expected to see a bit of a drop in harvest during the fall season," said Scott Walter, upland wildlife ecologist for the Department of Natural Resources. "However, the magnitude of the decline from the 2012 harvest was somewhat surprising. We'll be looking at the results of our fall hunter survey to see if hunter participation rates or effort may have played roles in the drop in harvest."

Full Story Hunters register 4,633 birds in 2013 fall wild turkey hunt; spring permit levels set

See the DNR Flyer on the Spring Turkey Hunt here Spring 2014 Turkey Hunting Information

Find great hunting properties across Wisconsin here BuyWisconsinLand.com

We've Got an App for That

The Wisconsin DNR has a new app: "The Official Guide for Wisconsin's Fishing, Hunting & Wildlife".

Get information on all things outdoors including Wisconsin’s fishing, hunting and wilderness sites, species profiles, rules and regulations, permits and licensing details, record trails, mark traps and keep track of wildlife sightings.  

Get more information or download the app here Official WI Fish and Wildlife Guide

Track wildlife on your own wooded property.  Find a great one here BuyWisconsinLand.com

Looking for Wisconsin Ethical Hunter

The La Crosse Tribune and Wissconsin Department of Natural Resources are searching for this year's Ethical Hunter Award winner. See this article by Wisconsin Ag Connection for information on how to nominate a hunter before January 15th.

Getting the biggest buck or the most pheasants, the longest-bearded turkey or the heaviest duck doesn't mean a thing if hunter ethics are not part of the experience. That comes from Bob Lamb, the retired outdoors editor of The La Crosse Tribune and co-founder of The La Crosse Tribune/Wissconsin Department of Natural Resources Hunter Ethics Award.

Nominations for this statewide award will be accepted through January 15. The annual honor was established by Lamb, retired DNR conservation warden supervisor Steve Dewald and retired University of Wisconsin-La Crosse instructor Jerry Davis. Chief Conservation Warden Todd Schaller joined the award committee last year.

Full Story Nominations Being Accepted for Hunter Ethics Award

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Cross Bow Hunting

Beginning in 2014, Wisconsin will allow cross-bow hunting for all hunters.  Check out this article from Bowhunting Magazine that invites you to comment on the new law.

The ever-expanding list of states allowing crossbow hunting got a little longer this month when Governor Scott Walker signed legislation expanding crossbow hunting opportunities in Wisconsin.

Under previously existing rules, only hunters age 65 and over or with physical disabilities were allowed to hunt deer with crossbows. Beginning with the 2014 fall hunting season, hunters of all legal ages and abilities will be able to purchase a crossbow hunting license and hunt during a crossbow hunting season that will run concurrent with the archery deer season.

Full Story Read & React: Wisconsin Introduces First-Ever Crossbow Season

Merry Christmas from all of us at BuyWisconsinLand.com