2024 Spring Turkey Season Opens April 17

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds turkey hunters that the 2024 spring turkey season opens on April 17.

The 2024 spring turkey season will run from April 17 through May 28 and includes six, seven-day periods running Wednesday through the following Tuesday. All seven turkey management zones will be open for hunting.

The 2024 spring turkey season dates are as follows:

• Period A: April 17 – 23
• Period B: April 24 – 30
• Period C: May 1 – 7
• Period D: May 8 – 14
• Period E: May 15 – 21
• Period F: May 22 – 28

Hunters must carry their spring turkey license, wild turkey stamp and valid harvest authorization while hunting, and they are encouraged to review the turkey hunting regulations before the season.  

Turkey harvest registration is mandatory and remains a critical component of turkey management in Wisconsin. Hunters must register their turkey by 5 p.m. the day after recovery through the GameReg system or by phone at 1-844-426-3734. Hunters will need the number found on their paper or electronic harvest authorization to register their turkeys.

Hunter Safety Reminders

Camouflage carefully. Hunter camouflage is an important part of turkey hunting, but the better camouflaged a hunter is, the more likely they are to be mistaken for a turkey.

It is especially important to avoid wearing red, white or blue while hunting for turkeys. If a fellow hunter sees a flash of those colors through the brush, they could mistake that for a turkey. 

Remember TAB-K:

T - Treat every firearm as if it is loaded.

A - Always point the muzzle in a safe direction.

B - Be certain of your target; what's before, what's beyond it and don't shoot at movement.

K - Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until ready to shoot. 

Find The Perfect Hunting Spot On Public Or Private Lands

Wisconsin offers millions of acres of public land, with much of it open to turkey hunting. Find public lands open for hunting near you on the DNR's Public Access Lands webpage.

Spring turkey hunting is allowed in select state parks during the two-day youth hunt and the first two periods of the regular season. Hunters looking to pursue turkeys in a state park must hold a harvest authorization for the turkey management zone in which the park is located. For more information regarding hunting in state parks, visit the DNR's State Park Hunting webpage.

Additionally, the public can access thousands of acres of private land through the Voluntary Public Access-Habitat Incentive Program and the Turkey Hunter Access Program. Be sure to check out these lesser-known properties and check back regularly as new properties enroll in these programs throughout the year.

Find the perfect hunting spot through the DNR's Public Access Lands online mapping application. 

For more information regarding turkey hunting in Wisconsin, visit the DNR's Turkey Hunting webpage.