Wisconsin hunters registered 47,725 turkeys during 2026 spring season | The Locally Times
The 2026 spring harvest exceeded the five-year average by 8.6 percent across 72 counties.
Wisconsin hunters registered 47,725 birds during the 2026 spring season, which ran from April 12 through May 26. This total exceeds the state's five-year average of 43,953 birds by 8.6 percent. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the state agency responsible for wildlife management, oversaw the season, which included a youth hunt and six one-week regular periods. ## Population and Participation The 2026 season marks 50 years since the DNR began wild turkey reintroduction efforts. DNR data shows turkey populations exist in all 72 counties. Biologists attribute the harvest trends to mild winters and nesting conditions over the past several years. The first statewide turkey hunt occurred in 1983. During the 2026 season, hunters applied for 235,429 of the 254,226 available harvest authorizations, which are permits required to hunt turkeys in specific zones. ## Future Hunting Dates The 2026 fall turkey hunting season is scheduled to open on September 12 and will run through January 3, 2027. Hunters must submit applications for the 2027 spring season by December 10, 2026. The DNR processes these applications through the Go Wild license portal, the state's online system for purchasing hunting and fishing permits. The DNR will make unawarded authorizations available for purchase as bonus authorizations in March 2027. ## Key Questions **How much did the 2026 harvest exceed the five-year average?** The 2026 spring harvest of 47,725 birds was 8.6 percent higher than the five-year average of 43,953 birds. **When is the deadline to apply for the 2027 spring turkey season?** Hunters must submit applications by December 10, 2026, using the Go Wild license portal.