Wisconsin Turkey Hunting

Update: The Wisconsin Turkey Draw for 2025 spring season tags is now closed. You can still secure Bonus authorization (leftover) tags, which we detail below. If you missed the draw you can start tracking your hunt deadlines for free with OnPoint – never miss an application! Available on Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Wisconsin offers tremendous turkey hunting opportunities to sportsmen, both in quality and quantity. Both spring and fall hunting seasons are available, with the spring being the most sought after. Residents and nonresidents acquire tags in the same method, which is through the Wisconsin Spring Turkey Application. Below we’ll cover how the application works, including the Wisconsin turkey zones, available seasons, and other important information.

When is the Wisconsin Spring Turkey Application?

The Wisconsin Spring Turkey Application deadline is the same each year, with applications due no later than December 10th. To receive reminders for this application or others, add it to your OnPoint Account via the web, Apple, or Android app. If you miss the spring turkey deadline, you can still get a tag when leftover tags go for sale, detailed below.

Wisconsin Turkey Zones

Wisconsin is divided into seven turkey hunting zones. Tags are specific to an individual hunting zone. Below is the Wisconsin turkey hunting zone map.

Wisconsin Turkey Season Dates

The Wisconsin Spring Turkey hunting season is divided into six individual periods, each one week in length. Turkey tags are valid only for a specific period within the season. The first period typically opens in mid-April, and the final period usually ends in late-May. Each period is one week in length, beginning on a Wednesday and ending the following Tuesday. Below is a table of the 2025 Wisconsin Spring Turkey Seasons.

Wisconsin 2025 Spring Turkey Seasons

How the Wisconsin Spring Turkey Draw Works

The Spring Turkey Draw is managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and applicants apply through the Wisconsin GoWild website.

Preference System

Spring turkey harvest permits are allocated using a preference based system. This includes two levels of preference. The first level is based on residency and landowner status. The second is based on preference points accumulated from prior unsuccessful draws. The first level preference tiers are listed below. Within each tier, applicants will then be ordered based on preference points held.

1. Resident landowners with 50 or more contiguous acres;
2. Residents with one or more preference points;
3. All other residents;
4. Nonresident landowners;
5. All other nonresidents.

Hunt Choices and Drawing Process

Hunters will enter two choices into the draw. Each choice will include one specific hunting zone and hunting period, such as Zone 3, Period B. Permits are granted after assessing the various combinations of zones and time periods that an applicant is willing to accept, prioritized based on the preference level of each applicant for that combination. In addition to the two different time period-zone combinations, applicants can enter one zone where they would be granted a permit if their first two choices are not available.

The drawing process aims to provide as many applicants as possible with one harvest permit, and only a single harvest permit can be acquired through the draw. Any remaining permits will be made available for purchase as Bonus Authorizations after the drawing concludes. Harvest permits cannot be exchanged for a different time period or zone.

Wisconsin Nonresident Turkey Tag Strategy

Given the preference system order, nonresidents will never jump above residents no matter how many points they acquire. This means there are certain combinations of hunt period and zone that will fully sell out to residents every year. Given that, nonresidents who choose to enter the draw should generally set their second choice for a unit that is likely to have leftover permits available to maximize the chance of drawing. Details are available below on tags available after the 2025 draw. Each of these units with available tags would be able to be drawn by nonresidents.

Bonus Harvest Authorizations

Once the preference drawing has concluded, any unclaimed turkey harvest authorizations will be made available for purchase without preference-based restrictions and will be referred to as bonus harvest authorizations. These bonus authorizations will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis, with each zone having a specific sales date. Hunters will have the opportunity to acquire these leftover harvest authorizations, with a limit of one authorization per day, until they are fully sold or the hunting season comes to a close. Below is a list of sale dates for 2025 spring bonus authorizations. All sales begin at 10AM CST.

2025 Spring Turkey Bonus Authorizations Available

Below is a table of the available tags after the 2025 draw. These numbers will change daily as the tag sales proceed. For additional details on tag availability by unit, please visit the Spring Bonus Harvest Authorizations page or the Fall Bonus Harvest Authorizations page. The bonus harvest authorization system allows avid turkey hunters to have a very long turkey season with the opportunity to harvest multiple birds.

FAQ

Can I purchase a second spring turkey tag?

Yes. Hunters can buy additional turkey tags via the bonus harvest authorization system. These are subject to availability, and limited to one bonus authorization purchase per day.