Wisconsin DNR asking for public input on statewide turkey management

Madison Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking public input as the revision process for the state’s Turkey Management Plan begins.

Wisconsin’s current Turkey Management Plan, adopted in 2015, was designed to guide and inform statewide turkey management practices and priorities for a period of 10 years.

As part of the management plan revision process, the DNR has convened a Turkey Management Plan Committee to better understand the various interests and perspectives related to Wisconsin’s turkey season. The committee is comprised of diverse stakeholder representatives from tribal agencies, hunting organizations, conservation partners and Conservation Congress members, as well as technical staff from the DNR and federal agencies.

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The new plan will guide the management of turkey in Wisconsin for the next ten years. The DNR values public input and believes that it is essential for Wisconsinites to provide feedback for the committee to consider and discuss. 

An online public comment tool and more information are available on the DNR’s Turkey Management webpage for submitting comments. Anyone interested in Wisconsin’s turkey management is encouraged to participate. 

Individuals may also submit comments via email to Taylor Finger, DNR Game Bird Specialist, at Taylor.Finger@wisconsin.gov. Comments will be accepted through 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. 

After the public input period, the Turkey Management Plan Committee will convene to review the feedback collected during this period and initiate work on developing a first draft of the Turkey Management Plan.

Once ready, the draft plan will be made available for public review and comment. Feedback from that round of public input will then be reviewed, and the DNR will make any appropriate changes before presenting the draft plan to the Natural Resources Board for final approval.

More information, including the scheduling of the second public input period and consideration by the Natural Resources Board, will be announced as soon as it becomes available.