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Thursday, May 7th, 2026

Breaking News for

Sportsmen Since 1968

Wisconsin DNR announces 2025 spring turkey season results

Wisconsin turkey hunters registered 50,287 birds this season, a 14% increase from the five-year average. (Photo courtesy of the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies)

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced preliminary totals for the 2025 spring turkey season. Wisconsin turkey hunters registered 50,287 birds this season, a 14% increase from the five-year average.

The 2025 spring turkey season started on April 12 with the two-day youth hunt for hunters under 16 years old. A total of 3,981 birds were registered during the youth hunt, an increase from 3,967 in 2024.

RELATED COVERAGE FROM WISCONSIN OUTDOOR NEWS:

Patrick Durkin: Youth-only hunts often trigger petty opposition

Redemption in the pumpkin patch; reflecting on a Wisconsin turkey hunting season

Patrick Durkin: Wisconsin turkey hunters notch fifth-best season

The regular season is divided into six separate one-week periods, opening April 16 and closing May 27. These separate periods help maximize hunter opportunities while minimizing interference for a more sustainable harvest.

A total of 246,068 authorizations were available this spring, and hunters applied for or purchased 228,844 of them. The robust participation and harvest numbers demonstrate ample opportunities across the state.

The deadline to apply for next spring’s (2026) turkey season is Dec. 10. Hunters can apply for harvest authorizations online through the Go Wild license portal. 

Learn more about turkey hunting in Wisconsin on the DNR’s Turkey Hunting webpage.

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