DNR Releases info on the 2010 Spring Season

[DonBo]

Applications for the 2010 spring turkey hunt are being accepted through

Friday, Jan. 8, 2010, wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold.

Adult hunters may apply for one of nearly 57,000 permits to hunt a

five- or seven-day season in one of 77 permit areas. Youth 17 and

younger no longer need to apply for the lottery. They will be able to

purchase a spring turkey permit for any permit area and any time period

directly from a license agent. Applicants choose one of eight time

periods in which to hunt.

“Turkey hunters can look forward to more great opportunities this

spring,” said Bill Penning, farmland wildlife program leader for the

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). “We have

significantly increased permit numbers during the last two time periods,

thereby allowing anyone who is not selected in the lottery or already

purchased a 2010 spring turkey license for another time period to

purchase a license for one of the last two time periods.”

Minnesota residents 18 and older by April 14, 2010, must apply for a

spring turkey permit either in person, via the Internet or by telephone

at 1-888-665-4236 by Friday, Jan. 8, 2010. A nonrefundable $3

application fee must be paid at the time of application. An additional

nonrefundable $3.50 convenience fee will be charged for all applications

made by telephone o r the Internet. Nonresident hunters may apply by

mail or by telephone.

Penning said the permit application no longer asks hunters to indicate

a second choice for the time period in which they want to hunt. Hunters

who are successful in the drawing and choose not to purchase a tag, will

lose the current year’s preference point for future drawings They will

not lose accumulated preference from past years.

Spring turkey archery hunters have two options. They can apply in the

lottery or purchase a regular license over-the-counter for one of the

last two time periods from the eight available, which allows them to

hunt with a bow or firearm during the time period chosen. A second

option allows them to purchase a spring turkey archery license, which

allows them to hunt with a bow during both of the season’s last two

time periods.

Spring turkey archery licenses only are available in permit areas that

offer 50 or more permits. Applicants who are successful in the spring

permit lottery are ineligible for a spring archery license.

Spring turkey hunt application information is available at DNR license

agents and online.

The application booklet contains maps of open wild turkey permit areas,

permit quotas, season dates and an application worksheet. Hunters are

encouraged to fill-out the application form prior to purchasing a

license so the process goes smoothly at the license vendor.

DNR uses a preference system drawing to select spring turkey permit

winners. A special landowner-tenant preference drawing for up to 20

percent of the permits also is part of the drawing. Successful

applicants will be mailed the 2010 Spring Wild Turkey Hunt Book in

February.

For more information, call the DNR Information Center at 651-296-6157

or toll free 888-MINNDNR (646-6367).

[DonBo]

The National Wild Turkey Federation has played a huge role in Minnesotas youth being able to participate in this great sport. There is no longer an age restriction for youth turkey hunters, and now they know tags are available for them.

It's a great day for the future of hunting in Minnesota!

[Gordie]

Thanks Don and my kids eye lit up when I told them about the new law for them. they were kind of bummed last season because they didnt get drawn but now its a new ball game.

we should have a lot of fun this spring