Reminder for turkey hunters 3/15/04

[adaylate]

Just a reminder the surplus turkey licenses go on sale March 15 at 5 p.m. Good luck to all.

[TomBow]

SHHHH, MAN!! Keep it down!!

Seriously, I hope I get one for my wife but Best of Luck to all, hope you get yours!!!

[adaylate]

Your right, I already have my license so I will zip it up!

[Hotspotter]

Unreal.....came up empty-handed.

I show up at a "secret" ELS agent away from the turkey-license-seeking-crowd. I was 2nd in line......all is looking good. The machine kept having problems, and by the time the DNR info-line had put the clerk on hold twice for 10 minutes each time, it was 5:25PM with no turkey license still. After fiddling with it some more, and entering some special codes (the 1st one from the DNR didn't work), I was finally able to give it a crack. Out of 6 possible combinations of zone/time period, including 3 different ones in the latest season, with over 45 surplus permits each, I came up with nothing!!!

Someone must be trying to tell me something here....but how did my wife get to the clerk and pay him off before I got there!

I have friends in KS and MO, with no time to see them and their fat turkeys. Bummer. I will video-tape my friends this spring to get some of it out of my system. I've drawn the past 3 years though, so I guess I can't complain too much. Anyone know a good therapist?

Who else out there actually got a permit?

Joel

[This message has been edited by jnelson (edited 03-15-2004).]

[Borch]

That's too bad. You can still do what I've done in years that I didn't get drawn. Jump in my truck with a few buddies and head west. It isn't that expensive(get 2-3 other to go along and you can do it for about $300 each for 4 days of hunting including the liscense.

If your that desparate let me know. I can share some info with you about it.

Borch

[Sarge]

I'm out this year too, it seems. Thought I had a sure fire place to get my surplus tag, but I was left out in the cold, disapointing world of no MN spring hunt.

It's just now setting in. Like you, Joel, I have got to go for the last four years, but it doesn't easy the pain.lol I guess I'll have to go out with the camcorder at least once, maybe try a few new techniques, and make sure the old still work.

[TomBow]

Sorry to hear that things didn't work out for you! We were lucky, 6th in line, 2 available machines, no problems, 22 available permits and BINGO! The wife will get to chase gobblers, at least for a couple of days.

If "head west" means South Dakota, I've heard that it is no longer over-the-counter for turkey licenses. One of the guys last night said that you need to apply online because the SD Fish and Game Dept. wants to get a better handle on how many non-resident hunters are gonna be there. If your thinking about SD, you should probably check it out before venturing out there and then having some problem. I have not confirmed the above info but it's worth checking out.

[jeffyo45]

I came up empty handed too. I have to say a big thanks to the guy who couldn't figure out if he had the number 6 or 9. Of course I had 7 and after a couple extra minutes of trying to find who had 6 I step up to get going. Then the guy with the 6 steps up and the clerk decides to wait on him. I let him go even though I didn't want to. He gets one for his zone so of course that takes extra time. That's what I get for being polite. Guess I will have to tote the video camera for my neighbor who got one in the other line at GM. We both had the number 7 but he got his license a good 5-6 minutes before I even got started. Guess I got in the wrong line. I will have to wait another year for my first turkey hunt.

[Hotspotter]

Guys:

I'm heading out to Red this morning....taking a few days off....hope to catch some crappies!

I want to continue this discussion though. I wonder if there's a better system out there for distributing surplus tags? This one seems pretty good, and I'm happy with it overall, but maybe there is room for improvement? If I'm not mistaken, WI has a double lottery, so I think the surplus tags are in a lottery too. Can anyone confirm this?

Glad to hear at least some of you got your tags!

SD is a great option Borch, I might have to head out there....even to the prairie units with bow....I don't think you need to send in for one of those permits.....you only have to show up at Pierre to get them. I'll check into it.

Joel

[WaveWacker]

We got em'!!! Buddy of mine was first in line with me bringing up #2. Have to miss the fishing opener in order to go (season G) but oh well, those walleyes will be there for me.

[irvingdog]

Got mine!!! Houston county, here I come! Well, in a few weeks anyhow.....

[Hotspotter]

A recent strib article about DNR surplus license problems got me into the hunt again. It stated that the DNR would try and accomodate those folks who were slighted by the system malfunctions. I felt that I was one of these people.

As it turns out, the clerk kept hitting the wrong button, about 40 times in a row. He was trying to sell me a regular spring turkey license, not a surplus license. It's DNR policy not to intervene when there are Point of Sale (POS) problems, so I won't be getting a surplus tag after all. It was worth a try though!

So, a suggestion to all you folks who might find yourself in a similar situation next spring.....make sure the clerk appears competent, or has at least run the machine before. Maybe even ask to see it yourself to confirm. I'll never be sidelined again by an ELS agent's failure to work the equipment properly!

Joel

[Ben1022]

Yes, I believe there is a better system and that's just what was mentioned...another lottery. How many weeks are there between the results of the first draw to the surplus tags going on sale???? Yeah, they (DNR) know almost instantly how many tags are left over. At that point, you do another application process and run the computer fairly for all those that apply diligently and by a 2nd deadline. I got a surplus tag and feel somewhat bad as I had the ability to leave work way earlier than most to get a number at an ELS agent. As it turned out, many were slighted and others rewarded unequally. I say that the leftover licenses should go up in a 2nd lottery just like the first go around and if you don't get one, there isn't any extra effort wasted by standing in line and having some onforseen issue come up.

[adaylate]

The times I've had to try for a surplus license I didn't have any problems getting one. I do agree though that there has to be a better way to distribute the surplus license.Another lottery sounds good to me.