- Do spring wild turkey hunters need to select and hunt in one permit area only?
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No. All spring turkey hunters, including archery-only, youth and firearms may hunt statewide. All hunters will be asked which permit area they hunt most (to provide information on expected harvest pressure), but this does not restrict the license holder to that unit.
Access to the Mille Lacs, Carlos Avery or Whitewater wildlife management areas during time periods A-C is by lottery only. Any hunter with a valid spring turkey license may hunt these areas after the C time period.
- Do I need to apply in the lottery for a time period in order to hunt spring turkey?
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No. There is no longer a need to apply in a lottery to purchase any spring turkey license. Spring turkey licenses for all seasons (A-F) may be purchased over the counter beginning March 1.
- Who needs to apply in the lottery? When does the application period open and what’s the deadline?
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Applications are required only for firearms hunters age 18 and older who wish to hunt in the Mille Lacs, Carlos Avery or Whitewater wildlife management areas.
- Mille Lacs and Carlos Avery WMA hunters must apply for an A, B or C season license.
- Whitewater WMA hunters need only apply for an A or B season license.
- Youth hunters (age 17 and younger) and hunters with archery-only licenses may hunt in these areas without being selected in the lottery.
- The lottery application deadline for these WMAs is:
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- Successful applicants will receive notification by mail. This notice is your permit to hunt in the wildlife management area you selected in the lottery.
- Do I need to apply in the lottery if I’m planning to hunt in permit area 502 but the land I’m hunting is still outside the Whitewater WMA?
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No. You should declare that permit area 502 as your primary hunting area, but there’s no need to enter the lottery unless you wish to hunt within the boundary of the Whitewater Wildlife Management Area. Licenses go on sale March 1 and may be purchased before or after the start of the season.
- Can I hunt a different time period if I don’t fill my tag during an earlier season?
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Firearms hunters who do not tag a turkey in their selected time period may also hunt the final time period (F). Archery-only and youth hunters may hunt throughout any time period, including F.
- Since there’s no lottery for A and B time period spring turkey licenses, what happens to my preference points?
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Preference points that hunters accumulated by applying and not being drawn for a spring turkey license will be applied to the lottery for access to the Mille Lacs, Carlos Avery and Whitewater wildlife management areas.
- How do these changes affect recently discharged military, active military, Purple Heart recipients and disabled veterans?
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License privileges for these hunters have not changed. Lottery privileges for recently discharged military, active military, Purple Heart recipients and disabled veterans transfer to the lottery for access to the Mille Lacs, Carlos Avery or Whitewater wildlife management areas.
Military who may access the Mille Lacs, Carlos Avery or Whitewater wildlife management areas without applying in the lottery:
- Legal residents on military leave
- Legal residents discharged from the military in past two years from duty outside the United States
Military who are guaranteed access the Mille Lacs, Carlos Avery or Whitewater wildlife management areas but are required to apply in the lottery:
- Legal residents discharged in past two years but not from duty outside the United States
- Purple heart recipients
- 100% service disability
See the Hunting Regulations Book for additional information on licenses for military personnel.
- I hunted one of the early time periods (A-E) but wasn’t successful, do I have to purchase a different license if I want to hunt the F season?
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No. Any hunter who has not yet tagged a turkey may hunt during the F season without purchasing an additional license. This includes firearm hunters who possess a tag from the A-E time periods as well as archery only and youth hunters.
- Is there a minimum age for youth to hunt turkey and can youth hunt in any area?
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There is no minimum age for youth hunters. Hunters age 17 and under may purchase a reduced-price license (free license if under age 13) and may hunt any of the A-F seasons conducted during the spring wild turkey hunt. See the hunting regulations for additional requirements and limitations for youth hunters and assisting youth hunters.
- I already purchased a spring turkey firearms license, can I switch it to an archery license?
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Yes. A person who has purchased a spring turkey license valid for one of the A-F time periods may switch to an archery license if they submit their original license and tags before the season of the original license opens. Similarly, a person may exchange an early time period license for a later time period before the original time period opens.
There is a fee of $5 plus a $1 issuing charge (total fee: $6) for switching licenses. Any ELS agent can switch licenses.
- When and how do I find out if I was drawn for the lottery?
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Successful applicants receive a notice in the mail indicating their selected wildlife management area and time period. This notice will serve as their permit to access the area. Hunters are required to carry the notice and their valid spring turkey license while hunting the WMA.
Successful applicants will still need to purchase a spring wild turkey license for the corresponding time period when licenses go on sale March 1.
- How do we apply for the lottery as group?
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You may submit a group application with a party of up to four hunters. All of your group members must apply for the same wildlife management area and time period. The hunter with the lowest preference rating determines the rating for the group. If we draw your group application, all group members will receive a license. The first applicant of each group will receive a group ID number, which is printed on your receipt. The remaining group members must use this ID number when applying in order to be included in the group.
- Can I use a .410 shotgun for turkey hunting?
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Yes. Any shotgun or muzzleloader shotgun 10 gauge or smaller may be used. Only shot size No. 4 or smaller (sizes 4, 5, 6, 7½, etc.) may be used.
- I purchased a spring turkey/fall turkey firearms license, can I hunt the entire state or do I have to stay in a specific area?
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Hunters may hunt statewide, except access to the Mille Lacs, Carlos Avery and Whitewater wildlife management areas during time periods A-C is by lottery only. All hunters, including youth and archery-only license holders, will be asked which permit area they hunt most (to provide information on expected harvest pressure), but this does not restrict the license holder to that unit.
- Can I have both archery and firearms afield when I’m turkey hunting?
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Spring turkey hunters who possess a firearms license valid for a single time period may possess a legal crossbow and/or a legal firearm for taking wild turkeys. Archery-only license holders may use a crossbow and/or a vertical bow during the spring turkey season.
Fall turkey hunters could have a legal crossbow, firearm or a vertical bow or all three at the same time.
- What is the limit, and can I harvest a hen during the fall?
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The bag limit for the spring hunt is one wild turkey with a visible beard. The beard is a feathered appendage protruding from the breast that is generally found only on males. The bag limit for the fall hunt is one bird of either sex.
- Is there a waiting period for turkey licenses or can I hunt right away?
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Licenses for spring turkey hunting are valid upon issuance. There is no waiting period.
- Can you harvest a turkey in the spring and in the fall?
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Yes, provided you have the correct license for each season.
- Can I use a crossbow?
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Crossbows may be used for wild turkey
- By any person using a valid firearms or archery license during the spring wild turkey season
- By any person during the fall wild turkey season
- What shot sizes are legal?
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Shot size must be No. 4 or smaller. For example sizes 4, 5, 6, 7½, 8, etc. may be used for hunting wild turkey.
