Wisconsin Turkey Season: Spring 2027 Periods and Fall 2026
Wisconsin turkey, Oct. 25, 2026
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Fall Season
Next to open
April 17
Spring turkey season 2027
| Season | Zone | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring Youth Hunt | Zone on the harvest authorization | April 17, 2027 to April 18, 2027 | Opens in 174 days |
| Spring Period A | Zones 1-7 | April 21, 2027 to April 27, 2027 | Opens in 178 days |
| Spring Period B | Zones 1-7 | April 28, 2027 to May 4, 2027 | Opens in 185 days |
| Spring Period C | Zones 1-7 | May 5, 2027 to May 11, 2027 | Opens in 192 days |
| Spring Period D | Zones 1-7 | May 12, 2027 to May 18, 2027 | Opens in 199 days |
| Spring Period E | Zones 1-7 | May 19, 2027 to May 25, 2027 | Opens in 206 days |
| Spring Period F | Zones 1-7 | May 26, 2027 to June 1, 2027 | Opens in 213 days |
One bearded or male turkey per harvest authorization. All seven zones are open in spring 2027.
How the spring periods work
Wisconsin splits the spring season into six periods of seven days, A through F, and divides the state into seven turkey management zones. A harvest authorization is valid only for the period and zone printed on it, so a hunter drawn for Zone 3, Period B hunts Zone 3 from April 28, 2027 to May 4, 2027.
| Period | Dates | Days |
|---|---|---|
| A | April 21, 2027 to April 27, 2027 | 7 |
| B | April 28, 2027 to May 4, 2027 | 7 |
| C | May 5, 2027 to May 11, 2027 | 7 |
| D | May 12, 2027 to May 18, 2027 | 7 |
| E | May 19, 2027 to May 25, 2027 | 7 |
| F | May 26, 2027 to June 1, 2027 | 7 |
Period F runs into June, ending June 1, 2027.
Youth hunt
April 17, 2027 to April 18, 2027, the weekend before Period A. Youth hunters hunt in the zone their harvest authorization was issued for, with a limit of one bearded or male turkey.
Applying for a spring harvest authorization
- The application deadline is Dec. 10 and the application costs $3.
- Authorizations are awarded in a drawing with a cumulative preference system.
- Authorizations left after the drawing are sold as bonus authorizations, first come, first served, at license sales locations and on Go Wild. They cost $10 for residents and $15 for nonresidents. The DNR posts the 2027 sale dates once they are set.
Fall turkey season 2026
The fall season is statewide, Sept. 12, 2026 to Jan. 3, 2027, with a limit of one turkey of any age or sex per harvest authorization. The fall drawing has been waived since 2018, and bonus fall authorizations go on sale in August in select zones.
- Dogs may be used to hunt turkeys anywhere in the state during the fall season, and not in spring.
Licenses and stamp
- A spring turkey license for spring, or a fall turkey license for fall.
- A wild turkey stamp, valid for both seasons. A physical stamp is no longer needed; buying it through Go Wild gives electronic approval.
- An unfilled harvest authorization for the season, period and zone you are hunting.
- You are considered to be hunting turkey if you have a firearm, airgun, crossbow or bow and arrow with you.
Legal weapons
- Shotgun, muzzle-loading shotgun, crossbow, or bow and arrow.
- Ammunition must be an arrow, a bolt, or a shot shell with more than one projectile.
Baiting, decoys and calls
- Hunting turkeys over bait is illegal. Hunting over standing agricultural crops and food plots is legal.
- Live and electronic decoys are illegal.
- Recorded or electrically amplified calls are illegal, except for certain disabled permit holders and hunters who are deaf or severely hard of hearing.
- You may call for another hunter without a license if you carry no firearm, airgun, bow or crossbow. A guide license is required if you charge a fee.
Registration
Register each turkey by 5 p.m. on the day after recovery, online through GameReg or by phone at 844-426-3734 (844-GAME-REG). Have your authorization number ready. There is no in-person registration, and you receive a confirmation number to keep.
Shooting hours
Turkey hunting hours change through the year and differ between the northern and southern halves of the state. The DNR publishes them in separate northern and southern tables.
Where to hunt
- State parks: you need a harvest authorization for the general zone (1 to 7) where the park is located.
- Turkey Hunter Access Program (THAP): open only from March 1 through the end of the spring season.
- Fort McCoy: permits are issued through Fort McCoy's iSportsman system, not Go Wild.
Frequently asked questions
When does spring turkey season start in Wisconsin in 2027?
The youth hunt is April 17, 2027 to April 18, 2027. Period A, the first regular period, runs April 21, 2027 to April 27, 2027. The last period, F, ends June 1, 2027.
What are the Wisconsin spring turkey periods?
Six periods of seven days each, A through F, from April 21, 2027 to June 1, 2027. Each harvest authorization is valid for one period and one zone.
When is the deadline to apply for a spring turkey permit in Wisconsin?
Dec. 10. The application costs $3, and authorizations are awarded in a drawing with cumulative preference.
When is fall turkey season in Wisconsin?
Sept. 12, 2026 to Jan. 3, 2027, statewide. The bag limit is one turkey of any age or sex per harvest authorization.
Can you hunt turkeys with dogs in Wisconsin?
In fall, yes, throughout the state. Dogs may not be used during the spring season.
How do you register a turkey in Wisconsin?
Online through GameReg or by phone at 844-426-3734, by 5 p.m. on the day after recovery. There are no in-person stations.
Turkey season in other states
Texas · Pennsylvania · Georgia · New York · North Carolina · Tennessee · Alabama · Virginia.
Deer seasons are on the Wisconsin deer season page, and duck seasons on the Wisconsin duck season page.
Source: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Turkey Season Dates and Bag Limits, Turkey Hunting, Fall 2026-Spring 2027 turkey regulations and turkey registration.
Verified on Oct. 24, 2026.
Always check the DNR turkey regulations, zone map and shooting hours tables before hunting.