New Mn Turkey Regs

I really like what I’m seeing. My assumption is the populations have really rebounded well given the nice spring we had last year.

http://www.startribune.com/dnr-announces-new-rules-for-spring-turkey-hunting/361820411/

The 2016 Minnesota turkey stamp by Nicholas Markell

The DNR on Monday morning announced changes to next spring’s Minnesota turkey hunting season. Upshot of the changes is that most state hunters will have more time to chase toms in the spring.

According to a DNR press release:

• Turkey hunting time periods will be longer, all will include weekends and more time periods will be available to each hunter. Five one-week time periods will be followed by one longer time period ending on Tuesday, May 31. Previously, there were eight time periods, and not all included weekends. The bag limit will remain one bearded turkey.

“A significant change will be that hunters who don’t bag a turkey during their first time period will also be able to hunt the last time period using their original license,” said Steve Merchant, DNR wildlife populations program manager. “This will make the experience more relaxing, as snow or rain storms that could ruin an entire hunt will not be as much of a problem.”

• Hunters who hunt a second time during the last time period will need to hunt in the same zone that they hunted in during their first hunt period, Merchant said.

• Firearms hunters who want to hunt either of the first two time periods will need to enter into a lottery to participate. In past years there were lottery drawings for the first three time periods. People can apply to the lottery starting Monday, Dec. 14, and the deadline to apply is Friday, Jan. 22.

• Also, archers will be able to hunt the entire season and in any zone from when the first time period begins on Wednesday, April 13, through May 31. Hunters must choose between a firearms or archery turkey hunting license.

“The changes that begin this spring will provide more opportunity for hunters, but we are aware that some hunters are concerned that these changes will lead to crowding, negatively impacting hunt quality,” Merchant said. “For that reason, we remain committed to measuring hunter satisfaction and hunt quality so adjustments can be made in the future if necessary.”

Each year, the season will begin on the Wednesday closest to April 15, and each time period will start on a Wednesday. This year, the first time period begins April 13. Each year, the final time period will end on May 31. More information on turkey hunting is available at http://www.mndnr.gov/hunting/turkey.

Get the permits in if you want to hunt A or b. I will be putting in today after work.

Cannot wait for the spring already . Talked to our NE landowners and they have 300 birds wintered up at there place already. Just a few months away.

I am going with the archery tag this year. Always had to make a tough decision to hunt at the farm or at home, now I can do both and hunt the entire season

I’m leaning towards archery also this year. I like the flexibility it gives me to hunt when I can.

I love it, especially the archery rule! With our first child coming sometime in mid-late April, I was thinking about skipping hunting this spring but now with the flexibility of the archery license I think I’ll be able to get out a bit here and there!

Can’t wait to be able to archery hunt the first day of the whole season!

Very glad these changes have been made and kudos to the DNR. The agency takes a lot of heat, some justified, some not, but clearly the feedback about the way the turkey regs were set up got through eventually.

Now it’s decision time. The hard part about this is the weather wildcard. On average, the early weeks have been really, really ugly the last few years at least north of the cities where I hunt. 2 years ago, I drew the second season and got 3 days of absolutely solid, unending rain that flooded everything.

Hmmm. May end up going for the second week… Really wish I had some idea of the snowcover we’ll end up with. I’m really nervous that this moisture pattern we’re in will eventually go from rain to feet upon feet of snow.

Grouse

Do you hunt your land/area? It’s no doubt hit or miss that time of year up there. A couple years ago after that brutal winter, we were birdless and it was horrible. Last year was awesome and we can really see how the flock/s rebounded with very strong hatches. We are seeing 20-40 birds in a few different bunches. Being on the northern end of their range, the weather sure does play a large factor for us.

Any turkey season to me is good . I perfer first two weeks in MN because i’m hunting other places later. Weather never really bugs me too much . I really like the snow sometimes unless it gets too deep like a SD hunt I had. Snow was over out knees and drifts waist deep. Was a tough walk.:)

Yes, I’ll be hunting my property and adjacent property, so I’m north of the Cities and snowcover / wet ground is the big concern.

Not that there’s any way to know for sure, but I just can’t decided if I want to gamble on Week 1? Man, I’d be really ticked off if we had a bunch of deep, crunchy snow on the ground where it’s impossible to move without making a ton of noise and it’s hard or impossible to access some locations…

Just don’t know what to do. Week 1, of course, has the advantage of the least educated birds…

Grouse

The ones who won’t like it is the B season guys that always got their tags because it was Monday to Friday. The one thing I see happening is an archery boom this year. I think it will be short lived once some guys see how difficult it can be with a bow. I will say though the first season if your thinking public ground will be a cluster buck. Youth, archery, and whatever A season guys will all be bumping into each other. Should be interesting.

Think I’m going to keep heading South and West instead of banking on MN being banner this year.

I like it, I am getting the archery tag which will force me to leave the gun at home