MN Spring Turkey Season 2010

Applications for 2010 Spring Turkey Season are out!

New for 2010 is all kids (17 and under) do NOT have to enter the lottery! All you have to do starting March 1st, 2010 is go in an buy the license for the time and zone you want OVER THE COUNTER!

ALSO new for 2010 ~ There will be no second chance drawing for the last three seasons. Permit levels in the last two time periods (G & H) have been increased. Virtually making it a guarantee to go turkey hunting in these two time periods. And if you don’t get drawn for a permit in the first 6 time periods, there should be enough Surplus Tags in most zones to buy those tags over the counter if you want to go then.

57,000 tags are available next year in the lottery ~ only 57,000 people applied last year (and that included about 6,000 kids)

So congratulations NWTF members ~ it looks like everyone that wants to really go turkey hunting next year – can go!

Eric Linder
Regional Director NWTF

Very nice thanks fo the info Joel …Jay

So I can bring my 12 year old any time period I want to! Wow this is good news!
Thanks!

Dang! Still no season where I’m at. We’re just east of Mille Lacs on the north side of Hwy 18. I saw so many turkeys this year, I figured they’d have to open a zone up there. Driving around the roads this spring and fall, saw several flocks of 20-30+ birds in many of the fields (including ours). I’m itching to hunt these birds on our property, as I had em all over my stand while hunting deer. I guess I’ll have to wait at least another year.

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So I can bring my 12 year old any time period I want to! Wow this is good news!
Thanks!

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It’s absolutely wonderful news. Gives kids an opportunity that I never had! However, be vigilant out there. This law will be easily abused, so make sure and report any funny-business to the warden.

Joel

This is great to hear! Atleast in my area there should not be a drawing for turkeys. In most surrounding states they can be bought over the counter and in southeastern MN they should be as well. Atleast by increasing the number to last years total applicants they are essentially doing that except you still may not get the exact season you would like. I need to start getting into this more as I had a blast this fall chasing them around the hillsides having multiple encounters and even a “few” miss’s with the bow. I am determined now to take one out with my bow.

Can’t wait for spring when they come to the calls!

Nice, I was hoping I wouldn’t have to wait another two years for preference points for my son to get out in the field and get his first taste of turkey hunting. Thanks for the info Joel!

I heard the about the over the counter a week ago. I think coupled with the no min. age it is a terrible idea. Way to easy to abuse. Is the organization who pushed for this language going to contribute the funds for the increased necessity of Conservation Officers to enforce this?

I wonder how many 1-5 year olds will tag a turkey this spring?

CW

It falls on all of us to be vigilant in making sure this is not abused, not just the wardens.

I personally like the idea of anything that gets youth out in the woods, no doubt about it today’s youth does not hunt like they used to. They plug into electrical entertainment and seldom leave the yard let alone the house. If this makes it so a few kids get out and realize how much fun hunting and fishing can be we need to do what we can, even if it requires a handling a few problems.

Sweet , Thanks Joel My little guy will be going this year for the first time Camera will be on him