Hunters: Apply Now through August 1 for a Fall Turkey Hunting License.

  Applications may be purchased online at www.michigan.gov/huntdrawings or at any retail license agent.  Licenses are valid for the harvest of a bird of either gender.   Fall turkey season runs from Sept. 15 to Nov. 14 in eight wild turkey management units totaling 42,218 square miles, including most of the southern Lower Peninsula, Beaver Island, and the entire Upper Peninsula.  

 After the drawing, hunters may purchase one fall turkey license over the counter per day until quotas are met.  Upper Peninsula turkey hunters, please note:  The quota for U.P fall turkey licenses was cut dramatically this year, from 4,000 to 1,500 licenses.  In previous years, leftover licenses have been available after the drawing.  For the 2011 season, it is possible there may be few, if any, leftover licenses available.  “The Upper Peninsula wild turkey population is large enough to warrant a fall season, but we want to take a conservative approach to make sure we maintain a robust population,” said Al Stewart, DNR upland game bird specialist.  “A lower license quota helps assure that enough hens survive for the spring breeding season”.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.