The re-introduction of the Wild Turkey to Wisconsin has been a resounding success. That process began in the Driftless Area, but a good number of these birds is now found everywhere in the state. Many Badger State outdoor enthusiasts, myself included, rank spring turkey hunting as their favorite pursuit. One national outdoor magazine ranked Wisconsin as the top turkey hunting state, due to our reasonable cost, season structure and availability of multiple tags.
Those that wish to participate in the spring hunt apply for a tag prior to December 10, each year. There are several zones and six time periods to choose from. The Driftless Area is in Zone 1. One week time periods are labeled A, B, C, D, E and F. Each time period runs Wednesday through Tuesday, with the first period beginning near mid-April. Hunters are allowed to rank three rank choices of zone and time period, and are informed of which zone and period they drew shortly after the application deadline. I had drawn Zone 1, Period A.
Zone 1 tags for period A and B always sell out during the initial drawing. Tags that are not issued are called “leftover” tags and are put up for sale on a Monday in March. Leftover tags for time period C are a hot commodity, quickly selling out, on line, after the sale begins at 10 AM. This usually goes smoothly. I am able to snag one of the permits some years, but other years my place in the “computer line” has them gone before I get to the front.
This year’s tag sale had a glitch. I got to the front of the digital line, secured and paid for a period C tag but when I went to check out the site had crashed and would not allow me to complete the purchase. Disappointed, I shut the computer down and purchased a period D tag later in the day. The following day I got an e-mail from the DNR, explaining that they would honor my unfinished period C purchase. The world was suddenly a happier place!
Turkey hunting is not an activity for those that value sleep. The alarm clock goes off at ungodly hours so that coffee, breakfast, a drive, and an uphill hike has you in place well before shooting hours. It sounds awful, but being on top of a ridge in the driftless area as the eastern sky lights up and songbirds begin to wake is a special experience. The first gobble, no matter how near or far, suddenly makes it all worthwhile.
In theory, turkey hunters make the sounds of a female, or hen turkey, in hopes of calling a male bird looking to mate. There are serious flaws in this theory, as male turkeys or gobblers seldom come racing in. More commonly, gobblers refuse to approach or refuse to gobble at all. Success rates are usually 20-30 % during any given season. Turkey hunting can be very frustrating. Despite the low success rates and frustration, it is very exciting when it works.
The second morning of my period A hunt found me sitting with my back against a tree on a familiar ridge, in a light fog. I was facing down hill when a gobble erupted behind me. I quickly slid around the tree and began trying to coax the bird my way. He did not approach immediately, so I gave him the silent treatment, in hopes that he would come looking. He gobbled from closer, and directly in front of me, or so I thought. My hearing is not what it once was. It is especially difficult, sometimes, to determine the direction of a sound. I sat quietly with my gun pointed to the west waiting, waiting…… Movement to my left turned out to be the gobbling bird that had approached from behind me. He moved past me to an open area where I was able to end my hunt.
And what about that period C tag? Two morning hunts provided no gobbler sightings and only a few distant gobbles. I hiked the half mile to a spot that had been good to me in the past. As I sat down against a large oak at 3 PM, a bird gobbled to the north and another gobbled to the west. I began calling softly. The closer bird to the north ignored me and gobbled as he moved away. Things were quiet for a bit. A gobble from the west had me turn slightly in that direction. I called quietly and got two gobbles in response. A group of four gobblers were headed in my direction! They were approaching slowly. Eventually the lead bird stepped into an opening at 30 yards, bringing that hunt to an end.
Period E and F tags are still available. I really do not need another turkey in the freezer, but April of 2027 is a LONG way off !
John Cler is a retired high school science teacher and principal residing in Richland Center. He is an avid hunter, fisher, trapper and nature nut. He currently chairs the Richland County Deer Advisory Council and the Richland County Delegation of the Wisconsin Conservation Congress.
