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LEFTOVER SPRING TURKEY HUNTING LICENSES AVAILABLE LANSING--The Michigan Department of Natural Resources today
announced results of the 2002 spring turkey lottery drawing,
noting that more than 143,000 hunters applied this year for
100,445 limited-quota hunting licenses available for 33
turkey management units during the April 22-May 31 season.
Hunters also could apply for the Guaranteed Hunt Period, May
6-31, which includes all areas open to spring turkey hunting
except public land in the southern Michigan Hunt Unit ZZ.
Drawing results are available on the DNR Web site at
www.michigandnr.com. Applicants who did not receive a
notification card by Feb. 22, or are unable to locate their
drawing information on the DNR Web site, should call 517-
373-3904 for assistance.
"More and more hunters are becoming aware of the continued
growth and expansion of the wild turkey population in
Michigan, and there is growing interest in this springtime
hunting opportunity," said Al Stewart, DNR Upland Game Bird
Specialist.
Hunters who were unsuccessful in the lottery drawing may
purchase either a leftover license or a license for the
Guaranteed Hunt Period (Hunt Number 234). Unsuccessful
applicants may purchase one leftover license in person on a
first-come, first-served basis starting at 10 a.m. (EDT),
March 4, at any of the 1,700 authorized license dealers
throughout the state. This year, there are 18,144 leftover
limited-quota licenses available. The number of licenses
available for the Guaranteed Hunt Period is unlimited.
Please visit our Web site at www.michigandnr.com for a list
of leftover licenses available.
Last year, 88,894 spring wild turkey hunters harvested
31,993 turkeys. The 2001 turkey harvest was the largest in
Michigan's history. More than 80 percent of these birds were
taken on private land. It was five percent higher than the
2000 harvest of 30,353.
The majority of the 2001 spring wild turkey hunters rated
their hunting experience as excellent, very good or good,
and 87 percent of the hunters reported they experienced
minimal interference from other hunters.
Turkey hunters can expect excellent hunting opportunities
this spring.
"With more than 150,000 turkeys statewide, and more areas
open to spring hunting than ever before, we believe turkey
hunters and turkeys are positively responding to the
department's adaptive management practices," Stewart said.
See the 2002 Spring Wild Turkey Hunting Guide for all hunt
numbers and dates pertaining to spring turkey hunting.
Hunters are reminded that only firearms with shot no larger
than No. 4 and bows and arrows may be used to take turkeys.
Also, turkeys may not be hunted over bait.
Source: MDNR
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