More options, More Opportunities Each year, Michigan wildlife biologists assess spring wild turkey hunting regulations as part of our wild turkey management program. During this process, we gather input from surveys and through contacts with people interested in Michigan's natural resources. Through the years, hunting season modifications have been made using this evaluation method to improve wild turkey management in this state. When turkeys were a species of scarcity, traditional spring turkey hunting seasons had restrictive regulations for both the private and public land in order to widely disperse hunters to provide for quality recreational experience. In recent years, wild turkey populations have expanded in southern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula (UP) and turkey hunters and private landowners have requested longer seasons, with greater flexibility in areas where they can hunt. These suggested changes are reflected in the 2007 spring turkey season recommendations in our effort to provide additional recreational opportunity without impacting the quality of spring turkey hunting.

For the 2007 spring turkey season, biologists reviewed hunting areas, hunting quotas and season dates to assure we are meeting season objectives. As a result, more area will be open (48,147 square miles) to spring turkey hunting in 2007 than at any time in history. In addition, a total of 118,440 licenses (53,440 General; 65,000 Private) will be made available through a lottery during the hunter limited hunt periods. The spring turkey hunting season dates are set by the Natural Resources Commission to open on the Monday closest to April 20. For 2007, season dates run various lengths from April 23-May 31. The Southern Lower Peninsula Wild Turkey Management Unit (UnitZZ, Hunt Number 301) quota will remain the same as the 2006 spring hunting season. This hunt provides private land hunters in southern Michigan greater pliancy and convenience during this limited entry lottery hunt for the first two weeks of the spring season.

In the UP, smaller hunt units M, MA, N and O have been combined and the unit expanded to form hunt unit M. New boundary lines have been simplified to follow major highways. Quotas have been augmented to reflect this expanded area and the season length increased for this limited quota hunt. This will increase flexibility and opportunity for UP hunters. Hunt unit UX has been defined for geographical purposes and is not recommended for spring turkey hunting.

In southern Michigan, wild turkey populations continue to expand in their ancestral range. Hunt units have been consolidated and quotas have been enlarged to provide fewer constraints to hunters in this region.

The late hunt period (Hunt Number 234) will be comparable to last year in season structure and is available to all applicants that choose this guaranteed license hunt. Hunters may purchase a license for this Guaranteed Hunt Period (Hunt 234) during the January 1-February 1, 2007, application time frame. Individuals who select this purchase option will not be charged the $4.00 application fee.

Hunters may apply for a limited quota license or purchase a Guaranteed Hunt Period (Hunt 234) license between January 1 and February 1, to participate in the spring turkey hunting season. Unsuccessful applicants will be eligible to purchase a Guaranteed hunt Period (Hunt 234) license or a leftover license.

If any limited quota licenses remain after the drawing, unsuccessful applicants may purchase one leftover license in person at any license dealer on a first-come, first-served basis for a one-week period beginning March 8 at 10 a.m. (EDT). Any licenses that remain as of March 15 at 10 a.m. (EDT) also will be available for purchase over the counter by individuals who did not apply for a spring turkey license. These licenses will be sold until the quota is met. A spring turkey hunter may purchase only one Michigan spring turkey hunting license.

These 2007 spring hunting season adjustments help meet the demand for additional hunting opportunities while meeting hunter satisfaction and approval. Using the North American wildlife management model, Michigan wildlife biologists and the Natural Resources Commission have utilized surveys, public input and sound science to develop turkey hunting regulations. The results from this process have produced a very successful wild turkey management program. Your contributions in this process are appreciated and important.

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