Leftover wild turkey tags go on sale March 22

If you forgot to apply for a Zone 2 wild turkey permit, mark March 22 down on your calendar.

On that Tuesday, beginning at 10 a.m., 6,699 period E (May 11-17) and 7,361 period F (May 18-24) Zone 2 tags go on sale.

Leftover tags are $10 for residents and $15 for the nonresidents. In addition, you will need to purchase a spring turkey license and stamp privilege.

There were more than 131,000 successful spring applicants in seven zones, yet more than 109,000 leftovers remain. Zones 1, 3 and 4 have thousands of extras in four periods.

Leftover turkey tags can be purchased at a rate of one per day until the zone and time period sells out, or the season closes. Zone 1 tags go on sale March 21, Zone 3 March 23, Zone 4 March 24 and Zones 5, 6 and 7 March 25.

After zone-only sales days, all remaining turkey tags will be made available for purchase Saturday, March 26.

Leftover tags will be sold on the DNR’s new “Go Wild” automated licensing system.

This year’s spring hunts begin with Learn To Hunt programs in late March and early April, followed by the annual youth hunt April 9-10. The first of six seven-day “regular” spring turkey hunting periods begins April 13.

Kids ages 12-15 who have completed hunter education may hunt during the youth hunt while accompanied by an adult over the age of 18. In addition, those ages 10 and 11 can participate in the 2016 youth turkey hunt without having completed hunter education as long as they do so with a qualified adult mentor and follow program rules.

Each youth hunter must have a valid spring 2016 turkey harvest permit, license and Wild Turkey Stamp, and may hunt in the turkey management zone for which their permit is valid, regardless of the time period for which their permit is issued. Youth hunters may harvest only one male or bearded turkey during the two-day hunt.

Youth who do not successfully harvest a turkey during the youth hunt may use their unfilled permit during the time period and in the zone for which the permit was issued.

No license or permit is needed for the Learn To Hunt program, a one-time, free and mentored opportunity for beginners. Several short classes are typically held in Kewaunee and Door counties.

Fishing update

Next weekend is the annual Algoma Hunting & Fishing Club’s Fisheree on East and West Alaska lakes.

Reports are that the panfish bite has been fair to good on both waters, a mixed bag from shallow weeds to deep mud. Bluegills and crappies are the most common species hooked, with an occasional sunfish, pumpkinseed, perch or largemouth bass.

The Ahnapee and Kewaunee rivers continue to produce an occasional trout or northern pike, and Krohn’s Lake is a fair bet for panfish and stocked trout.

On Green Bay, whitefish are the stars, but some anglers have been able to find a few perch, pike, walleye or trout.

Need a job?

The DNR is looking to hire about six dozen deputy conservation wardens and rangers for part-time positions across the state. Deadline to apply is Feb. 17.

There are links on the DNR website to both opportunities, as well as some others. Start here: http://dnr.wi.gov/x87201/employment/lte/q207ltes.asp.

Bird count

The 19th annual Great Backyard Bird Count is coming up Feb. 12-15. Learn how you can take part at birdcount.org.

Kevin Naze is a freelance outdoors writer. Email him at wildtimes@wizunwired.net.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press Gazette: Leftover wild turkey tags go on sale March 22