Nearly 38,000 acres of private land will be open for public access to hunters this turkey season thanks to a partnership between the Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS).
With USDA-NRCS support, the DNR could partner with private landowners who lease their land for public access through the Turkey Hunter Access Program (THAP) and the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP). Spring turkey hunters interested in scouting and hunting THAP and VPA-HIP private properties available for use can find additional details and interactive maps following the links here.
In 2020, THAP added 5,200 acres that hunters can be used only during spring turkey hunting seasons. Another 2,300 acres were added to VPA-HIP for hunters to use throughout the year for hunting, fishing, trapping and wildlife observation. The success and future of these programs depends on ensuring landowners' continued interest. Hunters using THAP and VPA-HIP lands should travel on foot only and respect the landowner’s property.
Wisconsin’s spring 2021 turkey season consists of six 7-day time periods (A-F) that run Wednesday to the following Tuesday, with a 2-day youth hunt April 17-18 before the season starts. There are 7 turkey management zones (1-7) throughout the state. Harvest authorizations are specific to a time period and zone and are issued through a preference-based drawing. Only male or bearded turkeys can be harvested in spring.
In 2021, 245,468 harvest authorizations were available, 144,178 of which were awarded to hunters in the drawing. Sale of remaining bonus harvest authorizations began March 20, and are available, one per day per customer, until they are sold out or the season ends.
The THAP and VPA-HIP programs provide financial incentives such as annual leases to private landowners who open their property to public hunting, fishing, trapping and wildlife observation. Eligible land types include grassland, wetland, forestland and in some cases, agricultural land. Landowners also enrolled in conservation programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE), Managed Forest Law (MFL) in closed status and Wetland Reserve Easements (WRP/WRE) are eligible for enrollment.
Landowners enrolled in VPA-HIP who complete recommended practices may be eligible for habitat-based financial incentive payments, in addition to the lease payments. Regional Public Access Liaisons stationed in Baldwin, Janesville, Hartford and Wisconsin Rapids along with Wisconsin’s Farm Bill biologists will coordinate a habitat plan for interested landowners.