Fall turkey permit deadline is Aug. 1

Thu, Jul 24, 2008

Department of Natural Resources wildlife officials would like to remind hunters that the deadline for applying for a 2008 fall turkey permit is Aug. 1.

A total of 59,050 licenses are available through a lottery for the units open to hunting — 12,350 are general licenses that may be used on public or private land and 46,700 are licenses for private land only.

Twelve wild turkey management units totaling 34,976 square miles are open to fall turkey hunting during the Oct. 6 to Nov. 14 season, The units include most of southern Michigan, five counties in the northern Lower Peninsula and the entire wild turkey management area in the Upper Peninsula.

Regulations are unchanged from 2007.

"We are in the second year of a three-year period of stabilized regulations, which were developed by working with turkey hunting groups," explained Al Stewart, the DNR's upland game bird specialist. "A three-year period gives sufficient time to evaluate our regulations and make appropriate changes if necessary."

Hunters may apply for a turkey hunting license at any authorized license dealer, at DNR Operations Service Centers or online at www.michigan.gov/dnr using the E-License system. The application fee is $4.

Drawing results will be posted online beginning Aug.

Regional Bear Issues

The DNR invites the public to participate in the bear management planning process.

Throughout August, five public meetings will be held across Michigan to discuss regional bear issues.

"These meetings are an important first step in creating a bear management plan that includes the opinions of all Michigan citizens," stated Adam Bump, DNR bear specialist. Throughout the next nine months, the DNR will be working with regional and statewide stakeholder groups to receive input on bear management concerns and guidance on potential bear management strategies. The DNR plans to have a bear management plan in draft format by winter 2009.

Public meetings locations and dates are as follows:

* Aug. 6: Newberry, America's Best Value Inn, 12956 M-28

* Aug. 11: Hillman, Hillman Recreation Center, 24220 Veterans Memorial Hwy.

* Aug. 12: Cadillac, Carl T. Johnson Hunting and Fishing Center, 6087 East M-115

* Aug. 18: Lansing, Best Western Midway, 7711 West Saginaw Hwy. 28.