Wild turkey hunting approvals; the regulation of the hunting of wild turkey; and granting rule-making authority

Second preference is for residents who in a previous season applied for but were not issued licenses, and all other residents receive third preference. Qualified nonresident landowners receive fourth preference, and all other nonresidents receive fifth preference. To implement this system, DNR allocates a given number of tags.

This bill eliminates the preference system. Instead, the bill requires that DNR issue a wild turkey hunting license and accompanying stamp and tag to each resident or nonresident who applies for the license. The tag issued with the license is valid for the entire state. Under current law, the tag issued with a license under the preference system is limited to a specific wild turkey hunting zone.

Under current law, if the number of tags exceeds the number of licenses applied for, DNR may issue license holders additional tags. Under the bill, DNR may issue additional tags if it determines that is necessary to manage the wild turkey population. Under current law and under the bill, a fee is charged for the additional tags, with nonresidents paying a higher fee. The bill does not change the amount of the fee.

Wild turkey hunting zones; hunting seasons and hours Under current rules promulgated by DNR, there is a fall turkey hunting season and a spring hunting season. Also, under these rules, the state is divided into seven wild turkey hunting zones. This bill codifies these provisions in the statutes.

Additionally, the bill codifies the starting and ending dates and hunting hours for the spring season that are currently in the rules.

Other provisions Under current law, a student who is not a permanent resident of this state but who is a full-time student at a college or university in this state that offers an associate or bachelor's degree (eligible student) may be issued a resident fishing, small game hunting, or deer hunting license instead of a corresponding nonresident fishing or hunting license. The fees for these types of resident licenses are lower than those for the nonresident licenses. This bill allows eligible students to qualify as state residents for purposes of issuing wild turkey hunting licenses, stamps, and tags, resulting in their paying the lower fees for the licenses and tags.

The bill also requires DNR to promulgate a rule that allows for the registration of wild turkey carcasses over the telephone or by using the Internet. Under current law, a hunter must bring the carcass to one of the registration stations operated by DNR.