SB 610

This bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to modify

administrative rules relating to the hunting of wild turkeys to combine hunting

zones and seasons and to modify youth hunting restrictions.

Current DNR rules create a spring open season for the hunting of wild turkeys

that begins on the third Wednesday in April and continues Wednesday through

Tuesday of the following week for six consecutive seven-day time periods. The bill

requires DNR to combine the six periods into two periods. The first period would last

for two weeks and be open only to those issued hunting licenses and authorizations

under the cumulative preference system. The second period would last for four

weeks, during which hunting licenses and authorizations would be issued to

applicants in the order in which applications are received, regardless of accumulated

preference points.

Current DNR rules provide that a person under the age of 16 who possesses the

necessary approvals may hunt turkeys for two consecutive days starting on the

Saturday before the beginning of the spring turkey hunting season. If the person

does not successfully harvest a turkey during the youth hunt, the authorization

remains valid during the time period and in the zone for which the authorization was

issued. The bill requires DNR to provide that the authorization remains valid in the

same hunting zone during both hunting periods that follow the youth hunt.

Current DNR rules create seven wild turkey hunting zones. The bill requires

DNR to create a southern zone, to consist of current zones 1 to 3, and a northern zone,

to consist of current zones 4 to 7.