A trail camera image shows wild turkeys at Six Mile Lake in northern Dickinson County on May 21. Turkey hunters across the border in Wisconsin registered 39,007 birds during the spring season, a 5% increase from a year ago, the state Department of Natural Resources said. (Betsy Bloom/Daily News photo)

MADISON, Wis. — Preliminary totals show Wisconsin turkey hunters registered 39,007 birds during the 2022 spring turkey hunting season, a 5% increase from the 37,266 birds registered in the spring 2021 season, the state Department of Natural Resources said.

The 2022 spring season started on April 16 with the two-day youth hunt. The regular season was divided into six separate one-week periods from April 20 to May 31. Different periods maximize hunter opportunities while minimizing interference for a more sustainable harvest, the DNR said.

The 2022 youth season had 2,482 birds registered, down nearly 25% from 3,308 in 2021. This is likely due to the late onset of spring across much of the state, resulting in poorer hunting conditions.

“Preliminary data suggest the number of people who purchased a harvest authorization after winning in the drawing is similar to last year,” said Taylor Finger, DNR Game Bird Ecologist.

Spring turkey participation spiked in 2020 when many people had time to pursue turkey while other events were canceled.

A total of 220,026 harvest authorizations were issued for the 2022 spring turkey season, similar to 2021. In 2022, 142,091 harvest authorizations were awarded through the drawing process, and 77,935 were sold over the counter.

Though Wisconsin saw a mild 2021-22 winter, warmer spring temperatures and green-up came late statewide. Weather conditions were less than optimal for the 2022 season’s earlier periods but improved as the season progressed.

Zone 1 in the southwestern portion of the state produced the highest overall harvest at 10,504 birds. The preliminary harvest total was just 518 in Zone 7, which has several counties bordering the Upper Peninsula, including the western half of Florence County.

Northeastern Wisconsin’s Zone 5, which includes all of Marinette County, the eastern half of Florence County and portions of several other counties, reported a harvest total of 1,717.

Without correction for non-participation by hunters who bought a license but did not pursue birds this spring, the 2022 statewide success rate was 17.7%, compared to 16.9% in 2021.

Since wild turkeys were first successfully reintroduced into Wisconsin in 1976, population levels continue to increase and expand statewide, according to the DNR.