Turkey applications available, deadline is January 15
AUGUSTA, Maine - Turkey permit applications are now available online at www.mefishwildlife.com, and hunters who applied for a permit last year were mailed an application this week. Hunters should be aware of a new deadline, January 15, 2003, for all turkey applications.

A total of 12,000 spring wild turkey hunting permits will be issued by random drawing in mid-February, of which 6,000 permits will be allocated in Season A and 6,000 permits will be issued in Season B. Three percent of the total number of permits will be available to nonresident hunters.

Applications are now available from most license agents and all regional headquarters and offices of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. You can also apply online at www.mefishwildlife.com.

There is one spring wild turkey hunting zone that includes the following Wildlife Management Districts: 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 27. Please note that the map on the spring wild turkey applications is incorrect. For a look at all zones open in the spring hunt, please go online at www.mefishwildlife.com, or to your nearest license agent.

Hunters who are selected for a permit will be assigned into one of two seasons. Season A runs from April 28, 2003 - May 3, 2003, and May 19, 2003 - May 24, 2003. Season B runs from May 5, 2003 - May 10, 2003, and May 12, 2003 - May 17, 2003. All hunters can hunt the fifth week of the season, May 26, 2003 -May 31, 2003.

Any resident, nonresident, or alien who is eligible to obtain a Maine hunting license, or who will be eligible to obtain a Maine hunting license by the opening day of the spring wild turkey hunting season, may apply to hunt wild turkey in Maine. Please remember that all applications need to be postmarked no late than January 15, 2003, delivered in person to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Augusta headquarters by 5:00 p.m. on January 15, 2003, or submitted via the internet at www.mefishwildlife.com no later than 11:59 p.m. on January 15, 2003.

Last year, nearly 26,000 hunters applied for the 9,000 available permits. Hunters killed 3,391 turkeys during the spring season, a 38% success rate. Just five years ago, there were only 1,750 permits available. Through a trap and transfer program conducted by IFW biologists, a flock that started as 41 birds in York County now numbers over 17,000 and is spread through 15 of Maine's 16 counties.