Permits Available for 2009 Spring Turkey Hunting

Permits for the 2009 spring turkey hunting seasons now may be purchased, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Hunters will have more opportunity to use them, too. The seasons have been extended by a combined 10 days. The 2009 hunting seasons are: archery and youth archery, March 25-May 31; youth shotgun, April 11-May 31; and shotgun, April 18-May 31. Spring turkey hunting permits, which are valid statewide, may be purchased through May 31. Each hunter may purchase up to three permits for the spring seasons. The three-permit limit may be any combination of shotgun and archery tags. Resident permits are $24 and nonresident permits $91. Permits may be purchased online at OutdoorNebraska.org. The bag limit is one male or bearded female turkey per permit. There is no minimum age requirement for hunting turkeys. Those hunters under the age of 12, when hunting with a shotgun permit, must be accompanied by a person 19 years of age or older who has a valid Nebraska hunting permit. According to a spring 2008 rural mail carriers’ survey, the state’s turkey population has increased 500 percent since 2002. The turkey population and extended seasons provide a good opportunity for all hunters, including youth and first-time hunters. Hunters in Nebraska harvested a record 19,896 turkeys last spring.