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Spring Turkey Without the Draw — $10, Any Zone, at 50%

A veteran with a 50% OR GREATER service-connected rating, or rated INDIVIDUALLY UNEMPLOYABLE, may buy a spring turkey harvest authorisation for $10 plus licence fees IN ANY ZONE AND TIME PERIOD, WITHOUT ENTERING THE DRAWING. Bypassing the drawing is worth more than the price: Wisconsin's spring turkey authorisations are allocated by lottery and a preferred zone and period can take years to draw. This lets you simply choose.

Verified August 27, 2026

What this benefit is

A veteran with a 50% OR GREATER service-connected rating, or rated INDIVIDUALLY UNEMPLOYABLE, may buy a spring turkey harvest authorisation for $10 plus licence fees IN ANY ZONE AND TIME PERIOD, WITHOUT ENTERING THE DRAWING. Bypassing the drawing is worth more than the price: Wisconsin's spring turkey authorisations are allocated by lottery and a preferred zone and period can take years to draw. This lets you simply choose.

What it's worth: $10 spring turkey authorisation, any zone or period, no drawing

  • $10 PLUS LICENCE FEES for a spring turkey harvest authorisation.
  • PURCHASABLE IN ANY ZONE AND TIME PERIOD WITHOUT ENTERING THE DRAWING.
  • Bypassing the lottery is worth more than the price — a preferred zone and period can take years to draw.
  • Requires a 50% OR GREATER service-connected rating, OR INDIVIDUAL UNEMPLOYABILITY.
  • Individual unemployability is a separate route, so a veteran rated below 50% but IU qualifies.
  • The ordinary licence fees are still payable.

Who is entitled to it

  • You served in the U.S. armed forces.
  • You meet one of the routes.
  • You are rated 50% or more.
  • You are rated individually unemployable.
  • Wisconsin spring turkey.

Not sure whether that describes you?

Answer a few questions about this benefit specifically — we only ask what this one actually depends on, and we stop as soon as we know.

How to claim it

  1. 1Do not enter the drawing — buy the authorisation directly.
  2. 2Choose your zone and time period deliberately; that choice is the benefit.
  3. 3Have the VA documentation of the 50% rating or the individual unemployability determination.
  4. 4If you are rated below 50% but individually unemployable, apply on that route.
  5. 5Budget for the ordinary licence fees on top of the $10.
Form
Purchase through the Wisconsin DNR
File with
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Documents you will need
va benefit summary letter
Annual
Claimed once a year.
Worth knowingIndividual unemployability is an independent route here. A veteran rated at 40% who holds IU should not be put off by the 50% headline.

Sources

This finder provides an informational match, not a government eligibility determination. The responsible agency decides your application.