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New fishing, hunting licenses go on sale March 6

MADISON — Wisconsin hunting, fishing, trapping and other licenses for the 2013-14 seasons go on sale Wednesday, March 6. Annual licenses are valid from April 1, 2013, through March 31, 2014. Hunting and fishing licenses for the 2012-13 license year expire March 31, 2013.

The new license sales coincides with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Sport Show, where Wisconsin DNR has a large presence with exhibits, informational displays, and of course, the very popular license booth.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Sports Show runs from Wednesday, March 6, through Sunday, March 10, at the Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis.

Any license bought before March 6 would be for the current license year, which ends March 31.

DNR licensing staff encourage longtime license buyers to take a look at purchasing a Conservation Patron license, which gives the license holder all of the basic fishing and hunting privileges at a great price, $165 for Wisconsin residents and $75 for Wisconsin residents under age 18.

The adult Conservation Patron license includes fishing; sturgeon hook and line; small game; spring and fall turkey; archery; trapping; gun deer licenses. It also includes the early and exterior goose permits or Horicon goose application; drawing applications for spring and fall turkey, otter and fisher; state waterfowl, pheasant, turkey, inland trout and Great Lakes trout and salmon stamps; resident annual park stickers; state trail access; and a subscription to Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine. The Junior Patron includes everything except the park admission sticker, trail pass and magazine subscription.

Revenues from Conservation Patron license sales are proportioned among the fishing, wildlife and trapping programs and also pay for fish and wildlife habitat improvement programs that benefit a wide variety of game and nongame species.

License buyers also will want to let family and friends know about the first-time buyer license, offered for the second year. Certain resident licenses are available for as little as $5 for those who have never purchased a Wisconsin license or those who have not done so for more than 10 years.

Hunting and fishing licenses, including the Conservation Patron license, can be purchased through the Online Licensing Center on the DNR website, at all authorized license agents, at DNR Service Centers (Hours for service centers vary; check the DNR website for service center days and hours of operation; DNR Service Centers are not open on Saturdays), or by calling toll-free 1-877-LICENSE (1-877-945-4236).

DNR Customer Service staff is available to assist the public by phone and online from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Spanish and Hmong bilingual customer service representatives are also available. Customers may reach customer service at 1-888-WDNR INFo (1-888-936-7463) or by e-mail at csweb@wisconsin.gov. An online chat link is also available.