This is the first year that hunters 17 or younger could buy turkey licenses over the counter rather than entering a lottery as other turkey hunters must do. That change is proving popular.
Through Wednesday, 5,532 resident youth (and 32 nonresidents) had purchased licenses, compared to 3,688 residents (and 13 nonresidents) last year, when they had to participate in the lottery. Figures are from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources licensing center.
