State wildlife officials say prospects for hunting wild turkeys and ruffed grouse are good at the start of the new season.

Wisconsin's wild turkey population continues to grow, and officials increased the number of fall turkey permits to 95,700 -- up 900 from last year.

Wisconsin's grouse population also continues to climb as it's on the up side of the popular game bird's 10-year population cycle.

But the state has made one major change for the season that starts next Saturday. The fall 2008 wild turkey hunting season consolidates the old 46-zone structure into just seven zones covering the same area.

The consolidation gives turkey hunters greater flexibility to move about in search of birds.

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