2024 NWTF Spring Hunt Guide

Please contact your state wildlife agency for complete details or visit the website for more information.

The NWTF is dedicated to conserving wild turkeys and their habitats throughout the year with on-the-ground work and an investment in research to solve regional population declines, while also promoting our passion for the spring hunt. Your continued support means both conservation and hunting will continue for the next 50 years and beyond. Here’s to an outstanding spring full of Healthy Habitats and Healthy Harvests, as well as the memories waiting to be made in the great outdoors.

Scan the QR code to find more information on each state, including status of state populations, research projects underway, hunting data and more details.

Jump to your state using the first letter of your state's name.

A C D F G H I K L M N O P R S T U V W

WEBSITE/PHONE: https://www.outdooralabama.com/; (334) 242-3469
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: N/A
2023 HARVEST DATA: 47,084 estimated
SEASON DATES:

• Private Lands - Zones 1 and 3: March 25 – May 8, 2024; Zone 2: April 1 – May 8
• WMA and U.S. Forest Service Ranger Districts, Bankhead Ranger District; WMAs - Lauderdale, Freedom Hills, Black Warrior, Coon Gulf, Riverton CHA and Martin CHA: April 8 – May 8
• Remainder of national forests districts (Talladega, Shoal Creek, Oakmulgee, Tuskegee and Conecuh Ranger District) and WMAs that allow turkey hunting: April 1 – May 8

BAG LIMIT: One gobbler per day; four gobbler bag limit during combined fall and spring season
STATE STATUS: Game check harvest reporting is mandatory

NO HUNTABLE TURKEY POPULATION

WEBSITE/PHONE: https://www.azgfd.com/; (602) 942-3000
ESTIMATED WILD TURKEY POPULATION:
Merriam’s: 25,000-30,000; Gould’s: 3,000; Rio
Grande: 100
2023 HARVEST DATA: Statewide, 3,608 hunters spent 13,816 days to harvest 853 turkeys for an average hunt success of 24%
SPRING SEASON DATES:

• Shotgun Season: First hunt April 26 - May 2, 2024 and May 10-23, 2024
• Second hunt: May 3-23, 2024. Stratified Hunts, each hunt is three weeks long
• Youth hunt: April 19-25, 2024, and May 10-23, 2024; valid in 10 units with Youth Seasons

BAG LIMIT: One turkey per calendar year
STATE STATUS: Coming off of a couple of really dry years, we are seeing a little better recruitment and some increases in turkey numbers. The eastern and northern side of the state has been especially good. The central units seem to have stabilized after the recent drought. Arizona is still active in the trap and transfer program, bolstering a couple populations that took a hit during the drought years. We are also using GPS technology to monitor those translocated birds to evaluate the success of that program, to look at mortality causes, nesting chronology and habitat use.

WEBSITE/PHONE: www.agfc.com; (501) 223-6300
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: Estimated 80,000-100,000
2023 HARVEST DATA: 9,193 checked birds
SEASON DATES:

• Youth turkey hunt Zones 1-2: April 6-7, 2024 (check regulations for details);
• Regular season: Zone 1 April 15-23, 2024; Zone 2 April 15-May 5, 2024

BAG LIMIT: Two legal turkeys (no jakes) statewide; Zone 1: one legal turkey; Zone 2: two legal turkeys; hunters 6 to 15 years old may harvest one jake as part of their two-bird limit; no more than one legal turkey may be taken during first seven days of the regular season; no more than one legal turkey per day; it is illegal to harvest a bearded hen

WEBSITE/PHONE: https://wildlife.ca.gov/; (916) 445-0411
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: 250,000
2023 HARVEST DATA: ~20,000 (n/a)
SEASON DATES:

• General Season: March 30 – May 5, 2024
• Archery Season: March 30 – May 19, 2024
• Additional Junior: March 23-24, 2024, May 6-19, 2024

BAG LIMIT: One bearded bird per day, three per season
STATE STATUS: Statewide, wild turkey harvest was 11% lower for Fall 2022 and 18% lower in the Spring of 2023 compared to the last harvest survey completed during license year 2020-2021. Similarly, turkey hunters were down by 3% and 5% in the fall and spring respectively. Days hunting for turkey during Fall 2022 were down 10% and in Spring 2023 were up by 1% compared to the 2020-2021 license year. The top counties for turkey harvest in 2022-2023 license year included Butte, El Dorado, Placer, Shasta, and Sonoma.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife will offer more than 90 special hunting opportunities for Spring Wild Turkey Archery, Junior, Opening Weekend and Balance of Season hunts by draw-permit. Details and registration deadlines will be posted at least 30 days prior to first hunt opportunities on the CDFW website at: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/Upland-Game-Birds/Hunts#49702463-turkey

And available within Automated License and Data System (ALDS) at:https://wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Online-Sales

WEBSITE/PHONE: https://cpw.state.co.us/; (303) 297-7227
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: 30,000-35,000
2023 HARVEST DATA: 5,694
SEASON DATES: April 13 – May 31, 2024, see regulations for specific units
BAG LIMIT: Two bearded turkeys in spring; one must be taken with a limited license, the other with an over-the-counter license.
STATE STATUS: For the most part, turkey populations are doing well in Colorado, with some local variability due to weather impacts. Harvest has averaged over 5,500 birds for the last 3 seasons, while hunter numbers remains at just over 20,000 hunters annually. The deadline for the Spring Turkey surrender period was Feb. 16.

WEBSITE/PHONE: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEPHunting; (860) 719-3152
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: 30,000-35,000
2023 HARVEST DATA: Spring: 1,279, Fall Firearms: 22
SEASON DATES: April 24 - May 25, 2024
BAG LIMIT: Five bearded birds only
STATE STATUS: 2022 Connecticut Wild Turkey Program Report

WEBSITE/PHONE: https://dnrec.alpha.delaware.gov/fish-wildlife/; (302) 735-3600
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: 6,000
2023 HARVEST DATA: 785 Turkeys
SEASON DATES: April 13 – May 11, 2024
BAG LIMIT: One bearded bird only
STATE STATUS: Turkey Hunter Safety Course required for all hunters. Permits required for turkey hunting on public lands. All harvested birds must be registered at a check station by 2:30 p.m. A special one-day hunt for youth (ages 10-15) and non-ambulatory hunters will be held on April 6, 2024.

WEBSITE/PHONE: https://myfwc.com/hunting/turkey/; (850) 488-4676
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: n/a
2023 HARVEST DATA: 11,590
SEASON DATES:

• South of St Rd 70 – Youth weekend Feb. 24-25, 2024, Regular spring season March 2 - April 7, 2024;
• North of St Rd 70 – Youth weekend March 9-10, 2024, Regular spring season March 16 - April 21, 2024

BAG LIMIT: Two gobblers or bearded turkeys
STATE STATUS: Wild turkey harvest reporting was made mandatory in fall of 2022. Turkeys have been reported in 66 of Florida’s 67 counties in the summer turkey survey from 2021-2023. The FWC is conducting a three-year research project in south Florida that began in the Spring 2023. The goal of this research is to determine the relationship between gobbling, nesting and hunting season dates to ensure Florida’s spring turkey season is set to maximize hunter satisfaction and the sustainability of Florida’s wild turkey population. Turkeys are being tagged on Okaloacoochee Slough WMA in Hendry County and DeLuca Preserve in Osceola County, and autonomous recording units are being placed on paired hunted and unhunted sites throughout south Florida. This project is a collaboration with the University of Florida and additionally funded by the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida and Florida State Chapter of the NWTF.

WEBSITE/PHONE: Georgiawildlife.com; (706) 557-3350
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: Not reported (n/a)
AVERAGE ANNUAL HARVEST: 17,500
SEASON DATES:

• Special Opportunity: March 23-24, 2024
• Statewide Season (Private Lands): March 30 – May 15, 2024
• Statewide Season (Public Lands): April 6 – May 15, 2024

BAG LIMIT: Season limit two gobblers, daily limit one gobbler, WMA/National Forest Limit: one gobbler per area
STATE STATUS: 2023 Harvest Data was obtained through Georgia Game Check and reflects the minimum reported harvest. We welcome hunters to participate in the Turkey Hunter Survey to help us monitor spring turkey populations. Visit https://georgiawildlife.com/turkey-info

WEBSITE/PHONE: dlnr.hawaii.gov/recreation/hunting/bird; (808) 974-4221
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: Not reported (n/a)
AVERAGE ANNUAL HARVEST: Not reported (n/a)
SEASON DATES: Check regulations
BAG LIMIT: Check regulations

WEBSITE/PHONE: https://idfg.idaho.gov/; (208) 334-3700
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: ~50,000
2023 HARVEST DATA: 6,400
SEASON DATES:

• Youth-only: April 8-14, 2024;
• General season: April 15 – May 25, 2024

BAG LIMIT: Two

WEBSITE/PHONE: www.dnr.illinois.gov; (217) 782-6302
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: Not reported (n/a)
2023 HARVEST DATA: 16,123
SEASON DATES:

• Youth Season: March 30-31 and April 6-7, 2024;
• North Zone: 1st: April 15-19, 2024; 2nd: April 20-25; 3rd: April 26-May 1; 4th: May 2-8; 5th: May 9-16
• South Zone: 1st: April 8-12; 2nd: April 13-18; 3rd: April 19-24; 4th: April 25-May1; 5th: May 2-9

BAG LIMIT: One bearded bird/permit; Max three permits/hunter
STATE STATUS: The Illinois turkey population appears to be on an upward trend. The 2023 spring season harvest was the highest total since 2010, and we’ve seen four straight years of steady to increasing reproductive success. If you would like to help us monitor wild turkey reproduction, please participate in the annual Wild Turkey Brood Survey. Information can be found under the Management and Ecology section at huntillinois.org/turkey.

WEBSITE/PHONE: on.in.gov/turkey; (317) 234-8440;
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: Not estimated
2023 HARVEST DATA: 16,000+
SPRING SEASON DATES:

• Youth Season: April 20-21, 2024
• Regular season: April 24 - May 12, 2024

BAG LIMIT: One bearded or male turkey
STATE STATUS: Long-term population trend for Indiana appears stable over the past decade. The 2023 spring season was a record year for harvest likely due to the cicada emergence in 2021.  Research is starting with Purdue University to validate a new turkey density estimation technique using aerial surveys.

WEBSITE/PHONE: iowadnr.gov; (515) 725-8200
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: 120,000-140,000
2023 HARVEST DATA: 14,817 reported
SEASON DATES: Four seasons running from April 8-May 12, 2024
BAG LIMIT: Two bearded or male turkey only for residents
STATE STATUS: Populations can be quite variable around the state.  Traditional turkey areas include much of the eastern one-third of the state. Western habitats are generally confined to small woodlots and riparian areas. Western Loess Hills region provides a unique hunting experience not found in other parts of the state. Research is being conducted on nesting and survival rates in southeastern wildlife management areas. There are no regulation changes from previous years.  Nonresidents need to apply by the end of January. Most nonresident permits sell out either during the draw or from unissued tags available over the counter in recent years.

WEBSITE/PHONE: ksoutdoors.com; (620) 672-5911
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: Not reported (n/a)
2023 HARVEST DATA: Estimated 14,989 turkeys harvested in spring 2023
SEASON DATES:

• Youth/Disabled: April 1 – 16, 2024
• Archery: April 8 – 16, 2024
• Regular: April 17 – May 31, 2024

BAG LIMIT: One - bearded turkey only
STATE STATUS: Statewide turkey research project beginning in 2024 to examine factors affecting turkey production.

• Reduced bag limit to one bird, statewide.
• Nonresident quotas established for each turkey hunt unit. Nonresident permits will be distributed by lottery, with an application period from Jan. 9 -Feb. 9, 2024. Nonresident permit-holders will only be able to hunt in the single unit for which they are designated. Any leftover permits for a unit will be available over the counter.
• Resident turkey permits continue to be available over-the-counter and valid in five of the six turkey hunt units.

WEBSITE/PHONE: fw.ky.gov; 1-800-858-1549
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: 250,000 – 300,000
2023 HARVEST DATA: 35,363
SPRING SEASON DATES:

• Youth-only season April 6-7, 2024;
• General season April 13 – May 5, 2024

BAG LIMIT: Two per spring, one per day, one per hunter per WMA
STATE STATUS: Kentucky’s 2023 spring harvest of over 35,000 turkeys was up 22% from the five-year average and was just shy of the state’s record set in 2010. Better hatches in recent years and good weather on opening weekend fueled the increased harvest. Concerns about turkey population decline are being addressed through regulation changes and research. Recent regulation changes included reduced fall season bag limits (two birds total, one hen only), a reduced spring bag limit on WMAs (one bird per hunter per WMA), and an extension of the no-feeding window (March 1 – July 31). Research studies are investigating harvest rates, disease and various aspects of turkey reproductive ecology.

Costs to turkey hunt in Kentucky: Residents aged 12–15 = $16 for youth permit or $30 for youth sportsman’s license; Residents aged 16–64 = $57 for hunting license and turkey permit or $95 for sportsman’s license with other species privileges; Resident aged 65+ or disabled = $12; Non-residents aged 12–15 = $25; Non-residents aged 16+ = $235 (hunting license $150) + turkey permit $85); same cost for spring and fall seasons.

WEBSITE/PHONE: https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/; (225) 765-2361
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: 40,000 -50,000
2023 HARVEST DATA: 5,000
SEASON DATES:

• Area A - April 6 – May 5, 2024;
• Area B - April 6 - 28, 2024;
• Area C - April 6 - 21, 2024

BAG LIMIT: Two gobblers only

WEBSITE/PHONE: https://www.maine.gov/ifw/; (207) 287-8000
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: 70,000
2023 HARVEST DATA: 7,050 turkeys (Spring)
SEASON DATES: April 29, 2024 - June 1, 2024
BAG LIMIT: One or two bearded birds depending on WMD; check regulations
STATE STATUS: The average annual harvest (most recent five-year average) is 6,570. Maine's 2023 total spring harvest was the second highest on record. Last year, Maine IFW adopted an option for online self-registration of a turkey harvest which proved very popular. Maine IFW completed a mark-recapture reward band study in 2023 to evaluate harvest rate estimates from band reporting.

WEBSITE/PHONE: dnr.maryland.gov; (410) 260-8540
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: 45,000
2023 HARVEST DATA: 5,356
SEASON DATES:

• Regular season: April 18-May 23, 2024;
• Junior hunt days: April 13-14, 2024.
• Sunday hunting in certain counties only.

BAG LIMIT: One bearded turkey per day, two bearded turkeys per season
STATE STATUS: Statewide gobbler banding is being conducted; report bands using website or phone number on bands.

WEBSITE/PHONE: www.mass.gov/masswildlife/; (508) 389-6300
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: 35,000
2023 HARVEST DATA: 2,965 spring harvest, 117 youth day.
SEASON DATES: April 29 - May 25, 2024, Youth day April 27, 2024
BAG LIMIT: Two bearded birds only

WEBSITE/PHONE: Michigan.gov/turkey; (517) 896-1720
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: Not reported (n/a)
2023 HARVEST DATA: Not reported (n/a)
SEASON DATES: April 20 - June 7, 2024 (see regulations summary for full unit and date details)
BAG LIMIT: See regulations

WEBSITE/PHONE: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/; 218-203-4311
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: Not reported (n/a)
2023 HARVEST DATA: 13,659
SEASON DATES:

• Season A - April 17-23, 2024;
• Season B - April 24-30, 2024;
• Season C – May 1-7, 2024;
• Season D - May 8-14, 2024;
• Season E - May 15-21, 2024;
• Season F - May 22-31, 2024

BAG LIMIT: One bearded bird per hunter
STATE STATUS: New for 2024, all hunters possessing an archery license may use a crossbow. Archery and youth hunters may hunt all time periods. Firearm hunters must choose a season (A-E) to hunt. Firearm hunters who were unsuccessful during the first five time periods may hunt period F. Firearms hunters interested in hunting Mille Lacs or Carlos Avery WMAs during periods A-C or Whitewater WMA during periods A and B must apply for a permit through the drawing. Applications were due by Feb. 16, 2024.

WEBSITE/PHONE: www.mdwfp.com; (601) 432-2199
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: 270,000
2023 HARVEST DATA: 11,277 (Game Check); 36,402 (estimated total)
SEASON DATES: March 15 – May 1, 2024; Youth Season: March 8-14, 2024
BAG LIMIT: One adult gobbler (6-inch beard restriction) per day, three total for the spring season. Hunters 15 years of age and younger may harvest one gobbler regardless of beard length per day, three per spring season.
STATE STATUS: After nearly a decade of decline, Mississippi’s turkey population seems on the rebound. Harvest figures have ticked upwards each of the past few seasons, and good hatches in recent years have set high hopes for the 2024 spring season. Turkey hunters hoping to travel to Mississippi in 2024 should be aware rules have changed if they intend to hunt open public lands during the spring season’s opening two weeks. Nonresident hunters must now obtain a special, no-cost Public Land Endorsement in addition to regularly required licenses when hunting open public lands prior to April 1,2024. Open public lands include National Forests, Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), National Wildlife Refuges, Corps of Engineers lands, Department of Defense lands, etc., that have statewide seasons without other special regulations. The new endorsement will be allotted in limited quantities via a drawing conducted in mid-February. Prospective hunters can apply for the drawing between Jan. 15-Feb. 15.

WEBSITE/PHONE: mdc.mo.gov; (573) 751-4115
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: 400,000+
2023 HARVEST DATA: Total spring harvest 44,516
SEASON DATES:

• Youth Dates April 6-7, 2024;
• Regular season April 15-May 5, 2024

BAG LIMIT: Two bearded birds; only one bird during the first week of the season, then one per day after the first week (hunters who tag a bird during the youth season may not harvest a bird during the first week of the season)
STATE STATUS: 2023 was a good production year in Missouri, and we anticipate 2024 being the same (due to a periodic cicada hatch that will cover much of the state). Harvest in 2023 was up 6% compared to the 10-year average in Missouri as well. For the first time, Missouri’s turkey hunters will have the opportunity to harvest turkeys after 1 p.m. on private land, though public land retains a 1 p.m. closing time each day.

WEBSITE/PHONE: https://fwp.mt.gov/; (406) 444-2535
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: 120,000
2022 HARVEST DATA: 2023 n/a, 2022 spring harvest was 2,564
SPRING SEASON DATES: April 15 – May 31, 2024
BAG LIMIT: Five in spring, 11 total for year
STATE STATUS: Additional fall hunting opportunities proposed for Region 1 that will increase total bag limit to 14/year/person. Some hunting district realignment to mirror regional boundaries and avoid county boundaries.

WEBSITE/PHONE: outdoornebraska.gov/hunt/game/turkey/; (402) 471-0641
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: Not reported (n/a)
AVERAGE ANNUAL HARVEST: 20,000
SEASON DATES:

• Youth Archery March 25 – May 31, 2024;
• Archery March 25 – May 31, 2024;
• Youth Shotgun April 6 – May 31, 2024;
• Shotgun April 13 – May 31, 2024

BAG LIMIT: Two bearded birds only
STATE STATUS: Currently researching turkeys in northwest and southwest Nebraska, looking at survival, nest success and timing, habitat use and genetic connectivity (and everything in between)

WEBSITE/PHONE: www.ndow.org/; (775) 688-1500
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: 1,600-2,400 estimated
AVERAGE ANNUAL HARVEST: 65
SEASON DATES: Varies by county, check regulations
BAG LIMIT: One bearded turkey only

WEBSITE/PHONE: www.wildnh.com; (603) 271-2461
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: 45,000
2023 HARVEST DATA: A total of 5,580 wild turkeys were harvested during the spring season.
SPRING SEASON DATES:

• Youth Weekend April 27-28, 2024;
• Spring Season May 1-31, 2024 statewide

BAG LIMIT: Spring season limit is two male or bearded birds – one may be taken statewide, the other may only be taken in designated Wildlife Management Units (H1, H2, I1, J2, K, L or M).
STATE STATUS: Starting spring 2024 Wildlife Management Unit I1 is now added to the list of designated WMUs where hunters can harvest two birds during the spring season.

WEBSITE/PHONE: www.NJFishandWildlife.com; (609) 292-2965
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: 20,000
2023 HARVEST DATA: Spring (Male only) 2,545; Fall Either-Sex- 75 (50 male/25 female)
SEASON DATES:

• Youth Turkey Hunting Day April 20, 2024;
• Regular season April 22 - May 24, 2024, excluding Sundays

BAG LIMIT: One male turkey per permit per day
STATE STATUS: New Jersey has joined a multi-state hen research project with two study areas within the state. Research priorities to be collected include hen survival, reproductive estimates and gobbler harvest. 

WEBSITE/PHONE: http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/; (505) 476-8000
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: 18,500
2022 SPRING HARVEST DATA: 1,839 (reported);
FALL HARVEST: 460 (reported)
SEASON DATES: April 15 – May 15, 2024
BAG LIMIT: Two bearded turkeys only
STATE STATUS: New research will be starting in 2024 on Merriam’s hen habitat use, survival and reproductive success.

WEBSITE/PHONE: dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/hunting/turkey/seasons; (866) 933-2257
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: N/A
2023 HARVEST DATA: N/A
SEASON DATES:

• Youth season: April 20 and 21, 2024;
• Regular season May 1, 2024 – May 31, 2024 in all open areas.

BAG LIMIT: Two bearded birds, no more than one in WMU 1C

WEBSITE/PHONE: www.ncwildlife.org; (888) 248-6834
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: 270,000
2023 HARVEST DATA: 24,089 reported turkeys harvested
SEASON DATES:

• Youth Season April 6-12, 2024;
• Spring Turkey Season April 13 – May 11, 2024

BAG LIMIT: Two per season, daily limit of one, only one bird during youth season
STATE STATUS: In December 2023 North Carolina completed it’s four-year “Multi-scale Assessment of Wild Turkey Ecology in North Carolina” research project. More information about this project and its results can be found at https://www.ncwildlife.org/. In 2023, North Carolina began a research project to examine the possible indirect effects of disease on wild turkey survival and reproduction.

WEBSITE/PHONE: https://gf.nd.gov/; (701) 328-6300
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: Not reported (n/a)
2023 HARVEST DATA: 2,358 turkeys harvested by 5,932 hunters
SEASON DATES: April 13 – May 12, 2024
BAG LIMIT: One bearded turkey
STATE STATUS: Increasing population, especially in the west. Into second year of research study focusing on vital rates and survival of translocated turkeys.

WEBSITE/PHONE: wildohio.gov; (800) WILDLIFE
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: 150,000-170,000
2023 HARVEST DATA: 15,673
SEASON DATES:

• Youth Season April 13-14, 2024;
• South Zone April 20 – May 19, 2024;
• Northeast Zone April 27 – May 26, 2024

BAG LIMIT: One bearded turkey only

WEBSITE/PHONE: www.wildlifedepartment.com; (405) 521-2730
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: 87,526 Rio Grande, 6,006 Eastern
2023 HARVEST DATA: 5,649 turkeys statewide
SEASON DATES: Youth Season: April 13 – 14, 2024; Regular season - April 16 - May 16, 2024
BAG LIMIT: One tom turkey limit statewide
STATE STATUS: Research is ongoing in SE and SW portions of Oklahoma investigating population genetics, nest success and brood survival.

WEBSITE/PHONE: myodfw.com; (866) 947-ODFW (6339)
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: 45,000
2022 HARVEST DATA: 5,881 in 2022
SEASON DATES: April 15 – May 31, 2024
BAG LIMIT: One male turkey or turkey with a visible beard per day. Up to three wild turkeys may be taken during the season (one per tag).
STATE STATUS: Review electronic tagging requirements in the Oregon Game Bird Hunting regulations.  Hunters must report on their turkey tags by January 31, 2025 at huntfishoregon.com.

WEBSITE/PHONE: pgc.pa.gov; (833) 742-4868
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: Not reported (n/a)
2023 HARVEST DATA: 39,500
SEASON DATES:

• Youth April 27, 2024;
• Regular season May 4-31, 2024. No Sunday hunting.

BAG LIMIT: One bearded turkey. A second tag may be purchased up to and including the day prior to the statewide opening day (up to and including May 3, 2024.)
STATE STATUS: Ongoing research: Turkey population dynamics study to assess why long-term population trends are stable in many Wildlife Management Units while increasing in a few and declining in others. Wild turkey spring hunting mortality in Pennsylvania is also being studied to evaluate crippling loss of wild turkeys during the spring season and evaluate hunter attitudes and opinions regarding the second tag for the spring season.

WEBSITE/PHONE: dem.ri.gov/programs/fishwildlife; (401) 789-0281
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: N/A
2023 HARVEST DATA: 341 bearded wild turkeys harvested
SEASON DATES:

• Regular season April 25 – May 19, 2024;
• Youth hunt April 15-21, 2024;
• Paraplegic hunt April 20-21, 2024

BAG LIMIT: Two bearded birds, only one on state lands
STATE STATUS: The 2023 spring turkey season had the highest harvest since turkey reintroductions began in the 1980s and was 59 turkeys higher than the previous record of 282 turkeys in 2021. The wild turkey population in Rhode Island appears to be stable. Population indices and brood surveys indicate stable 10-year trends, and we anticipate the 2024 turkey harvest to be similar to the 2019-23 spring seasons.

WEBSITE/PHONE: www.dnr.sc.gov; (803) 734-3886
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: 90,000
2023 HARVEST DATA: Estimated at 13,074 (11,583 adult gobblers and 1,491 jakes)
SEASON DATES:

• Game Zones 1 and 2 - April 1 to May 10, 2024;
• Game Zones 3 and 4 - March 22 to April 30;
• WMAs statewide - April 1-30 (some WMAs may be more restrictive, see the annual Rules and Regulations Guide for details).

BAG LIMIT: Residents - 3 gobblers per season, no more than one per day, no more than one the first 10 days of the respective Game Zone season; Nonresidents – two gobblers per season, no more than one per day, no more than one the first 10 days of the respective Game Zone season
STATE STATUS: Like many southeastern states, South Carolina has experienced a declining trend in wild turkeys for over 15 years, likely a result of ongoing poor recruitment of poults into the population. The harvest in 2023 was down about 3% from 2022, maintaining the declining trend. Current research is focused on nesting ecology in an unhunted population to tease out possible effects of hunting and the early removal of males on reproduction. There are no regulation changes in South Carolina for the 2024 spring season.

WEBSITE/PHONE: https://gfp.sd.gov; (605) 223-7660
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: Not reported (n/a)
2023 HARVEST DATA: Not reported (n/a)
SEASON DATES:

• April 13 – May 31, 2024 in most units (check regulations);
• April 27 – May 31, 2024 in Black Hills Unit

BAG LIMIT: Check regulations
STATE STATUS:  It is important to note that start dates of hunting seasons vary according to unit. In prairie units the season dates occur from April 13- May 31, 2024 in most units. In the Black Hills unit is starts later and occurs from April 27-May 31, 2024. 

WEBSITE/PHONE: http://tnwildlife.org/; (615) 781-6500
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: 250,000
2023 HARVEST DATA: based on post-season hunter survey, an estimated 60,335 turkeys (54,161 ± 5,496 adult gobblers, 5,649 ± 2,021 jakes, and 525 ± 703 bearded hens) were harvested during the 2023 spring season.
SEASON DATES:

• Young Sportsman: April 6-7, 2024;
• Shotgun/Archery: April 13 - May 26, 2024

BAG LIMIT: One bearded turkey per day, not to exceed two for the season, only one of which may be a jake
STATE STATUS: TWRA is conducting a gobbler harvest rate study; if a banded bird is harvested, please report it as directed on the leg band.

WEBSITE/PHONE: https://tpwd.texas.gov/; (512) 389-4800
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: 451,000
2023 HARVEST DATA: 24,946 (17,246 spring only)
SEASON DATES:

• Rio Grande North Zone - March 30 - May 12, 2024;
• Rio Grande South Zone - March 16 - April 28, 2024;
• Rio Grande Special 1 Turkey Bag Limit - April 1 - 30, 2024;
• Eastern Turkey - April 22 - May 14, 2024

BAG LIMIT: Four birds statewide – bag limits vary by county (check regulations)
STATE STATUS: Some localized populations decline. Harvest has declined with reductions in hunter effort and participation over the last decade. Research:

• Application of Unoccupied Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Thermal Imagery and Use of Machine Learning to Survey Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) Populations – University of Missouri – School of Natural Resources
• Evaluation of Super-stocking on Genetics and Recruitment of Wild Turkeys in Texas – University of North Texas - Advanced Environmental Research Institute
• Landscape Assessment of Wild Turkey Roosting Habitat in the Texas Rolling Plains – Texas A&M AgriLife Research
• Harvest and Abundance Estimations of Texas Rio Grande Wild Turkeys. Louisiana State University – School of Renewable and Natural Resources

WEBSITE/PHONE: www.wildlife.utah.gov; (801) 538-4700
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: 25,000-35,000
2023 HARVEST DATA: 2,350
SEASON DATES:

• Limited Entry – April 13-25, 2024;
• Youth hunt April 26-28, 2024
• General Season – April 29 – May 31, 2024

BAG LIMIT: One bearded bird
STATE STATUS: Population stable, General season success average 23.6%. Limited Entry Success 42.0%

WEBSITE/PHONE: www.vtfishandwildlife.com; (802) 828-1000
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: 45,000
2023 HARVEST DATA: 6,487 birds harvested in spring season (includes 778 birds harvested by youth and 37 birds harvested by novices during the youth/novice weekend)
SEASON DATES: May 1-31, 2024
BAG LIMIT: Two bearded turkeys
STATE STATUS: Average annual harvest is 5,500 (past five years). Nearly 25% of licensed spring turkey hunters harvested a bird in 2023. Turkey hunters can report their hunter effort data during the Spring 2024 season using the Vermont Outdoors app on their phone. Successful hunters can also provide effort data during the harvest registration process.

WEBSITE/PHONE: https://dwr.virginia.gov/; (804) 367-1000
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: 170,000-190,000 birds, stable populations based on 10-year trend data
2023 HARVEST DATA: 24,447
SEASON DATES:

• Youth and Apprentice Season: April 6 - 7 (half-hour before sunrise to sunset);
• Spring season: April 13-28 (half-hour before sunrise to noon);
• Spring season: April 29 – May 18 (half-hour before sunrise to sunset)

BAG LIMIT: Three birds, one bird per day
STATE STATUS: Overall, Virginia’s population has remained relatively stable over the past decade. While there are regions that have declined, these declines are generally being matched with increases in other areas. The annual brood survey continues to fall below the long-term average but harvests have remained high. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources is undertaking a revision to the Wild Turkey Management Plan and will be soliciting comments over the upcoming year. Please keep a watch for opportunities to comment at https://dwr.virginia.gov/.

WEBSITE/PHONE: https://wdfw.wa.gov/; (360) 902-2515
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: Not reported (n/a)
AVERAGE ANNUAL HARVEST: 5,000
SEASON DATES:

• Youth: April 1-7;
• General: April 15 – May 31

BAG LIMIT: Spring: A total of three turkeys in the spring season with following restrictions: Only two turkeys may be killed in eastern Washington, except three may be killed in Spokane County. Only one may be killed in Kittitas or Yakima counties. One turkey may be killed per year in western Washington outside of Klickitat County. Two turkeys may be killed in Klickitat County.
STATE STATUS: Three subspecies occur in Washington: Merriam’s, Rio Grande and Eastern. Washington turkey populations are thriving to the east of the Cascade Range (Merriam’s and Rio Grande). The Eastern subspecies in western Washington can be a challenge to locate and typically requires dedicated scouting and securing land access in advance. Report turkey observations year-round and especially during the brood season in July and August to help monitor population distribution and productivity: https://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/management/game-bird-survey
Local hunting prospects: https://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/locations/prospects
Private Lands Access: https://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/locations/private-lands
Hunting seasons and regulations: https://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations

WEBSITE/PHONE: wvdnr.gov/; (304)558-2771
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: 122,170
2023 HARVEST DATA: Mountaineer Heritage Season: 35, Spring Gobbler: 12,217, Fall Turkey: 981
SEASON DATES:

• Youth Season April 13-14, 2024;
• Spring Gobbler April 15-May 19, 2024

BAG LIMIT: Two bearded birds
STATE STATUS: West Virginia will be starting a four-year research project looking at hen productivity and survival, as well as sociological aspects of West Virginia turkey hunters.

WEBSITE/PHONE: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/hunt/turkey/; (608) 212-7923
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: Not reported (n/a)
2023 HARVEST: 42,439
SEASON DATES:

• 2024 Spring Turkey Youth Hunt: April 13 - 14, 2024
• Period A: April 17-23, 2024
• Period B: April 24-30, 2024
• Period C: May 1-7, 2024
• Period D: May 8-14, 2024
• Period E: May 15-21, 2024
• Period F: May 22-28, 2024

BAG LIMIT: One bearded bird per harvest authorization

WEBSITE/PHONE: https://wgfd.wyo.gov/; (307) 777-4600
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: Not estimated
2023 HARVEST DATA: Statewide harvest success ~50%
SEASON DATES: April 20 – May 31, except Area 3: April 1 – May 31, 2024
BAG LIMIT: One male or bearded wild turkey per license. Hunters may possess one General License (unlimited over the counter), or one Type 1 license (drawing only), and up to two Type 3 licenses (drawing only, or available as leftover if not sold out in the drawing).
STATE STATUS: Merriam’s, Rio Grande and hybrids are location dependent. Above average poult production and survival the past three years. Populations rebounding and respectable in most locations. Check regulations for Type 1 and 3 license restrictions.

WEBSITE/PHONE: https://mffp.gouv.qc.ca/lafaune/plans-de-gestion/dindon-sauvage/
WILD TURKEY POPULATION: n/a
2023 HARVEST DATA: n/a
SEASON DATES: Spring season April 28 - May 22
BAG LIMIT: One or two (check regulations)