Turkey hunting season in Kentucky is a beloved tradition for many hunters across the state. However there seems to be some confusion around whether it’s legal to kill a hen (female) turkey during the season. I did some research on Kentucky’s turkey hunting regulations and here is what I found out.
Kentucky’s Turkey Hunting Rules
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) oversees hunting regulations in the state. Here are the key rules for turkey hunting season in Kentucky:
-
The season is open for 23 consecutive days starting on the Saturday closest to April 15th There is also a separate two day youth-only season
-
Hunters must have a valid hunting license and turkey permit.
-
Shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset
-
The bag limit is one bearded turkey per day, with a total of two bearded turkeys for the entire season.
So what does this mean for killing hens? Let’s break it down.
Defining a Legal Turkey
According to KDFWR, a legal turkey is defined as “a wild turkey that is male or has a visible beard.” Only legal turkeys count towards your daily and seasonal bag limits.
This means that any turkey without a visible beard is off limits, regardless of gender. The key factor is the beard, not whether the bird is male or female.
Killing Hens Is Prohibited
Since most hen turkeys do not have visible beards, they are illegal to harvest in Kentucky during the spring turkey hunting season.
The regulations clearly state that hunters may “only harvest one bearded turkey per day” and two bearded turkeys per season. Without a beard, a hen does not meet the definition of a legal turkey.
There is no distinction made between killing male and female turkeys. The presence of a beard is the determining factor.
Youth Hunters Have More Flexibility
There is one exception to the no-hens rule. Youth hunters on the designated youth weekend are allowed to take one bearded or unbearded turkey.
This means a youth hunter could legally harvest a hen during the special youth season, even if it has no beard. However, the hen would still count toward their one bird daily limit and two bird seasonal limit.
Outside of the youth weekend, even young hunters must follow the bearded-turkey only regulations.
Leave the Hens for Conservation
Prohibiting hen harvests allows more hens to survive and reproduce, which helps maintain healthy turkey populations in Kentucky.
Taking too many hens from the breeding population can negatively impact nesting rates and reproduction. KDFWR biologists have determined that restricting the definition of legal turkeys is important for sustaining wild turkey numbers over the long-term.
Penalties for Violations
It is critical that hunters fully understand Kentucky’s turkey hunting regulations. Shooting a hen turkey with no beard would violate state law.
Possible penalties for killing an illegal hen turkey include:
- Hunting license suspension or revocation
- Fines up to $1,000
- Jail time up to 6 months
Severe or repeat offenses may result in larger fines, longer suspensions, or felony poaching charges.
Turkey Hunting Ethics
Beyond being illegal, shooting hen turkeys goes against principles of fair chase and hunter ethics.
Hunters are expected to only take legal birds that offer a sporting chance. Indiscriminately killing hens for an easy harvest shows poor judgement and disrespect for the sport.
Most turkey hunters agree that if you mistakenly shoot a hen, you should turn yourself in immediately and accept responsibility for your actions. Trying to conceal an illegal harvest would be unethical.
Know The Regulations Before Heading Out
I know Kentucky turkey hunting season brings excitement, but make sure you know the rules before going out. Taking time to understand hen regulations shows respect for wildlife.
The moral of the story is: Don’t shoot a hen turkey in Kentucky unless you clearly see a beard! Taking only legal, bearded birds is the right thing to do for turkey conservation and hunting ethics.
Following KDFWR’s rules will ensure we can enjoy the tradition of spring turkey hunting in Kentucky for generations to come. Let the hens live so the population stays strong.
Where do I start?
Learn to Hunt Turkey 101
If you are new to turkey hunting or looking for a refresher, visit our Learn to Hunt Turkey page. It covers a wide range of information designed to help you.
Watch Kentucky Afield Videos
For more information about Turkey Hunting, check out our Turkey Hunting Playlist on YouTube.
Take a Field to Fork class
Check out the Field to Fork Program to find informational classes about hunting wild game, including hunting wild turkey.
Sign Up to Receive Updates about Future Field to Fork Opportunities
Annual Hunting License (Resident or Non-Resident) +Spring Turkey Permit
Sportsman’s License (Adult Resident, Youth, Senior, or Disabled)
Buy your licenses and permits at your local sporting goods store or online at fw.ky.gov/solar.
Unless exempt, all spring turkey hunters ages 16 and older must carry with them in the field proof of purchase of a valid Kentucky hunting license and a valid spring turkey permit. Short-term (1- or 7-day) hunting licenses are not valid for turkey hunting. The spring turkey permit is valid for the general spring season and allows a hunter to harvest up to the spring season bag limit of turkeys. Persons ages 16 and older may not hunt turkeys during the youth-only season.
Children aged 15 and younger may hunt turkeys during the youth-only hunting weekend and the general spring season. Download our Youth Turkey Weekend FAQs for more information.
Youths younger than age 12 are exempt from license and turkey permit requirements. Unless exempt, all spring turkey hunters aged 12-15 must carry with them in the field proof of purchase of a valid Kentucky hunting license and a valid Spring Turkey Permit. Youths aged 12-15 are eligible to purchase a Youth Turkey Permit, valid for harvesting one turkey during a license year. Youth hunters must abide by season bag limits and harvest restrictions. The resident-only Youth Sportsman’s License includes two (2) Youth Turkey Permits.
Youth hunting licenses and permits are valid for the entire year if purchased before the child’s 16th birthday. Youths who hunt turkeys with a firearm must be accompanied by an adult who shall remain in a position to take immediate control of the firearm at all times.
In some cases, a resident hunter may not be required to buy a hunting license, permits to hunt deer, bear or turkey, or a Migratory Game Bird-Waterfowl Permit.
Here are those situations:
- Resident and non-resident children younger than the age of 12 are not required to purchase licenses and permits, except the elk hunt drawing application.
- Kentucky resident owners of farmlands, their spouses and dependent children hunting upon their own farmlands during an open season.
- Tenants, their spouses and dependent children hunting on farmlands where they reside and work.
- Kentucky residents on military leave of more than three days in this state who carry identification and papers verifying their leave status.
- Members of the U.S. Armed Forces based in Kentucky engaged in sport hunting or fishing on the following Kentucky National Guard properties: Hidden Valley Training Area in Powell County and the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Muhlenberg County.
Anyone may report wildlife law violators anonymously by calling 1-800-25-ALERT (1-800-252-5378).
From March 1 through July 31, it is illegal to feed wildlife with grain, seed or manufactured animal feed outside the curtilage of the home (the area immediately surrounding a home or group of homes). This regulation does not apply to normal agricultural practices or food plots, or municipal areas not open to legal hunting or trapping.
A person shall not mimic the sound of a turkey in an area open to turkey hunting and where turkeys are reasonably expected to be present from March 1 until the opening of the youth-only turkey season, and from the close of the youth-only turkey season until the opening of the state-wide turkey season. However, locating turkeys with an owl, crow, coyote, or woodpecker call is permitted when scouting.
A legal turkey is defined as a wild turkey that is male or has a visible beard. During the spring season, hunters may only harvest one bearded turkey per WMA. No more than one (1) bird may be taken per day. No more than two (2) birds may be taken per spring season. Any combination of male turkeys, or turkeys with visible beards, may be included in this two-bird season limit. Turkeys taken by youths during the youth-only season count toward their spring turkey bag limit.
DID YOU HARVEST (OR FIND) A WILD TURKEY WITH A SILVER OR GREEN METAL LEG BAND?
Learn more about our Reporting of Turkey Leg Band process to help us by providing valuable information to ensure sustainable management of wild turkeys for current and future generations to enjoy.
Please help us collect important observation data on turkey reproduction each summer, July 1-August 31!
For more information, please consult the Summer Brood Turkey Survey page.
General Season – Twenty-three (23) consecutive days beginning on Saturday, closest to April 15.
Youth-Only Season – Two (2) consecutive days beginning on the first Saturday in April.
| SPRING TURKEY | Youth-Only | General Season |
|---|---|---|
| Wild Turkey | April 5-6, 2025 | April 12 – May 4, 2025 |
Shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Hunters may be in the field before and after shooting hours.
Turkey hunting dates and regulations on federal military reservations may differ from statewide seasons. Contact the appropriate agency for details on the following federal lands: Blue Grass Army Depot, Fort Campbell Military Reservation, and Fort Knox Military Reservation.
Kentucky PUBLIC LAND Turkey Hunting! Roosting Multiple LONGBEARDS!!! #kentucky #hunting #publicland
FAQ
Is it illegal to shoot a hen turkey?
In most states, it is illegal to shoot a hen.
Can you hunt female turkeys?
Depending on local rules and regulations, the wild turkey is hunted either in the spring or fall. Spring hunts target gobblers (male turkeys) and fall hunts usually target either sex.
Can you shoot a hen turkey with a beard?
Beards or spurs are not sexually diagnostic in and of themselves. You can get a hen with a beard, spur or spurs and you can get a jake or gobbler that may be beardless or missing a spur or spurs.