When it comes to hunting wild game, most animals fall into categories like big game, small game, upland birds, and waterfowl. But where exactly does the majestic wild turkey fit in? Is turkey considered small game or does it have its own special classification?
In this article, we’ll examine how wild turkeys are categorized by hunting regulations across North America. We’ll also look at typical weight ranges, habits, and other factors used to group huntable wildlife.
How States Classify Wild Turkeys
Wild turkeys are native to North America and hunted as game in 49 U.S states as well as Mexico and Canada. But not all jurisdictions categorize them the same way.
Most states classify turkeys as small game. This includes major turkey hunting destinations like Texas, Georgia, Alabama and Missouri. Any legal resident wild turkey is small game.
Some states take a different approach. For example, California and Florida designate turkeys as upland game birds. And in Hawaii, turkeys are considered game mammals.
Overall, more than 80% of U.S. states regulate wild turkeys under small game status. This widespread small game designation means turkey can be hunted during small game seasons with appropriate licenses.
Typical Weights of Wild Turkeys
Another factor used to categorize huntable wildlife is weight. Small game animals generally weigh less than 40 pounds on average. Wild turkeys fit well within this range.
Male turkeys, also called toms or gobblers, typically weigh 16 to 24 pounds. Female turkeys, known as hens, are smaller at 8 to 10 pounds. Even the largest subspecies, like Eastern wild turkeys, only reach about 30 pounds for toms.
The relatively small size of turkeys compared to animals like deer and elk is a key reason most states place them in the small game category.
Typical Wild Turkey Habits
Aside from size, habits and habitat are also used to group huntable animals. Turkeys tend to behave much more like small game than big game.
Key turkey behaviors aligning them with small game include:
- Foraging on the ground for plant foods and insects
- Nesting and brooding behaviors of hens
- Roosting in trees at night
- Generally living in flocks most of the year
- Being hunted via flush and stalk, not stand hunting
These behaviors differ from large grazing animals or solitary predators like bears which are classified as big game.
Small Game Licenses and Limits
Classing turkeys as small game or upland birds means special small game licenses, rules and limits apply for hunting them.
Some examples are:
- Small game license required, not big game tags
- No lottery systems like for elk or bighorn sheep
- More generous bag limits compared to big game
- Can use dogs to aid in hunting unlike for big game
- Hunting on both public and private lands is accessible
So while turkeys may seem quite different than rabbits and squirrels, the small game designation fits their biology and makes turkeys widely available to hunt.
Turkeys as Unique Game Birds
While most states classify turkeys as small game, it’s worth noting they have some unique qualities compared to other birds:
- Large size with males up to 30 pounds
- Ability to see color unlike most game birds
- Longer mating displays and incubation than upland birds
- Forming flocks of only turkeys, not mixed flocks
- Limited flight generally to short bursts
So in some ways, turkeys straddle both small game and upland bird categories, which may be why a few states designate them differently.
After examining how most hunting regulations categorize wild turkeys, it’s clear they fit best under the small game designation. Their relatively small size, ground-dwelling habits, and flocking behavior align with small game. And classing them as such allows greater access for hunters.
While turkeys certainly have some unique attributes, their biology and hunting dynamics make small game status appropriate in most jurisdictions. So the next time you successfully call in a big tom turkey, you’ll know it’s considered small game!
Big Game Hunting Regulations
Big game animals include deer, turkey, bear, and elk
Fluorescent Orange: When hunting big game, except for archery-only and turkey hunts, hunters must wear at least 500 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange (blaze orange) on their upper body and head. This orange must be visible from the front and back. A hat and vest fulfill the requirements. Blaze orange camo is legal if it contains 500 square inches of fluorescent orange. In those areas where the archery-only deer season dates overlap with another big game gun season (i. e. , bear) archers are required to wear 500 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange.
When field dressing big game, you must not destroy any evidence of the animal’s species or sex or its antlered status (if applicable). It must stay with the animal while you are out in the field. Normal field dressing, quartering, and icing down of the meat are permitted. Turkeys must remain intact until tagging and check-in are complete.
Big Game Found Dead: People who find a big game dead should leave it where it was found and not report it unless they want to use or eat it themselves. People who want to keep big game (except bears) that was killed by a car accident for their own use or consumption must tell TWRA or a local police agency within 48 hours. Personal possession of a bear that was killed by a car is only legal after a TWRA officer issues a possession tag for it. Reporting of sick deer or deer behaving strangely is not required, but it is encouraged. Reports may be made at tn. gov/twra/sickdeer.
Any vehicle in which an illegally possessed big game animal is found is subject to confiscation.
Albino Deer: Hunting, trapping, or possession of albino deer is prohibited as set forth in TCA 70-4-130. A deer that doesn’t have any color in its skin or hair and has pink eyes is called an albino deer.
Mississippi River Flood Closure: When the Mississippi River at Caruthersville gauge reaches 34 ft. It is no longer possible to hunt big game on private or public land in the Mississippi River Floodwaters Zone. This rule will stay in place until the river level drops below 34 feet. at the Caruthersville gauge.
Episode 7: Small Game First
FAQ
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