Spring turkey season is an exciting time for hunters across the country. As winter turns to spring, male turkeys start gobbling and strutting to attract hens. This makes them more vulnerable to hunters. But spring turkey season dates vary widely depending on where you live. Here’s a quick guide to spring turkey seasons in 2024 for each state.
General Spring Turkey Season Dates
Most states open their general spring turkey seasons in April or early May. Season lengths range from just over 2 weeks to 2 months. Here are some of the most common spring turkey season date ranges:
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Mid-April to mid-May – This is the most common season date range, used by states like Texas, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin
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April to end of May – States like Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana have longer spring seasons running April through May.
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March to May – A few Southern states like Florida and Louisiana open their spring turkey seasons in March
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2 or 3 separate week-long seasons – Some states like Illinois and Iowa break up their spring seasons into different segments.
Hunting by Zone or Region
Many states divide up spring turkey seasons by zones or regions within the state. For example:
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Texas has different season dates for the North Zone and South Zone.
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Florida’s season dates are different north and south of State Road 70.
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Arkansas has Zone 1 and Zone 2 seasons.
Check regulations for the zone or region you’ll be hunting in.
Special Youth Spring Turkey Hunts
Most states offer special youth-only spring turkey hunting days. These are usually 1 or 2 days right before the opening of the general season. Some states also have special hunts for novice adult hunters.
Bag Limits
Bag limits for spring turkey season range from 1 to 5 birds in most states, with 2 birds being the most common limit. Some states have different rules for residents and nonresidents. And some states restrict the number of gobblers vs. hens or jakes you can take.
Checking Regulations
Spring turkey hunting regulations can change from year to year in many states. So it’s essential to check the regulations for the state and zone you’ll be hunting before your spring turkey hunt.
Regulations cover things like:
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Season dates and bag limits
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Special license requirements
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Legal methods of take
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Tagging and checking requirements
I always make it a point to carefully read the turkey hunting regs before my hunts each spring. A little time spent up front can prevent headaches down the road!
Struttin’ in the Bluegrass
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DID YOU HARVEST (OR FIND) A WILD TURKEY WITH A SILVER OR GREEN METAL LEG BAND?
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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.
2024 WV Spring Turkey Hunt
FAQ
What is the outlook for spring turkey in 2024?
And the outlook for 2024 is good. “State biologists’ models indicate the turkey population is stable statewide, increasing in recent years with more favorable winter rain,” said Matt Meshriy, environmental scientist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s upland game program.
How many turkeys can you shoot in Wisconsin?
- Spring season: You can hunt one bearded or male turkey per spring turkey harvest authorization, which is also known as a carcass tag or permit.
- Fall season: You can hunt one turkey of any age or sex per fall turkey harvest authorization.
- Youth season: You can hunt one bearded or male turkey per harvest authorization.
What state has the earliest spring turkey season?
- Hawaii: The season opens in early March
- Florida: The youth season opens in late February
- Alabama: The season opens in late March
- Nebraska: The season opens in mid-March
- Nevada: The season opens in mid-March
- Mississippi: The season opens in mid-March
Can you shoot a hen turkey in Kentucky?
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.
When does the 2024 spring turkey season start?
View harvest reporting data organized by county, WMA, date of harvest, and more. The 2024 spring turkey season south of State Road 70 opens March 2 and runs through April 7 on lands outside of the WMA system. North of State Road 70, the 2024 spring season opens March 16 and runs through April 21. Hunters may take bearded turkeys and gobblers only.
When does turkey hunting start in 2024?
As you can see, opening dates range from early March in southern states to late April in northern states where snow and colder temperatures persist longer into spring. Most states have a season length of 4-8 weeks. Now let’s look at what hunters can expect regarding spring turkey hunting regulations and prospects in each state for 2024
When is wild turkey season 2024?
Statewide youth wild turkey season: April 13-14, 2024 South zone: April 20-May 19, 2024 (all counties except the northeast zone) Northeast zone: April 27-May 26, 2024 (Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, and Trumbull) Bag limit: one bearded turkey Hunting hours: 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
When is bearded Turkey season 2024?
General Season: April 13 – May 5, 2024 The hunting hour is half hour before sunrise and half hour after sunset. The bag limit is one bearded turkey per day and two in total for the Spring season. Hunters will need a hunting license and permit to hunt Spring turkey. The license can be directly bought online or any agent.
Which states have spring turkey hunting in 2024?
Now let’s start with the following hot list of states popular with Spring turkey hunting in 2024. The Wyoming turkey seasons last about 2 months, starting from the beginning of April to the end of May. Area 1 (Quota 100) Area 2 (Quota 250) Area 3 (Quota 400) Area 4 (Quota 50) General: Apr. 20 – May. 31 Area 5
How many turkeys can a hunter take in 2024?
North of State Road 70, the 2024 spring season opens March 16 and runs through April 21. Hunters may take bearded turkeys and gobblers only. On lands outside of the WMA system, the daily bag limit is two and the season and possession limit on turkeys is two.