Hey there, fellow turkey hunters! Are you wondering when the 2022 turkey season kicks off in your state? Look no further! I’ve compiled all the essential information you need to know about turkey season dates, bag limits, regulations, and more for every state in the US.
Let’s dive right in!
Fall Turkey Hunting Season 2022
The fall turkey season is a great opportunity to bag a bird before the winter sets in Many states offer fall turkey hunting, so be sure to check your state’s specific regulations before heading out
Here’s a quick overview of the fall turkey season dates for some popular states:
- Alabama: November 20 – 28 and December 11, 2022 to January 1, 2023 (Clarke, Clay, Covington, Monroe, Randolph, and Talladega counties only)
- Arizona: August 19 to September 8 (archery); September 30 to October 6 (shotgun)
- California: November 12 to December 11
- Colorado: Opens September 1, closing dates vary by unit. See the 2022 Turkey Brochure for details.
- Florida: Varies by zone, check regulations at myfwc.com/hunting/season-dates/
- Idaho: Varies by location, check regulations. Seasons span from August 30, 2022 to January 31, 2023.
- Illinois: October 1, 2022 to January 15, 2023 (archery); October 22-30 (shotgun)
- Indiana: October 1-30, December 3, 2022 to January 1, 2023 (fall archery); October 19-30 (fall firearm)
- Iowa: October 1 to December 2 and December 18, 2022 to January 10, 2023 (archery); October 9 to December 2 (shotgun/archery tag)
- Kansas: October 1 to November 10
- Kentucky: September 3 to January 16, 2023 (archery); October 1-16 and November 12 to December 31 (crossbow); October 22-28 and December 3-9 (shotgun)
- Maine: September 17 (Youth Fall Wild Turkey Hunting Day); September 19 to November 7 (Regular Season)
- Maryland: October 29 to November 6 (select counties only)
- Massachusetts: October 17 to November 26 (WMX 1-9); October 3 to November 26 (WMX 10-13)
- Michigan: September 15- November 14
- Minnesota: October 1-31
- Mississippi: October 15-31 and November 21-27
- Missouri: September 15 – January 15 (archery); October 22-30 (shotgun)
- Montana: Varies by unit, check regulations.
- Nebraska: September 15 – January 31 (archery); October 14-16 (shotgun)
- Nevada: October 1-31 (archery); October 29-30 (shotgun)
- New Hampshire: September 17-25 (youth); September 26 – November 5 (regular)
- New Jersey: October 15-29 (youth); October 31 – November 12 (regular)
- New Mexico: Varies by unit, check regulations.
- New York: October 1-31 (archery); October 17-23 (shotgun)
- North Carolina: September 10-18 (youth); September 19 – October 29 (regular)
- North Dakota: September 1-January 31 (archery); October 8-16 (shotgun)
- Ohio: October 1-31 (archery); October 15-23 (shotgun)
- Oklahoma: October 1-31 (archery); October 22-30 (shotgun)
- Oregon: September 1-30 (archery); September 15-October 31 (shotgun)
- Pennsylvania: September 1-15 (archery); September 17-24 (youth); September 26 – October 28 (regular)
- Rhode Island: October 1-31 (archery); October 15-23 (shotgun)
- South Carolina: October 1-31 (archery); October 15-23 (shotgun)
- South Dakota: September 1-January 31 (archery); October 8-16 (shotgun)
- Tennessee: September 1-January 15 (archery); October 15-23 (shotgun)
- Texas: September 30 – November 3 (archery); October 28-29 (youth); November 4 – January 7 (fall); November 4 – February 25 (Brooks, Kenedy, Kleberg, and Willacy counties)
- Utah: August 20-September 4 (archery); September 9-18 (shotgun)
- Vermont: September 15-30 (archery); October 1-16 (shotgun)
- Virginia: September 1-30 (archery); September 17-24 (youth); September 26 – October 29 (regular)
- Washington: September 1-30 (archery); September 17-25 (youth); September 26 – October 31 (regular)
- West Virginia: September 1-30 (archery); September 17-25 (youth); September 26 – October 29 (regular)
- Wisconsin: September 1-January 10 (archery); September 17-18 (youth); September 24 – October 2 (shotgun)
- Wyoming: September 1-30 (archery); September 10-18 (shotgun)
Spring Turkey Hunting Season 2023
For good reason, the best time to hunt turkeys is during the spring turkey season. Since they are in full strut, it is simpler to identify and report the gobblers.
The dates of the spring turkey season in a few well-known states are summarized here:
- Alabama: March 20-April 2 (youth); April 3-May 7 (regular)
- Arizona: March 10-26 (archery); April 1-16 (shotgun)
- California: April 1-May 15 (archery); April 15-24 (shotgun)
- Colorado: April 1-May 31 (archery); April 15-May 31 (shotgun)
- Florida: March 4-12 (youth); March 13-April 2 (regular)
- Georgia: March 25-April 9 (youth); April 10-May 14 (regular)
- Idaho: April 15-May 31 (archery); April 22-May 31 (shotgun)
- Illinois: April 1-30 (archery); April 15-May 14 (shotgun)
- Indiana: April 15-May 14 (archery); April 22-May 14 (shotgun)
- Iowa: April 1-30 (archery); April 15-May 14 (shotgun)
- Kansas: April 1-May 31
- Kentucky: April 15-May 14 (archery); April 22-May 14 (shotgun)
- Maine: May 1-31
- Maryland: April 15-May 14
- Massachusetts: May 1-31
- Michigan: May 1-31
- Minnesota: April 14-May 21
- Mississippi: March 15-April 30
- Missouri: April 15-May 14 (archery); April 18-May 7 (shotgun)
- Montana: Varies by unit, check regulations.
- Nebraska: April 1-May 31 (archery); April 9-24 (shotgun)
- Nevada: April 1-May 31 (archery); April 15-24 (shotgun)
- New Hampshire: May 1-31
- New Jersey: May 1-31
- New Mexico: Varies by unit
Special Regulations for Eastern Spring Season in Certain East Texas Counties
Only shotguns and authorized archery equipment are permitted, bait-based hunting is prohibited, and all killed turkeys must be reported to the department within 24 hours. Harvested turkeys may be field dressed, but must otherwise remain intact until reaching a final destination.
All Eastern turkey harvests must be reported by mobile app or online:
Special Regulations for Western One-Gobbler Counties
No more than one gobbler may be harvested annually per county in the Western One-Gobbler Zone. The counties in the Western One-Gobbler Only Zone are Bastrop, Caldwell, Colorado, Fayette, Jackson, Lavaca, Lee, Matagorda, Milam, and Wharton.
If the bag composition for turkeys is restricted to gobblers only or gobblers and bearded hens, proof of sex must be carried with the turkey, whether attached or detached, until it eventually reaches the processor’s permanent home or a cold storage/processing facility where it will be processed. Proof of sex for turkeys:
- gobbler (male turkey):
- one leg, including the spur or
- a patch of skin with breast feathers and beard attached
- A “bearded hen” is a female turkey whose breast feathers and beard are affixed to a skin patch. “.
OPENING DAY on PUBLIC LAND! (Wild Start to Turkey Season!)
FAQ
What is Texas turkey season?
What’s the turkey season in Wisconsin?
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Period A
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April 17–23
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Period C
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May 1–7
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Period D
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May 8–14
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Period E
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May 15–21
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Period F
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May 22–28
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What are the dates for turkey season in Alabama?
What is Georgia turkey season?
Will the 2022 wild turkey season be similar to the 2021 season?
Overall outlook: Buddy Welch, wild turkey management program coordinator for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Division of Hunting and Game Management, expects the spring 2022 season to be similar to the spring 2021 hunt.
When does Turkey season open 2022?
Statewide turkey season is shifted to open one week later on April 2. On WMAs, VPAs, and National Forests, the turkey season opens two weeks later on April 9, 2022. The season still closes on May 15. The statewide bag limit has been reduced to two gobblers per season, with a one gobbler daily bag limit.
Where can I Hunt a Turkey in 2022?
Potential spring 2022 hotspots: Western Kent and northwestern Sussex counties typically provide the best opportunities to harvest a bird. Quick tip: Hunters must obtain a permit to hunt turkeys on public lands. You cannot hunt state forests and state wildlife areas in the same season. Season dates and bag limits available here.
Will Georgia have a turkey season in 2022?
Season dates and bag limits available here. Overall outlook: “The outlook for the spring 2022 turkey population will be fair, based on poult production estimates from 2020,” says Emily Rushton, state wild turkey biologist for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.