Wild Turkeys are Taking Over in These 25 States

As the wild turkey population continues to expand across the U.S., recent data reveals a remarkable trend in the bird’s increasing presence. In fact, wild turkeys are making headway specifically in 25 states. 

Here’s the number of turkey populations across these states according to the 2024 NWTF Spring Hunt Guide from The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF).1

1. Maryland

Wild Turkeys are Taking Over in These 25 States - maryland property ss1858674982
Image Credit: JAIRTELLO/Shutterstock

In Maryland, the wild turkey population is currently estimated at around 45,000 birds. During the 2023 season, hunters harvested 5,356 turkeys. The 2024 turkey season will run from April 18 to May 23, with junior hunt days scheduled for April 13-14.

Sunday hunting is permitted in certain counties only. 

The bag limit is one bearded turkey per day and two bearded turkeys per season. The state is also conducting a statewide gobbler banding program, and hunters are encouraged to report any bands they find using the website or phone number provided on the bands.

2. Louisiana

Wild Turkeys are Taking Over in These 25 States - monroe louisiana dp156513872
Image Credit: digidream/Deposit Photos

In Louisiana, wild turkey hunting is a popular pursuit, with around 20,000 hunters taking part each year.(ref) The wild turkey population is estimated to be between 40,000 and 50,000 birds. During the 2023 season, hunters harvested 5,000 turkeys. 

For the 2024 season, the hunting dates vary by area: Area A will be open from April 6 to May 5, Area B from April 6 to April 28, and Area C from April 6 to April 21. The bag limit is set at two gobblers per hunter for the season.

3. Vermont

Wild Turkeys are Taking Over in These 25 States - vermont city dp162234402
Image Credit: sepavone/Deposit Photos

In Vermont, the wild turkey population is estimated at around 45,000 birds. During the 2023 spring season, hunters harvested a total of 6,487 turkeys, which includes 778 birds taken by youth hunters and 37 by novices during the youth/novice weekend.

The 2024 turkey season is scheduled from May 1 to May 31, with a bag limit of two bearded turkeys per hunter. 

Over the past five years, the average annual harvest has been around 5,500 turkeys, and nearly 25% of licensed spring turkey hunters successfully harvested a bird in 2023. Hunters can report their hunting effort data for the Spring 2024 season using the Vermont Outdoors app or during the harvest registration process.

4. Oregon

Wild Turkeys are Taking Over in These 25 States - Bend Oregon ss2358439157
Image Credit: Sturla Media/Shutterstock

In Oregon, the wild turkey population is estimated at around 45,000 birds. In 2022, hunters harvested 5,881 turkeys. For the 2024 season, the bag limit is one male turkey or one turkey with a visible beard per day, with a maximum of three wild turkeys allowed during the season, one per tag. 

Hunters should review the electronic tagging requirements outlined in the Oregon Game Bird Hunting regulations. Additionally, hunters must report their turkey harvest by January 31, 2025. 

5. New Hampshire

Wild Turkeys are Taking Over in These 25 States - new hampshire homestead dp119669328
Image Credit: rabbit75_dep/Deposit Photo

In New Hampshire, the wild turkey population is estimated at around 45,000 birds. During the 2023 spring season, hunters harvested a total of 5,580 turkeys. For the 2024 spring season, the bag limit is set at two male or bearded birds. 

Hunters may take one bird statewide, and the second bird can only be taken in designated Wildlife Management Units (H1, H2, I1, J2, K, L, or M). Notably, starting in spring 2024, Wildlife Management Unit I1 will be added to the list of designated units where hunters are allowed to harvest two birds during the season. 

6. Idaho

Wild Turkeys are Taking Over in These 25 States - idaho city dp329140934
Image Credit: knowlesgallery/Deposit Photos

Idaho is not home to native wild turkeys, but their populations have flourished since the Idaho Department of Fish and Game introduced them in 1961. Three subspecies were brought into the state:  Merriam’s Wild Turkeys (1961), Rio Grande Wild Turkeys (1982), and Eastern Wild Turkeys (1985).(ref)

The wild turkey population is now estimated at around 50,000 birds. During the 2023 season, hunters harvested approximately 6,400 turkeys. For the 2024 season, the bag limit is set at two turkeys per hunter.

7. Maine

Wild Turkeys are Taking Over in These 25 States - maine city dp126909008
Image Credit: sepavone/Deposit Photos

In Maine, the wild turkey population is estimated at around 70,000 birds. During the 2023 spring season, hunters harvested 7,050 turkeys, marking the second highest total on record.

The 2024 hunting season has a bag limit of either one or two bearded birds, depending on the Wildlife Management District (WMD).

The average annual harvest over the past five years has been about 6,570 turkeys. In 2023, Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW) introduced an online self-registration system for turkey harvests, which has been very well received.

Additionally, Maine IFW conducted a mark-recapture reward band study in 2023 to improve estimates of harvest rates based on band reporting.

8. Oklahoma

Wild Turkeys are Taking Over in These 25 States - oklahoma dp223921370
Image Credit: Image Credit: sepavone/Deposit Photo

In Oklahoma, the wild turkey population consists of approximately 87,526 Rio Grande turkeys and 6,006 Eastern turkeys. During the 2023 season, hunters harvested a total of 5,649 turkeys statewide. 

The 2024 hunting season’s bag limit is set at one tom turkey per hunter statewide. Ongoing research in the southeastern and southwestern parts of the state is focused on studying population genetics, nest success, and brood survival to better understand and manage the turkey population.

9.  West Virginia

Wild Turkeys are Taking Over in These 25 States - west virginia dp173352268
Image Credit: sepavone/Deposit Photos

In West Virginia, the wild turkey population is estimated at approximately 122,170 birds. During the 2023 season, hunters reported a harvest of 35 turkeys during the Mountaineer Heritage Season, 12,217 turkeys during the Spring Gobbler season, and 981 turkeys in the Fall. 

The 2024 hunting season will include a bag limit at two bearded birds per hunter. West Virginia is initiating a four-year research project to examine hen productivity and survival, as well as the sociological aspects of turkey hunting in the state.

10. South Carolina

Wild Turkeys are Taking Over in These 25 States - south carolina city dp41452297
Image Credit: sepavone/Deposit Photos

In South Carolina, the wild turkey population is estimated at around 90,000 birds. During the 2023 season, hunters harvested an estimated 13,074 turkeys, including 11,583 adult gobblers and 1,491 jakes.

For the 2024 season, the bag limit for residents is three gobblers per season, with no more than one per day and no more than one during the first ten days of the season in each Game Zone. Nonresidents are limited to two gobblers per season, with similar daily and early-season restrictions. 

Current research is examining nesting ecology in unhunted populations to better understand the impacts of hunting and early removal of males on turkey reproduction. There are no changes to the regulations for the 2024 spring season.

11. Arkansas

Wild Turkeys are Taking Over in These 25 States - arkansas dp198819078
Image Credit: sepavone/Deposit Photos

In Arkansas, the wild turkey population is estimated to be between 80,000 and 100,000 birds. For the 2023 season, hunters reported a harvest of 9,193 turkeys.

The 2024 hunting season’s statewide bag limit is two legal turkeys, excluding jakes. In Zone 1, hunters are limited to one legal turkey, while in Zone 2, they may take up to two. 

Hunters aged 6 to 15 are allowed to harvest one jake as part of their two-bird limit. Moreover, hunters can take no more than one legal turkey during the first seven days of the regular season and no more than one per day. It is illegal to harvest a bearded hen.

12. Montana

Wild Turkeys are Taking Over in These 25 States - montana ss238241248
Image Credit: Galyna Andrushko/Shutterstock

In Montana, the wild turkey population is estimated at around 120,000 birds. In 2022, hunters harvested 2,564 turkeys during the spring season. For the 2024 spring season, the bag limit is set at five turkeys. The total annual bag limit is 11 turkeys.

There are proposed changes to increase fall hunting opportunities in Region 1, which would raise the total bag limit to 14 turkeys per person per year. The state is also considering realigning some hunting districts to better align with regional boundaries and avoid county lines.

13. Iowa

Wild Turkeys are Taking Over in These 25 States - iowa city dp12759614
Image Credit: benkrut/Deposit Photos

In Iowa, the wild turkey population is estimated to range between 120,000 and 140,000 birds. During the 2023 season, hunters reported a harvest of 14,817 turkeys.

For the 2024 season, the bag limit for residents is set at two bearded or male turkeys. Turkey populations vary significantly across the state, with traditional hunting areas located mainly in the eastern third of Iowa. 

In contrast, western habitats are typically limited to small woodlots and riparian areas, with the Western Loess Hills region offering a unique hunting experience not found elsewhere in the state.

Ongoing research focuses on nesting and survival rates in southeastern wildlife management areas.

14. Indiana

Wild Turkeys are Taking Over in These 25 States - indianapolis indiana ss1007807809
Image Credit: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Indiana’s wild turkey population is not specifically estimated, but the 2023 harvest data indicates that hunters harvested over 16,000 turkeys. For the 2024 spring season, the bag limit is one bearded or male turkey per hunter. 

The long-term population trend in Indiana has remained stable over the past decade, and the 2023 spring season set a record for harvest numbers, likely due to the cicada emergence in 2021. Research efforts are beginning in collaboration with Purdue University to validate a new turkey density estimation technique using aerial surveys.

15. Ohio

Wild Turkeys are Taking Over in These 25 States - ohio property ss1390930193
Image Credit: Rotorhead 30A Productions/Shutterstock

In Ohio, the wild turkey population is estimated to be between 150,000 and 170,000 birds. During the 2023 season, hunters reported a harvest of 15,673 turkeys. The 2024 spring turkey season will feature a bag limit for hunters across the state at one bearded turkey only.

The wild turkey is Ohio’s largest upland game bird and is a highly prized species among hunters. Found in all 88 counties of Ohio, these birds thrive in areas with an optimal mix of forests, pasture, and agricultural fields.

Consequently, the highest densities of wild turkeys are observed in the eastern regions of the state, where these ideal conditions are most prevalent.(ref)

16. New York

Wild Turkeys are Taking Over in These 25 States - albany new york usa downtown ss1354741352
Image Credit: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Currently, New York is home to around 180,000 wild turkeys. Additionally, the state has contributed nearly 700 turkeys to Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Delaware, and the Province of Ontario, aiding in the reestablishment of turkey populations across the Northeast.(ref)

The state has also established clear guidelines for the 2024 hunting season. For the 2024 season, the bag limit is set at two bearded birds per hunter.

However, there is a specific regulation for Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 1C, where hunters are allowed to harvest no more than one bearded bird. 

17. Virginia

Wild Turkeys are Taking Over in These 25 States - virginia house ss2080588558
Image Credit: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

The wild turkey population in Virginia is estimated to be between 170,000 and 190,000 birds, and the overall numbers have remained stable according to a decade’s worth of trend data. For the 2023 season, hunters harvested a total of 24,447 turkeys.

The bag limit is set at three birds per hunter, with a maximum of one bird allowed per day.

Despite a relatively stable overall population, there are some regional declines that are being balanced by increases in other areas. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources is currently revising the Wild Turkey Management Plan and will be seeking public input throughout the coming year. 

18. Tennessee

Wild Turkeys are Taking Over in These 25 States - Tennessee homestead dp13716060

In Tennessee, the wild turkey population is estimated to be around 250,000. During the 2023 spring season, hunters harvested an estimated total of 60,335 turkeys, which includes approximately 54,161 adult gobblers, 5,649 jakes, and 525 bearded hens.

The bag limit for hunters is set at one bearded turkey per day, with a maximum of two for the entire season, and only one of these can be a jake.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) is currently conducting a study on gobbler harvest rates to better understand population dynamics and hunting impacts. This data will contribute to ongoing research efforts aimed at managing and conserving the state’s turkey population.

19. North Carolina

Wild Turkeys are Taking Over in These 25 States - north carolina city dp70465551
Image Credit: sepavone/Deposit Photos

In North Carolina, the wild turkey population is estimated at around 270,000 birds. During the 2023 spring season, hunters reported harvesting a total of 24,089 turkeys.

The bag limit is set at two turkeys per season, with a daily limit of one, and only one bird allowed during the Youth Season.

Recently, North Carolina completed a comprehensive four-year research project titled the “Multi-scale Assessment of Wild Turkey Ecology in North Carolina.” The findings from this project provide detailed insights into the state’s turkey population and ecology.(ref)

Additionally, in 2023, the state launched a new research initiative to explore the potential indirect effects of diseases on wild turkey survival and reproduction. 

20. Mississippi

Wild Turkeys are Taking Over in These 25 States - mississippi city dp111312730
Image Credit: sepavone/Deposit Photos

In Mississippi, the wild turkey population is estimated at around 270,000 birds. For the 2023 season, hunters reported harvesting 11,277 turkeys through Game Check, with the total estimated harvest reaching 36,402. The spring season bag limit allows hunters to take one adult gobbler with a 6-inch beard or longer per day, up to three gobblers in total.

Youth hunters aged 15 and younger can harvest one gobbler per day regardless of beard length, with a maximum of three gobblers for the season.

After a decade of declining turkey numbers, Mississippi’s turkey population appears to be on the mend, with harvest figures showing an upward trend over the past few seasons. Recent good hatches have fueled optimism for the 2024 spring season. 

21. Alabama

Wild Turkeys are Taking Over in These 25 States - alabama city dp205344404
Image Credit: sepavone/Deposit Photos

In Alabama, the wild turkey population is not specifically estimated, but the 2023 harvest data indicates a significant take, with an estimated 47,084 turkeys harvested. The state’s bag limits allow hunters to take one gobbler per day, with a total limit of four gobblers during the combined fall and spring seasons.

Alabama mandates that all turkey harvests be reported through the Game Check system, ensuring accurate tracking of turkey populations and hunting activity. This reporting requirement helps manage and monitor the turkey population effectively, contributing to sustainable hunting practices and wildlife management.

22. Missouri

Wild Turkeys are Taking Over in These 25 States - missouri ss2272601369
Image Credit: Danica Chang/Shutterstock

In Missouri, the wild turkey population exceeds 400,000, reflecting a robust and thriving population. During the 2023 spring season, hunters reported a total harvest of 44,516 turkeys.

Hunters can take up to two bearded birds per season, with only one allowed during the first week. After that, one bird per day is permitted. Hunters who tag a bird during the youth season cannot harvest another in the first week of the regular season.

The 2023 season was marked by strong turkey production, largely due to a periodic cicada hatch that benefited the state’s turkey population. The harvest in 2023 was 6% higher than the 10-year average, indicating a positive trend. Looking ahead to 2024, the conditions are expected to remain favorable. 

23. Kentucky

Wild Turkeys are Taking Over in These 25 States - kentucky with horse dp9332096
Image Credit: alexeys/Deposit Photos

In Kentucky, the wild turkey population is estimated between 250,000 and 300,000. In 2023, hunters harvested 35,363 turkeys, marking a 22% increase from the five-year average and nearing the state’s record set in 2010. 

This boost in harvest was driven by improved hatching conditions and favorable weather during the opening weekend. However, concerns about potential declines in turkey populations are prompting changes in regulations and ongoing research.

Research is focused on harvest rates, disease, and turkey reproductive ecology.

24. California

Wild Turkeys are Taking Over in These 25 States - california ss2287568999
Image Credit: Zack Frank/Shutterstock

California’s wild turkey population is estimated at around 250,000. In 2023, approximately 20,000 turkeys were harvested. The top counties for turkey harvest during the 2022-2023 license year included Butte, El Dorado, Placer, Shasta, and Sonoma.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will offer more than 90 special hunting opportunities for the Spring Wild Turkey season, including Archery, Junior, Opening Weekend, and Balance of Season hunts, all by draw-permit.

Detailed information and registration deadlines for these hunts will be posted on the CDFW website at least 30 days before the start of the hunting opportunities.

25. Texas

Wild Turkeys are Taking Over in These 25 States -
Image Credit: sepavone/Deposit Photos

Texas boasts a robust wild turkey population of approximately 451,000. In 2023, hunters reported a harvest of 24,946 turkeys, with 17,246 of these taken during the spring season alone. The statewide bag limit is four birds, but specific limits can vary by county, so hunters need to consult local regulations.

Even with a large overall population, localized declines have occurred due to reduced hunting effort and participation. To tackle these issues, research is ongoing.

The University of North Texas is studying the effects of super-stocking on turkey genetics while the Texas A&M AgriLife Research is examining roosting habitats in the Rolling Plains, and more. 

Source:

  1. 2024 NWTF Spring Hunt Guide
davin
Website | + posts

Davin is a jack-of-all-trades but has professional training and experience in various home and garden subjects. He leans on other experts when needed and edits and fact-checks all articles.