From the earliest Deep South openers to the late-spring hunts of New England, here’s the complete breakdown of spring turkey season dates and critical deadlines across all 50 states.
Spring gobbler season is almost here, and for millions of turkey hunters across the country, that means the smell of fresh woods, the electric anticipation of first light, and — if you’ve done your homework — the thunderclap gobble of a longbeard answering your call. But before you toss your vest in the truck, you need to know when your state’s season opens, whether you needed to apply for a tag (and whether that deadline has already passed), and what’s changed for 2026. We’ve compiled everything you need from the National Wild Turkey Federation’s official 2026 Spring Hunt Guide and state wildlife agencies to put you in the turkey woods this spring.
The country’s most devout turkey hunters know the drill: seasons cascade from south to north, chasing the progression of spring itself. The earliest guns are going off right now in Florida and Mississippi, and the last hunters won’t hang up their calls until Maine’s June season closes. Here’s how it breaks down by region.
The South: Early Action and Deep Tradition
If you’re itching to get into the woods, the Southeast is calling. Mississippi kicked things off with a youth season beginning March 7, and the regular statewide season runs March 14 through May 1 — one of the longest and earliest in the nation. The Magnolia State’s population of over 311,000 birds is robust, but note a significant 2026 regulation change: hunters 16 and older must now purchase a Wild Turkey Stamp before heading afield. The stamp comes with three digital Game Check tags — buy it online and they’ll hit your license profile within 48 hours.
In Florida, hunters south of State Road 70 are already in it, with the regular season running March 7 through April 12 (youth season launched February 27). North of SR 70, the regular season opens March 21 and runs through April 26. Florida also expanded its youth season to a full four days for 2026 — Friday through Monday instead of just a weekend — a welcome change for young hunters and their families. Both are over-the-counter (OTC) licenses, though WMA quota permits require advance application.
Georgia offers one of the most generous seasons in the country: private lands run March 28 through May 15, with public lands opening April 4. A special opportunity weekend on March 21–22 gives early-season hunters a jump on the action. Texas runs a complex web of zones and seasons, with the South Zone general season already underway (March 14–April 26) and the North Zone opening March 28 through May 10. Mandatory harvest reporting within 24 hours of kill is now statewide in the Lone Star State.
In the Gulf South, Louisiana’s Area A season runs April 3 through May 3, with shorter windows in the more restricted areas. Tennessee’s regular season opens April 11 and runs all the way through May 24 — one of the longer windows in the region. Public quota hunts in Tennessee required a draw application that closed in early January, but the general season is OTC.
The Southeast Corridor: Virginia to the Carolinas
Virginia’s regular season opens April 11 and closes May 16, with a youth weekend April 4–5. The commonwealth’s turkey population remains strong with recent high harvests, though wildlife managers note below-average recruitment the last three years — meaning hunters may notice fewer jakes this spring. North Carolina opens April 11 through May 9, also OTC. South Carolina, meanwhile, has made significant regulatory changes in recent years to stabilize a declining population: the 2026 season runs April 3 through May 3, jakes are prohibited, and hunters are limited to one gobbler before April 10. West Virginia’s season opens April 20 and closes May 24, with all hunting ending at 1 p.m. daily.
The Northeast: Late Openers, Strong Populations
The Northeast is home to some of the continent’s best turkey country — and some of its latest seasons. Pennsylvania, the perennial titan of spring harvest (~42,500 birds in 2025), opens its regular season May 2 through May 30, with a Junior/Mentored Hunter day on April 25. A second tag is available for purchase through May 1. No Sunday hunting remains in effect for turkeys. New York opens May 1 through May 31 (youth weekend April 25–26); e-tagging is now permitted — you no longer need to physically tag a harvested bird. Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont all run May seasons with OTC licenses. Maine is the outlier, running May 4 through June 6 — the latest close date in the continental U.S.
New Jersey turkey hunters should know that draw applications closed February 22, but leftover OTC permits go on sale March 23 at 10 a.m. on the NJ Fish and Wildlife website. If you haven’t drawn, that’s your next best shot at a New Jersey tag.
The Midwest: Big Numbers, Big Seasons
The heartland delivers some of the highest turkey harvests in the country. Missouri alone reported 51,010 birds in the 2025 spring season — the highest of any state — with the 2026 regular season opening April 20 through May 10 (OTC). Wisconsin runs a draw-based system across six permit periods (A through F, April 15 through May 26); last year’s draw closed December 10, so 2026 tags are already issued, but the youth hunt is open April 11–12 for permit holders. Michigan overhauled its permit system for 2026, consolidating into fewer, larger Management Units and offering OTC “301” licenses for southern Michigan private land — a big deal for those who missed the February 1 draw deadline.
Minnesota runs a draw-based system through six season periods (A through F, April 15 through May 31), while Indiana — coming off three consecutive record spring harvests — opens April 22 through May 10 with fully over-the-counter licenses. Iowa offers four firearms seasons plus an archery season running April 13 through May 17; nonresidents must draw a tag. Ohio splits into the South Zone (April 25–May 24) and the Northeast Zone (May 2–May 31), with new separate youth weekends for each zone in 2026. Illinois hunters take note: OTC leftover permits — after the lottery drawing — go on sale March 10. If you haven’t applied, that’s your window.
The Great Plains and South-Central States
Kansas opened its regular season on April 15 and runs through May 31 with over-the-counter resident licenses in most units (Unit 4 is lottery-only). Nonresident draw applications closed February 13, but any leftover NR permits will be announced on the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks website. Nebraska’s OTC season is well underway (shotgun opened April 18), though nonresident permits capped out — all 10,000 sold. Oklahoma’s OTC season runs April 16 through May 16 for one tom. In North Dakota, where the draw-based season opens April 11 and closes May 17, the February 11 application deadline has passed, but hunters can check for any available licenses through the state’s online portal.
The West and Mountain States: Limited Entry, Big Country
Out West, expect more draw-based systems and fewer but highly coveted tags. Nevada offers the most exclusive hunting on the continent — only around 139 tags were issued in 2025, all by draw, for a season running March 21 through May 3. If you didn’t draw, there’s always next year.
Utah runs a two-tier system: limited entry tags by draw (season April 11–30, draw closed December 2025), and an OTC general season starting May 4 and running through May 31. If you didn’t draw a LE permit, the OTC season is your opportunity — and it’s a good one, with 2,900+ OTC birds harvested last spring. Colorado’s season runs April 11 through May 31, with one bird requiring a limited license and a second available OTC — a hunter-friendly hybrid system. Arizona requires a draw for all tags, with Merriam’s season running April 24 through May 21 and Gould’s May 1 through May 28.
Montana offers one of the most liberal OTC seasons in the West, running April 15 through May 31 for residents (April 25 for nonresidents, per a 2025 legislative change). Wyoming’s general areas are OTC with the season running April 20 through May 31; limited quota units require a draw. The state posted a record 4,762 birds in 2025 with a 62% statewide success rate. Washington and Oregon are fully OTC with seasons running April 15 through May 31 — and Washington’s Eastern region delivers some of the best hunting on the continent.
South Dakota hunters should note a critical 2026 change: the Black Hills unit is no longer unlimited for nonresidents. A cap of 2,225 NR one-tag licenses now applies, and nonresidents must apply for a Black Hills tag. Prairie units remain largely OTC with generous season dates (April 11–May 31) and some double-tag opportunities.
Before You Go
Wild turkey regulations change every year — bag limits, season structures, draw requirements, and legal methods are all subject to revision. Always verify current rules directly with your state’s wildlife agency before purchasing a license or heading afield. Regulations and season dates listed here are compiled from available 2026 sources, but last-minute changes do occur.
The NWTF Spring Hunt Guide — the most comprehensive annual compilation of state-by-state turkey data — is available free at nwtf.org and is updated each spring as states submit information.
Spring turkey hunting is one of the most accessible and thrilling experiences in American hunting. Whether you’re chasing longbeards in the hardwoods of Missouri, calling in a Merriam’s through the ponderosa pines of Wyoming, or running and gunning in the ag country of Iowa, the gobbler is out there. The question is whether you’ve got a tag in your pocket.
If you haven’t yet, check your state’s wildlife agency website today. A few OTC windows are still open — and a few leftover draw permits are about to hit the market. Get after it.
For the most current season dates, bag limits, and legal methods for your state, visit your state wildlife agency’s official website or the NWTF Spring Hunt Guide at nwtf.org.
Article compiled March 5, 2026. Season data sourced from the NWTF 2026 Spring Hunt Guide (published Feb. 24, 2026) and official state wildlife agency websites. All dates subject to change — always verify with your state agency.
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