California · Turkey · 2026–27 Edition
California Turkey Season 2026–27: Fall & Spring Dates, Bag Limits
01 — Fall turkey
| Season | Zones | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Season | Statewide | Nov 14 – Dec 13 |
02 — Spring gobbler
| Season | Zones | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Additional Junior Weekend | Statewide | Mar 20 – Mar 21 |
| General Season | Statewide | Mar 27 – May 2 |
| Archery Only (incl. Additional Junior) | Statewide | May 3 – May 16 |
03 — Bag limits
| Fall — daily | 1 turkey, either sex |
|---|---|
| Fall — season/possession | 2 turkeys |
| Spring — daily | 1 bearded turkey |
| Spring — season/possession | 3 bearded turkeys, combined across the General and Archery Only spring seasons |
04 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (November 14, 2026) 06:05 — 17:18
Rule: Half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset (per CDFW, T14 CCR §353) — the same general hunting-hours rule already verified for California deer. Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local California sun times for any other date.
05 — License
A California hunting license and turkey permit are required. Spring and fall permits are often sold separately, and some states cap the number of gobblers per hunter per year across both seasons.
California hunting license cost & turkey permits →
Where to hunt public land in California — WMAs by county & access rules →
06 — Scouting gear
Patterning a gobbler's roost and strut zone before California's opener usually means glassing from a distance and running a trail camera through late winter and early spring.
- Hunting binoculars on Amazon →
- Trail cameras on Amazon →
- Trail camera SD cards — class, capacity & format explained →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. These are category links, not a single named pick — we run no product tests of our own.
07 — FAQ
When does turkey season start in California?
The earliest 2026–27 opener is November 14, 2026. Fall and spring seasons run separately — see the tables above.
When does turkey season end in California?
The latest 2026–27 closing date is May 16, 2027. Individual segments and zones close on their own dates.
When does spring turkey season start in California?
Additional Junior Weekend opens March 20, 2027 (Statewide).
When does fall turkey season start in California?
Fall Season opens November 14, 2026 (Statewide).
How many turkeys can you shoot in California?
2026–27 bag limits: Fall — daily — 1 turkey, either sex. Fall — season/possession — 2 turkeys. Spring — daily — 1 bearded turkey. Spring — season/possession — 3 bearded turkeys, combined across the General and Archery Only spring seasons. Limits are set per zone and per permit — check the agency's own regulations before you hunt.
What time can you start shooting turkey in California?
On opening day (November 14, 2026) legal light runs 06:05 to 17:18. The rule is: Half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset (per CDFW, T14 CCR §353) — the same general hunting-hours rule already verified for California deer. Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local California sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt turkey on my own land in California without a license?
No — California requires a hunting license regardless of land ownership. The one landowner-specific carve-out is a narrow depredation-permit process for wild pigs causing damage, which is not a general hunting license.
Verified · California Department of Fish and Wildlife · Last verified 2026-08-16
Publisher's note. Dates from CDFW's own '2026-2027 Seasons and Limits - Wild Turkey' table on the Upland Game Bird Hunting page. Beyond this general statewide season, CDFW also runs a separate, much smaller program of limited-entry drawn hunts at specific wildlife areas (e.g. Cosumnes River Preserve) with their own dates and a lottery application — those are not general-public seasons and aren't included here; see CDFW's Wild Turkey Hunts page if you want to apply for one. The Additional Junior season runs during both the opening spring weekend and the archery-only window, not as its own separate block.