Utah · Turkey · 2026–27 Edition
Utah Turkey Season 2026–27: Fall & Spring Dates, Bag Limits
01 — Fall turkey
| Season | Zones | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Turkey Management Harvest (OTC permit) | Select private-land areas within the Northern, Central, Southeastern & Southern regions | Oct 1 – Feb 28 |
02 — Spring gobbler
| Season | Zones | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Youth Hunt | Statewide (general-season areas) | Apr 30 – May 2 |
| General Season (OTC permit) | Statewide | May 3 – May 31 |
03 — Bag limits
| Fall — season | Up to 3 fall management-harvest permits total per hunter: up to 2 beardless permits and only 1 either-sex permit |
|---|---|
| Spring General — season | 1 bearded turkey per permit |
04 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (October 1, 2026) 06:53 — 19:38
Rule: Half an hour before official sunrise to half an hour after official sunset for turkey (per Utah DWR). Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Utah sun times for any other date.
05 — License
A Utah 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.
Utah hunting license cost & turkey permits →
Where to hunt public land in Utah — WMAs by county & access rules →
06 — Scouting gear
Patterning a gobbler's roost and strut zone before Utah'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 Utah?
The earliest 2026–27 opener is October 1, 2026. Fall and spring seasons run separately — see the tables above.
When does turkey season end in Utah?
The latest 2026–27 closing date is May 31, 2027. Individual segments and zones close on their own dates.
When does spring turkey season start in Utah?
Youth Hunt opens April 30, 2027 (Statewide (general-season areas)).
When does fall turkey season start in Utah?
Fall Turkey Management Harvest (OTC permit) opens October 1, 2026 (Select private-land areas within the Northern, Central, Southeastern & Southern regions).
How many turkeys can you shoot in Utah?
2026–27 bag limits: Fall — season — Up to 3 fall management-harvest permits total per hunter: up to 2 beardless permits and only 1 either-sex permit. Spring General — season — 1 bearded turkey per permit. 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 Utah?
On opening day (October 1, 2026) legal light runs 06:53 to 19:38. The rule is: Half an hour before official sunrise to half an hour after official sunset for turkey (per Utah DWR). Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local Utah sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt turkey on my own land in Utah without a license?
No — Utah requires a license, permit, or tag to hunt protected wildlife regardless of land ownership. Utah's 'Landowner Permit' program grants qualifying landowners priority access to big-game tags — that's an allocation benefit, not a license exemption, and applicants must still be able to lawfully hold a hunting license.
Verified · Utah Division of Wildlife Resources · Last verified 2026-08-16
Publisher's note. Dates from the '2026-27 Utah Waterfowl, Upland Game and Turkey Guidebook' — turkey is not covered in Utah's Big Game guidebook (used for deer), it has its own. Both seasons shown below use an over-the-counter permit, no draw required. Fall permits go on sale Sept. 10, 2026 and are private-land, nuisance-reduction hunts (female harvest encouraged) in select parts of the Northern, Central, Southeastern and Southern regions, not statewide. Spring general-season is statewide. Utah also runs Limited-Entry spring turkey hunts (Apr. 10-29, 2027, draw only) and CWMU (private co-op) turkey hunts — both excluded here since they require a separately drawn permit beyond what most hunters buy.