Washington · Turkey · 2026–27 Edition
Washington Turkey Season 2026–27: Fall & Spring Dates, Bag Limits
01 — Fall turkey
| Season | Zones | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Fall General Season | GMUs 101-154 & 162-186 | Sep 1 – Dec 31 |
| Fall General Season | GMUs 382, 388 & 568-578 | Sep 1 – Dec 31 |
| Fall General Season | GMUs 203-290 | Sep 1 – Dec 31 |
02 — Spring gobbler
| Season | Zones | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Youth Only | Statewide | Apr 1 – Apr 7 |
| Spring General Season | Statewide | Apr 15 – May 31 |
03 — Bag limits
| Fall — GMUs 101-154 & 162-186 | 4 total (2 beardless + 2 either-sex) |
|---|---|
| Fall — GMUs 382, 388 & 568-578 | 2 either-sex |
| Fall — GMUs 203-290 | 1 either-sex |
| Spring — statewide combined (Youth + General) | 3 turkeys, male or visibly bearded only |
| Spring — Klickitat County | 2 turkeys |
| Spring — Spokane County | 3 turkeys |
| Spring — rest of Eastern Washington | 2 turkeys, except only 1 may come from Kittitas County and only 1 from Yakima County |
| Spring — rest of Western Washington | 1 turkey |
04 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (September 1, 2026) 05:52 — 20:11
Rule: Half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset (per WDFW) — the same general hunting-hours rule already verified for Washington deer; the turkey chapter states no override. Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Washington sun times for any other date.
05 — License
A Washington 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.
Washington hunting license cost & turkey permits →
Where to hunt public land in Washington — WMAs by county & access rules →
06 — Scouting gear
Patterning a gobbler's roost and strut zone before Washington'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 Washington?
The earliest 2026–27 opener is September 1, 2026. Fall and spring seasons run separately — see the tables above.
When does turkey season end in Washington?
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 Washington?
Youth Only opens April 1, 2027 (Statewide).
When does fall turkey season start in Washington?
Fall General Season opens September 1, 2026 (GMUs 101-154 & 162-186).
How many turkeys can you shoot in Washington?
2026–27 bag limits: Fall — GMUs 101-154 & 162-186 — 4 total (2 beardless + 2 either-sex). Fall — GMUs 382, 388 & 568-578 — 2 either-sex. Fall — GMUs 203-290 — 1 either-sex. Spring — statewide combined (Youth + General) — 3 turkeys, male or visibly bearded only. Spring — Klickitat County — 2 turkeys. Spring — Spokane County — 3 turkeys. Spring — rest of Eastern Washington — 2 turkeys, except only 1 may come from Kittitas County and only 1 from Yakima County. Spring — rest of Western Washington — 1 turkey. 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 Washington?
On opening day (September 1, 2026) legal light runs 05:52 to 20:11. The rule is: Half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset (per WDFW) — the same general hunting-hours rule already verified for Washington deer; the turkey chapter states no override. Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local Washington sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt turkey on my own land in Washington without a license?
No — Washington requires a recreational license to hunt or take wildlife, with no landowner exception; the statute's only carve-out is for bullfrogs. A separate, narrower rule lets an owner kill wildlife that's threatening safety or property without a license, but that's damage control, not a hunting exemption.
Verified · Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife · Last verified 2026-08-16
Publisher's note. Dates from the 'Wild Turkey Seasons & Information' table in WDFW's 2026-2027 Game Bird and Small Game Hunting Regulations (effective July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027). Fall general season carries three different bag limits by GMU group rather than a flat statewide number — GMUs 101-154 and 162-186 allow beardless and either-sex birds together, GMUs 382/388/568-578 allow 2 either-sex, and GMUs 203-290 allow just 1 either-sex. Beyond the general season, WDFW also runs one small drawn special-permit hunt (Teanaway, GMU 335, Nov. 15-Dec. 15) that requires a separate lottery application — not a general-public season, not included as its own row here.