Turkey runs twice a year: a fall season where states offer one, and the spring gobbler hunt that most hunters mean when they ask about turkey season. The earliest opener we track is Florida on August 1, 2026. Every state below links to its own page with the full segment table, bag limits and legal light.
01 — Opening dates, earliest first
| State | Opens | First segment | Through | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida turkey season | Aug 1, 2026 | Archery · Zone A | Apr 25, 2027 | Opened Aug 1, 2026 |
| New Mexico turkey season | Sep 1, 2026 | Fall OTC — Bow Only | May 15, 2027 | Opened Sep 1, 2026 |
| Oregon turkey season | Sep 1, 2026 | Fall Season | May 31, 2027 | Opened Sep 1, 2026 |
| Washington turkey season | Sep 1, 2026 | Fall General Season | May 31, 2027 | Opened Sep 1, 2026 |
| Kentucky turkey season | Sep 5, 2026 | Fall turkey · archery | Jan 18, 2027 | Opened Sep 5, 2026 |
| Maine turkey season | Sep 12, 2026 | Youth Fall Wild Turkey Day | Jun 5, 2027 | Opened Sep 12, 2026 |
| Wisconsin turkey season | Sep 12, 2026 | Fall Turkey | Jun 1, 2027 | Opened Sep 12, 2026 |
| Michigan turkey season | Sep 15, 2026 | Fall turkey · TMU I | Nov 14, 2026 | Opened Sep 15, 2026 |
| Missouri turkey season | Sep 15, 2026 | Fall Archery Turkey | May 10, 2027 | Opened Sep 15, 2026 |
| Tennessee turkey season | Sep 26, 2026 | Fall Archery Only · Segment 1 | May 16, 2027 | Opened Sep 26, 2026 |
| Illinois turkey season | Oct 1, 2026 | Fall Archery | May 13, 2027 | Opened Oct 1, 2026 |
| Indiana turkey season | Oct 1, 2026 | Fall turkey · archery, first segment | Jan 3, 2027 | Opened Oct 1, 2026 |
| Iowa turkey season | Oct 1, 2026 | Resident Archery-only · first segment | May 16, 2027 | Opened Oct 1, 2026 |
| Nebraska turkey season | Oct 1, 2026 | Archery & Shotgun (adult & youth — hunter's choice of either) | May 31, 2027 | Opened Oct 1, 2026 |
| New York turkey season | Oct 1, 2026 | Fall Season — Zone 1 (Northernmost / Adirondacks region) | May 31, 2027 | Opened Oct 1, 2026 |
| Ohio turkey season | Oct 1, 2026 | Fall wild turkey | Oct 25, 2026 | Closed Oct 25, 2026 |
| Oklahoma turkey season | Oct 1, 2026 | Fall turkey · archery | May 16, 2027 | Opened Oct 1, 2026 |
| Utah turkey season | Oct 1, 2026 | Fall Turkey Management Harvest (OTC permit) | May 31, 2027 | Opened Oct 1, 2026 |
| Minnesota turkey season | Oct 3, 2026 | Fall season · archery or firearm | May 31, 2027 | Opened Oct 3, 2026 |
| Texas turkey season | Oct 3, 2026 | Archery only | May 23, 2027 | Opened Oct 3, 2026 |
| Virginia turkey season | Oct 3, 2026 | Archery Turkey | May 15, 2027 | Opened Oct 3, 2026 |
| Massachusetts turkey season | Oct 5, 2026 | Fall — Archery Only | May 22, 2027 | Opened Oct 5, 2026 |
| West Virginia turkey season | Oct 10, 2026 | Fall turkey · single-segment counties | May 23, 2027 | Opened Oct 10, 2026 |
| Maryland turkey season | Oct 31, 2026 | Fall Season | May 24, 2027 | Opened Oct 31, 2026 |
| Pennsylvania turkey season | Oct 31, 2026 | Fall Turkey (male or female) | May 31, 2027 | Opened Oct 31, 2026 |
| Nevada turkey season | Nov 1, 2026 | Fall — Limited Entry (either sex) | May 2, 2027 | Opens in 0 days |
| Alabama turkey season | Nov 14, 2026 | Fall Season · Segment 1 (no decoys) | May 3, 2027 | Opens in 13 days |
| California turkey season | Nov 14, 2026 | Fall Season | May 16, 2027 | Opens in 13 days |
| Mississippi turkey season | Mar 8, 2027 | Youth Season (15 and under) | May 2, 2027 | Opens in 127 days |
| Georgia turkey season | Mar 20, 2027 | Special Opportunity · Youth & Mobility-Impaired | May 15, 2027 | Opens in 139 days |
| Louisiana turkey season | Mar 26, 2027 | Youth & Physically Challenged Hunt | May 2, 2027 | Opens in 145 days |
| South Carolina turkey season | Mar 27, 2027 | Youth Weekend 1 | May 9, 2027 | Opens in 146 days |
| Kansas turkey season | Apr 1, 2027 | Spring Turkey · Youth and Disability | May 31, 2027 | Opens in 151 days |
| Delaware turkey season | Apr 3, 2027 | Youth & Non-Ambulatory Hunt | May 9, 2027 | Opens in 153 days |
| Arkansas turkey season | Apr 5, 2027 | Regular Season | May 9, 2027 | Opens in 155 days |
| North Carolina turkey season | Apr 10, 2027 | Youth Season · male or bearded turkey only | May 15, 2027 | Opens in 160 days |
“Opens” is the earliest date anywhere in that state, and “First segment” names what that date belongs to — a fall hunt and the spring gobbler season sit in different halves of the year. States split seasons into segments with closed weeks between them, so read the state page before you plan a date.
02 — What changes from state to state
Two seasons, months apart. Fall hunts open between August and October 2026; spring gobbler seasons run March through May 2027. A state page covers both, which is why its date range spans most of a year.
Fall is either-sex where it is offered at all; spring is limited to bearded or male birds in every state we cover.
Youth and mobility-impaired weekends usually open ahead of the general season, and several states run zone calendars that stagger the spring opener across the state.
03 — FAQ
When does turkey season start?
Spring turkey season — the main one — opens in March or April depending on the state. Fall seasons, where a state offers them, open between August and October.
When does turkey season end?
Spring seasons generally close in May. Fall seasons close between November and February, and several states reopen a short fall segment after deer gun season.
Do I need a license as well as a tag?
Yes — every state requires a hunting license, and most add a species tag, permit or stamp on top of it. Costs and age rules sit on each state's license page, linked from its turkey season page.
04 — Elsewhere in the almanac
Each state page is read from that state's own wildlife agency and carries the date it was checked. The most recent verification across these 36 states was 2026-08-27. Season dates carry legal weight — confirm against the agency's own regulations before you hunt.