Oregon › Species › Wild Turkey
Wild turkey
Oregon Wild Turkey Seasons and Limits, 2026-27
When and where to hunt wild turkeys in Oregon for 2026-27: fall wild turkey on September 1 and beardless wild turkey permit season on October 1, plus limits and rules.
Photo: fishhawk (CC BY 2.0)
Wild Turkey hunting by the numbers
Dates run from September 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027, beginning with fall wild turkey. Limit as printed for wild turkeys: one male wild turkey or a wild turkey with a visible beard per day; season limit 3. Rows that are not statewide name 49 Wildlife Management Units, from Trask Unit to Silvies Unit.
From 2026-27 Oregon Game Bird Hunting Regulations (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
GearHeading out for turkey season? Turkey gear checklist →
Wild Turkey general season dates
Dates as printed by ODFW for wild turkeys; Zone 1 and Zone 2 refer to ODFW's map, not to counties.
| Season line | Covers | Kind | Dates | Bag | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall wild turkey | General tag | Sep 1–Jan 31, 2027 | Two wild turkeys of either sex | ||
| Fall wild turkey | General tag |
| One wild turkey of either sex | ||
| Beardless wild turkey permit season | Permit | Oct 1–Feb 28, 2027 | 3 hen turkeys and/or turkeys without a visible beard per day; season limit 9 (3 permits) | ||
| Fall wild turkey | General tag |
| One wild turkey of either sex | ||
| Spring 2027: youth spring wild turkey hunt | Statewide | General tag |
| One male or bearded turkey per day | |
| Spring 2027: spring wild turkey | Statewide | General tag | Apr 15–May 31, 2027 | One male wild turkey or a wild turkey with a visible beard per day; season limit 3 |
From 2026-27 Oregon Game Bird Hunting Regulations (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Fall turkey: units and limits
| Fall area | Dates | Bag |
|---|---|---|
| WMUs 14-30 | Sep 1–Jan 31, 2027 | Two wild turkeys of either sex |
| WMUs 36, 37 (west of FR 12 and south of the northern Ochoco NF boundary), 38, 40, 43-44, 45 (north of Wheeler County lin |
| One wild turkey of either sex |
| WMUs 37 (east of FR 12 and north of the northern Ochoco NF boundary), 45 (south of Wheeler County line), 46, 47, 48 (sou |
| One wild turkey of either sex |
| Private lands in WMUs 37 (part), 45 (part), 46, 47, 48 (part), 50, 65 (part); private non-industrial lands in Marion, Po | Oct 1–Feb 28, 2027 | 3 hen turkeys and/or turkeys without a visible beard per day; season limit 9 (3 permits) |
The big game season maps note "There are no hunting seasons on NP lands or Tribal lands in these areas." Tribal and allotted lands within the Umatilla Indian Reservation are closed to fall turkey and beardless turkey permit hunting (new note for 2026-27). ORS 498.120 counts the posted boundaries of treaty Indian reservations as "enclosed land" (no hunting without permission).
From 2026-27 Oregon Game Bird Hunting Regulations and tribal land note (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Wild Turkey units across Oregon
A county shows up here when at least one turkey row reaches it. Tribal land inside those counties has no state seasons.
| County | Rows that reach it | Units | Western or Eastern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baker | 3 | East | |
| Crook | 3 | East | |
| Gilliam | 3 | East | |
| Grant | 3 | East | |
| Harney | 3 | East | |
| Malheur | 3 | East | |
| Morrow | 3 | East | |
| Umatilla | 3 | East | |
| Wasco | 3 | East | |
| Wheeler | 3 | East | |
| Benton | 2 | West | |
| Clackamas | 2 | West | |
| Douglas | 2 | West | |
| Jackson | 2 | West | |
| Josephine | 2 | West | |
| Klamath | 2 | East | |
| Lane | 2 | West | |
| Lincoln | 2 | West | |
| Linn | 2 | West | |
| Marion | 2 | West | |
| Multnomah | 2 | West | |
| Polk | 2 | West | |
| Tillamook | 2 | West | |
| Washington | 2 | West | |
| Yamhill | 2 | West | |
| Coos | 1 | West | |
| Curry | 1 | West | |
| Deschutes | 1 | East | |
| Jefferson | 1 | East | |
| Lake | 1 | East | |
| Sherman | 1 | East | |
| Union | 1 | East | |
| Wallowa | 1 | East |
From WMU maps and 2026-27 Oregon Game Bird Hunting Regulations (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Limits on wild turkeys for 2026-27
For wild turkeys the booklets set the numbers below; possession limits govern what you carry home.
| Applies to | Limit |
|---|---|
| Statewide | One male wild turkey or a wild turkey with a visible beard per day; season limit 3 |
| Statewide | One male or bearded turkey per day |
| WMUs 14-30 | Two wild turkeys of either sex |
| WMUs 36, 37… | One wild turkey of either sex |
| Private lands in WMUs 37… | 3 hen turkeys and/or turkeys without a visible beard per day; season limit 9 (3 permits) |
From bag limit table (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Wild Turkey methods of take
Check the season type on your turkey tag or row first, then read the matching line below.
| Method group | Allowed | Banned |
|---|---|---|
| Game birds and crows |
|
|
Summed up for wild turkeys: shotgun (10 gauge or smaller, plugged to three shells) or bow; shot no larger than number 2. Spring shooting hours 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset.
From species table, legal weapons and general hunting regulations (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Oregon turkey fees for 2026-27
Prices are the 2026 ODFW fees for what a turkey hunter may buy; hunting licenses run on the calendar year.
| License | For | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Hunting | Resident | $39.00 |
| Hunting | Nonresident | $193.00 |
| Combination (hunt and angle) | Resident | $86.00 |
| Youth combination (12-17) | Either | $10.00 |
| Sports Pac | Resident | $253.00 |
| Youth Sports Pac | Resident | $75.00 |
| 3-day bird license (18+) | Nonresident | $36.00 |
| Youth bird license (11 and under) | Either | Free |
| Upland game bird validation (18+) | Resident | $11.00 |
| Youth upland game bird validation (12-17) | Either | $4.00 |
| Turkey (spring or fall) | Resident | $26.50 |
| Turkey (spring or fall) | Nonresident | $90.00 |
| Youth turkey (spring or fall) | Either | $10.50 |
| Beardless turkey permit | Resident | $26.50 |
| Beardless turkey permit | Nonresident | $90.00 |
Upland birds: Upland Game Bird Validation (residents 18+ and youth 12-17) or Nonresident Game Bird Validation; waterfowl: HIP validation, Waterfowl Validation (or nonresident validation) and federal duck stamp (16+); doves and snipe: HIP validation; band-tailed pigeon, brant, sea duck, sage-grouse and Northwest goose permits as applicable; turkey tags; 3-day nonresident game bird license ($36, 18+) cannot be used for controlled hunts.
Youth 17 and under must complete a hunter safety education course (any US state, Canada or Mexico) and carry the certificate or an ODFW document with the certificate number to hunt anywhere except land owned by their parent or legal guardian (Mentored Youth Hunter Program exception). No hunter education requirement for adults 18+ in the regulations.
From 2026 license and tag fees and license requirements (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Rules on the ground for wild turkeys
What ODFW expects of turkey hunters in the field, from tagging to transport.
| Rule | Text |
|---|---|
| Bait | Unlawful to hunt game birds by aid of baiting or over a baited area; an area stays baited for 10 days after complete removal of bait (salt, grain or other feed). |
| Evidence | Edible portions of game mammals (except cougar) and game birds must not be wasted; deer, elk, pronghorn, sheep and goat need evidence of sex (head/scalp with antlers or horns, or a reproductive organ attached to meat; option 1 for antler-point hunts); game birds keep the head or a fully feathered wing in transit. |
| Reporting | All turkey tag and beardless permit holders must report. |
| Tribal land | The big game season maps note "There are no hunting seasons on NP lands or Tribal lands in these areas." Tribal and allotted lands within the Umatilla Indian Reservation are closed to fall turkey and beardless turkey permit hunting (new note for 2026-27). ORS 498.120 counts the posted boundaries of treaty Indian reservations as "enclosed land" (no hunting without permission). |
| Vehicles and drones | No hunting or harassing wildlife from a motor vehicle; no hunting within eight hours of aircraft help; no drones to hunt, scout, track or interfere; firearms and bows unloaded on snowmobiles and ATVs (except concealed handgun licensees and law officers); no shooting from a motorboat or sailboat under power. |
From tagging and reporting and ORS chapter 496 (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Wild Turkey country on public land
6 places below are listed for wild turkeys by the agency source named on each card; the rest are large public lands of the usual kind.
Mid Coast Access Area lists turkey (ODFW A&H page (Huntable Species)); Trask Unit and Stott Mtn Unit.
Jackson Access & Cooperative Travel Management Area lists turkey (ODFW A&H page (Huntable Species)); Dixon Unit and Evans Creek Unit.
Thomas Creek Access Area lists turkey (ODFW A&H page (Huntable Species)); Santiam Unit.
Heppner Regulated Hunt Area lists turkey (ODFW A&H page (Huntable Species)); Heppner Unit.
McKay Creek National Wildlife Refuge lists turkey (50 CFR 32.56 "We allow hunting of …"); Columbia Basin Unit and Ukiah Unit.
Hunt By Reservation program lists turkey (2026 Game Bird Regulations ("While the program focuses on wild turkey hunting, hunting for other species is also available")); its listed units.
From land records and agency page (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), checked November 8, 2026.
Shooting light for wild turkeys
Times are Pacific clock times for the turkey season dates shown.
Shooting wild turkeys starts and stops at the zone times ODFW publishes, shown here for the turkey openers.
| Date | Zone A | Zone B | Zone C | Zone D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2026 | 6:05 a.m. to 7:48 p.m. | 5:56 a.m. to 7:40 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. to 7:38 p.m. | 5:46 a.m. to 7:28 p.m. |
| Oct 1, 2026 | 6:38 a.m. to 6:56 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 6:47 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 6:48 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 6:37 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | 7:15 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. | 7:15 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 4:33 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 4:18 p.m. |
Spring turkey (sunrise rule)
| Date | Lane County centre | Deschutes County centre | Union County centre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 15, 2027 | 6:00 a.m. to 7:54 p.m. | 5:53 a.m. to 7:47 p.m. | 5:38 a.m. to 7:36 p.m. |
| May 1, 2027 | 5:35 a.m. to 8:13 p.m. | 5:28 a.m. to 8:06 p.m. | 5:12 a.m. to 7:56 p.m. |
| May 31, 2027 | 5:03 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. | 4:56 a.m. to 8:38 p.m. | 4:38 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. |
Times from the 2026-27 game bird shooting hours table; spring turkey worked out with the NOAA solar formula under the ODFW hours rule; checked November 8, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Photo: James St. John (CC BY 2.0)
Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain)
Photo: Rodney Campbell (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Answers about Oregon wild turkeys
What is the penalty for poaching wild turkeys in Oregon?
Civil damages under ORS 496.705: game birds $20 (turkey or sage-grouse $1,000). The state can sue for turkey damages even after a criminal case.
When is the Oregon turkey report due?
Report every deer, elk, pronghorn, bear, cougar and turkey tag (hunted or not) online or at a license agent: by January 31, 2027 for hunts ending April 1-December 31, 2026 and by April 15, 2027 for hunts ending January 1-March 31, 2027. Late deer/elk reports cost $25 with the 2028 license. On-time reporters are entered to win a special deer, elk or pronghorn tag. All turkey tag and beardless permit holders must report.
What decoy and bait rules apply to wild turkeys?
You may not shoot wild turkeys over bait or with motorized decoys.
Can I hunt fall turkeys on the Umatilla Indian Reservation?
The big game season maps note "There are no hunting seasons on NP lands or Tribal lands in these areas." Tribal and allotted lands within the Umatilla Indian Reservation are closed to fall turkey and beardless turkey permit hunting (new note for 2026-27). ORS 498.120 counts the posted boundaries of treaty Indian reservations as "enclosed land" (no hunting without permission).
What is the Oregon turkey bag limit?
One male wild turkey or a wild turkey with a visible beard per day; season limit 3; One male or bearded turkey per day; Two wild turkeys of either sex.
What are the 2026-27 Oregon turkey dates?
The turkey rows open September 1, 2026 and the last one ends May 31, 2027. Fall wild turkey: September 1, 2026; Beardless wild turkey permit season: October 1, 2026; Spring 2027: youth spring wild turkey hunt: April 10, 2027. Right now a turkey row is open somewhere in Oregon.
What is legal gear for turkey hunting?
Shotgun (10 gauge or smaller, plugged to three shells) or bow; shot no larger than number 2. Spring shooting hours 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset.
Which permits apply to turkey hunting in Oregon?
A hunting license ($39.00 resident, $193.00 nonresident) and the Upland Game Bird Validation ($11.00; nonresidents use the $50.00 game bird validation). Each turkey also needs a turkey tag ($26.50 resident, $90.00 nonresident).
What are spring turkey shooting hours in Oregon?
1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset. Fall turkey follows the game bird table.
Where can I hunt wild turkeys in Oregon?
Rows tied to units name 49 Wildlife Management Units touching 33 counties, and some rows are statewide. The unit table above links each unit page.
Other photos on this page: James St. John (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); Rodney Campbell (CC BY-SA 2.0).