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Wild Turkey Hunting in Texas

Wild turkey are open in 175 counties, and 79 counties have no turkey season. Below: every 2026-27 segment by zone, the limits, the county lists and the public land that names turkeys.

Turkey season tableWhat you may takeWhere to hunt
Oct 3First day
May 23Closing
175Open counties
29Public areas

Photo: Buck Valley Ranch (CC BY 2.0)

Turkey zones differ by season: fall has a North Zone, a South Zone and a Brooks, Kenedy, Kleberg and Willacy zone; spring adds One-Turkey Counties and an East Zone. The annual bag limit for turkey (all subspecies), in the aggregate for all counties, is four (4), only one of which may be from the East Zone. Starting in 2026-27 unbearded hens may not be taken, and Matagorda and Wharton counties are closed to turkey.

AreasMapped turkey tracts29 areas with turkeysLotteryLottery turkey permits4 categories

Wild Turkey: TPWD summary

  • Open in 175 counties.
  • Spring North Apr. 3 – May 16, 2027; South Mar. 20 – May 2, 2027; East Zone Apr. 22 – May 14, 2027.
  • Annual limit 4, only 1 from East Zone; unbearded hens prohibited.
  • Mandatory 24-hour harvest reporting statewide.

Wild Turkey calendar by zone

19 Segments for turkeys, sorted as TPWD lists them, with an open or closed flag for today.

ZoneHuntStartsEndsLengthStatus
South ZoneFall archery onlyOct 3, 2026Nov 6, 202635
South ZoneFall youth-onlyOct 30, 2026Nov 1, 20263
South ZoneFall youth-onlyJan 18, 2027Jan 31, 202714
South ZoneFall generalNov 7, 2026Jan 17, 202772
South ZoneSpring youth-onlyMar 13, 2027Mar 14, 20272
South ZoneSpring youth-onlyMay 8, 2027May 9, 20272
South ZoneSpring generalMar 20, 2027May 2, 202744
North ZoneFall archery onlyOct 3, 2026Nov 6, 202635
North ZoneFall youth-onlyOct 30, 2026Nov 1, 20263
North ZoneFall youth-onlyJan 4, 2027Jan 17, 202714
North ZoneFall generalNov 7, 2026Jan 3, 202758
North ZoneSpring youth-onlyMar 27, 2027Mar 28, 20272
North ZoneSpring youth-onlyMay 22, 2027May 23, 20272
North ZoneSpring generalApr 3, 2027May 16, 202744
One-Turkey CountiesSpring generalApr 1, 2027Apr 30, 202730
Brooks, Kenedy, Kleberg, WillacyFall archery onlyOct 3, 2026Nov 6, 202635
Brooks, Kenedy, Kleberg, WillacyFall youth-onlyOct 30, 2026Nov 1, 20263
Brooks, Kenedy, Kleberg, WillacyFall generalNov 7, 2026Feb 28, 2027114
East ZoneSpring generalApr 22, 2027May 14, 202723

Dates from the TPWD Outdoor Annual 2026-27 (species page), checked October 11, 2026.

Wild Turkey take, daily and seasonal

Read the turkey limit cards before counting birds or tags; TPWD wording is kept intact.

4Turkeys a year, all counties
1From the East Zone
1 gobblerOne-turkey counties
24 hoursReport within

Turkey (4-turkey counties) limit

TPWD

4 turkeys, gobblers or bearded hens (unbearded hens prohibited). Annual aggregate max 4, only 1 from the East Zone.

Turkey (one-turkey counties and East Zone) limit

TPWD

1 turkey, gobblers only.

ZoneWhatTPWD text
Brooks, Kenedy, Kleberg, WillacyBag4 turkeys. Gobblers or Bearded Hens
East ZoneBag1 turkey. Gobblers only
North ZoneBag4 turkeys. Gobblers or Bearded Hens
One-Turkey CountiesBag1 turkey. Gobblers only
South ZoneBag4 turkeys. Gobblers or Bearded Hens

Wild Turkey: zones and the counties in them

175 counties have turkey dates in 2026-27, per the turkey lines on the 254 TPWD county pages.

Zone or listWhole countiesSplit counties
Fall: South Zone264
Spring: South Zone324
Fall: North Zone10711
Spring: North Zone10713
Spring: One-Turkey Counties116
Spring: East Zone84
Fall: Brooks, Kenedy, Kleberg, and Willacy Counties40
No turkey season790
Show the 30 Fall: South Zone counties
Show the 36 Spring: South Zone counties
Show the 118 Fall: North Zone counties
Show the 120 Spring: North Zone counties
Show the 17 Spring: One-Turkey Counties counties
Show the 12 Spring: East Zone counties
Show the 4 Fall: Brooks, Kenedy, Kleberg, and Willacy Counties counties
No turkey season (79)

Wild Turkey regulations beyond the bag

Everything below is from the 2026-27 Outdoor Annual and applies to turkeys statewide unless a county or area says otherwise.

Fees

Licenses and stamps for turkeys, resident prices unless noted.

$25Resident license
$7Upland endorsement
$315Nonresident general
$7Youth license
$48APH permit

Legal light

Turkey hunters may shoot from a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset.

Wearing orange

TPWD exempts turkeys from the 400 square inch orange rule on public hunting lands.

Hunter education

Turkey hunters under 9 must hunt within voice control of a qualified, licensed adult 17 or older; from 9 up, hunter education or accompaniment applies.

East Zone gobblers

Shotgun, archery and crossbows are the only lawful means; no hunting over bait; all turkeys must be reported to the department within 24 hours after they are killed. Harvested turkeys may be field dressed, but must otherwise remain intact until reaching a final destination.

Turkey harvest reports

Tag immediately upon harvest with a license tag; mandatory harvest report within 24 hours in all counties via Texas Hunt & Fish app or online.

Turkey proof of sex

Keep a leg with the spur or the beard patch on every turkey until final processing.

Turkey hens and roosts

Harvest prohibited (new for 2026-27). Hunting roosting turkeys prohibited.

Turkey and hunter orange

Turkey hunters are exempt from the hunter orange requirement on TPWD public hunting lands.

Air guns for turkey

Outside the East Zone, turkey may be taken with a pre-charged pneumatic air gun of at least .30 caliber firing 150 grains at 800 fps or 215 ft-lb. No air guns for East Zone turkey.

From the TPWD Outdoor Annual general regulations, license and species pages (endorsements, hunting regulations), checked October 11, 2026. All Texas hunting laws · License guide.

Public land that lists turkeys

Turkey hunters have 29 public options on the TPWD and federal lists, spread over 7 regions.

Dallas/Ft. Worth (9)

Benbrook Lake (1,400 ac) · Caddo National Grassland (17,727 ac) · Caddo National Grasslands WMA (16,140 ac) · Caddo National Grasslands WMA – Bois d'Arc Unit (13,360 ac) · Hagerman NWR – Nocona Unit (822 ac) · Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge (11,320 ac) · Lewisville Lake (9,138 ac) · Pat Mayse WMA (8,925 ac) · Roger R. Fawcett WMA (5,459 ac)

Panhandle (6)

Gene Howe WMA (5,394 ac) · Lake Meredith National Recreation Area · Matador WMA (28,183 ac) · Palo Duro Canyon State Park · Playa Lakes WMA – Taylor Lakes Unit · Teacup Mountain WMA (11,091 ac)

Central Texas (5)

Kerr WMA (6,459 ac) · Mason Mountain WMA · McGillivray and Leona McKie Muse WMA (1,972 ac) · San Angelo State Park · Twin Buttes Public Hunting Lands (12,858 ac)

Austin/Waco (3)

Aquilla Lake (4,000 ac) · Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge (27,841 ac) · Whitney Lake (14,000 ac)

San Antonio/Corpus Christi (3)

James E. Daughtrey WMA · Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR – East Lake · Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge (101,700 ac)

Pineywoods (2)

Moore Plantation WMA (26,772 ac) · Sabine National Forest (160,656 ac)

Trans-Pecos (1)

Amistad National Recreation Area

Turkey tracts and what else they hold

AreaTypeCountyAcresDrawnOther species
Sabine National ForestNational ForestSabine, San Augustine, Shelby, Jasper and Newton160,656–white-tailed deer, feral hog, exotics, dove, waterfowl, squirrel, rabbit, predators/furbearers, trapping, other migratory birds
Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge–101,700Yeswhite-tailed deer, feral hog, exotics, javelina, dove
Matador WMAWMACottle28,183Yesmule deer, white-tailed deer, feral hog, dove, waterfowl, quail, rabbit, predators/furbearers
Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife RefugeBurnet, Travis and Williamson27,841Yeswhite-tailed deer, feral hog, dove
Moore Plantation WMAWMASabine and Jasper26,772Yeswhite-tailed deer, feral hog, exotics, dove, waterfowl, squirrel, rabbit, predators/furbearers, trapping, other migratory birds
Caddo National GrasslandNational GrasslandFannin17,727–white-tailed deer, feral hog, dove, waterfowl, quail, squirrel, rabbit, predators/furbearers, other migratory birds
Caddo National Grasslands WMAWMAFannin16,140Yeswhite-tailed deer, feral hog, dove, waterfowl, quail, squirrel, rabbit, predators/furbearers, other migratory birds
Whitney LakeCorps of Engineers LakeBosque and Hill14,000–white-tailed deer, feral hog, dove, waterfowl, squirrel, rabbit
Caddo National Grasslands WMA – Bois d'Arc UnitWMA UnitFannin13,360Yeswhite-tailed deer, feral hog, dove, waterfowl, quail, squirrel, rabbit, predators/furbearers, other migratory birds
Twin Buttes Public Hunting LandsPublic Hunting LandTom Green12,858–white-tailed deer, feral hog, exotics, javelina, dove, waterfowl, quail, squirrel, rabbit, predators/furbearers, trapping
Hagerman National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge–11,320Yeswhite-tailed deer, feral hog, dove, squirrel, rabbit
Teacup Mountain WMAWMAFoard and Hardeman11,091Yeswhite-tailed deer, feral hog, dove, waterfowl, quail, predators/furbearers
Lewisville LakeCorps of Engineers LakeDenton9,138Yeswhite-tailed deer, feral hog, dove, waterfowl, quail, squirrel, rabbit, predators/furbearers, other migratory birds
Pat Mayse WMAWMALamar8,925Yeswhite-tailed deer, feral hog, dove, waterfowl, quail, squirrel, rabbit, predators/furbearers, other migratory birds
Kerr WMAWMAKerr6,459Yeswhite-tailed deer, exotics, predators/furbearers
Roger R. Fawcett WMAWMAPalo Pinto5,459Yeswhite-tailed deer, feral hog, exotics, dove, waterfowl, predators/furbearers
Gene Howe WMAWMAHemphill5,394Yesmule deer, white-tailed deer, feral hog, dove, waterfowl, quail, rabbit, predators/furbearers
Aquilla LakeCorps of Engineers LakeHill4,000–white-tailed deer, feral hog, dove, waterfowl, squirrel, rabbit
McGillivray and Leona McKie Muse WMAWMABrown1,972Yeswhite-tailed deer, feral hog, dove, predators/furbearers
Benbrook LakeCorps of Engineers LakeTarrant1,400–white-tailed deer, feral hog, dove, waterfowl, quail, squirrel, rabbit
Hagerman NWR – Nocona UnitNWR UnitMontague822–white-tailed deer, feral hog, dove, squirrel, rabbit
Mason Mountain WMAWMAMason–Yeswhite-tailed deer, feral hog, exotics, dove, predators/furbearers
San Angelo State ParkState ParkTom Green–Yeswhite-tailed deer, feral hog, exotics, javelina, dove, waterfowl, quail, squirrel, rabbit
Lake Meredith National Recreation AreaNational Recreation Area–––white-tailed deer, mule deer, dove, waterfowl, quail, pheasant, rabbit, predators/furbearers
Palo Duro Canyon State ParkState ParkRandall and Armstrong–Yesmule deer, white-tailed deer, feral hog, exotics
Playa Lakes WMA – Taylor Lakes UnitWMADonley–Yeswhite-tailed deer, feral hog, dove, waterfowl, sandhill crane, quail, rabbit
James E. Daughtrey WMAWMALive Oak and McMullen–Yeswhite-tailed deer, feral hog, javelina, dove, waterfowl, sandhill crane, quail, rabbit, predators/furbearers, other migratory birds
Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR – East LakeNWR Unit––Yeswhite-tailed deer, feral hog, exotics, javelina
Amistad National Recreation AreaNational Recreation Area–––white-tailed deer, javelina, rabbit, exotics, feral hog, dove, quail, waterfowl

For turkeys, the $48 APH permit opens more than a million acres and about 120 leased dove and small game units. How the APH permit works.

TPWD APH data, WMA and drawn hunt lists and federal land managers, 2026-27, checked October 11, 2026. Species lists are what each manager names; area rules still apply.

Wild Turkey permits by lottery

Deadlines for turkey hunts are in the table; past dates mean that drawing has closed for 2026-27.

ProgramHuntApply by
Special PermitSpring TurkeyNov 1, 2026
Youth OnlySpring TurkeyNov 1, 2026
E-Postcard (APH)TurkeyNov 1, 2026
National Wildlife RefugeSpring TurkeyNov 1, 2026

Packages by entry

For turkeys, enter Big Time Bird Hunt (dove, waterfowl, Rio Grande turkey).

TPWD charges adult turkey hunters $3 per application and $80 or $130 per permit; E-Postcard hunts have no fee but need the APH permit. Turkey hunters may enter Big Time Texas Hunts as often as they like at $9 online until Oct. 15, 2026.

TPWD Public Hunt Drawing catalog, fees and deadlines (drawing) and Big Time Texas Hunts (BTTH), checked October 11, 2026. Texas drawn hunts.

Survey harvest of turkeys

TPWD’s small game survey puts the 2025-26 turkey harvest at 31,821: 22,021 in spring and 11,010 in fall. Turkey figures are statewide only; no county turkey harvest is published.

22,021Turkeys, spring 2026
11,010Turkeys, fall 2025
66,182Turkey hunters
44.70%Combined success
SeasonHuntersHarvestSuccessGobblersHens
Spring59,96022,02135.50%19,3592,420
Fall52,04111,01022.10%6,2924,719
Combined66,18231,82144.70%

TPWD harvest surveys (2025-26, 2005-06 to 2017-18 report). Survey estimates, not check-station counts.

Stocking up for Wild Turkey country

Picked for the hunting done here; prices come from a live search.

Amazon links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.

Box call

Easy yelps and clucks for Rio Grande gobblers.

Amazon listings

Ground blind

Hides movement on open Texas turkey country.

Amazon listings

Turkey decoys

A hen and jake pair for open pastures.

Amazon listings

Turkey vest

Seat cushion and call pockets.

Amazon listings

Gear comparedAll hunting gear

Species often hunted alongside turkeys

Big gameWhite-tailed DeerOct 3 to Feb 28 · 168 areasUpland birdsQuailNov 1 to Feb 28 · 61 areasYear-roundFeral HogYear-round · 180 areasSmall gameSquirrelSep 1 to Aug 31 · 87 areas

Quick answers on turkeys

Can I shoot a hen turkey in Texas?

Only a bearded hen, and only in the four-turkey counties. Unbearded hens are prohibited starting in 2026-27, and East Zone and One-Turkey counties are gobblers only.

What guns are legal for East Zone turkey?

Shotguns, archery and crossbows only, with no hunting over bait. Rifles and air guns are not legal there.

Do I have to report a Texas turkey?

Tag immediately upon harvest with a license tag; mandatory harvest report within 24 hours in all counties via Texas Hunt & Fish app or online.

Can I hunt turkeys on a WMA?

Our list has 29; by acreage, Sabine National Forest, Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge and Matador WMA come first. Turkey hunters 17 and up carry a $48 APH permit there.

Can turkeys be hunted at night?

Turkey hunters may shoot from a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset.

Is orange needed when hunting turkeys?

TPWD exempts turkeys from the 400 square inch orange rule on public hunting lands.

Does TPWD hold a drawing for turkeys?

TPWD drawing categories for turkeys: Spring Turkey and Turkey. Big Time Texas Hunts offers Big Time Bird Hunt (dove, waterfowl, Rio Grande turkey).

Where in Texas are turkeys legal?

175 of 254 counties.

When can I hunt turkeys this season?

Turkey hunters get South Zone fall archery only Oct 3 to Nov 6, 2026; South Zone fall youth-only Oct 30 to Nov 1, 2026; South Zone fall youth-only Jan 18 to Jan 31, 2027; South Zone fall general Nov 7, 2026 to Jan 17, 2027; South Zone spring youth-only Mar 13 to Mar 14, 2027; South Zone spring youth-only May 8 to May 9, 2027. Other segments are listed above.

What does TPWD allow per day for turkeys?

Turkey (4-turkey counties): 4 turkeys, gobblers or bearded hens (unbearded hens prohibited). Annual aggregate max 4, only 1 from the East Zone. Turkey (one-turkey counties and East Zone): 1 turkey, gobblers only.

Wrapping up turkeys

A public area or a lease can set tighter turkey rules than the statewide ones on this page.

Back to speciesAll seasonsMapped landOfficial turkey rules

Other photos on this page: ejmc (CC BY 2.0); bgautrea (CC BY-SA 2.0); Forest Service Photography (Public domain); VSmithUK (CC BY 2.0); USDAgov (Public domain); grendelkhan (CC BY-SA 2.0).