A wild turkey steps into full strut, spitting and drumming as he reaches peak form. A series of soft clucks and purrs pulls a throaty gobble from the beast. Both his and your adrenaline surges, but for mighty different reasons. That bird thinks he’s about to get lucky, and you’re about to have turkey breasts for the deep fryer.
The above scene is more or less likely to play out depending on location. Turkey hunting is improving or staying the same throughout part of the country. But in many states, it’s declining. Here, we’ll rank the states with supportive data and input from wildlife agencies, conservation organizations, research studies, anecdotal experiences, and more. These are the best turkey hunting states in America.
The Grading Process: Factors for Best Turkey Hunting Destinations
Ok, I’ll be straight up about it. No algorithms or artificial intelligence were used in the making of this article. However, sensible, fair-minded considerations and factors culminated into the making of this turkey hunting state ranking list. Some of these things include:
- Turkey population numbers
- Turkey population densities
- Total land mass
- Accessible public lands
- Complexity and relevance of game laws
- Number of subspecies
- Rarity of subspecies
- Navigational ease
- Season dates
- Season bag limits
- Hunting license and tag costs
- Hunting license and tag availability
- Local attractions
- Etc.
Trophy- and record-sized turkey harvests weren’t factored into the grading, but if that’s your thing, check out the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Wild Turkey Records interactive map.
Without further ado, here are the A, B, C, D, and F states of turkey hunting. While we can’t cover every category of note for each state, here’s a summary of some of the most important points for each destination.
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THE As: Exceptional Turkey Hunting States
Alabama Turkey Hunting
What many consider king of turkey hunting in the Southeast, Alabama has a strong turkey population. Although numbers have declined, there are still nearly 400,000 turkeys and 70,000 turkey hunters here. Furthermore, the habitat is great and public land abundant. Another benefit is an early season start date, which is usually mid-March. Non-residents should expect to pay a hefty price if they travel to hunt the Yellowhammer State.
Georgia Turkey Hunting
Another hot pick in the South, Georgia heralds its strong turkey numbers. It has about 275,000 birds, and only about 40,000 hunters each year. Given that fall hunting isn’t permitted, there are a few more turkeys to chase in the spring. Furthermore, it offers more than 3 million acres of public ground to roam, and much of it is sure to harbor some turkeys.
Kentucky Turkey Hunting
Kentucky might just be a top-five turkey hunting state. If it offered more public lands, it’d be even higher. Only about 5% of the state is public, but it still sports about 1.5 million acres of it. As of latest projections, approximately 325,000 turkeys are here. The state is diverse in habitat types, and each one is ideal turkey space. Usually, about 25,000-35,000 birds are harvested each year.
Mississippi Turkey Hunting
The state of Mississippi harbors about 250,000 turkeys and only about 60,000 hunters. With a good number of turkeys, very diverse habitat types, and incredible scenery, it’s a solid place to chase spring thunder. Best of all, it offers about 2 million acres of public lands to find and hunt turkeys. On the upside, jakes can’t be harvested here, which effectively boosts the 2-year-old crop each year. Overall, the best turkey populations are in the southern counties, but you can find good numbers in the northern and central counties, too.
Tennessee Turkey Hunting
An obvious A, Tennessee delivers the goods that turkey hunters want and need. While the state has about 300,000 turkeys, numbers have declined some in recent years. Of course, The Volunteer State used to open season in late March, which attracted a lot of early season hunters, residents and non-residents alike. However, due to decreasing turkey populations, and fears of disrupted breeding cycles, the season was pushed back to a mid-April. Comparatively, licenses and tags are expensive for residents and non-residents.
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THE Bs: Great Turkey Hunting States
California Turkey Hunting
The state of California doesn’t get much right, or the highest turkey grade, but it’s still a solid destination for turkey hunters. It has about 250,000 turkeys, with Eastern, Merriam’s, and Rio Grande subspecies. You can hunt here for reasonable prices, and the harvest is about 20,000 strong each season. Interestingly, success rates can reach more than 40% here. Of course, you can’t use lead ammo. But it does offer a surprising amount of public land.
Connecticut Turkey Hunting
With about 35,000 turkeys, and less than 5,000 turkey hunters, Connecticut has a great hunter-to-turkey ratio. Factor in cheap licenses and tags ($120 or less for non-residents), and it’s an attractive destination. Public land is limited, but it can be found throughout this small state.
Florida Turkey Hunting
Hunters who hope to tag the Osceola wild turkey must travel to the lower ¾ of Florida. It’s the only destination in the country where this subspecies exists. At a glance, it looks like an Eastern, only slightly darker, longer-legged, lower-weighted, and with a bit more impressive spurs. It’s also a popular place to hunt because of an early start date. Most counties kick off on March 1, which is earlier than virtually the entire country. Plus, hunting licenses, even for non-residents, are quite manageable. Not to mention the 6 million acres of public lands to comb through.
Kansas Turkey Hunting
The Land of Oz offers a rare opportunity at three different types of turkeys, including Eastern, Rio Grande, and Eastern-Rio Grande hybrids. As for total turkey numbers, the Kansas flock is about 325,000 strong, with about half of those being Rios in the western half of the state. Approximately ¼ of the total flock is comprised of Easterns in the eastern half of the state. And you’ll find about 75,000 hybrids, which are mostly in the north central counties. More than 30,000 hunters get after the turkeys here, with nearly half that many harvested birds, making the competition moderate throughout much of the state.
No algorithms or artificial intelligence were used in the making of this article. However, sensible, fair-minded considerations and factors culminated into the making of this turkey hunting state ranking list.
Maine Turkey Hunting
One of the most underrated northeastern turkey hunting states, Maine has about 75,000 turkeys, less than 20,000 hunters, and costs pennies for non-residents compared to other states. You’ll find the best turkey hunting in southern counties, though. Factor in nearly 2 million acres of public land, and the ability to hunt birds in June, and it’s a unique experience to behold.
Michigan Turkey Hunting
Michigan won’t pull an A, but it still offers favorable odds. Plus, historically, it costs less than $100 for non-resident turkey hunters, and has a season that extends well into late spring. Overall, the state has about 200,000 turkeys, less than half that many hunters, and the annual harvest ends up around 30,000-35,000 birds each season. Licenses and tags are quite affordable.
Missouri Turkey Hunting
The Show Me State has long touted a great turkey population. Missouri features incredibly diverse habitat, quality food sources, and all-around ideal conditions for wild turkeys to thrive. There are about 400,000 birds here, too. From a hunting culture perspective, it’s among the few states that cut off turkey hunting at midday. Where implemented, it’s done so due to the belief that afternoon turkey hunting disrupts the natural turkey breeding cycle. And with approximately 100,000 hunters, and about 40,000-50,000 tagged turkeys, it does see some hunting pressure.
Nebraska Turkey Hunting
Another popular midwestern state, Nebraska is known for its early season bowhunting opportunities. Populations are down significantly from a decade or so ago. Despite that, it has nearly 150,000 turkeys, about 25,000 licenses sold, and its success rate is very high. It’s fairly expensive to hunt (weapon and other selections depending), though, yet offers hunters a great destination for hunting something other than an Eastern. Just remember, non-resident numbers are limited, so get your tags ASAP.
New Hampshire Turkey Hunting
The Granite State is a great place to try a turkey hunt. While New Hampshire might be small, it makes up for it in turkey numbers. It harbors about 40,000 turkeys, and not too many turkey hunters. You won’t pay too much for licenses and tags, and there’s a good number of public land properties to try out. Overall, turkey numbers continue to do well.
New Mexico Turkey Hunting
While most of the Gould’s wild turkey range is in Mexico, a huntable population exists in New Mexico. These heavy-weight, long-legged, white-tipped birds are the prize here. Of course, there are Merriam’s in the mountains and Rios spread out, too. In recent years, about 10,000-11,000 licenses are sold here, providing opportunities for tags without too much competition in the field. There’s plenty of public lands to roam.
New York Turkey Hunting
One of the best “New” states on this list, New York has pretty great turkey hunting. It’s difficult to reach for many travelers, but those who can, are often rewarded with solid turkey numbers, beautiful landscapes, and an overall great hunting experience. Here, there are about 200,000 turkeys, and approximately 20,000-25,000 are harvested each spring. Usually, it costs less for non-residents to hunt here than other states.
North Carolina Turkey Hunting
The state of North Carolina often goes overlooked by turkey hunters. It sports an impressive turkey flock of about 275,000-strong. Plus, in the last decade, it’s turkey harvests have been on the rise, and the latest numbers have ranged from 20,000 to 25,000 turkeys. Additionally, it sports 2 million acres of public lands to hunt on. Non-resident licenses are priced quite moderately, but are worth it.
Ohio Turkey Hunting
The turkey population has decreased the past few seasons, but Ohio still offers a solid chance at a wily old longbeard. About 160,000 turkeys reside here, approximately 50,000 hunters hit the woods, and about 15,000-20,000 make up the annual harvest. Find good pockets of turkey numbers, and hunters are in for quite the treat.
Pennsylvania Turkey Hunting
The turkey hunting heritage is strong in Pennsylvania, and it harbors perhaps one of the most devout groups of turkey hunters in the nation. There are about 160,000 hunters here, and they bag about 35,000 birds each year. Like other midwestern and northeastern states, it has a season that carries later into spring than many places.
Texas Turkey Hunting
The Lone Star State is home to the mighty Rio Grande turkey, as well as a few Easterns in the easternmost counties. Approximately 500,000 turkeys reside here in Texas, and the turkey hunting culture is strong. It’s inexpensive for resident turkey hunters to hit the woods, but the cost for non-residents is very steep. Furthermore, public lands are very limited, and those that exist are largely limited to select eastern and north-central areas. Expect to pay for private land access.
Virginia Turkey Hunting
Most don’t synonymize Virginia and turkey hunting, but the hunting is good here, and it offers about 1.7 million acres of public ground. It’s much like hunting surrounding states, such as West Virginia, and is ideal for the big-woods turkey hunter. So, expect a very physically demanding hunt. Despite the necessary effort, turkey hunters still manage to bag 20,000-25,000 turkeys.
Wisconsin Turkey Hunting
A significant number of turkeys, incredible public land acreages, and beautiful scenery are three of the reasons why Wisconsin ranks so highly on this list. Most years, it has about 220,000 turkeys, about as many hunters, and approximately 35,000 to 45,000 turkeys are harvested here. Fortunately, the price of admission for resident and non-resident hunters are very feasible.
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THE Cs: Good Turkey Hunting States
Colorado Turkey Hunting
Turkey hunting in Colorado isn’t easy, but it’s rewarding. This is a good place to chase both Rio Grande and Merriam’s turkeys. Find the Merriam’s in the western region and Rio Grande turkeys in eastern counties. Either place, it’s a rewarding hunt. Benefit from both point-based draw hunts or over-the-counter opportunities. There are about 30,000-40,000 turkeys statewide, and about 20,000 hunting licenses sold each year (with approximately 5,000-6,000 successfully harvested birds).
Hawaii Turkey Hunting
Most head to Hawaii for the beach and umbrella drinks. But the turkey hunting isn’t half bad, either. It has a great population of Rio Grande turkeys, and only about 300-400 hunters each season. With enough tags, you can even harvest up to three turkeys. Plus, it’s another place to hunt birds in March. Hunting these mountain monsters requires being in good shape, for sure.
Idaho Turkey Hunting
Most don’t travel to Idaho for turkey hunting, but maybe they should. With 50,000 turkeys, there are a lot of Merriam’s, a few Rios, and a handful of Easterns and hybrids, and hunters have a 50% success rate here. It’s a challenging hunt, though, and requires significant effort to go the distance.
Illinois Turkey Hunting
Illinois turkey hunting is a draw state, but it has some good birds sprinkled throughout. Occasionally, there are some leftover tags, but those over-the-county tags won’t last long. Overall, both the northern and southern zones offer good opportunities.
Trophy- and record-sized turkey harvests weren’t factored into the grading, but if that’s your thing, check out the National Wild Turkey Federation’s Wild Turkey Records interactive map.
Indiana Turkey Hunting
Although it has great habitat, wild turkeys aren’t highly populated in Indiana. Even so, nearly 30,000 hunters chase them, and a little over half that number fill tags. Licenses and tags are moderately priced, and public land is quite abundant.
Iowa Turkey Hunting
Another draw state, Iowa is rich with quality wildlife habitat, including wild turkeys. It has just shy of 150,000 birds, and only a third that many turkey hunters. As a result, about 15,000 turkeys comprise the annual harvest. Unfortunately, it’s difficult for out-of-towners to obtain tags, and for those who do, price tags aren’t cheap. But once there, it’s some of the most beautiful country you can chase a gobbler in. Furthermore, the public land hunting can be better than most states, too.
Maryland Turkey Hunting
With just shy of 50,000 wild turkeys, and a reasonable number of hunters who, in recent seasons, bag approximately 5,000 turkeys, Maryland is an OK turkey state. Public land acreages are moderate, and hunting pressure is, too. Overall, the turkey hunting is trending downward here, but it still receives a solid mark.
Minnesota Turkey Hunting
One of the most affordable turkey hunting states in the region (for residents and non-residents alike), Minnesota is a good place to bag a bird. It’s home to the mighty Eastern turkey, and more than 50,000 licenses are deployed each year. Other than the northernmost stretches of the state, you can find good populations just about anywhere. About 13,000-15,000 turkeys are harvested each year.
Montana Turkey Hunting
Known for its big game hunting, turkey hunting takes a back seat in Montana. That’s why so few even focus on turkey hunting here (less than 30,000). Even so, there are good numbers of turkeys to chase, especially if you’re after a nice Merriam’s gobbler. (Plus, some Easterns and hybrids in the northwestern region.)
Oklahoma Turkey Hunting
Oklahoma is home to a solid population of Rio Grande turkeys. While lower in numbers, Easterns, and some hybrids, live in the state as well. Tags are quite affordable, too. However, the state is seeing significant turkey population decline, and it isn’t what it once was. Still, it’s a great place to bag a big Rio.
Oregon Turkey Hunting
A western state that doesn’t get the credit it deserves, Oregon is a great state to try for wild turkeys. The southwestern corner of the state is especially good, but other regions hold some birds, too. Overall, it has 40,000-50,000 turkeys, and about as many turkey hunters. That said, don’t forget about the vast acreages of public lands. Cost of admission is moderately priced compared to other states.
South Dakota Turkey Hunting
While its Eastern and Rio Grande turkey populations aren’t all that strong in South Dakota, its Merriam’s numbers are exceptional, and the turkey hunting is great. It’s home to the Black Hills experience, which is on the bucket list of many traveling turkey hunters. Close to 20,000 turkey hunters hit the field, here, and about 7,000-8,000 turkeys are bagged each season. Plus, licenses and tags (if obtained) aren’t very expensive. You can’t beat the views, either. It even has 2.3 million acres.
Vermont Turkey Hunting
The state of Vermont sports just shy of 50,000 birds, only about 15,000 turkey hunters, and about a third that many harvested turkeys. All said, that makes the hunting pressure ideally lower than other states. With a reasonable price of admission for both residents and non-residents, a two-bird limit, and decent public land acreage (over half a million acres), it’s hard not to give it a second look.
Washington Turkey Hunting
Washington is a great turkey hunting state, albeit in moderation. Hunt Easterns, Rios, and/or Merriam’s, location depending. Generally, about 13,000 to 14,000 licenses are sold. That’s because few hunters travel here to hunt. But, if you get a license/tag, make the trip, and find some birds, it just might be one of the best turkey hunts of your life.
West Virginia Turkey Hunting
Another mountain state, West Virginia offers access to some tough old birds that aren’t easy to find or kill. Nearly 125,000 turkeys reside here, and hunting pressure is acceptable. Even so, turkey populations are lower than in recent decades, and only about 10,000-15,000 turkeys are bagged each season. On a high note, last year, it produced its highest harvest in five years.
Wyoming Turkey Hunting
The Cowboy State is great for big game, but it isn’t bad for wild turkeys, either. Wyoming boasts decent numbers of Merriam’s, Rio Grande, and a few hybrid turkeys. About 7,000-8,000 hunters head afield here each year, gifting everyone with decreased competition and a bit of uninterrupted space to roam.
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THE Ds: Poor Turkey Hunting States
Arizona Turkey Hunting
Arizona isn’t much for turkey hunting, but about 25,000 Merriam’s and 3,000-4,000 Gould’s turkeys live here. Furthermore, a small pocket of reintroduced Rio Grande turkeys exist, too, and total approximately 700-900 birds. In total, about 3,500 hunters chase these birds each season. On top of that low number, licenses and tags are reasonably priced, too. The downside? Getting a tag is very difficult.
Arkansas Turkey Hunting
Arkansas turkey hunting isn’t what it once was. Today, it has less than 100,000 birds. Turkey numbers are declining, hunters are having difficult times finding birds, and harvest totals are suffering. That said, where flocks still do well, it has a lot of public ground left to roam. Try to focus on draw and limited hunts on tracts of public ground that still offer good hunting.
Delaware Turkey Hunting
Delaware doesn’t have a great turkey population, even for its small size. Less than 7,000 birds reside here, and turkey hunting licenses and tags aren’t cheap. Furthermore, public land hunting isn’t all the rage, because there isn’t much of it. All in all, Delaware isn’t the greatest place to chase spring thunder.
Louisiana Turkey Hunting
Not a popular turkey hunting state, Louisiana still manages to deploy nearly 25,000 turkey hunters each season. With less than 50,000 turkeys to chase statewide, pressure gets quite high. Licenses and tags are expensive for non-residents, too (selection depending). Furthermore, while it has a decent amount of public land, much of it isn’t habitable turkey ground. Generally, in recent seasons, about 5,000 turkeys are harvested.
Massachusetts Turkey Hunting
Massachusetts is yet another state with an approximated 2:1 turkey-to-hunter ratio. That and much more helps it fall into that average or lower range as a turkey hunting state. Here, about 35,000 turkeys roam, and 16,000-18,000 turkey hunters do, too. Hunting licenses and tags are cheap ($125 for non-residents), and there’s a decent volume of public land to boot.
New Jersey Turkey Hunting
Another northeastern state, New Jersey turkey hunting is about as average as it gets. Find about 20,000 turkeys and less than 10,000 turkey hunters. Those numbers produce about 2,000-3,000 harvested birds each season. Hunting licenses and tags are affordable and the state’s public land total is acceptable for its size.
Rhode Island Turkey Hunting
The exact number of turkeys in Rhode Island isn’t known, but we do know that about 1,000-1,500 turkey hunters get after them. While the cheap hunting licenses (even for non-residents) is affordable (less than $100), the turkey hunting is just about average, if not slightly lower. On top of that, there isn’t much public land, or land at all, for that matter.
South Carolina Turkey Hunting
One of the most difficult turkey hunts in the South, South Carolina received low marks in the turkey hunting department. While it features nearly 2 million acres of public ground, much of it is void of turkeys. With a lot of dedicated turkey hunters, and poor turkey populations, it’s a challenging hunt. Today, less than 100,000 turkeys, and more than 50,000 turkey hunters are found in the state. The total harvest is less than 15,000 birds, annually.
Utah Turkey Hunting
The turkey population in Utah is unknown, but about 10,000 licenses are distributed each season. Hunters chase Merriam’s, Rio Grandes, and some hybrids. Licenses and tags are moderately priced, and the turkey population continues to remain stable, or in places, is increasing. Factor in a sizable number of public lands, and it’s not a bad place to chase spring turkeys.
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THE Fs: Terrible Turkey Hunting States
Nevada Turkey Hunting
The Nevada turkey population is unknown, but it does have Merriam’s and Rio Grande wild turkeys. Few turkey hunters hit the field, though, and less than 200 licenses were sold last season. Most hunters won’t travel here unless chasing the coveted Super Slam, which requires a turkey harvest from all 49 states (that have huntable turkey populations).
North Dakota Turkey Hunting
North Dakota turkey hunting doesn’t get much attention, but it’s largely due to the lack of access for non-residents. Only residents are permitted to hunt spring turkeys, and they must go through a lottery to get tags at that. Little more than 8,000 licenses are handed out each season.
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So, you’ve finally learned where your state lands on this list. Or, you’ve determined where you’re going to travel this spring (or next). Need some help E-scouting your way through these states? Want some aid in staying inside of the property lines once in the field? Care to benefit from the dozens of other ways that HuntStand Pro makes turkey hunters even better? Download it today and learn for yourself just how valuable the tool can be.
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