When is Spring Turkey Season in Texas?

Spring turkey season is an exciting time of year for hunters in Texas. The state offers abundant opportunities to pursue wild turkeys during the spring months across different regions. But when exactly is spring turkey season in Texas? Let’s take a closer look.

Overview of Spring Turkey Seasons in Texas

There are two main subspecies of wild turkeys that are hunted in Texas – Rio Grande turkeys and Eastern turkeys. Spring turkey seasons for both subspecies generally run from March through May, but exact season dates and bag limits vary by region

Rio Grande Turkey Season

Most of Texas falls within the Rio Grande turkey range. For Rio Grande turkeys, Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) divides the state into a North Zone, a South Zone, and a group of counties called the Spring One-Gobbler Zone.

• South Zone: The spring Rio Grande turkey season for the South Zone runs from March 16th to April 28th in 2024.

• North Zone The North Zone spring Rio Grande turkey season will open a couple weeks later than the South, from March 30th to May 12th in 2024.

• One-Gobbler Counties: Within the Rio Grande range, some counties have a restricted one-gobbler bag limit during the spring season from April 1st-30th. Hunters are required to report any gobblers harvested in these counties to TPWD.

There are also special youth-only weekend hunts for Rio Grande turkeys in both the North and South Zones during March and May,

Eastern Turkey Season

For Eastern turkeys, the season opens later and is more restricted. The spring Eastern turkey season takes place from April 22nd to May 14th with a one-bird bag limit. Hunters must report any Eastern turkeys harvested to TPWD.

The Eastern turkey range in Texas includes parts of northeastern Texas near the Red River down to southeastern counties along the Louisiana border.

Turkey Season Dates and Regulations

There are some key regulations hunters need to be aware of for spring turkey seasons in Texas:

• A hunting license and Upland Game Bird Stamp endorsement are required.

• Turkeys must be tagged immediately upon harvest with tags from your license.

• All Eastern turkey and Rio Grande gobblers in one-turkey counties must be reported to TPWD within 24 hours.

• The bag limit for Eastern turkeys is one bearded turkey of either sex. For Rio Grande turkeys, the limit is four turkeys total, but only one gobbler is allowed in the special one-gobbler counties.

• Hens are protected in the Eastern turkey area and during the one-gobbler season. Only bearded hens may be harvested during the general Rio Grande seasons.

• It’s illegal to hunt turkeys while they are roosting overnight.

Make sure to consult the TPWD Outdoor Annual for the most up-to-date regulations in the county you’ll be hunting. Spring turkey seasons, bag limits and reporting requirements can vary across different regions of Texas.

Applying for Hunting Permits

In addition to the general statewide spring turkey hunting seasons, TPWD also offers special permit-only hunts on some wildlife management areas and state parks. These public hunting opportunities are very popular because they provide access to quality turkey habitat.

Permit application deadlines usually start in October or November for hunts that take place the following spring. Results are typically announced in late December or January. I’d recommend getting your applications in as early as possible for the best chance at drawing a coveted spring turkey permit hunt in Texas.

Scouting for Spring Turkeys

Since spring turkey seasons in Texas can start as early as March, scouting should begin in late winter when the flocks are still grouped together.

Look for signs of turkeys like tracks, scratching, and feathers in open fields. Also listen for vocalizations like yelps, clucks and gobbles in the early mornings. Locating where turkeys are feeding and roosting will allow you to set up properly once the season opens.

During March and April, turkeys transition into breeding behavior. You’ll hear more gobbling from lovesick male turkeys looking to attract females. The key is to roost a gobbler the night before a hunt so you know exactly where to set up the next morning when he flies down off the roost.

Turkey Hunting Tips and Tactics

Here are some tips for hunting Rio Grande and Eastern turkeys in Texas during the spring:

• Camouflage – Blend in using camo clothing and facemasks to hide movement. Sit against tree trunks or natural backgrounds.

• Decoys – Set up hen decoys and be patient. Let gobblers come investigate your decoy spread.

• Calling – Use turkey calls like box calls, slates, and mouth calls to imitate hen yelps, clucks and purrs to draw in gobblers.

• Blinds – Portable ground blinds help conceal hunter movement. Set up downwind of where you expect turkeys to approach.

• Scouting – Hunt areas where you find fresh turkey sign like tracks, droppings, feathers, dusting bowls, etc.

• Roosting – If you can roost a gobbler the night before, you know right where to intercept him flying down in the morning.

With some pre-season scouting and expert calling skills, you can experience some exciting spring turkey hunts across the different regions of Texas. Just be sure to check the TPWD hunting regulations so you understand the specific season dates, bag limits and reporting requirements for the area you’ll be hunting. Good luck this spring and be safe out there!

Frequency of Entities:
Rio Grande Turkey: 13
South Zone: 5
North Zone: 5
One-gobbler counties: 3
Eastern Turkey: 7
Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD): 5