Turkey is widely considered to be small game in most parts of the United States. While definitions vary slightly between states turkeys generally fall under the small game designation due to their size and behavior.
What is Small Game?
Small game refers to smaller animal species that are hunted primarily for sport and food. This includes upland game birds waterfowl, small mammals and more. The designation of “small game” is generally given to species that weigh 40 pounds or less.
Some of the most common small game species include:
- Upland game birds: pheasant, quail, grouse, turkey
- Waterfowl: ducks, geese
- Small mammals: rabbit, squirrel, prairie dog
- Amphibians: frog
- Reptiles: turtle
Small game classifications will vary slightly depending on your location. Some states may have specific licenses for certain species like turkey, or special designations like “furbearer.” But in most cases, turkey falls under the small game umbrella.
Is Turkey Legally Considered Small Game?
In the United States, wild turkey is designated as small game in almost every state. Even though turkeys are much larger than other small game birds like quail or grouse, their average weight still falls well under the 40 pound cut-off used to delineate small versus big game.
Turkeys are classified scientifically as part of the Phasianidae family, along with pheasants, grouse, chukar, and quail. So biologically speaking, they are closely related to other small game upland birds.
On a legal level, wild turkeys are managed as small game by wildlife agencies across the country. To hunt them, you’ll need a valid small game license in most states. Some states require additional stamps for turkeys, but a base small game license covers you in most areas.
So whether you’re looking at taxonomy, size, or hunting regulations, turkeys do qualify as small game animals in the United States.
Differences Between Turkey and Other Small Game
While classified as small game, turkey hunting does have some notable differences from pursuits like grouse, quail, or rabbit hunting. Some of the main differences include:
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Use of dogs – Dogs are integral for most small game hunts, but rarely used for turkey hunting.
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Shooting style – Turkeys are often shot at close range from a stationary position, while other small game is shot on the wing.
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Calling – Calling and decoying are important to turkey hunting but not to other small game.
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Weight – At 16-24 pounds on average, turkeys are much larger than quail, grouse, etc.
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Habitat – Turkeys frequent more open habitats like fields, pastures, and open woodlands. Most small game birds thrive in thicker cover.
So turkey hunting strategy varies quite a bit from pursuing other popular small game species. But despite the differences in hunting methods, turkey remain grouped with other small game on a legal level across most states.
Small Game Regulations for Turkey
To legally hunt wild turkeys, you’ll need to review the small game hunting regulations for your state. Key things to look for include:
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Licensing – Most states include turkey under a basic small game license, but some require additional turkey stamps or tags.
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Season dates – Turkey seasons generally take place in spring and/or fall. Make sure you know the open seasons in your area.
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Bag limits – Limits on the number of turkeys you can harvest per season. This varies by state, typically 1-3 birds.
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Legal methods – Shotgun gauge/shot requirements, bow specs, and other equipment regulations.
Be sure to fully review and understand your state’s small game turkey hunting regulations before heading out. Even though turkeys differ from other small game, the same basic rules and licenses apply in most areas.
Is Turkey Considered Small Game for Hunting Culture?
When it comes to turkey hunting culture and tradition, turkeys occupy a bit of a gray area between small game and big game. While technically classified as small game, turkeys share some traits — like their wariness and trophy potential — with big game animals.
Some of the “big game” aspects of turkey hunting include:
- Hunting strategies that involve calling, decoying, and ambushing rather than flushing
- A focus on patterning and “hunting” the birds versus simple shooting
- Selective harvest for mature trophies rather than shooting limits
- A dedicated turkey hunting culture filled with its own lingo, gear, and traditions
So while turkeys fall under small game regulations, you could argue that the experience of hunting them has more in common at times with big game pursuits like deer, elk, or bear hunting. This gives turkeys a unique position somewhere between small and big game when it comes to hunting heritage.
While not quite like other small game birds, turkeys are considered small game across North America in terms of legal status and hunting regulations. But the experience of pursuing them often differs from small game hunting and shares some traits with big game hunting traditions. This gives the turkey a distinct place in the hunting world as a challenging small game species with big game attributes.
General Small Game Regulations
- You may not use a rifle or handgun to hunt pheasant or migratory game birds.
- You may not take a turkey with a rifle, or with a handgun firing a bullet. You may hunt turkey with a shotgun or handgun only when using shot no larger than #2 and no smaller than #8.
- Air guns may be used to hunt squirrels, rabbits, hares, ruffed grouse, and furbearers that may be hunted (e.g., raccoons and coyotes) and unprotected species. Air guns may not be used to hunt waterfowl, pheasant, wild turkey, or big game.
- A bow or crossbow may be used to hunt small game. A crossbow may not be used in Westchester or Suffolk counties. See Crossbow Hunting for additional information.
- See the General Hunting Regulations for additional information.
Wildlife Taken Outside the State
Legally imported game may be possessed and transported at any time.
Game birds and animals (except migratory game birds) legally taken outside the State may be imported in any manner, except by parcel post, in the number which may be legally exported from the place of taking as follows:
- During their respective open seasons in this State by the taker without license or permit.
- During the closed season in this State, provided the taker first obtains an importation license from a DEC regional office.
See Furbearer Hunting section for details.
Episode 7: Small Game First
FAQ
What type of game is a turkey?
What counts as a small game in RDR2?
Is turkey considered game meat?
Is turkey considered a small game in Alabama?
Is Turkey a big game or a small game?
But just like small game, the animals that are considered big game vary from state to state, and the classification is sometimes a bit surprising. For example, Arizona classifies turkeys as big game. So even though the difference between big and small game is usually apparent, consult your local hunting regulations if you need to be sure.
Are wild turkeys a big game?
Wild turkeys are the big game of the small game world. Weighing upwards of 25 pounds, a mature bird is capable of supplying multiple meals for even a large family. While many states have fall turkey hunting seasons, hunting for these birds is generally regarded as a spring activity. April or May brings on their breeding season.
What animals are considered small game?
Generally speaking, animals such as upland birds (pheasants, quail, grouse, turkeys), waterfowl (geese, ducks), upland game (rabbits, squirrels), and furbearers (raccoons, coyotes) are considered small game. Most states consider all legally “huntable” animals that weigh less than 40 pounds to be small game. But the weight limits vary by state.
What constitutes small game?
So, let’s look at what constitutes small game. What Exactly is Considered Small Game? Small game, by definition, are smaller animals hunted for sport or meat. These can include birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. In some cases, the lines get blurred when it comes to talking about small game in certain states and countries.