Turkey hunting is a beloved tradition for many Mississippians. The thrill of calling in a gobbler at daybreak is an experience like no other. If you’re looking forward to turkey season this year, here is everything you need to know about when it opens and how to have a successful hunt.
Overview of Turkey Season Dates
Turkey season in Mississippi is split into a youth season and a regular spring season.
The youth turkey season takes place March 10-16, 2023. This is open to hunters aged 15 and under
The regular spring turkey season runs March 17 – April 30, 2023.
So in total, turkey hunting opens on March 10 and continues through the end of April.
Why Spring is Prime Turkey Hunting Season
Spring is peak mating season for wild turkeys. As the weather warms up, gobblers become very active and responsive to calling as they seek out hens.
The onset of spring triggers the males to gobble more frequently to attract mates and establish dominance. This makes them easier for hunters to locate
Hens also begin nesting in March and April. Gobblers will be eagerly seeking them out, making them more likely to come investigate your hen calls.
In short, spring produces ideal conditions for calling in lovesick gobblers!
Bag Limits and Legal Birds
The spring turkey bag limit in Mississippi is:
- 3 gobblers total for the season
- 1 gobbler per day
- Gobblers must have a 6-inch or longer beard
- No more than 1 gobbler can be taken during the youth season
Hunters aged 15 and under:
- Can take 3 gobblers of any age per season
- 1 gobbler of any age per day
So youth hunters have greater flexibility in what they can harvest.
The reason the regulations focus on gobblers is because hens are important for reproduction. Taking too many hens could negatively impact future turkey numbers.
Licenses Needed
To hunt turkeys in Mississippi you will need:
- A Mississippi hunting license
- State waterfowl stamp ($10) if hunting waterfowl as well
- For non-residents, a $200 small game license plus a $25 turkey stamp
Licenses can be purchased online at mdwfp.com or from approved vendors across the state.
The licenses for spring turkey season go on sale starting in February each year. So don’t wait too long or licenses could sell out!
Tips for a Successful Spring Turkey Hunt
Here are some top turkey hunting tips to improve your odds this spring:
Pick the Right Location
- Focus on areas with a mix of open fields and dense woods
- Near sources of water like streams or ponds
- Where you’ve seen sign of turkeys like tracks, scratching, droppings
Use Decoys and Calls Strategically
- Place hen decoy 20 yards away in front of you
- Start with low volume clucks, yelps and purrs
- Switch to aggressive cutting, yelping, gobbling as needed
Keep Safety Your Top Priority
- Positively identify your target
- Watch your backdrop when shooting
- Use a tree for cover when calling
- Wear full camo including gloves and facemask
Be Patient and Stay Still
- Get set up before dawn and don’t move
- Turkeys have incredible eyesight
- Stay until late morning as gobblers can come in any time
Target Mature Gobblers
- First year gobblers are often subordinate and less responsive
- Focus on calling in the boss gobbler of the flock
Following these tips will set you up for that exhilarating moment when a fired-up old tom comes thundering into range this spring!
Changes for the 2023 Spring Turkey Season
Heading into spring 2023, there are a few key regulation changes to be aware of:
- The youth turkey weekend has been moved up a week to March 10-16.
- The regular spring season opens March 17 rather than the traditional March 15 date.
- The season will run continuously through April 30 rather than closing between periods.
So the season is starting and ending slightly later than past years. Be sure to note these changes when planning your hunts.
Turkey Population and Outlook for 2023
Mississippi has a thriving wild turkey population estimated at around 225,000 birds. Numbers have remained very consistent in recent years.
Spring 2022 brought favorable weather for nesting and reproduction. The record rainfall did reduce hatching success in localized areas. But overall, Mississippi turkeys had an average to slightly above-average hatch.
This means hunters should expect another good year for turkey hunting in 2023. Prospects look promising across most of the state with no major declines expected.
As always, scouted reports from the field will provide the best gauge of conditions in your specific hunting area. But the general outlook based on bird numbers is positive.
Get Ready for Opening Day
Mississippi offers world-class turkey hunting, so make plans now to take advantage of it. The 2023 youth season opens March 10 with the regular spring season kicking off a week later on the 17th.
Review the updated license requirements and bag limits. Scout areas now to find where the birds are flocking. And practice your calling skills so you’ll be ready to bring in that spring gobbler.
From the first echoes of gobbles in March to filling your third and final tag in April, savor every minute of Mississippi spring turkey season!
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With spring coming to Mississippi, many hunters are focused on turkeys and looking forward to hearing the sounds of gobblers as they welcome the day.
But before hunters head into the woods this season there are a few things they need to know including that Mississippi could have one of its best seasons in decades.
“This spring season should be as good as weve had in a long, long, long time,” said Adam Butler, Wild Turkey Program coordinator for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. “My optimism could not be higher.”
That optimism stems in part from a 2-year-old set of data.
“In 2022, our summer brood survey looking at poults and hens, we had the best hatch weve had since the early 2000s and the really good thing about the 22 hatch was it was statewide,” Butler said. “It was everywhere. It was the first year weve had a really good hatch statewide in a really long time.”
Butler said observations since then also indicate a good season in 2024.
“People in every corner of the state were seeing turkeys during deer season,” Butler said. “It just seems were really set up this year.”
So, if the weather cooperates, it could be the best season some Mississippi hunters have ever experienced.
“If we get some good conditions, it will be at least as good as weve had in 10 years, if not the last 20,” Butler said.
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2024 turkey season dates
- Youth: March 8-14
- Spring: March 15-May 1
- Youth: Hunters 15 years of age and younger may harvest one gobbler of choice, any age, per day, three per spring season.
- Adults: One adult gobbler or one gobbler with a 6-inch or longer beard per day, three per spring season.
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- Reporting a turkey harvest is mandatory in Mississippi.
- Hunters may use a digital form or printed form to record their harvests.
- The reporting process must begin before moving a turkey.
- Using the Game Check feature on a smartphone, hunters should click the REPORT TURKEY button to complete and submit an entry.
- If there is no cellular coverage in the area, the app will automatically upload your harvest when coverage resumes.
- If using the Game Check feature, there are no additional requirements.
- If using the printed form method, notch the corresponding bubbles before moving the turkey.
- Using the printed form, the harvest must be reported through the MDWFP website or by calling 1-800-BE-SMART before 10 p.m. on the day of harvest.
- Once the harvest-reporting process is completed, hunters will receive a confirmation number. This number must be documented on the printed harvest record.
TURKEY TOUR 2024!!! (Turkey Hunt from Today!)
FAQ
What day does turkey season open in Mississippi?
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Season
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Dates
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Youth (Private and authorized state and federal public lands. Youth 15 and under)
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Mar. 8 – 14
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Spring
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Mar. 15 – May 1
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Non- Resident (Public Lands)
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Mar. 15 – 31
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Where is the best turkey hunting in Mississippi?
How many turkeys can you harvest in Mississippi?
When is turkey hunting season in Mississippi?
Note: For complete Mississippi regulations, you may review them on the MDWFP website. When is the Mississippi turkey hunting season? Mississippi’s spring turkey hunting season typically starts in the middle of March and lasts through the end of April.
Does Mississippi have Turkey season 2024?
Mississippi Turkey Season 2024: [Dates, Regulations, Bags & More!] Mississippi Turkey Season 2024: [Dates, Regulations, Bags & More!] Mississippi is a great location for hunters of all skill levels because it provides various turkey hunting options, from public areas to private clubs.
Will Mississippi’s spring turkey season be a no-so-distant future?
As the weather finally begins to change and periods of high pressure set in across the Southeast, Mississippi’s spring turkey season looms in the no-so-distant future. During this time, many critters are beginning to change their day-to-day behavior, including turkey hunters.
Can you hunt a Turkey in Mississippi?
During spring gobbler season turkey hunting, Mississippi only allows shotguns, compound, re-curve, Crossbows, and longbows. Shotguns must utilize the number two shot. People with quadriplegia may rifle-hunt. Dogs is prohibited during the spring season, except for in designated enclosures.