Turkey Regulations

Turkeys may not be hunted or taken within 100 yards of any bait. Baiting is the placing, exposing, depositing, distributing, or scattering of shelled, shucked, or unshucked corn, wheat, or other grain or other feed so as to constitute for such birds a lure, attraction, or enticement, on or over any area where hunters are attempting to take them. The taking of turkey over standing crops, grain crops, properly shucked on the field where grown or grain found scattered solely as the result of normal agricultural operations is permitted. See Department-Managed Area Rules for rules about baiting on Department-managed lands.

Artificial decoys are permitted. Live decoys and recorded calls are prohibited. It is illegal to use a smartphone as an electronic call during turkey season.

All hunters (including lifetime license holders) who harvest a turkey (fall or spring) must immediately attach a field tag, securely to the carcass, with their name, customer ID number and date and time of harvest (lifetime license holders are exempt from listing date and time on the field tag).

A field tag can be any item, so long as the tag contains the required information. This information along with evidence of sex (one leg with foot or beard) must remain with the carcass until the turkey is checked in. Beards on hens must remain intact and not removed from the turkey until the bird has reached its final destination.

Seasons on public lands may vary from statewide seasons. Consult public hunting lands special regulations.

Roost shooting is prohibited.

One-half hour before official sunrise to official sunset.

Any bearded turkey, regardless of sex.

For hunter orange requirements, see Big Game Regulations.