The Texas spring turkey hunting outlook is always based on Mother Nature’s schedule and how well the ground-nesting species fared during the previous fall and winter. In terms of the hunting forecast for spring seasons running from March to May in 2024, things are looking on par with other good years.
“Most of Texas experienced a bump in production and recruitment in 2023 following fall 2022, which had lots of acorns across central and east Texas, and early green up coupled with warm late winter conditions across most of the Rio Grande wild turkey range. Hunters can expect to see many young birds this spring, with a large number of jakes setting the stage for an increase in male harvest in 2025 and beyond,” according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
“The 2022 drought means hunters can expect to see fewer two-year-old males — the most frequently harvested wild turkey cohort — on the landscape this spring. Fortunately, Texas has a low harvest rate (13% of males harvested annually) relative to most of the country. Texas has a large amount of older age-class males due to these low harvest rates. Males that survive their second birthday are wiser and often harder to hunt.”
In terms of where the traditional hot spots including Central Texas, the Hill Country and South Texas, those locales again should have the most huntable numbers of Rio Grande turkeys.
“Don’t just limit yourself to the early season,” said Jason Hardin, TPWD Wild Turkey Program leader. “The middle and later portions of the season usually have fewer hunters in the woods, and you never know when you will strike a tom in the mood to strut and gobble. Go early and go often.”
Turkey hunting in Texas centers on biology, seasons in a season
The Rolling Plains has been a longtime destination for wild turkey hunters. Historically, this area has held very good numbers of birds along major and secondary watersheds like the Canadian River, the Salt Fork and the Red River. The drought of 2022 significantly reduced overall turkey numbers, but there are still huntable populations across the Rolling Plains. The past decade has seen a decline in overall turkey numbers in parts of the ecoregion. TPWD biologists are hoping recent winter moisture will continue to set the stage for a good nesting season.
The Edwards Plateau has long been a stronghold for wild turkeys, providing some of Texas’ highest bird densities and annually producing some of the highest harvest numbers. This is especially true in the western portion of the region though, like the rest of the Rio Grande wild turkey range production and recruitment were down significantly in 2022, with very few poults produced. The good news is there are still lots of mature birds on the landscape.
As with most large ecoregions, TPWD biologists have mixed reports of turkey numbers and recruitment in South Texas. While the areas around Uvalde reported below-average production and recruitment over the last two years, other areas in the Coastal Sand Sheet in Brooks, Kenedy, Kleberg and Willacy counties reported fair recruitment. Hunters should expect to see lots of 2-year-old gobblers across most areas that hold wild turkeys in South Texas. Hunters should focus their efforts on creeks and drainages with larger trees in the central and western portions of South Texas and around oak mottes in the Coastal Sand Sheet.
Texas spring turkey season dates
The spring Rio Grande turkey framework in “northern” counties runs from March 30 to May 12, 2024, while the season in southern counties is from March 16 to April 28, 2024. The north zone youth-only season is March 23-24 and May 18-19, 2024. The youth-only dates in the south zone are March 9-10 and May 4-5, 2024.
There also is a one-turkey bag limit season than runs April 1-30, 2024, in the following counties: Bastrop, Caldwell, Colorado, Fayette, Jackson, Lavaca, Lee, Matagorda, Milam and Wharton. Birds killed in those counties must be reported to TPWD under mandatory requirements.
The Eastern turkey season in East Texas will run April 22 to May 14, 2024. Hunters are required to report harvest of eastern turkeys electronically to TPWD within 24 hours of harvest. Reports in mandatory counties can be made through the TPWD My Texas Hunt Harvest App or online from the TPWD website.
In addition to a Texas hunting license, an upland game bird endorsement is required to hunt turkeys.
Turkey hunting in Texas brings need to know tips, tactics, regulations
Texas turkey hunting tactics can swing odds in your favor in spring
