Wild Turkey

License Requirements

To hunt wild turkey, a valid turkey hunting license and Gamebird Habitat Stamp are required.

Those who have a lifetime comprehensive hunting, lifetime comprehensive hunting and fishing, resident youth hunt/trap license, or nonresident youth turkey hunting license can hunt turkey and do not need to purchase the Gamebird Habitat Stamp because it is included with those license types.

A separate turkey hunting license is required when hunting during the spring and fall seasons.

Gamebird Habitat Stamps are good for both spring and fall seasons in the same calendar year.

Regardless of whether you have harvested a turkey yourself, you can only assist another hunter by calling if you are licensed to turkey hunt.

Season and Bag Limits

Fall 2026 - The bag and possession limit for the fall seasons is one bird of either sex, regardless of hunting equipment used or what portion of the season. Fall archery season (including crossbows) is statewide from Oct. 1 - Nov. 1, 2026, and Dec. 5, 2026 - Jan. 3, 2027. Fall firearms season is from Oct. 21 - Nov. 1, 2026 in specific counties. See the map below.

Spring 2027 - The spring season runs from April 21 - May 9, 2027. The bag limit is one bearded or male turkey for the spring season. Spring turkey hunting is allowed statewide, with no county limits on use of firearms.

2026 Fall Turkey Firearms & Archery Seasons Map

Note: there are no county limits on firearms in spring turkey season

Reserved Hunts

Reserved turkey hunts are scheduled at select DNR Fish & Wildlife areas.

Reserved turkey hunts also take place at Big Oaks and Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuges. Applications and draws are managed through the DNR reserved hunt system. A $1 tech fee is charged for each hunt application. For details and to apply during open applications, go to on.IN.gov/reservedhunt.

Turkeys harvested at a reserved hunt count toward the hunter’s season bag limit.

Youth Season

Information about the youth season is in Youth Hunting.

Legal Equipment

Turkeys can be hunted only with:

• A .410 caliber and 10-, 12-, 16-, 20-, or 28-gauge shotgun loaded with pellets of size No. 4, 5, 6, 7, or 7½, or with Tungsten Super Shot 7, 8, 9, or 10. Shot sizes smaller than size 7½ must be comprised of tungsten or equivalent pellet density only. Plugs are not required for turkey hunting. Non-lead shot is required while hunting turkey on some DNR properties. Call the property you are interested in hunting on for additional information.
• A muzzleloading shotgun not smaller than 20-gauge and not larger than 10-gauge, loaded with pellets of size 4, 5, 6, 7, 7½, or Tungsten Super Shot 7, 8, 9, and 10. Combination loads using shot sizes other than these are illegal.
• Bow and arrow
• A crossbow

Hunting Hours

Wild turkeys may be hunted only from one-half hour before sunrise to sunset. All DNR properties managed by the Division of Fish, Wildlife & Nature Preserves have spring season hunting hours one-half hour before sunrise until noon for properties on CT and until 1 p.m. for properties on ET. Mushroom hunters are required to stay out of the field until after this time during the spring season.

On Division of Forestry properties, hunting is permitted within legal hunting hours and mushroom hunting is always permitted.

Tagging Requirements

Immediately upon killing a turkey, the hunter must complete a temporary transportation tag on paper stating the hunter’s full name, address, sex of the turkey, license number (if applicable), and the date the turkey was taken before transporting the turkey from the field. For a printable version of a temporary transportation tag, visit the season resources section at on.IN.gov/turkey.

Reporting Requirements

Hunters are required to check in their harvested turkey within 48 hours of the kill. This can be done one of three ways:

• Self reporting online through the DNR’s CheckIN Game system on the IN DFW Activity Hub (GoOutdoorsIN.com)
• Calling (260) 368-5880 (No fee)
• Finding a check station, license vendor, or retailer who will file the information for you through CheckIN Game at CheckINGame.dnr.IN.gov or calling DNR Customer Service at (317) 232-4200 or (877) 463-6367 (toll-free).

Once the turkey is registered with the CheckIN Game system, a confirmation number will be generated. The number must be recorded on a temporary transportation tag and kept with the turkey until processing begins.

Hunter Orange

Turkey hunters must meet hunter orange requirements while hunting turkeys Dec. 5-20, 2026. See hunter orange requirements in General Information.

Prohibited Activities

While hunting wild turkey, it is illegal to:

• Use or possess a dog or other domesticated animal.
• Use or possess a live decoy, a recorded call, or an electronically powered or controlled decoy.
• Hunt near bait. An area is considered baited for 10 days after the removal of the bait and affected soil, but not considered to be baited if it is attractive to wild turkeys due to normal agricultural practices.

Turkey Info Line

Have questions about turkey hunting regulations? Call the Turkey Info Line at (812) 353-8281.