How to Tag & Report Your Turkey

Name: eRegulations
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Smiling hunter wearing camouflage poses behind a harvested wild turkey with its tail feathers fanned out in a Rhode Island field during spring turkey season. — Ryan Gilman displays his harvested wild turkey during Rhode Island’s spring season, showcasing responsible hunting and wildlife management in action. Photo by Ryan Gilman.

All turkeys must be tagged and reported to the Division of Fish and Wildlife.

TAG IT:

Once you harvest a turkey, you must notch your tag (day, hour and month of harvest) before moving the turkey for photos or to leave the woods. The notched tag and turkey must remain in your possession when removing the turkey from the field. If you must leave the field prior to removing the turkey (to return gear to your vehicle or dwelling); the notched tag must be attached to and remain with the carcass.

REPORT IT:

You must report your turkey harvest within 24 hours. You can report it online or over the phone.Report your harvest quickly and securely using your smartphone or computer through the Rhode Island Outdoors (RIO) harvest reporting website. If you do not have internet or cellular data access to report your deer harvest, you may call the Division of Fish and Wildlife at (401) 789-0281 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday-Friday to report your harvest.

Measure the beard and spurs:

Beard less than 6" and spurs less than 0.5" = Jake
Beard longer than 6" and spurs longer than 0.5" = Tom
No beard or spurs = Hen (fall archery season only!)

When you are finished reporting your turkey online or over the phone, you will be given a harvest report confirmation number. This number confirms that you have reported your harvest. Write the number on your tag and keep the tag affixed to the turkey until prepared for taxidermy or consumption.

Wild Turkey Banding Program

The Rhode Island Division of Fish and Wildlife is continuing their turkey banding program to gather scientific information on the state’s turkey population. Please report any encounters with banded turkeys, including harvesting, finding a dead banded turkey, or observing a live one. Report your wildlife observation or harvest data online using the Survey123 reporting form or by calling 401-789-0281 for assistance. When reporting, include the band number, date and location of encounter, and age/sex if known. For harvested turkeys, remember to report through the Rhode Island Outdoors system as well.

Contact Lizzi Bonczek, Upland Game Bird Biologist via email with questions.

Smiling hunter sits on a rock beside a lake, holding a harvested wild turkey with vibrant, fanned tail feathers during Rhode Island’s spring turkey hunting season. — Chris Kagey proudly displays his harvested wild turkey along a Rhode Island lakeshore, highlighting the excitement and success of spring turkey hunting season. Photo by Chris Kagey.