Wild Turkey Seasons
General Wild Turkey Seasons |
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License Required: A small game license and a valid turkey transport tag. You will owe hunting activity reports (Spring and/or Fall) for each turkey transport tag purchased. |
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Season |
Season Dates |
GMUs |
Bag Limit/Legal Bird |
Fall General Seasons (statewide seasonal bag limit is four (4) turkeys with the following area restrictions) |
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Fall General Season |
Sept. 1 - Dec. 31 |
101 through 154 and 162 through 186 |
Two (2) beardless and two (2) either sex turkeys |
382, 388, 568 through 578 |
One (1) either sex turkey |
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203-290 |
One (1) either sex turkey |
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Spring Seasons (statewide seasonal bag limit is Three (3) turkeys with the following area restrictions) |
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Youth Only |
April 1-7, 2023 |
Statewide |
The combined spring/youth spring season limit is three (3) birds. Only two (2) turkeys may be killed in Eastern Washington, except three (3) may be killed in Spokane county and only one (1) may be killed in Kittitas or Yakima counties. One (1) turkey may be killed per year in Western Washington outside of Klickitat County. Two (2) turkeys may be killed in Klickitat County. Male turkeys and turkeys with visible beards only |
Spring General Season |
April 15 - May 31 |
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Bag Limit
Hunters who harvested their full bag limit during the spring CAN still participate in fall turkey seasons. Each season has a separate bag limit.
Evidence of Sex
It is unlawful to possess or transport wild turkey without the fully feathered head and beard (if present at harvest) attached.
Weapons
It is illegal to hunt turkeys with a weapon other than the following:
- Crossbow or bow and arrow;
- Shotgun or muzzleloading shotgun shooting #4 or smaller shot (0.13 inch diameter or smaller);
- Legal modern handgun designed for hunting, shooting #4 or smaller shot, and not capable of holding more than three shells. Handgun barrel length must be a minimum of 10 inches, inclusive of choke tube. Modern handguns must shoot a minimum three inch shotshell of .410 caliber or larger;
- Legal muzzleloading handgun designed for hunting and shooting #4 or smaller shot. Handgun barrel length must be a minimum of 10 inches. Muzzleloading handguns must be .45 caliber or larger;
- See shot size diagram.
Restrictions
It is unlawful to use dogs, electronic calls, or electronic decoys to hunt turkey or baiting methods for game birds.
Reporting
Turkey hunters will owe hunting activity reports (Spring and/or Fall) for each turkey transport tag purchased (see License Fees & Information).
If you purchase a turkey tag before the end of the spring season you must submit a spring hunting report. If you have an unfilled spring tag, or if you purchase a turkey tag after the end of the spring season, then you must submit a fall hunting report.
