By Gary Joiner
TFB Radio Network Manager
Spring turkey hunting is underway in Texas, and a state biologist says there are many mature toms and several hunting opportunities available during the remaining days of the season.
Strong turkey reproduction in 2015 and 2016 set the stage for some good mature gobblers in the state.
“There aren’t as many jakes and jennies out there, but from a hunting perspective, that’s actually a good thing,” Jason Hardin, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) turkey program leader, said in an interview with the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network. “Those young hens typically don’t put forth much effort reproductively. They won’t be out there distracting gobblers from hunters, so it should be a really good season. Lots of mature toms and lots of opportunity, lots of breeding is already occurring, and we’ll have lots of interested males in the latter part of the turkey season.”
The general spring season for Rio Grande turkey in the North Zone (101 counties) is March 31–May 13. The general spring season for Rio Grande turkey in the South Zone (54 counties) is March 17–April 29. The special one turkey bag limit season for Rio Grande turkey (10 counties) is April 1–30. And the general spring season for Eastern turkey (15 counties) is April 15–May 14.
The remaining youth-only season for Rio Grande turkey in the North Zone (101 counties) is May 19–20. The remaining youth-only season for Rio Grande turkey in the South Zone (54 counties) is May 5–6.
“If you’ve had eastern turkeys in the past, you’ll probably have them again this year. The population hasn’t gone down too much, but it’s not expanding quite as well as we’d like,” Hardin said.
Rio Grande turkey has a bag limit of four birds. Eastern turkey has a limit of one bird. Hunters should check county listings for special bag limits, season dates and other special regulations for counties. They should refer to the TPWD Outdoor Annual for general dates, the Spring Zone map and required tagging information.
Eastern turkey hunters must check their harvested turkey with “My Texas Hunt Harvest” online or by using the free app.
Hardin said landowners can continue to work on habitat during the spring hunting season to make sure conditions are beneficial for the birds.
“We want to make sure we’re leaving good nesting cover for those birds. Knee-high grasses and weeds are good. So, we like to see that knee-high herbaceous cover,” he said. “A lot of people like to see a manicured pasture, and we’ll see a lot of turkey out there in that, but that’s not good habitat for turkey broods or for nesting hens. Sometimes that’s a real negative. Because if you’re mowing during the nesting season, chances are you’re going to mow over a couple of nesting hens. So try to give those birds a little time, put off mowing until July, and you’ll protect a lot of your turkeys.”
Turkey hunters must have a hunting license and Upland Game Bird Endorsement. Every hunter born after Sept. 1, 1971 must complete Hunter Education and carry proof while hunting. All turkeys must be immediately tagged with a tag from the hunter’s license.