Why It Matters: In recent years, some states, including Kansas, have begun to see a decrease in wild turkey populations. There are several theories as to why populations have decreased, including loss of habitat and increases in nest predator populations. Wildlife management decisions regarding hunting seasons and tag allocations are made in the best interest of the turkeys to ensure they are not overharvested.
Highlights:
- Due to declining turkey numbers, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Commissioners voted to cancel the 2023 fall turkey hunting season.
- In April 2026, KDWP Commissioners began discussions to potentially reestablish the fall season.
- The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) maintains that state fish and wildlife agencies, like KDWP, are the entities best equipped to make wildlife management decisions.
The fall turkey hunting season in Kansas has been adjusted for the past ten years where Commissioners originally voted to decrease the bag limits from four to one. Fast forward to 2023, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks voted to suspend their fall turkey hunting season due to a continuing trend of low turkey numbers. Additionally, KDWP switched the nonresident turkey tag allocation to a lottery system, limiting the number of tags available to nonresidents. In April 2026, KDWP Commissioners met again to start discussing the reestablishment of the fall turkey hunting season.
While the April meeting marks a start to the discussions and there has not been a formal proposal to reopen the season, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation will continue to monitor developments and advocate for any potential decisions to be made in the interest of sound, science-based wildlife management.