Why It Matters: Turkeys are one of the most popular game birds that hunters pursue, with several states offering both a spring and fall hunting season. However, many states in the Great Plains are experiencing a decline in wild turkey populations. This decline in population has caused state fish and wildlife agencies to adjust the number of licenses available and some have even canceled hunting seasons, which directly impacts the opportunities available to hunters.
Highlights:
- The past few years, several Great Plains States have seen a decline in their wild turkey populations.
- The decline in turkey populations has caused some state fish and wildlife agencies to lower the number of tags available and change how tags are distributed, while other states have canceled hunting seasons.
- State fish and wildlife agencies are the entities best suited to make these decisions, and it is imperative that they retain their management authority to do so using the best available science.
Over the last couple of years, some states have begun to see a decrease in their wild turkey populations. There are several theories why populations have decreased, including loss of habitat and increases in nest predators. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) are encouraging people to get involved in their summer turkey survey. Sportsmen and women engaging in the turkey surveys helps the DNR and NGPC get a more accurate depiction of the wild turkey population, allowing them to make better-informed wildlife management decisions.
Wildlife management decisions regarding hunting seasons and tag allocations are made in the best interest of the turkeys to ensure they are not over harvested. In 2023, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) voted to suspend their fall turkey hunting season due to low turkey numbers. Additionally, KDWP switched the nonresident turkey tag allocation to a lottery system, limiting the number of tags available to nonresidents. KDWP continues to study populations to determine when it can sustain a fall hunting season. Nebraska also changed how turkey tags are allocated in 2023; nonresident spring turkey tags are capped at 10,000 on a first-come, first-serve basis.
It is important to note that the state fish and wildlife agencies are the entities best equipped to make wildlife management decisions. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) maintains that it is imperative for the state fish and wildlife agencies to retain their wildlife management authority to carry on America’s strong conservation ethic established by sportsmen and women over a century ago to continue conserving our cherished fish and wildlife resources and their habitats.
