Why It Matters: With the start of the fall turkey hunting season approaching, it is important for hunters to study up on any regulations that may have changed from previous years before they hit the woods. With population levels of wild turkeys across the Great Plains on the decline, state fish and wildlife agencies are making regulatory changes in an effort to conserve turkey populations. These changes include canceling the 2023 Kansas fall hunting season, which has been carried over to 2024, and decreasing the number of permits a hunter can buy and lowering the bag limit.
Highlights:
- Many states across the Great Plains are gearing up for their fall turkey hunts, with Iowa and Nebraska starting their fall archery turkey season on October 1.
- Each year, state fish and wildlife agencies review their turkey season dates and bag limits and decide if there are any changes needing to be made to the start dates, bag limits, or if the season needs to be canceled all together.
- It is important to remember that the decisions made to reduce bag limits, shorten seasons, or cancel seasons are being made by the state fish and wildlife agency, the entities best equipped to make fish and wildlife management decisions.
With hunting regulations sometimes changing on a yearly basis, it is important for hunters to study up on the regulations in the state they plan on hunting. Even hunters who hunt the same states year after year need to be aware of these changes. Back in 2023, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Commissioners (KDWP) made the decision to cancel the fall hunting season due to wild turkey population concerns. Kansas continued this into the 2024 fall turkey hunting season, which is part of their plan to continue looking at population levels before they can confidently reestablish their fall turkey hunting season
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has also made a significant change to their fall turkey bag limit that hunters need to be aware of. In 2023, hunters in Nebraska were able to purchase two turkey permits, which allowed either sex to be taken. These regulations have now changed, allowing each hunter to only purchase one turkey permit, allowing for the harvest of only one turkey. These changes were done due to concerns about the declining turkey populations, which many states have seen over the last several years. The overall goal is to stabilize the turkey population and in turn, rebuild the population.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) works closely with state fish and wildlife agencies to understand regulatory changes as they are proposed, and we will continue to support changes designed to conserve wildlife and protect hunting opportunities both now and in perpetuity. Before hitting the woods this fall for a turkey hunt, hunters should take the time to review any regulation changes that may impact their hunt.
