A heavy fall mast harvest of nuts and acorns combined with a mild winter means ample opportunities for hunters looking to take advantage of Kentucky’s spring wild turkey hunting season.
Kentucky’s youth-only turkey season open to hunters ages 15 and younger will run the weekend of April 6 and 7, with the general season running from April 13 through May 5.
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife tracks the turkey population through summer brood surveys and hunting season data. KFW biologists are anticipating an average population consistent with numbers seen since a jump in 2021. This comes despite the second highest total turkey harvest on record in 2023, with hunters claiming more than 35,000 birds last spring.
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife says they’re expecting reduced wildlife movement this spring. The heavy mast harvest and mild winter means food sources were amble in the winter and the turkeys are less likely to travel from those food sources.
Regular hunting laws and regulations including hunting license requirements, daily bird claim limits, and public land restrictions will be in effect. Hunters should consult the KFW’s Spring Turkey Hunting Guide and 2024 Kentucky Spring Hunting Guide before hunting season opens.
