Spring turkey hunting season in Kentucky approaching

A strong population of two-year-old birds is anticipated as spring turkey hunting season approaches in Kentucky.

Spring turkey hunting season begins with a youth-only weekend April 4 and 5, followed by the 23-day general session which begins on April 18. Hunters with proper permits during the season may harvest two legal birds, meaning birds that are male or have a beard, but only one bird per day.

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife says higher-than-usual turkey brood surveys from the past two summers signal healthy populations for hunters to pursue in the commonwealth, with numbers indicating an improvement in turkey survival rates over the past five years. The summer 2024 brood survey showed 70 percent of hens with an average of 2.7 poults. Male poults hatched in 2024 will be two-year-old turkeys this season. The summer 2025 brood survey showed hens with an average of 3.5 poults.

Shooting hours for the spring season are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. An annual hunting license and spring turkey permit, or the all-in-one Sportsman’s License, is required for adults. Hunters ages 12 to 15 require a youth hunting license and turkey permit, and hunters under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

The spring season concludes on May 10. More information on the season can be found on the Spring Turkey Hunting page at fw.ky.gov or in the Kentucky Spring Hunting Guide.