Wyoming offers hunters seeking both difficulties and rewards an unmatched experience because of its various ecosystems and abundant turkey population. Follow us as we explore the specifics of Wyoming’s turkey hunting schedule, rules, restrictions, and the exhilaration that awaits hunters throughout this awaited season.
Wyoming Turkey Season
The state’s vast and beautiful surroundings provide various opportunities for pursuing these majestic birds. It’s crucial to remember that the dates and rules may change as we discuss the autumn and spring hunting seasons.
WY Spring Turkey Hunt
| Unit Area | Type | Dates |
| 1 | Gen | Apr. 20 – May 31 |
| 3 | Apr. 1 – May 31 | |
| 2 | Gen | Apr. 20 – May 31 |
| 3 | Apr. 1 – Apr. 19 | |
| 3 | Apr. 20 – May 31 | |
| 3 | Gen | Apr. 1 – May 31 |
| 3 | ||
| 4 | Gen | Apr. 20 – May 31 |
| 1 | ||
| 5 | Gen |
WY Fall Turkey Hunt
| Type | Hunt Area | Dates |
| Gen | 1 | 1-Sep – 30-Sep |
| 1 | 1-Oct – 31-Dec | |
| 2 | 1-Sep – 30-Sep | |
| 2 | 1-Oct – 31-Dec | |
| 3 | 2 | 1-Sep – 30-Sep |
| 2 | 1-Oct – 31-Dec | |
| Gen | 3 | 1-Sep – 31-Dec |
| 3 | 3 | 1-Sep – 31-Dec |
| Gen | 4 | 1-Sep – 30-Sep |
| 4 | 1-Oct – 31-Dec | |
| 5 | 1-Sep – 30-Sep | |
| 5 | 1-Oct – 31-Dec |
Licenses
| License Type | Resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | $16.00 | $74.00 |
| Fall Landowner | $16.00 | $74.00 |
| Spring | $16.00 | $74.00 |
| Spring Landowner | $16.00 | $74.00 |
| Pioneer Fall Turkey | $2.00 | |
| Pioneer Heritage Fall | $10.00 | |
| Pioneer Heritage Landowner Fall | $10.00 | |
| Pioneer Heritage Landowner Spring | $10.00 | |
| Pioneer Heritage Spring | $10.00 | |
| Pioneer Landowner Fall | $2.00 | |
| Pioneer Landowner Spring | $2.00 | |
| Pioneer Spring Turkey | $2.00 |
WY Turkey Area
| Area | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Black Hills: All of Crook County and that portion of Weston County north of U.S. Highway 16 or east of U.S. Highway 85. |
| 2 | Central: That portion of Weston County south of U.S. Highway 16 and west of U.S. Highway 85; and all of Converse, Natrona, and Niobrara counties. |
| 3 | Powder River: All of Campbell, Johnson, and Sheridan counties. |
| 4 | Bighorn Basin: All of Big Horn, Hot Springs, Park, and Washakie counties. |
| 5 | South Central: All of Albany, Carbon, Fremont, Goshen, Laramie, and Platte counties. |
Area Map
Regulations
- Wyoming citizens and nonresidents who hunt wild turkeys must have a license. All ages, including under-14s, must comply. Hunters under 14 must be supervised.
- The licensee must remove, sign, and date the carcass coupon when killing wild turkeys. Before leaving the slaughter site, affix the coupon visibly on the bird’s corpse. Date the carcass voucher without the kill date and month. The carcass coupon should stay on till processing. To avoid loss, the verified carcass voucher may be removed during transit. The individual transporting the corpse must have a properly completed carcass coupon. The carcass voucher should stay with the individual packing turkey parts or pieces from the field.
- Wild turkeys are “game birds” under the law, like grouse, partridge, pheasant, ptarmigan, quail, and migratory game birds.
- The law lists hunting rifles for wild turkeys. Shotguns, centre-fire firearms,17 HMR or bigger rimfire firearms with more than one-inch cartridge lengths, muzzle-loading firearms, and archery equipment may be used. Subject to the regulations, hunters may use various weapons and archery equipment.
- Wild turkeys may only be caught from one-half hour before dawn until dusk. Is allowed during daylight hours throughout this timeframe.
- Asterisks (*) indicate poor public access to wild turkey hunt locations. Private or few public lands dominate these places. Obtaining landowner approval before applying for a license in certain regions might be difficult or impossible. These locations allow hunting on a legally accessible state or public property, although these properties are frequently tiny and intensively hunted. Therefore, animal populations may be poor. Private land has more fauna. Failure to acquire a hunting area does not warrant a license refund or exchange.
- People can only apply for one wild turkey license every season and may only bag one bird per license. One fall and one spring wild turkey license is allowed each year. After the first drawing, they may apply for and acquire up to three games permits every season, providing at least two are Limited Quota Type 3. Unless otherwise approved by Commission rules, the total number of autumn and spring licenses cannot exceed three. Hunting with shotguns on the Springer and Table Mountain Wildlife Habitat Management Areas and national wildlife refuges requires nontoxic shots. In spring hunt locations where only male with visible beards may be captured, a beard must stay naturally attached to the corpse for identification in the field and transport.
Note: For a complete list of WY Turkey regulations, you may review the wgfd website
FAQ
What are the fall and spring wild turkey hunting season dates in Wyoming?
The season normally lasts from September 1 to December 31. However, there may be exceptions in some hunt zones. Depending on the location and restrictions, hunters can chase wild turkeys throughout this season using either archery gear or guns. In Wyoming, the spring wild turkey season typically starts on April 1 and ends on May 31.
How many licenses can I apply for and receive for wild turkey hunting in a season?
According to Wyoming hunting laws, a person is typically only allowed to apply for and get one wild turkey license during any given season, with a single bird being the maximum bag limit per license.
Can I hunt with a shotgun during the turkey season in certain areas?
In Wyoming, shotguns are often employed to hunt wild turkeys. There are, nevertheless, certain rules regarding the employment of different shot kinds. It is required to use nontoxic shots while shooting with a shotgun in specific locations, including the Springer and Table Mountain Wildlife Habitat Management Areas and national wildlife refuges.
Is there any requirement for identifying the sex of the wild turkey during the spring season?
Yes, a visible beard must stay naturally attached to the corpse as a method of identification in the field and throughout transit in particular hunt regions restricted to hunting male turkeys or any bird with a visible beard during the spring season.
