To hunt wild turkey:

• Upland Game Bird Endorsement and hunting license are required.
• All hunters born after Sept. 1, 1971, must have proof of Hunter Education. Carry proof in the field or access it using the Outdoor Annual app.
• All turkeys must be immediately tagged with a tag from your license. Watch the short video How to Tag a Turkey for details.
• Harvested Eastern turkeys must be tagged and then reported online or with the free My Texas Hunt Harvest app.
• Keep proof of sex on any harvested wild turkey.

What’s new:

• 10 counties now have mandatory harvest reporting requirements; hunters MUST check their turkey online or with the free My Texas Hunt Harvest app in these counties: Bastrop, Caldwell, Colorado, Fayette, Jackson, Lavaca, Lee, Matagorda, Milam, and Wharton Counties.
• Closing of Panola County to Eastern turkey hunting.
• Alignment of the North and South Zone boundaries for hunting wild turkeys; traditional hunting dates may have changed in select counties.
• Non-resident spring turkey license holders must now purchase an Upland Game Bird Endorsement in addition to a license.

It’s not easy to outwit a wild turkey since they see and hear the slightest movements. But don’t let the challenge compromise your safety or the safety of others. Keep these 3 tips top of mind when hunting turkey:

1. Pick your spot in open timber rather than thick brush. Eliminating movement and excess noise is more critical to success than hiding in heavy cover.

2. Leave the area if you suspect there’s another hunter already working the same bird.

3. Resist the urge to stalk wild turkeys by sound – stalking is one of the most common causes of incidents. It’s also nearly impossible to sneak up on a wild turkey. Calling gets better results – brush up on your calls by watching our short video Turkey Calling Tips.

You’ll find more safety tips for hunting wild turkey in the article Keep Safe on Your Gobbler Quest in Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine.