Rio Grande Subspecies Hunt Guide

Identification 

Rios have tan-colored tips on tail feathers. Like the Eastern subspecies, they have black-and-white barring on their wings. Adult males weigh around 20 pounds, and adult females weigh eight to 12 pounds. They have moderately sized beards and spurs.

Location/Distribution 

The Rio Grande subspecies is found in northern portions of Mexico and 15 U.S. states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Native to the central region of North America, with strong populations in Texas, the Rio Grande subspecies have been translocated and has established populations as far as Hawaii.

Conservation 

In much of their native range, Rio Grande wild turkeys are closely tied to riparian corridors and adjacent shrublands and grasslands that provide nesting cover and brood habitat. 

Recognizing the importance of these landscapes for rios, a wide variety of wildlife and overall ecosystem health, the NWTF launched its Waterways for Wildlife Initiative in 2022, increasing its focus on riparian restoration across a 10-state region extending from Texas and New Mexico north to Montana and North Dakota. 

Learn more about this iconic subspecies.  

View the whole NWTF 2026 Spring Hunt Guide. 

STATE AGENCY: https://wildlife.ca.gov/; (916) 557-3444

WILD TURKEY POPULATION: ~250,000

2024 HARVEST DATA: ~19,965

SEASON DATES: General Season: March 28 – May 3, 2026; Archery Season: May 4 – May 17, 2026; Additional Junior: March 21-22, 2026, May 4-17, 2026.

BAG LIMIT: One bearded bird per day, three per season combined.

HUNTING HOURS: Half-hour before sunrise to 5 p.m.

STATE STATUS: Regionally, current wild turkey abundance indices are highest in the Sierra Nevada foothills and Central Valley (as well as around the San Francisco Bay); in the North they can be found on Forest Service lands in the Cascade Range, and to the west in Mendocino and Central Coast Mountains. The CDFW holds drawings and hosts many spring opportunities for hunting wild turkey. Please visit: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/Special-Hunts.

STATE AGENCY: https://cpw.state.co.us/; (303) 297-7227

WILD TURKEY POPULATION: 30,000

2024 HARVEST DATA: 5,903

SEASON DATES: April 11 – May 31, 2026 for most, see regulations for specific units.

BAG LIMIT: Two bearded turkeys in spring; one must be taken with a limited license, the other with an over-the-counter license.

HUNTING HOURS: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset.

STATE AGENCY: https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/recreation/hunting/; 808-587-0160

WILD TURKEY POPULATION: N/A

2024 SPRING HARVEST DATA: 43 harvested from 320 hunter trips (2025 data n/a)

SPRING DATES: March 1, 2026 – April 15, 2026

BAG LIMIT: Three toms

HUNTING HOURS: Half-hour before sunrise to half-hour after sunset

STATE STATUS: The 2026 spring turkey season now includes Unit C, Laupahoehoe and Piha sections of the Hilo Forest Reserve. The wild turkey population on public lands is marginal in comparison to private lands and ranches.

STATE AGENCY: https://ksoutdoors.gov/Hunting/What-to-Hunt/Turkey

WILD TURKEY POPULATION: n/a

2025 SPRING HARVEST DATA: Total harvest during the spring 2025 season was 13,862 turkeys. The age and sex structure of the 2025 harvest was 87.6% adult gobblers, 12.4% jakes, and 0% bearded hens.

SEASON DATES: Youth/ Disabled: April 1 – April 14, 2026; Archery Only: April 6 – April 14, 2026; Regular (firearm/archery): April 15 – May 31, 2026

BAG LIMIT: One turkey with a visible beard

HUNTING HOURS: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset

STATE STATUS: In partnership with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP), Kansas State University Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit has been conducting ongoing research for a four-year study on turkey population demographics and ecology in Kansas. This research involves graduate students collecting and analyzing data to improve state harvest and habitat management. Objectives of the work include researching factors influencing wild turkey hen, nest, and poult survival, evaluating habitat selection and resource requirements for wild turkeys throughout the year, and investigating movement patterns and distribution of breeding and nonbreeding wild turkeys.

No regulation changes for 2026 spring turkey season.

Resident hunters may obtain a spring turkey permit – valid for one turkey with a visible beard – in Units 1, 2, 3, 5, or 6; Spring turkey permits for Unit 4 are available only by lottery draw. Non-resident hunters may obtain a spring turkey permit by lottery draw for Unit 1, 2, 3, 5, or 6. Non-resident permits are only valid in the Unit indicated. The application period ended Feb. 13. Any leftover non-resident spring turkey permits will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis on a date set after the drawing is completed and the public is notified of the date.

There will be no additional game tags (valid for a second turkey) available in 2026 for resident or non-resident hunters.

STATE AGENCY: https://outdoornebraska.gov/; csaline@nwtf.net, 402-480-4927

WILD TURKEY POPULATION: n/a

2025 SPRING HARVEST DATA: 9,864 harvests reported to Telecheck; 26,691 permits sold; overall per-permit success 37%. Actual success is estimated to be higher due to noncompliance.

SEASON DATES: Adult and youth archery begins March 25, 2026. Youth shotgun begins April 11. Adult shotgun begins April 18. The season closes May 31st.

BAG LIMIT: One bearded bird per permit, no more than two permits per person; nonresident permits capped at 10,000 (sold out).

HUNTING HOURS: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset

STATE STATUS: Spring permit sales, harvests, and success are increasing after regulation changes in 2023. Reporting harvest via Telecheck is required; participation in the hunter email survey is optional. NGPC surveys yielded a poult-per-hen ratio of 2.1, and increased sightings along historical routes in four out of six regions contributed to an increased statewide average of sightings. NGPC, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and the University of Georgia concluded three years of field work last summer and are analyzing a wealth of data, the findings of which will inform management decisions. NWTF assisted in funding the project.

STATE AGENCY: www.ndow.org; 775-688-1523

WILD TURKEY POPULATION: n/a

2025 SPRING HARVEST DATA: Of the 139 tags that were issued during the spring 2025 season, 124 (89%) returned their mandatory questionnaire. Twelve of those hunters reported that they did not hunt and of the 112 that did, 83 reported that they were successful in harvesting either a tom or a jake. The 74% success rate represented a 28% increase over the previous spring’s success rate.

SEASON DATES: March 21 to May 3, 2026

BAG LIMIT: One bearded wild turkey by tag only

HUNTING HOURS: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset

STATE AGENCY: http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/; (505) 476-8000

WILD TURKEY POPULATION: 23,000

2025 SPRING HARVEST DATA: n/a; 2024: 2,232 reported harvest (24% success rate), 3,037 estimated harvest

SEASON DATES: April 15 – May 15, 2026

BAG LIMIT: Two bearded turkeys only

HUNTING HOURS: Half-hour before sunrise to halfhour after sunset

STATE STATUS: The turkey rule is opening in January 2026 for potential changes to the 2027-2030 seasons. There is research in progress on Merriam’s hen habitat use, survival, and reproductive success.

STATE AGENCY: www.wildlifedepartment.com; (405) 521-2730

WILD TURKEY POPULATION: 88,000 Rio Grande, 6,000 Eastern

2025 SPRING HARVEST DATA: 8,602 (total number e-checked online)

SEASON DATES: Regular season - April 16 - May 16, 2026

BAG LIMIT: One tom turkey limit statewide

HUNTING HOURS: Half-hour before official sunrise to official sunset. Roost shooting is prohibited.

STATE STATUS: Cost for hunting licenses in Oklahoma changed during 2024. See website/ regulations for details. Creation of a single “youth super license” will take the place of about 15 different types of youth hunting licenses. The youth super license is to help make youth hunting more economically affordable and simplify the regulations. Research is ongoing to study vital rates of wild turkey in the southeast and southwest portions of Oklahoma.

STATE AGENCY: www.myodfw.com; 1-866-947-ODFW (6339)

WILD TURKEY POPULATION: 45,000

2025 SPRING HARVEST DATA: 5,948 (in 2024)

SEASON DATES: April 15 – May 31, 2026

BAG LIMIT: One male turkey or turkey with a visible beard per day. Up to three wild turkeys may be taken during the season (one per tag).

HUNTING HOURS: half hour before sunrise to sunset

STATE STATUS: Populations steady to increasing. Review electronic tagging requirements in the Oregon Game Bird Hunting regulations.

STATE AGENCY: https://gfp.sd.gov; (605) 223-7660

WILD TURKEY POPULATION: n/a

2025 HARVEST DATA: Overall, in prairie units there were 7,572 licenses available and overall tag sales totaled 8,382 (some units had double tags). The reported overall harvest success rate was 54% and the projected harvest was 4,556 turkeys. In the Black Hills unit there were 5,079 licenses issued (2,883 residents, 2,196 nonresidents). All licenses consisted of single tags for male turkeys only. The reported overall harvest success rate was 42% and the projected harvest was 2,155 turkeys.

SEASON DATES: It is important to note that start dates of hunting seasons vary according to unit. In prairie units the season dates occur from April 11- May 31, 2026 in most units. In the Black Hills, units open later and occur from April 25-May 31, 2026. Archery and mentored seasons open at the same time as general shotgun season dates. For example, an archer or mentored hunter would need to wait until April 25, 2026 to start hunting in the Black Hills unit.

BAG LIMIT: Check regulations, typically one bird per license (some units do have double tags on the prairie)

HUNTING HOURS: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset

STATE STATUS: A big change that spring turkey hunters need to be aware of is the Black Hills unit will no longer be unlimited for nonresidents in 2026. The SDGFP Commission created a cap of 2,225 one-tag male turkey licenses for nonresidents in the Black Hills Turkey unit. Nonresidents must apply ahead of the season to draw a license to hunt the Black Hills unit. There was a research study occurring in Gregory County South Dakota from 2023-24 where radiomarked hens were being studied for survival and reproduction. Vital rate data will inform population models that will be used for management, and publications continue to be produced from this research study.

STATE AGENCY: https://tpwd.texas.gov/; (512) 389-4800

WILD TURKEY POPULATION: 500,000

2025 SPRING HARVEST DATA: n/a

SEASON DATES: Youth – South Zone March 7-8, 2026 and May 2-3, 2026; North Zone March 21-22, 2026 and May 16-17, 2026; General Season - South Zone March 14 – April 26, 2026; North Zone March 28 – May 10, 2026; One-Gobbler Counties April 1-30, 2026; East Zone April 22 – May 14, 2026

BAG LIMIT: Four gobblers or bearded hens statewide all seasons (spring and fall combined) annual bag limit. Some counties have a onegobbler, spring-only season. Some counties are not open to turkey hunting. See regulations for the county you plan to hunt. https://tpwd.texas. gov/regulations/outdoor-annual/hunting/seasons/ county-listing/

HUNTING HOURS: Half-hour before sunrise to halfhour after sunset

STATE STATUS: Mandatory harvest reporting statewide. All harvested birds must be reported within 24 hours of harvest.

STATE AGENCY: www.wildlife.utah.gov; (801) 538-4700

WILD TURKEY POPULATION: 35,000-38,000

2025 SPRING HARVEST DATA: Limited entry harvest: 956; OTC harvest: 2,920; Youth LE: 54; Youth OTC: 378

SEASON DATES: Limited Entry – April 11-30, 2026; Over the Counter May 4-31, 2026; Youth hunt May 1-3, 2026

BAG LIMIT: One

HUNTING HOURS: Half-hour before official sunrise to half-hour after official sunset

STATE STATUS: After the harsh winter in 2022-23, we have seen an increase in turkey populations in most of the state as desirable brood-rearing conditions have resulted in higher recruitment rates compared to the last few years; however, dry conditions last year resulted in lower production in 2023-24, and this winter has also been dry. We are hoping for more moisture to produce brood-rearing habitat.

STATE AGENCY: https://wdfw.wa.gov/; (360) 902-2515

WILD TURKEY POPULATION: Abundant

2025 SPRING HARVEST DATA: Unavailable; spring 2024 data: 12,503 hunters; 6,515 turkeys

SEASON DATES: Youth: April 1-7; General: April 15 – May 31

BAG LIMIT: Three turkeys statewide with some area restrictions

HUNTING HOURS: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset

STATE STATUS: Turkeys continue to do well in Washington, especially the eastern part of the state. Hunter success rates are above 50% in both the spring and fall seasons. More than half of statewide harvests come from the northeast (Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Spokane, and Lincoln counties).

STATE AGENCY: https://wgfd.wyo.gov/; (307) 777-4600

WILD TURKEY POPULATION: n/a

2025 SPRING HARVEST DATA: Record spring harvest in 2025 (4,762) with a 62% statewide success rate

SEASON DATES: General season April 20 – May 31; Limited Quota: April 1 – May 31, 2026

BAG LIMIT: One male or bearded wild turkey per license. Hunters may possess one General License (unlimited over the counter), and two Type 3 licenses (drawing only, or available as leftover if not sold out in the drawing).

HUNTING HOURS: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset

STATE STATUS: Merriam’s dominate, Rio Grande wild turkeys in lower numbers, and hybrid subspecies are location dependent. Above average poult production and survival the past five years. Populations are very respectable and expanding in most locations. Check regulations for Type 3 license restrictions (county specific). Hunter numbers have been increasing annually for the past four hunting seasons.