Turkey

Tom

Wild turkeys were reintroduced into Kansas in the 1960s, and the program has been a great success. Today, huntable populations of turkeys exist in nearly every county. The Rio Grande subspecies dominates the western two-thirds of the state. Low numbers in the southwest provide only limited hunting. Hybrid Rio Grande/Eastern birds are found in the northcentral region. The Eastern subspecies is common in the northeast and far southeast regions, where numbers have grown tremendously in recent years.

Season Information
Current Seasons
Spring Turkey - Regular (firearm/archery) - Unit Specified on Permit

Dates: 04/17/2019 - 05/31/2019

  • Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
  • Legal Equipment: Shotguns using shot sizes 2-9; long, recurve or compound bows and crossbows.
  • Permit Limit: Any individual who has purchased a spring turkey permit is eligible for one second turkey game tag. Spring game tags are valid for Units 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6.
  • Bag Limit: One turkey with a visible beard per permit or game tag.
  • Dogs may not be used in spring season.
Upcoming Seasons
Fall Turkey - First Segment - Units 1,2,3,5,6 ( Unit 4 CLOSED)

Dates: 10/01/2019 - 12/03/2019

Fall Turkey - Archery/Shotgun

  • Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sun- rise to sunset.
  • Legal Equipment: Shotguns using shot sizes 2-9; long, recurve or compound bows and crossbows
  • Permit Limit: Each hunter may obtain no more than one turkey permit. Fall turkey permits are valid for both male and female turkeys. Dogs may be used in fall season. 
  • Bag Limit: One turkey, either sex, per permit.
Fall Turkey - Second Segment - Units 1,2,3,5,6 (Unit 4 CLOSED)

Dates: 12/16/2019 - 01/31/2020

  • Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
  • Legal Equipment: Shotguns using shot sizes 2-9; long, recurve or compound bows and crossbows.
  • Permit Limit: Each hunter may obtain no more than one turkey permit. Fall turkey permits are valid for both male and female turkeys. Dogs may be used in fall season.
  • Bag Limit: One turkey, either sex, per permit.
Regulations
115-18-07 (PDF - 16.62 kB)

Use of crossbows for big game hunting by persons with disabilities - Application, Permit, and General Provisions

115-04-04a (PDF - 13.77 kB)

Wild turkey; legal equipment and taking methods.

115-25-05 (PDF - 15.76 kB)

Turkey - Fall Season, Bag Limit, and Permits.

115-25-06 (PDF - 17.53 kB)

Turkey; spring season, bag limit, permits and game tags.

115-04-02 (PDF - 16.68 kB)

Big Game and Wild Turkey - General provisions

115-04-11 (PDF - 27.62 kB)

Big Game and Wild Turkey - Permit Applications.

Management Units

Turkey Management Unit Map

Turkey Management Unit Map

Turkey Management Unit Map

Printable Version Printable Version Email Page Email Page

Trophy Turkey Award & Top 20 Turkey Records
Application Trophy Turkey Award (PDF 35.00 kB)

Kansas Top 20 Turkey Records

Name Co. of Harvest Year Score Weight Spurs Score Beards Score
Rick Pritchard, Little Rock AR Franklin 2008, spring 158 6/8 27 0/8 22 4/8 109 2/8 (8)
Andy Stafford, Shawnee KS Crawford 2006, spring 156 6/8 23 0/8 20 0/8 113 6/8 (7)
Erik Hertzel, Sabetha, KS Nemaha 2009, spring 152 6/8 22 2/8 23 6/8 106 6/8 (7)
Tim Fidler, Maumelle, AR Shawnee 2018, spring 151 0/8 25 4/8 35 0/8 90 4/8 (7)
Todd Workman, Topeka, KS Jackson 2012, spring 150 4/8 22 0/8 20 0/8 108 4/8 (9)
Robert Nelson, Neosho Falls, KS Woodson 2004, spring 149 4/8 23 0/8 23 6/8 102 6/8 (6)
Landon L. Boss, Osage City, KS  Osage 2016, spring 149 4/8 21 6/8 17 4/8 110 2/8 (7)
Bradley T. Hamm, Perry KS Jefferson 2008, spring 149 3/8 26 3/8 20 0/8 103 0/8 (8)
Jason Hay, Arma, KS Crawford 2002, spring 149 1/8 21 5/8 20 0/8 107 4/8 (8)
Chris Silva, Alma, KS Wabaunsee 2002, spring 146 0/8 26 4/8 31 2/8 88 2/8 (5)
Josh Powell, Bentonville AR Montgomery  2014, spring 145 6/8  17 2/8  18 6/8  109 6/8 (8) 
Jody Dalton, Arma, KS Crawford 1991 144 7/8 23 3/8 20 0/8 101 4/8
Dylan Smith, Maple Hill, KS Pottawatomie 2005, spring 142 4/8 19 4/8 18 6/8 104 2/8 (7)
Scott Morstorf, Topeka, KS Shawnee 2009, spring 142 0/8 25 0/8 25 0/8 91 4/8 (6)
Richard Diehl, Iola, KS Woodson 1994, spring 141 0/8 20 2/8 25 0/8 95 6/8
Brooks Hartman, Chanute KS Bourbon 2014, spring 140 1/8  20 1/8 25 0/8  95 0/8 (6)
Galen Wiltz, Sabetha, KS Brown 1998, spring 140 0/8 20 4/8 25 0/8 94 4/8 (6)
Stuart Nelson, Olathe, KS Jackson 2015, spring 138 6/8 24 2/8 17 4/8  97 0/8 (6) 
Robert A. Baker, Des Moines, IA Pottawatomie 2007, spring 138 4/8 22 6/8 23 6/8 92 0/8 (5)
Josh Meuller, Iola, KS Allen 2015, fall 138 20 2/8 20 97 6/8

Kansas Top 20 Turkey Records

Name Co. of Harvest Year Score Weight Spurs Score Beard Score
Bobby Robinson, Eupora, MS Franklin 2007, spring 88 4/8 26 4/8 27 4/8 34 4/8
Brooks C. Henderson, Hoyt, KS  Jackson 2018, spring 87 6/8 26 2/8 32 4/8 29 0/8
Steve Miller, Lansing, KS Atchison 2007, spring 87 5/8 25 5/8 35 0/8 27 0/8
E. Warren Walker, Bastrop, LA Anderson 2010, spring 86 0/8 26 0/8 30 0/8 30 0/8
David Stites, St. John, KS Stafford 2009, spring 85 0/8 32 0/8 30 0/8 23 0/8
Tim Brady, Lovelane, CO Miami 2007, spring 84 6/8 24 2/8 30 0/8 30 4/8
Gregery T. Martinez, KS Graham 2010, spring 84 4/8 31 0/8 32 4/8 21 0/8
Stephen J. Capizzi, Junction City, KS Geary 2017, spring 84 4/8 22 4/8 40 0/8 22 0/8
Terry Topham, Fulton, IL Wilson 2000, spring 84 2/8 30 2/8 30 0/8 24 0/8
Garrett Cox, Lyndon, KS Waubaunsee 2001, spring 84 0/8 29 0/8 32 4/8 22 4/8
Hunter Grady, Topeka, KS  Shawnee 2018, spring 83 6/8 29 2/8 32 4/8 22 0/8
Brent Heiman, Baileyville, KS Nemaha 2005, spring 83 6/8 24 4/8 36 2/8 23 0/8
Bernard J. Helget, Manhattan, KS Pottawatomie 1994, spring 83 2/8 28 0/8 33 6/8 21 4/8
Joe Warren, Topeka, KS Shawnee 1996, spring 83 1/8 30 5/8 32 4/8 20 0/8
Luther A. Britton, Garden City, KS Wabaunsee 2007, spring 83 1/8 28 3/8 31 2/8 23 4/8
Mark Brown, Okla. City Lyon 2003, spring 83 0/8 23 2/8 37 4/8 22 2/8
Jon Hawkinson, Manhattan, KS Pottawatomie 1990 83 0/8 28 4/8 32 4/8 22 0/8
Jeff Roberts, Concordia, KS Phillips 2009, spring 82 6/8 25 0/8 36 2/8 21 4/8
Brad Schrick, Smithville, MO Leavenworth 2009, spring 82 5/8 27 1/8 30 0/8 25 4/8
Larry Haivala, Wichita, KS Kingman 2012, spring 82 4/8 21 4/8 40 0/8 21 0/8