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.

Unit 4 Spring Turkey Permit Deadline Feb. 10

Unit 4 Spring Turkey Permit applications will be accepted online only from January 10 through February 10, 2023. There will be no paper applications or mail in forms for 2023. 

To apply, visit www.gooutdoorskansas.com or call (620) 672-0728.Five hundred spring turkey permits are allocated for Kansas residents in Turkey Management Unit 4, which covers the southwestern portion of Kansas. While spring turkey permits in all other units are available over the counter and online, Unit 4 permits are issued through a lottery drawing and the deadline to apply is Friday, Feb. 10, 2023. 

NEW Electronic Permits and Harvest Reporting

Once you’re ready to check out, you’ll have the option to select printed or electronic delivery of your permit. If you select print, your permit will be printed and mailed to you. If you select electronic delivery, your permit will be uploaded to the GoOutdoorsKS mobile app and no paper permit will be printed. Hunters who select electronic delivery must submit their harvest report via the GoOutdoorsKS mobile app.

Download the GoOutdoorsKS mobile app

HOW TO: E-tag/Submit Your Harvest Report

Season Information
Current Seasons

All Turkey seasons are closed.

Upcoming Seasons
Spring Turkey - Youth/Disabled - Unit Specified on Permit

Dates: 04/01/2023 - 04/11/2023

Spring Turkey - Youth/Disabled; open to any person having a valid turkey permit or second turkey game tag who is 17 years of age or younger, while under the immediate supervision of an adult who is 18 years of age or older and any person with a disability as defined in K.S.A. 8-1,124.

Spring Turkey - Archery Only - Unit Specified on Permit

Dates: 04/03/2023 - 04/11/2023

Spring Turkey - Archery Only

  • Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
  • Legal Equipment: Recurve or compound bows and crossbows.
  • Permit Limit: To be determined
  • Bag Limit: One turkey with a visible beard per permit or game tag.
  • Dogs may not be used in spring season.
Spring Turkey - Regular (firearm/archery) - Unit Specified on Permit

Dates: 04/12/2023 - 05/31/2023

  • 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: To be determined
  • Bag Limit: One turkey with a visible beard per permit or game tag.
  • Dogs may not be used in spring season.
Regulations
115-04-02 (PDF - 95.57 kB)

Big Game and Wild Turkey - General provisions

115-18-07 (PDF - 7.95 kB)

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

115-25-05 (PDF - 16.04 kB)

Turkey - Fall Season, Bag Limit, and Permits.

115-04-04a (PDF - 12.27 kB)

Wild turkey; legal equipment and taking methods.

115-25-06 (PDF - 92.85 kB)

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

115-04-11 (PDF - 84.72 kB)

Big Game and Wild Turkey - Permit Applications.

E-Tagging
How to E-Tag using the Go Outdoors KS Mobile App
  1. Take a picture of the animal with your phone's camera making sure all the animal is visible.
  2. Open the Go Outdoors KS App and on the home screen, select "Harvest Reporting".
  3. On the "Harvest Reporting" screen you will see all your available tags. 
    • If you have multiple accounts on your phone, you can change to another account's available tags by selecting the name at the top of the screen. This will give you a list of everyone you have on your phone.
  4. Choose the tag you want to fill.
  5. Fill out the corresponding questions for the tag (harvest date, time, species, age, weapon used, unit and county).
  6. Click "Select Image" to select the picture you have taken of the animal.
  7. The last question, "Are you completing this Harvest Report for a Paper Carcass Tag?" If you are E-tagging select "No".
  8. Click "Submit" at the bottom and review all your answers for validation. Once reviewed click, "Submit" again.
  9. You should receive a popup success window with your E-tag confirmation number. 
  10. If taking the animal to a processor or taxidermist, please write the confirmation down and attach it to the animal so it can stay with the animal.
GoOutdoorsKS Mobile App Icon

To download the Go Outdoors KS mobile app to your Android device, visit: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.brandtinfo.gooutdoorsks&hl=en_US&gl=US

To download the Go Outdoors KS mobile app to your Apple/iOS device, visit: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gooutdoorsks/id1613997956

Printable Version Email Page

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
Trophy Turkey Award Application (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
Austin Rickabaugh, Chanute, KS  Wilson 2017, spring 87 1/8 25 1/8 37 4/8 24 4/8
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