The dates are set for Alabama’s 2024 spring turkey season, and despite recent declines in southeast turkey populations, hunters should see similar success to last season.
Here’s everything you need to know to be prepared for opening day.
2024 Alabama Turkey Season Dates
| Spring Turkey Season | Dates |
|---|---|
| Private Land (Zones 1 & 3) | March 25 – May 8, 2024 |
| Private Land (Zone 2) | April 1 – May 8, 2024 |
| Bankhead Ranger District; WMAs – Lauderdale, Freedom Hills, Black Warrior, Coon Gulf, Riverton CHA and Martin CHA | April 8 – May 8, 2024 (daylight to 1 p.m.) |
| Talladega Ranger District, Shoal Creek Ranger District, Oakmulgee Ranger District, Tuskegee Ranger District and Conecuh Ranger District) and WMAs THAT ALLOW TURKEY HUNTING | April 1 – May 8, 2024 (daylight to 1 p.m.) |
Special Youth Hunt
Saturday & Sunday the week prior to opening of spring season. Decoys are allowed.
Special Disabled Hunt
One day prior to all regular season opening days. Participants
must meet medical requirements of regulation 220-2-.109(2)(d). Decoys are allowed.
Bag Limit
One gobbler per day; four gobbler bag limit during combined fall and spring season.
• No more than two gobblers from any one WMA, CHA, or National Forest Ranger District
• No more than one gobbler during the first 10 days of each season from each WMA, CHA and National Forest Ranger District
Decoys
Decoys are allowed in the spring season only. No decoys the first 10 days of any spring season. Mechanical turkey decoys are illegal in Alabama.
Hunting Hours
Private Lands – Daylight Hours Only
Wildlife Management Areas and National Forests – Daylight until 1 PM
License Requirements
To hunt Eastern wild turkey in Alabama, you must have the following:
- All Game Hunting License (unless exempt)
- Harvest Record (paper form or on the app)
- Wildlife Management License and map permit IF hunting on a WMA
- If you harvest a turkey, you have 48 hours to report it through Game Check
2023 Turkey Season Results
Alabama turkey hunters reported harvesting 18,211 birds during the 2023 season, up nearly 2,500 from the 15,673 killed in 2022. Keep in mind those are Game Check numbers, which are traditionally skewed low due to hunters not reporting their harvest. In fact, for 2022, the DCNR estimated the actual turkey harvest to be around 36,000 birds based on a postseason telephone survey. That figure isn’t available yet for the 2023 season.
Best Alabama Counties to Turkey Hunt
Fourteen Alabama counties reported at least 380 turkeys harvested during the 2023 spring turkey season. Over half of those counties are found in the southeast corner of the state, including Barbour, Clarke, Covington, Dale, Henry and Pike.
The remaining four counties include Jackson in the northeast, and Coosa, Chilton and Pickens in Central Alabama. Only one county in the northwest portion of the state broke the 300-bird mark, and that was Marion at 345.
| County | 2023 Harvest |
| Jackson | 644 |
| Barbour | 542 |
| Covington | 415 |
| Henry | 412 |
| Dale | 412 |
| Coosa | 394 |
| Pickens | 394 |
| Clarke | 385 |
| Chilton | 383 |
| Pike | 380 |
It’s worth noting that a higher harvest doesn’t always mean a county offers better turkey hunting than one with a lower harvest. You also have to consider the hunting pressure of each to truly understand the quality of hunting.
Final Thoughts
Despite the regional decline in turkey populations, Alabama hunters continue to post some excellent harvest numbers. Hopefully, the conservative measures that the DCNR is taking will ensure those opportunities continue well into the future. Here’s to hoping each of you have a fantastic and safe 2023 spring turkey season!
