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Hunting - Turkey
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Turkey Hunting

By the early 1900s, unrestricted market hunting and drastic reductions in habitat had eliminated wild turkeys in Iowa. For many years, the thunderous gobbles of the wild turkey were absent from Iowa's woodlands and forests.

This silence was broken in 1966 when the Iowa Conservation Commission, now the Department of Natural Resources, initiated a program to return the wild turkey to Iowa. Wild turkeys were released at several sites across the state, with the first release occurring in Lee County, Iowa. 

Since these early days, turkey populations have expanded across the entire state of Iowa.

  • Licenses for the Fall Season go on sale Aug. 15.
    • Note: Nonresidents are not eligible for fall turkey hunting licenses.
  • Licenses for the Spring Seasons go on sale Dec. 15.
  • Gun shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to sunset
  • Bow shooting hours: half-hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.
  • Daily bag and season possession limit is one bearded or male wild turkey for each valid license and transportation tag issued to the hunter.
  • Hunters who harvest a turkey are required to report that harvest  by midnight on the day it was tagged.
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Nonresident Turkey Hunting

Nonresident spring turkey application period is January 1 to the last Sunday in January. The application is available in December.

Check availability of available licenses before going online to purchase. For zone map information and season dates be sure to download our Nonresident Turkey Application Guide.

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Turkey Hunting Permits & Permit Limits

Hunters are required to have a valid hunting license and habitat fee in addition to a turkey hunting permit, in order to hunt wild turkeys in Iowa.

  • Resident permits cost $28.50
  • Nonresident permits cost $119.00
  • General small game hunting licenses are $22.00 for residents and $131.00 for nonresidents respectively.
  • A $15.00 habitat stamp fee is also required for both residents and nonresidents.  

For the fall turkey season, residents may purchase up to two turkey permits. Nonresidents may not purchase permits for the fall turkey season.

For the spring turkey season, residents may purchase up to 2 permits (one permit for the youth season for those under 16, or season 1, 2, or 3; and a second permit for season 4). Both permits may also be purchased during season 4. Nonresidents may purchase one permit for any of the four seasons, but not during the youth season. 

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Wild Turkey Survey

Iowa's Wild Turkey Survey
Each summer the Iowa DNR asks for volunteers to participate in the July-August Wild Turkey Survey. It is a simple process: as you work and play in Iowa this July and August keep an eye out for wild turkeys. Learn more about turkey brood reporting (.pdf) via Indiana DNR   to get started.

Report your sighting

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Turkey Hunting FAQs

List items for Turkey Hunting FAQs

Explore some common questions and topics about turkey hunting in Iowa.

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Iowa's Hunting Regulations

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Turkey Hunting Season Dates

List items for Calendar - Iowa Hunting Seasons, Turkey

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