Spring Turkey Season Outlook
Turkey hunting season is on the horizon — Illinois hunters harvested 882 turkeys during the fall archery season Illinois hunters harvest fewer turkeys during fall archery season. Mississippi hunters face new regulations for the 2026 season Hattiesburg American|Hattiesburg, MS. What are the new regulations in Mississippi?
Illinois spring turkey hunters set a record in 2025, harvesting 18,189 wild turkeys, surpassing the previous record of 17,208 in 2024. Youth hunters also contributed to the record, harvesting 2,099 birds. The top counties for turkey harvest in 2025 were Jo Daviess (628), Jefferson (518), Pike (468), Marion (428), and Pope (425). Illinois' wild turkey population was once eliminated from the state by 1920 due to deforestation. Restoration efforts involved relocating over 4,700 wild turkeys to 99 counties between 1970 and 2000. As of 2025, Illinois hunters favored crossbows, accounting for 62% of harvested turkeys, while compound bows accounted for 37%. In Mississippi, the 2025 turkey harvest declined by 11% from 2024, but was still 15% above the average of the previous decade. For the 2026 spring season, the bag limit is one adult gobbler (6-inch beard restriction) per day, with a total of three for the season. Hunters 15 and younger can harvest one gobbler of any age per day, with a limit of three per season. Mississippi's 2026 spring turkey season is extended to May 3rd, due to the traditional end date falling on a Friday. Non-residents can't hunt public land before April 1st unless drawn for a permit. A Mississippi Wild Turkey Stamp is required for hunters 16 and older, costing $10 for residents and $100 for non-residents.
