April and May Are Dangerous Times for Wild Turkeys in Georgia As Hunting Season Opens on Public and Private Lands

While Thanksgiving is recognized nationally as the most dangerous day of the year for turkeys, in Georgia April 8 ranks as a close second. That's because April 8 marks the opening of turkey season on all public lands in the state, meaning the entire state will be open for turkey hunting.

Georgia's annual turkey hunting season is open until May 15. In 2022, Georgia hunters harvested nearly 10,000 of the wild birds.Photo bymana5280onUnsplash

And wildlife officials and hunters alike are expecting an above-average year for hunters seeking the wild bird that Ben Franklin once promoted as our national symbol over the bald eagle.

“Statewide reproduction in 2021 was above the average we’ve seen in the last decade, which means we should have more two-year old birds in the woods,” explained Emily Rushton, Wildlife Resources Division wild turkey project coordinator for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

Turkey season ends statewide on May 15, 2023.

Georgia DNR officials noted that turkey limits changed recently. Only one gobbler may be taken per hunter per day, and a season total of two gobblers. On WMAs and National Forest land (outside of WMAs), the bag limit is one gobbler per area. Hunters also must comply with strict record keeping and reporting requirements.

Turkey season opened on private lands in Georgia on April 1. Through April 4, more than 4,000 birds had been harvested by hunters, with Polk County reporting the highest number of turkey kills in 2023. In 2022, hunters harvested nearly 10,000 wild turkeys statewide. Polk County recorded the highest number of kills in 2022, with 222 birds harvested during the open season. Totals are reported in the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Hunters Toolbox.