Spring is here and prospects for Rio Grande turkeys are looking good. Breeding is expected to peak over the next couple of weeks. So if you go early in the season, Jason Hardin, our Upland Game Bird specialist, suggests hunting mid-day, after hens split off from toms.
A youth-only weekend for Rio Grande turkey started the South Zone season on March 10. The first youth-only weekend for Rio Grande in the North Zone is March 24-25.
Eastern turkey has a limit of 1 bird, and the general season is April 15 - May 14. Eastern Turkey hunters must check their harvested turkey with the free My Texas Hunt Harvest app or website.
Rio Grande turkey has a bag limit of 4 birds, and the general seasons are:
- South Zone: 3/17 - 4/29
- North Zone: 3/31 - 5/13
- Special 1 Turkey Bag Limit (10 counties): 4/1 - 4/30
Check county listings for special bag limits, season dates and other special regulations for counties. Refer to your Outdoor Annual for general dates, the Spring Zone Map and required tagging information.
Eastern turkey hunters MUST check their harvested turkey with My Texas Hunt Harvest online or by using the free app. You'll find these on our Turkey in Texas webpage, which also has other wild turkey resources including recipes and wild turkey desktop backgrounds.
The Need-to-Know
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Ever felt like you've been outsmarted by a gobbler? You're not alone. Wild turkeys are worthy adversaries due to their extremely good sight and hearing. We suspect that if they could smell, it would be close to impossible to bag one. The hunters in this turkey hunt video quickly realize it takes more than a call and a few decoys to bag a tom. Watch it and pick up some tips on how to match moves with a wild turkey.
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We are now accepting public comment on proposed hunting regulation changes, which include a reduction of the spring Eastern turkey season beginning in 2019. This change would shorten the season in the counties of Bowie, Cass, Fannin, Grayson, Jasper, Lamar, Marion, Nacogdoches, Newton, Panola, Polk, Red River, and Sabine by one week, while retaining the current closing date of May 14. Staff also proposes closing the Eastern turkey season in Upshur and San Augustine counties.
If you would like to comment on any proposed regulation, you can comment online or write to us at: TPWD, attn. Hunting Regulations Public Comment, 4200 Smith School Rd., Austin, TX 78744. Or comment in person during the March 22 public meeting of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission at TPWD headquarters in Austin prior to rulemaking.
Turkey is a naturally lean meat, so brining your bird before you cook it should enhance its flavor and juiciness.
Brining is to soak the turkey in a combination of salt, sugar and water or lemon juice. Here are instructions on how to brine and roast your bird.
Don't overcook your turkey. Use an accurate thermometer to determine when it's done. The internal temperature of properly cooked poultry is 165 degrees.
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