• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

To Honor and Protect the Ranching Way of Life

  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • Why Join
    • Leadership
    • Staff
    • Partners
    • FAQs
    • Newsroom
    • Sponsorships
    • Employment
  • What We Do
    • Theft and Law
    • Issues and Policy
    • Education
    • Students and Young Professionals
    • The Cattleman Magazine
    • Disaster Relief Fund
    • Cattle Raisers Insurance
    • Cattle Raisers Trading Co
  • Events
    • Cattle Raisers Convention
    • Policy Conference
    • Summer Meeting
    • Ranch Gatherings
    • Ranching 101
  • Join
  • Member Center
  • TSCRA Store
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Spring turkey hunting prospects bright

Source: Read more…
With a good crop of birds last year combined with a healthy stock of mature gobblers, this year’s spring turkey season holds plenty of opportunity for hunters willing to put in the time afield, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD).
“I am looking forward to a great turkey season,” said Jason Hardin, TPWD Upland Game Bird Program specialist. “This past spring and summer, Texas experienced one of our best hatches in years. Hunters can expect to see quite a few mature toms and a ton of jakes. These jakes will be great for introducing new hunters to turkey hunting and set the stage for the next two years of spring hunting.”
The spring season for Rio Grande turkey in the South Zone runs March 19-May 1 and culminates with a youth-only weekend May 7-8. In the North Zone, the youth-only weekend seasons are March 26-27 and May 21-22. The North Zone general season opens April 2 and runs through May 15. A special one-gobbler limit season runs April 1-30 in Bastrop, Caldwell, Colorado, Fayette, Jackson, Lavaca, Lee, Matagorda, Milam, and Wharton counties.
Hardin notes that the mild winter and early spring should lead to some early breeding behavior. The large number of juvenile hens on the landscape could lead to quite a few mature gobblers being “henned-up” early in the season.
“However, by mid-season most of the hens should be bred and incubating eggs leaving a large number of mature gobblers looking for love,” he noted. “Also, if conditions remain mild and if we get a few more timely rain events, Texas can expect another good year of nesting and populations growth.”
As for eastern turkey prospects, heavy rains across the region could create challenges for hunters.
Eastern spring turkey hunting in the counties having an open season is April 15-May 14. All eastern turkeys must be reported to TPWD within 24 hours of harvest. Eastern turkey hunters will be required to report their harvested bird through the My Texas Hunt Harvest app or on the TPWD turkey page. Hunters can download the app or report their harvest directly on the TPWD turkey page at www.tpwd.texas.gov/turkey. The app is also available at Google Play or the App Store. Hunters who use the electronic reporting options will be issued a confirmation number upon completion of the registration process.
Hunters still have to tag harvested birds.
The new harvest reporting app can also be used as a tool for voluntarily reporting and tracking harvests of other resident game species, including Rio Grande turkey. With My Texas Hunt Harvest, hunters can log harvested game animals and view harvest history, including dates and locations of every hunt.
TPWD has closed the spring Eastern turkey season in several areas. This includes Angelina County and the Angelina National Forest in Jasper County.

Written by:
kristin
Published on:
March 18, 2016

Categories: Wildlife

Recent Posts

Crime watch: Black Angus bull missing in Lavaca County

June 9, 2025

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Ranger Robert Fields, District 25 in …

Continue Reading about Crime watch: Black Angus bull missing in Lavaca County

Crime watch: Equipment stolen in Colorado County

June 9, 2025

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Ranger Nathan Hale, District 24 in …

Continue Reading about Crime watch: Equipment stolen in Colorado County

Crime watch: Heifers missing in Colorado County

June 9, 2025

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Ranger Nathan Hale, District 24 in …

Continue Reading about Crime watch: Heifers missing in Colorado County

Footer

Who We Are

Why Join
Leadership
Staff
Partners
FAQs
Newsroom
Sponsorships
Employment

What We Do

Theft and Law
Issues and Policy
Education
Students and Young Professionals
The Cattleman Magazine
Cattle Raisers Insurance
Cattle Raisers Trading Co.
Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

Information

Cattle Raisers Blog
News Releases
Bereavements
Events
Sponsorships & Advertisement
Tip Hotline
Get Involved
Links

Membership

Membership Center
Membership Center Instructions
Join
Renew
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

PO BOX 101988
FORT WORTH, TX 76185

1-800-242-7820

© 2023 Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association; All Rights Reserved.

COPYRIGHT | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS OF USE