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Realtree Camo Guide
Turkey Hunting Nation
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
The Turkey Hunting Nation grade was determined the old-fashioned way: subjectively. Our experts looked at turkey populations, hunter numbers, bag limits, the ease and cost of getting a license, the amount of public land available and other factors when evaluating each state.
Grades:
A
B
C
D
F
State Not Yet Published
| State | Grade | Population | Subspecies | Licenses Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama |
B |
300,000-400,000 | Eastern | 609,156 |
| Arizona |
C |
25,000 (Merriam's), 1,500 (Gould's) and 500 (Rio Grandes) | Merriam's, Gould's and Rio Grande | 200,097 |
| Arkansas |
C |
-100,000 | Easterns | 107,131 |
| California |
B |
240,000 | Rios, Merriam's and Easterns | 34,969 |
| Colorado |
B |
30,000-35,000 | Merriam's and Rio Grandes | 16,000 (turkey) |
| Connecticut |
C |
N/A | Easterns | N/A |
| Delaware |
C |
6,000 | Easterns | 16,291 |
| Florida |
B |
100,000 | Osceola estimate; Easterns live in the Panhandle; also some hybrids | 73,000 |
| Georgia |
B |
250,000-300,000 | Eastern | 45,000 |
| Hawaii |
B |
(Population Unknown) | Rio Grande | Unavailable |
| Idaho |
B |
30,000 | Merriam’s; some Rios; hybrids | 6,000 (turkey) |
| Illinois |
C |
N/A | Easterns | 297,243 |
| Indiana |
C |
120,000 | Easterns | 253,611 |
| Iowa |
B |
120,000 | Easterns | 200,000 |
| Kansas |
B |
300,000 | Eastern, Rios and hybrids | 50,000 (estimated) |
| Kentucky |
A |
250,000-400,000 | 334,342 | |
| Louisiana |
C |
40,000 | Easterns | 370,528 (20,000 turkey hunters) |
| Maine |
B |
70,000 | Easterns | 12,750 (turkey permits) |
| Maryland |
C |
40,000 | Easterns | 119,202 |
| Massachusetts |
C |
30,000-35,000 | Easterns | 58,000 (estimated) |
| Michigan |
B |
200,000 plus | Easterns | 616,278 |
| Minnesota |
C |
70,000 | Easterns | 58,084 |
| Mississippi |
B |
225,000 | Easterns | 40,000 |
| Missouri |
B |
350,000 | Easterns | 486,025 |
| Montana |
B |
120,000 | Merriam’s, some Easterns, hybrids | 25,193 (turkey) |
| Nebraska |
A |
145,000 | Merriam's, Rios, Easterns, hybrids | 40,000 (estimated) |
| Nevada |
C |
1,200 | Rio Grande and Merriam's | N/A |
| New Hampshire |
B |
50,000 | Easterns | 20,000 (estimated turkey permits) |
| New Jersey |
C |
20,000-23,000 | Easterns | 12,000 (estimated turkey permits) |
| New Mexico |
B |
15,000-20,000 | Merriam's, Rio Grandes, Gould's and Hybrids | 97,103 |
| New York |
B |
160,000-180,000 (estimate) | Easterns | 152,765 resident turkey permits; 8,033 nonresident |
| North Carolina |
B |
270,000 | Easterns | 322,044 |
| North Dakota |
C |
22,000 | Merriam's, Easterns, hybrids | 5,930 (state residents; spring turkey) |
| Ohio |
B |
150,000 | Easterns | 361,119 |
| Oklahoma |
B |
93,532 (NWTF data) | Rio Grandes, Easterns, Hybrids and Merriam's | 419,445 |
| Oregon |
B |
40,000 | Rio Grande; some Merriam’s and hybrids | 13,000 (turkey) |
| Pennsylvania |
B |
170,000 | Easterns | 930,815 |
| Rhode Island |
C |
4,000-5,000 | Easterns | 2,111 (turkey permits) |
| South Carolina |
B |
100,000 | Easterns | 181,820 |
| South Dakota |
B |
50,000 | Merriam's, Easterns, hybrids | 16,000 |
| Tennessee |
B |
270,000 | Easterns | 603,995 |
| Texas |
B |
500,000 | Rios and Easterns | "Over one million" (TPWD) |
| Utah |
C |
25,000-35,000 | Rio Grandes, Merriam's plus hybrids | 249,765 |
| Vermont |
B |
45,000+ | Easterns | 17,000+ (turkey) |
| Virginia |
B |
170,000-190,000 | Easterns | 277,281 |
| Washington |
B |
28,000 | Merriam’s, Rio Grandes, and Easterns | 20,000 |
| West Virginia |
B |
101,340 | Easterns | 210,101 |
| Wisconsin |
A |
350,000 | Easterns | 230,000 (estimated) |
| Wyoming |
B |
15,000 | Merriam’s, Rio Grande, hybrids of both | 5,500 |
Arizona
C
Population: 25,000 (Merriam's), 1,500 (Gould's) and 500 (Rio Grandes)
Licenses: 200,097
Subspecies: Merriam's, Gould's and Rio Grande
Colorado
B
Population: 30,000-35,000
Licenses: 16,000 (turkey)
Subspecies: Merriam's and Rio Grandes
Florida
B
Population: 100,000
Licenses: 73,000
Subspecies: Osceola estimate; Easterns live in the Panhandle; also some hybrids
Idaho
B
Population: 30,000
Licenses: 6,000 (turkey)
Subspecies: Merriam’s; some Rios; hybrids
Kansas
B
Population: 300,000
Licenses: 50,000 (estimated)
Subspecies: Eastern, Rios and hybrids
Louisiana
C
Population: 40,000
Licenses: 370,528 (20,000 turkey hunters)
Subspecies: Easterns
Montana
B
Population: 120,000
Licenses: 25,193 (turkey)
Subspecies: Merriam’s, some Easterns, hybrids
Nebraska
A
Population: 145,000
Licenses: 40,000 (estimated)
Subspecies: Merriam's, Rios, Easterns, hybrids
New Hampshire
B
Population: 50,000
Licenses: 20,000 (estimated turkey permits)
Subspecies: Easterns
New Jersey
C
Population: 20,000-23,000
Licenses: 12,000 (estimated turkey permits)
Subspecies: Easterns
New Mexico
B
Population: 15,000-20,000
Licenses: 97,103
Subspecies: Merriam's, Rio Grandes, Gould's and Hybrids
New York
B
Population: 160,000-180,000 (estimate)
Licenses: 152,765 resident turkey permits; 8,033 nonresident
Subspecies: Easterns
North Dakota
C
Population: 22,000
Licenses: 5,930 (state residents; spring turkey)
Subspecies: Merriam's, Easterns, hybrids
Oklahoma
B
Population: 93,532 (NWTF data)
Licenses: 419,445
Subspecies: Rio Grandes, Easterns, Hybrids and Merriam's
Oregon
B
Population: 40,000
Licenses: 13,000 (turkey)
Subspecies: Rio Grande; some Merriam’s and hybrids
Rhode Island
C
Population: 4,000-5,000
Licenses: 2,111 (turkey permits)
Subspecies: Easterns
Texas
B
Population: 500,000
Licenses: "Over one million" (TPWD)
Subspecies: Rios and Easterns
Utah
C
Population: 25,000-35,000
Licenses: 249,765
Subspecies: Rio Grandes, Merriam's plus hybrids
Washington
B
Population: 28,000
Licenses: 20,000
Subspecies: Merriam’s, Rio Grandes, and Easterns
Wyoming
B
Population: 15,000
Licenses: 5,500
Subspecies: Merriam’s, Rio Grande, hybrids of both
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