KENTUCKY · TURKEY · 2026–27
Kentucky turkey seasons
2026–27.
Fall archery, crossbow and shotgun dates, bag restrictions and a clear status for spring 2027.
FALL 2026
Fall turkey dates
The fall bag is two turkeys total, with no more than one per day. Equipment seasons share that limit.
| Season | Dates | Where | Bag limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall turkey · archeryOpen now · through Jan. 18Archery | Sept. 5, 2026 – Jan. 18, 2027 | Statewide; public-land exceptions apply | 2 turkeys for the fall, no more than 1 per day: at most 1 with a beard 3 inches or longer and at most 1 unbearded or with a beard shorter than 3 inches.source · source |
| Fall turkey · crossbowReopens Nov. 14 (in 10 days)Crossbow or archery | Oct. 1 – Oct. 18, 2026 Nov. 14 – Dec. 31, 2026 | Statewide; public-land exceptions apply | 2 turkeys for the fall, no more than 1 per day: at most 1 with a beard 3 inches or longer and at most 1 unbearded or with a beard shorter than 3 inches.source · source |
| Fall turkey · shotgunReopens Dec. 5, 2026Shotgun, archery or crossbow | Oct. 24 – Oct. 30, 2026 Dec. 5 – Dec. 11, 2026 | Statewide; public-land exceptions apply | 2 turkeys for the fall, no more than 1 per day: at most 1 with a beard 3 inches or longer and at most 1 unbearded or with a beard shorter than 3 inches.source · source |
| Spring turkey · 2027 dates pendingCheck Kentucky Fish & WildlifeCheck Kentucky Fish & Wildlife | Check Kentucky Fish & Wildlife | Check current spring guide | Confirm the 2027 dates and bag limit.source |
SPRING 2027
Waiting for confirmed dates
The current official spring page lists 2026 dates. We have not rolled those dates forward to 2027. Check Kentucky Fish & Wildlife for the new spring publication.
Source: Kentucky Fish & Wildlife: Spring turkey (currently 2026) ↗
BEFORE YOU GO
Licenses, permits & check-in
- Confirm the hunting license, species permit, age/residency exemptions and hunter education requirements before buying or hunting.
- Get landowner permission on private land. WMAs, quota hunts and military properties can require extra permits and have different dates.
- Confirm the annual hunting license and fall turkey permit or exemptions. Short-term licenses are not valid for turkey hunting.
- Record harvest and Telecheck requirements apply. The fall limit is shared across all equipment seasons.
Kentucky license information & purchase links ↗
Source: Kentucky Fish & Wildlife: License and permit requirements ↗; 2026–27 Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide ↗; Kentucky Fish & Wildlife: Public-land hunting ↗
GET READY FOR THE WOODS
Prepare for your hunt
WHERE THESE DATES COME FROM
Official sources
Dates and limits come from the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources and current Kentucky regulations. Missing dates are marked for confirmation; we do not carry forward a previous year. We review sources weekly and review changes before updating this guide.
- Kentucky Fish & Wildlife: Fall turkey ↗
- Kentucky Fish & Wildlife: Spring turkey (currently 2026) ↗
- 2026–27 Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide ↗
Last checked: Nov. 1, 2026. Saved calendar files and printouts do not update automatically. Report a change.