Turkey Season 2026: Spring & Fall Dates Across the Upper Midwest
Season dates, draw status, license costs, and public land access for turkey hunting in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
By the NomadPath Team · Updated April 11, 2026 · Data sourced from MN DNR, WI DNR, MI DNR, ND GFP, and SD GFP
Share this page:
DRAW ALERT — Spring 2026 Tags Already Issued
Minnesota and Wisconsin spring turkey draw deadlines have passed for 2026. If you didn’t draw a tag, walk-in OTC opportunities may still be available in select units — see the sections below for each state. Fall 2026 seasons offer another opportunity — planning begins in summer.
🔔Get alerted when fall 2026 turkey licenses go on sale.
Set Fall Turkey Alert →2026 Spring Turkey Season Dates
| State | Season Opens | Season Closes | System | Tags Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | April 15, 2026 | May 31, 2026 | Draw — 6 periods (A–F) | Tags already issued |
| Wisconsin | April 15, 2026 | May 26, 2026 | Draw — 6 periods (A–F) | Tags already issued; youth hunt April 11–12 |
| Michigan | April 22, 2026 | May 31, 2026 | Mixed — draw + OTC for some units | OTC "301" licenses for southern MI private land |
| North Dakota | April 11, 2026 | May 24, 2026 | Mixed — draw + OTC | Some units OTC |
| South Dakota | April 11, 2026 | May 31, 2026 | Mostly OTC | OTC available in most units |
Minnesota
Season Opens: April 15, 2026
Season Closes: May 31, 2026
System: Draw — 6 periods (A–F)
Tags Available: Tags already issued
Wisconsin
Season Opens: April 15, 2026
Season Closes: May 26, 2026
System: Draw — 6 periods (A–F)
Tags Available: Tags already issued; youth hunt April 11–12
Michigan
Season Opens: April 22, 2026
Season Closes: May 31, 2026
System: Mixed — draw + OTC for some units
Tags Available: OTC "301" licenses for southern MI private land
North Dakota
Season Opens: April 11, 2026
Season Closes: May 24, 2026
System: Mixed — draw + OTC
Tags Available: Some units OTC
South Dakota
Season Opens: April 11, 2026
Season Closes: May 31, 2026
System: Mostly OTC
Tags Available: OTC available in most units
All dates should be verified with your state DNR/GFP before the season.
📅 Get reminders for each turkey season period — and license-on-sale alerts.
Free, no spam.
Spring Turkey Seasons by State
MNMinnesota Spring Turkey — April 15 – May 31, 2026
System
Draw-based, six periods (Period A = earliest, Period F = latest)
Bag Limit
1 bearded bird per spring license
Weapons
Firearms (shotgun/muzzleloader), archery
Season Periods
| Period | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| A | April 15–17 | Most competitive draw; Carlos Avery and Whitewater WMAs only |
| B | April 15–21 | Statewide; early season birds most vocal |
| C | April 22–28 | Good gobbling activity mid-month |
| D | April 29–May 5 | Peak gobbling typically occurs in this window |
| E | May 6–12 | Post-peak, birds harder to call |
| F | May 13–31 | Final period; late-season birds more pressured |
Period A: April 15–17
Most competitive draw; Carlos Avery and Whitewater WMAs only
Period B: April 15–21
Statewide; early season birds most vocal
Period C: April 22–28
Good gobbling activity mid-month
Period D: April 29–May 5
Peak gobbling typically occurs in this window
Period E: May 6–12
Post-peak, birds harder to call
Period F: May 13–31
Final period; late-season birds more pressured
Draw Status: Spring 2026 licenses went on sale in March 2026. The lottery for WMA-only periods (Carlos Avery and Whitewater) had a February 13, 2026 deadline. If you didn’t draw a tag, check with the MN DNR about remaining OTC availability for certain permit areas and periods closer to the season.
License Costs
Resident spring turkey: $26·Non-resident spring turkey: $96·Base small game license (required): $22 resident / $102 non-resident
📅 Save your period dates and get a reminder before your period opens.
We'll email you 2 weeks before Period A, B, C, D, E, and F. Free, no spam.
WIWisconsin Spring Turkey — April 15 – May 26, 2026
System
Draw-based, six permit periods (A–F)
Bag Limit
1 turkey per permit
Weapons
Firearms, archery
Season Periods
| Period | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| A | April 15–19 | Most competitive draw; early season birds vocal on roost |
| B | April 20–24 | Peak gobbling activity begins statewide |
| C | April 25–29 | Mid-season; consistent gobbling through mid-morning |
| D | April 30–May 4 | Late-season peak; birds more pressured but still responsive |
| E | May 5–9 | Post-peak; call sparingly, patient setups required |
| F | May 10–26 | Final period; extended season, silent birds common |
Period A: April 15–19
Most competitive draw; early season birds vocal on roost
Period B: April 20–24
Peak gobbling activity begins statewide
Period C: April 25–29
Mid-season; consistent gobbling through mid-morning
Period D: April 30–May 4
Late-season peak; birds more pressured but still responsive
Period E: May 5–9
Post-peak; call sparingly, patient setups required
Period F: May 10–26
Final period; extended season, silent birds common
Draw Status: Wisconsin’s spring turkey draw closed December 10, 2025. 2026 tags are already in hunters’ hands. Bonus tags may become available from the WDNR as the season progresses — monitor dnr.wisconsin.gov for bonus sales.
License Costs
Resident spring turkey: ~$15·Non-resident spring turkey: ~$100
MIMichigan Spring Turkey — April 22 – May 31, 2026 (most units)
System
2026 restructured — fewer, larger Management Units. OTC "301" licenses now available for southern MI private land. Northern units remain draw-based.
Bag Limit
1 bearded turkey
Weapons
Firearms, archery
Draw Status: Draw deadline was February 1, 2026 (passed). If you missed the MI draw, the new "301" OTC license for private land in southern Michigan is a significant change for 2026 — check the MI DNR for unit-specific availability.
License Costs
Resident turkey: ~$15·Non-resident turkey: ~$150
NDNorth Dakota Spring Turkey — April 11 – May 24, 2026 (varies by unit)
System
Mixed — draw units and OTC units
Bag Limit
1 turkey
Weapons
Firearms, archery
Draw Status: OTC units available in central and western ND prairie units. ND small game license + turkey license required.
License Costs
Resident turkey: ~$15·Non-resident turkey: ~$85
SDSouth Dakota Spring Turkey — April 11 – May 31, 2026
System
Mostly OTC — one of the easiest states to secure a spring tag
Bag Limit
1 turkey (spring)
Weapons
Firearms, archery
Draw Status: Over-the-counter tags mean no planning pressure — buy a license and go.
License Costs
Resident turkey: ~$15·Non-resident turkey: ~$75
Track turkey season dates across all 5 states
NomadPath tracks season dates, public land access, and regulation changes for turkey hunting across the Upper Midwest.
Start FreeFall Turkey Seasons
MNMinnesota
Dates: October 3 – November 1, 2026 (select permit areas only)
Bag limit: 1 turkey of either sex. Fall turkey overlaps with early deer archery — a good multi-species trip option. Not all permit areas are open for fall turkey. Check MN DNR for your specific area.
WIWisconsin
Dates: Varies by Wildlife Management Zone
Wisconsin offers a fall turkey season in select Wildlife Management Zones. Dates and availability vary significantly by unit. Check the WDNR season dates page for fall 2026 specifics when published (typically by August).
MIMichigan
Dates: Varies by unit
Michigan offers fall turkey seasons in most units.
NDNorth Dakota
Dates: Varies by unit
North Dakota’s turkey population is most concentrated in the river breaks of the Missouri River Valley, the Pembina Hills (northeast), and scattered oak savanna habitat in eastern ND.
SDSouth Dakota
Dates: Varies
Eastern SD (Meade County, Custer State Park area, Black Hills foothills) has excellent turkey populations.
Public Land Access
MNMinnesota
Minnesota’s 1,400+ Wildlife Management Areas are open to turkey hunting. Key WMAs with turkey: Carlos Avery (Anoka Co.), Whitewater WMA (Winona Co.), Lac qui Parle WMA (Lac qui Parle Co.), and Mille Lacs WMA.
WIWisconsin
Wisconsin state forests, county forests, and national forests provide extensive public turkey hunting access.
MIMichigan
State forests and national forests (Huron, Manistee, Ottawa, Hiawatha) provide extensive access.
NDNorth Dakota
PLOTS (Private Land Open to Sportsmen) acres, national grasslands, and WMAs provide access.
SDSouth Dakota
Walk-In Areas, national grasslands, and state recreation areas provide public access.
Unlock Public Land Maps & Stocking Data
- ●Daily stocking reports across 5 states
- ●Season dates & regulations updated daily
- ●Public land overlays with zone boundaries
Spring Turkey Hunting Tips
01 Hunt the first hour hard
Spring gobblers are most vocal from first light through 8–9 AM when hens move off the roost. Position yourself within 100–150 yards of a roost you’ve located in pre-season scouting. Don’t call aggressively until the bird pitches down — let him work to you.
02 Learn three calls, not ten
Yelp, cluck, and purr cover 90% of spring turkey hunting scenarios. A box call or slate call is more consistent for beginners than a diaphragm. Use calls sparingly — Upper Midwest birds that have been pressured since Period A will shut down at aggressive calling.
03 Decoys: yes, but simple
A single hen decoy (feeding or upright posture) works in most early-season scenarios. Jake decoys can trigger dominant toms but may spook subordinate birds. By Period D or later in the season, birds have seen every decoy spread imaginable — sometimes no decoy outperforms a spread.
04 Scout before you hunt
Turkey follow the same travel corridors year after year. Locate roost trees (large conifers or hardwoods near ag fields or oak ridges), identify strut zones (field edges, ridgelines, open woods), and mark food sources. An evening scouting session the night before produces gobblers at dawn.
05 Blaze orange on public land
Minnesota requires a blaze orange safety covering on ground blinds on public land. Many hunters also wear orange while walking in and out. Always know what’s beyond your target before calling a bird in close.
Also Planning to Fish This Spring?
Spring fishing openers land on the same weekend as the closing turkey periods \u2014 many hunters double up:
- →
Minnesota fishing opener is May 9 — same weekend as turkey period D ends
Fishing Opener Guide - →
Walleye opener guide for MN & WI with top lakes
Walleye Opener Guide
Planning Your Season
- →
Check which permit area you’re in and what periods are available
View MN Hunting Seasons - →
Breeding biology, calling science, and dominance behavior
wild turkey biology and calling guide - →
Fall turkey season dates for your state
Jump to fall season dates - →
Public land access for turkey hunting in your area
Jump to public land section
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When does turkey season open in Minnesota in 2026?
Minnesota’s spring turkey season runs April 15 through May 31, 2026, divided into six draw periods (A through F). The fall turkey season runs October 3 through November 1 in select permit areas.
Q: Is it too late to get a spring turkey tag in Minnesota for 2026?
The main lottery deadline has passed. Check with the MN DNR for any remaining OTC availability in specific permit areas. Fall 2026 tags will be available separately — NomadPath can alert you when fall licenses go on sale.
Q: When does Wisconsin turkey season open in 2026?
Wisconsin’s spring turkey season runs April 15 through May 26, 2026, with a youth hunt on April 11–12. Tags are draw-based and were issued following the December 2025 draw. Bonus tags may become available from WDNR during the season.
Q: Which Upper Midwest states offer over-the-counter spring turkey tags?
South Dakota offers OTC spring turkey tags in most units — one of the easiest states to secure a tag. North Dakota has OTC units in central and western prairie areas. Michigan introduced OTC licenses for private land in southern units for 2026. Minnesota and Wisconsin are fully draw-based.
Q: What is the bag limit for spring turkey in Minnesota?
One bearded turkey per spring license in Minnesota. You may purchase one spring turkey license per season, allowing one bird.
Q: What do I need to turkey hunt in Minnesota?
You need a Minnesota small game license ($22 resident / $102 non-resident) plus a spring turkey license ($26 resident / $96 non-resident). You must also have completed hunter education if born after December 31, 1979. Register your harvested turkey within 24 hours online or by phone.
When does turkey season open in Minnesota in 2026?
Minnesota’s spring turkey season runs April 15 through May 31, 2026, divided into six draw periods (A through F). The fall turkey season runs October 3 through November 1 in select permit areas.
Is it too late to get a spring turkey tag in Minnesota for 2026?
The main lottery deadline has passed. Check with the MN DNR for any remaining OTC availability in specific permit areas. Fall 2026 tags will be available separately — NomadPath can alert you when fall licenses go on sale.
When does Wisconsin turkey season open in 2026?
Wisconsin’s spring turkey season runs April 15 through May 26, 2026, with a youth hunt on April 11–12. Tags are draw-based and were issued following the December 2025 draw. Bonus tags may become available from WDNR during the season.
Which Upper Midwest states offer over-the-counter spring turkey tags?
South Dakota offers OTC spring turkey tags in most units — one of the easiest states to secure a tag. North Dakota has OTC units in central and western prairie areas. Michigan introduced OTC licenses for private land in southern units for 2026. Minnesota and Wisconsin are fully draw-based.
What is the bag limit for spring turkey in Minnesota?
One bearded turkey per spring license in Minnesota. You may purchase one spring turkey license per season, allowing one bird.
What do I need to turkey hunt in Minnesota?
You need a Minnesota small game license ($22 resident / $102 non-resident) plus a spring turkey license ($26 resident / $96 non-resident). You must also have completed hunter education if born after December 31, 1979. Register your harvested turkey within 24 hours online or by phone.
Ready to Plan?
FREE — forever
Get season-date alerts, public-land maps, and regulation-change notifications for your states. No credit card. No trial.
Start FreePRO — $10/month
Add fast-fire alerts, daily stocking notifications, and trip planning across all 5 states. Cancel anytime.
See Pro FeaturesFree forever — no credit card required
Planning a multi-state turkey trip? NomadPath tracks season dates across all 5 states in one place.
View All Seasons →