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NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) has released the statistics from the recently concluded 2024 spring wild turkey hunting season. The total reported harvest was 31,647, marking a decrease of 155 birds (1 percent) from the 2023 season and a 5 percent decrease from the previous five-year average of 33,202.

As in previous years, the youth and opening weekends saw high harvest numbers. “This year, we started off with a strong harvest but again it dropped sharply as the season progressed,” said Roger Shields, TWRA Wild Turkey Program Coordinator. “The steep drop-off in harvest that followed exceptional opening weekends was likely due in part to the two-bird bag limit in place again this year where people had filled their bag limit and could not continue hunting.”

A total of 25,479 hunters reported harvesting at least one turkey, which is 12 percent higher than the five-year average of successful hunters. Of these hunters, 76 percent harvested one turkey, while 24 percent harvested two. The reported harvest included 28,830 gobblers, 2,534 jakes, and 161 bearded hens.

Middle Tennessee (TWRA Region II) and West Tennessee (TWRA Region I) saw increases in harvests. Region II reported 11,961 turkeys harvested, an increase of 255 from last year. Region I had 8,304 harvests, an increase of 472 from 2023. In contrast, the Upper Cumberland (Region III) reported 5,860 harvests, a decline of 297, and East Tennessee (Region IV) had 5,567 harvests, 583 less than last year.

The 2025 spring turkey season is scheduled for April 12-May 25, with the Young Sportsman Hunt set for the weekend of April 5-6.

For more information, contact the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.