Turkey hunters will take to the woods for Nebraska’s spring shotgun season April 18. They can expect a season consistent with the past five years, according to Carlie Gizel, wild turkey program manager for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Statewide spring population indices indicated an 18% increase from 2024 to 2025. Regionally, the average number of turkeys observed increased from 2024 in all regions except the Sandhills and Northeast.
Gizel said that while overall turkey numbers are slightly higher, hunters might see fewer younger birds, which is reflected in the summer turkey brood surveys. These surveys estimate annual hens’ production and poult survival through the summer brood rearing period. Heavy spring rains in May and June last year may have contributed to reduced production, as young turkey poults are more susceptible to wet and cold conditions during these months.
Gizel said that statewide production in 2025 was relatively good. For local estimates, read the 2025 Nebraska Turkey Brood Survey Report at OutdoorNebraska.gov. Search “Wildlife Surveys.”
Spring turkey hunting season with shotguns opened for youths April 11. The season has been open to all archers since March 25, with all spring seasons closing May 31.
While the Panhandle is a popular destination among nonresident turkey hunters, Gizel said the hunting pressure might be lighter later in the season, and certainly heavier on public land during weekends. She said the Southeast region had the lowest nonresident harvest rate last year, so hunters might consider wildlife management areas and other public access opportunities in that region. Hunters also shouldn’t discount the regions that saw drops in turkey observation numbers. Many hunters may assume they are not worth hunting, leaving them with low hunting pressure.
Gizel reminds hunters that all turkey harvests must be reported via Telecheck, and that mechanical turkey decoys may not emit sound.
Because drought conditions persist across Nebraska, hunters should:
- Restrict driving to established roads and trails.
- Avoid parking vehicles in tall vegetation.
- Dispose of cigarettes and other flammable objects appropriately.
- Ensure their vehicle, trailers, and other equipment are well-maintained.
- Make sure no chains are dragging from your vehicle.
- In the morning, before driving and while the exhaust/catalytic converter system is cool, inspect it to see no debris is clinging to it.
- Fully extinguish any campfire before leaving it unattended.
- Driving vehicles or parking on dry, tall grass is a primary threat. Grass can ignite within seconds of contacting a hot surface, such as a vehicle’s exhaust/catalytic converter systems. Campers and hunters should carry a shovel, bucket, and a fire extinguisher in their vehicle or camper to put out unintended flames.
Hunters will find a resource in the Public Access Atlas, which identifies and consolidates Nebraska’s public access opportunities for the benefit of hunters, trappers and anglers. It displays more than 1.2 million acres of publicly accessible lands across Nebraska, including state, federal, and conservation partner lands as well as privately owned lands enrolled in the Open Fields and Waters program.
Hunters are urged to avoid OFW sites and WMAs affected by the recent wildfires in Lincoln, Dawson, Keith, Arthur, Morrill, Garden and Cherry counties; there is no public access until further notice. For more information on affected properties, refer to our interactive Public Access Atlas. See it at OutdoorNebraska.gov/parks/park-faqs/safety/closures-and-safety-advisories/.
For more information on turkey hunting in Nebraska visit OutdoorNebraska.gov.
Visit Game and Parks’ permitting site GoOutdoorsNE.com or a permitting office to purchase permits.
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