The 2026 Louisiana turkey hunting season was a record-setting event as, for the first time since 2009 when harvest data was mandated, more than 4,000 birds were harvested, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) announced. The season ran from April 3-May 3 and produced 4,024 harvested birds.
The past five seasons have produced the best harvests since mandatory reporting began in 2009 and coincides with pushing the start of the season back in 2018. Based upon LDWF staff recommendations, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission pushed back the start of the season in 2018 to aid in reproduction and help increase and sustain turkey populations across the state.
The 2026 harvest is 12.5% higher than the 2025 season, in which 3,576 birds were taken. The 2024 season had 3,695 birds harvested. The 2025 season was the first in which the harvest of juvenile males, or jakes, was restricted to a bag limit of one for youth hunters only. Prior to that change 434 jakes were reported in 2024 compared to 111 in 2025 and 81 jakes reported in 2026.
“We’re pleased to see another good year of harvest and our turkey populations continue to grow,’’ LDWF Small Game/Turkey Program Manager Cody Cedotal said. “Since 2018, reported turkey harvest maintained somewhat constant until 2022 when a significant increase occurred (2,846 birds harvested). This suggests turkey populations are doing well in many areas of the state and provides additional evidence that the season change is working.’’
Much like 2024 and ‘25, the season started with above average reported harvest during youth weekend and the first two weeks of the season despite less than optimal weather. Reported turkey harvest for the last two weeks of the season also increased slightly from the previous year’s report.
“Many hunters again reported increased encounters with jakes, which is an indicator of good reproduction in some areas,’’ Cedotal said. “Similar reports were noted over the last five years.’’
Forthcoming results from the 2025/2026 Louisiana Big and Small Game Harvest Survey will allow for a comparison of estimated harvest generated from that survey and an assessment of hunter-effort for the 2026 season.
Private landowners can get assistance in upgrading turkey habitat by contacting LDWF Private Land Biologists. For more information, visit the Louisiana Private Land Management Assistance Page.
For more information on Louisiana turkey populations and hunting, go to the LDWF Turkey webpage.
