The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) would like to remind hunters that the take of juvenile male turkeys (jakes) is prohibited except for properly licensed youth 17 and under, who may only take one per season.

A jake is defined as having a beard less than six inches and a spur less than 0.5 inch.

Adult hunters may take one adult gobbler (male turkey) per day and two per season. An adult gobbler is defined by having one of the following: Wing feathers that have white barring all the way to the tip, tail feathers that are the same length, beard that is longer than six inches or a spur that is at least 0.5 inch long.

The Louisiana turkey season begins Saturday (April) 5.

Turkey hunting in Area A runs from April 5-May 4, Area B from April 5-27 and Area C from April 5-20.

Turkey hunters are required to have a basic hunting license and wild turkey license, or an equivalent combination. A youth hunting license and turkey tags are required for those 17 or younger hunting turkey. To purchase a hunting license, go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/hunting-licenses-permits-tags.

Prior to hunting turkey, all turkey hunters, regardless of age or license status, must obtain turkey tags. They must have the tags in their possession while hunting turkey, and immediately after harvesting a turkey, tag the turkey before moving it from where it was killed. Hunters must record required information for tagged turkeys and validate tags within 72 hours of harvesting a turkey. To obtain turkey tags and to validate tags online, go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/turkey-tags.

Many LDWF Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) offer turkey hunting during the season, including, but not limited to, Fort Johnson-Vernon, Fort Johnson North, Clear Creek, Bodcau, Big Lake and Tunica Hills WMAs. However, turkey season is closed on some WMAs, including Richard K. Yancey and Sherburne WMAs.

For a complete list of WMAs open to turkey hunting and more information on WMA turkey hunting, go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/assets/Resources/Publications/Regulations/2024-2025-Hunting-Regulations.pdf.

All visitors to LDWF WMAs must have either a WMA Access Permit, Senior Hunting/Fishing License, Louisiana Sportsman’s Paradise License or Lifetime Hunting/Fishing License. Go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/wmarefugeconservation-area-licenses-and-permits for more information.

For more information on turkey hunting in Louisiana, go to https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/subhome/turkey or contact LDWF Small Game/Wild Turkey Program Manager Cody Cedotal at ccedotal@wlf.la.gov.