The U.S. State With Nearly 500,000 Wild Turkeys Roaming Free

Wild turkeys are one of the most successful wildlife recovery stories in the United States. After declining sharply in the early 20th century due to overhunting and habitat loss, populations have rebounded dramatically thanks to decades of conservation work. Today, these birds can be found across forests, farmland, and even suburban areas, with some states supporting populations in the hundreds of thousands.

In this 24/7 Tempo slideshow, we use data from the National Wild Turkey Federation's 2024 Spring Hunt Guide along with reports from state wildlife agencies to explore where turkeys are most abundant and why they've thrived. From the dense forests of the Southeast to the open landscapes of the Midwest, these states highlight how habitat management, regulated hunting, and long-term conservation efforts have helped restore one of America's most recognizable game birds.

There are estimated to be 45,000 wild turkeys located in Maryland, based on 2024 population studies. Maryland's turkey population was restored through decades of "trap-and-transfer" projects, robust habitat management, and research on survival and harvest rates—like the recent banding of over 250 gobblers and GPS monitoring of 85 birds. Conservation efforts led by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and partners continue to monitor populations and promote healthy forests, which are essential to sustaining turkey numbers throughout the state. This equals approximately 3.63 turkeys per square mile.

There are 40,000 – 50,000 wild turkeys located in Louisiana. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries leads annual poult production surveys and manages extensive research projects to monitor turkey trends. Population recovery is credited to a focus on timber management, controlled burns, and strategic restocking efforts. Recent surveys indicate a rebound, with the 2024 harvest up over 30% from 2023 after previous years of decline. This equals approximately 0.86 to 0.95 turkeys per square mile.

There are 45,000 wild turkeys located in Vermont. Conservation success comes from decades of regulated management, including relocation of wild birds and careful habitat work. State biologists conduct seasonal brood and harvest surveys, and populations are considered stable, with more than 5,000 birds harvested each spring. Ongoing education and sustainable hunting ensure consistent numbers across Vermont. This equals approximately 4.68 turkeys per square mile.

There are 45,000 wild turkeys located in Oregon. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife uses data from brood surveys, hunter reports, and scientific research to guide habitat projects, prescribe hunting regulations, and monitor turkey success rates. In 2024, state wildlife managers report strong populations and early breeding. Most birds are in southwestern Oregon, but populations are expanding due to habitat improvements and translocations. This equals approximately 0.46 turkeys per square mile.

There are 45,000 wild turkeys located in New Hampshire. Statewide restoration was achieved after birds were reintroduced in the 1970s; the population now ranges from 45,000–50,000, with seasonal surveys conducted to monitor trends in production. Hunters play a key role by reporting harvests and participating in brood surveys, helping the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department manage for a healthy population. This equals approximately 4.81 turkeys per square mile.

There are 50,000 wild turkeys located in Idaho. Conservation efforts include annual brood surveys, trap-and-transfer initiatives, and an active Turkey Tracker project that encourages public participation in monitoring. Idaho Fish and Game also collaborates with universities and private landowners for research and habitat projects aimed at supporting growing populations in forest and mountain habitats. This equals approximately 0.60 turkeys per square mile.

There are 70,000 wild turkeys located in Maine. Absent for nearly a century, the population was rebuilt via releases in the 1970s and subsequent habitat conservation. Today, annual public observation programs help biologists monitor turkey production and distribution. Maine's turkey population is now widespread and considered abundant, thanks to sustainable hunting and careful habitat management. This equals approximately 1.98 turkeys per square mile.

Minnesota's comeback flock now tops __70,000__ birds, following one of the Midwest's great restoration success stories. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) oversees health monitoring, habitat improvements, and manages both spring and fall hunting. Citizen science, rural partnerships, and hunting revenue have fostered continued turkey expansion, with ongoing research on disease and brood success. This equals approximately 0.81 turkeys per square mile.

There are around 90,000 wild turkeys located in Oklahoma. The state is the focus of a comprehensive 4.5-year research project (2022–2026) tracking turkey genetics, nesting, and brood survival. The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation adapts hunting regulations to address localized declines in recent years, striving for population stability via habitat management and research partnerships with the NWTF. This equals approximately 1.29 turkeys per square mile.

There are 90,000 wild turkeys located in South Carolina, though populations have faced multi-year declines due to low poult recruitment. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources releases annual legislative reports and coordinates spring harvest surveys. Conservation efforts include continued habitat improvement, adjusting hunting regulations, and public education to reverse downward trends and encourage wild turkey recovery. This equals approximately 2.81 turkeys per square mile.

There are 90,000 wild turkeys located in Arkansas. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) is working to slow and reverse the decline through habitat projects, annual harvest and poult-per-hen surveys, and promoting early successional forests. Population trends appear to be showing early signs of improvement, with increases in harvest over the past few years. This equals approximately 1.69 turkeys per square mile.

There are 120,000 wild turkeys located in Montana, spread across roughly two-thirds of the state. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, along with federal agencies, maintain habitat restoration programs, monitor harvests, and support local conservation projects that benefit not only turkeys but broader wildlife communities. Ongoing partnerships ensure stable yet closely-watched numbers. This equals approximately 0.82 turkeys per square mile.

There are just over 120,000 wild turkeys located in West Virginia. The Division of Natural Resources conducts a comprehensive Big Game Bulletin with population and harvest metrics, and has launched a four-year research study to track trends and inform future management strategies. While harvests decreased slightly in 2024, habitat conservation and regulated hunting remain central to WV's robust turkey management. This equals approximately 5.04 turkeys per square mile.

There are 125,000 wild turkeys located in Indiana. Reintroduction success is due to decades of habitat recovery and annual trap-and-transfer programs led by the DNR. In 2024, Indiana sold more than 27,000 turkey licenses with a 31% hunter success rate and continued investments in monitoring, research, and habitat improvement ensure populations remain stable across the state's counties. This equals approximately 3.43 turkeys per square mile.

There are 130,000 wild turkeys located in Iowa per the 2024 survey, though researchers note recent declines in nests and poult survival. Statewide trap-and-transfer efforts (1965–2001) were essential for rebuilding flocks. Ongoing research targets brood success and habitat needs to address numbers that have dropped in some regions. This equals approximately 2.31 turkeys per square mile.

There are 160,000 wild turkeys located in Ohio. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources monitors annual poult production and utilizes hunter harvest and reporting data to gauge population health, recently noting a slight increase in average poults per hen over a four-year period. Ongoing habitat work and adaptive regulations have sustained a steady turkey population across the state. This equals approximately 3.57 turkeys per square mile.

There are 170,000 wild turkeys located in New York, with the Department of Environmental Conservation conducting summer poult surveys and spring harvest monitoring. Current populations are considered low but stable. Restoration efforts in the 20th century and continued habitat management are fundamental to sustaining healthy numbers. Hunters and citizen scientists support these efforts by reporting sightings each summer. This equals approximately 3.12 turkeys per square mile.

There are 180,000 wild turkeys located in Virginia, per recent state wildlife data. Virginia's 2024 Spring Gobbler Harvest Summary reported nearly 22,000 turkeys taken—a 10% decrease stemming from regional population concerns. Conservation projects, harvest monitoring, and a new management plan address population challenges while ensuring hunting sustainability through careful season and bag limit adjustments. This equals approximately 4.21 turkeys per square mile.

There are about 200,000 wild turkeys roaming the Great Lakes State—a true restoration triumph after previous extirpation. Michigan's DNR leads annual harvest and brood surveys, provides educational outreach, and partners with national organizations for continued habitat expansion and upland restoration. Population estimates remain stable, with spring and limited fall hunts sustaining conservation momentum. This equals approximately 2.07 turkeys per square mile.

There are 250,000 wild turkeys located in Tennessee. The state's TWRA monitors annual production through hunter surveys and supports multi-state research on turkey survival, harvest, and disease. More than 669 birds have been banded since 2021 for tracking purposes, and the agency closely studies harvest and nesting trends to ensure sustainable populations and adapt regulations as needed. This equals approximately 5.94 turkeys per square mile.

There are 270,000 wild turkeys located in North Carolina. Restoration efforts released over 6,000 turkeys at 358 sites over decades, helping reestablish self-sustaining populations in every county. The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission uses annual harvest and observation surveys, habitat management, and research to maintain healthy turkey numbers. In 2024, a record 24,000+ turkeys were harvested, reflecting a thriving, well-managed population. This equals approximately 5.02 turkeys per square mile.

There are 270,000 wild turkeys located in Mississippi. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks coordinates a robust production monitoring effort, with the Spring Gobbler Hunter Survey and other programs. After a string of strong hatches, the state's population in 2024 is among the highest in a generation, though densities still lag behind historical highs. Ongoing habitat and research investments remain crucial. This equals approximately 5.58 turkeys per square mile.

There are 275,000 wild turkeys located in Kentucky, though state wildlife reports estimate the spring 2024 population at nearly 400,000 birds. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources supports annual brood and harvest surveys, invests in over $60,000 per year in habitat projects, and runs educational outreach to sustain one of the largest turkey populations in the nation. This equals approximately 6.80 turkeys per square mile.

There are 300,000 wild turkeys located in California. The state's population, which may peak at 400,000, is supported by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's ongoing habitat management, prescribed burns, and research with the National Wild Turkey Federation. The last decade saw major expansion, but continued land management is crucial to offset localized declines or habitat loss. This equals approximately 1.83 turkeys per square mile.

The Badger State supports [__350,000 +__ turkeys](https://spectrumnews1.com/wi/milwaukee/news/2020/11/24/how-wisconsin-s-wild-turkeys-got-their-gobble-back/). The Department of Natural Resources runs annual GPS tracking studies, banding, and extensive spring harvest surveys—2024 saw 50,435 birds harvested, the 4th highest season on record. Conservation priorities include optimizing public and private habitat and ongoing research to ensure resilience amid environmental changes. This equals approximately 5.35 turkeys per square mile.

There are 365,000 wild turkeys located in Alabama, per the 2024 Southeast population estimate (recent state estimates place it somewhat lower at 325,000). The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources collects extensive harvest and observation data from tens of thousands of turkey hunters and funds ongoing habitat and disease research to ensure sustainable populations. However, the state has experienced recent declines and is adapting strategies accordingly. This equals approximately 6.96 turkeys per square mile.

There are 400,000 wild turkeys located in Missouri, though the most recent spring report counted just over 127,000 active hunters and several years of stable population indices based on statewide surveys. The Missouri Department of Conservation uses brood surveys, habitat restoration, and adaptive management of hunting seasons to maintain numbers and address downward trends. Volunteers and landowners are crucial partners in the conservation network. This equals approximately 5.74 turkeys per square mile.

There are 451,000 wild turkeys in Texas, the most of any state according to 2024 estimates—though some agency data places the Rio Grande turkey population alone as high as 600,000 at its peak. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department monitors turkey populations annually with survey data and mandatory harvest reporting. More than 95% of suitable Rio Grande range is occupied, with ongoing habitat projects, community science, and research into hybrid and rare subspecies distribution across Texas. This equals approximately 1.68 turkeys per square mile.