Minnesota’s third-best Türkiye season on record

Minnesota turkey hunters didn’t break another state record this spring, but the 2026 season provided yet more evidence that wild turkey hunting is thriving in the North Star State.

according to Minnesota DNRHunters tagged 15,245 birds during the state’s 2026 spring turkey season, making it the third-most successful spring harvest in state history.

While the total trailed the all-time record set in 2025 by about 10%, the season still trailed the record-breaking harvests of the previous two years.

Minnesota’s top three spring turkey crops now are:

• 2025: 16,903 birds
• 2024: 16,714 birds
• 2026: 15,245 birds (initial)

The season ran from April 15 to May 31 and included youth and archery hunting opportunities throughout the state, as well as several firearms periods.

Despite cold weather and a slower pace than the historic 2025 season, Minnesota hunters were still on track for a banner year throughout the spring. According to Outdoor News, by mid-May, more than 13,500 birds had already been registered.

Wildlife officials say the continued success points to the overall health and sustainability of Minnesota’s turkey population. The state’s modern turkey restoration effort is considered one of the great wildlife comeback stories in the Upper Midwest.

Wild turkeys were almost non-existent in Minnesota until the early 1900s. The state began restoration efforts in the 1970s using birds transplanted from other states. Today, Minnesota’s turkey population is estimated at more than 70,000 birds.

Central Minnesota once again stood out as one of the strongest areas for turkey activity during the 2026 season, continuing a trend that has developed over the past several years.

Continued conservation efforts, favorable nesting conditions, and strong hunter participation have helped fuel recent success. Minnesota routinely sells 50,000 to 60,000 turkey hunting permits annually.

The latest harvest figures reinforce what many hunters across the state have already seen in the region: Minnesota continues to offer some of the best turkey hunting opportunities in the region.

Even without another record-setting year, 2026 proved that the state’s turkey population remains strong and capable of producing exceptional spring turkeys year after year.

keith lusher

Keith Lusher is an award-winning outdoor journalist who lives in Covington, Louisiana. He owns and operates NorthShoreFishingReport.com and writes a weekly outdoors column for the Slidell Independent Newspaper. He also writes for the St. Tammany Parish Tourism Commission’s VisitTheNorthshree.com. He is the former host of The Northshore Fishing Report radio show and is on the board of the Louisiana Outdoor Writers Association. Keith contributes to numerous publications both online and in print and is proud to promote the unique fisheries of South Louisiana. To contact Keith email: keithlusherjr@gmail.com