05/11/2026
It was a record-breaking spring turkey season in the Commonwealth, with the highest turkey harvest we have ever had!
With 36,428 turkeys harvested across the state…
• Total harvest was up 18.8% from last year’s total (30,661) and up 13.9% from the 5-year average.
• Public land harvest was up 25% over the five-year average.
Although every region’s total harvest increased from last year, the Purchase Region boasted the highest growth.
Why the Purchase Region specifically? Well, in 2024, there was a cicada emergence that boosted turkey reproductive success, resulting in increased numbers of 2-year-old birds.
This is GREAT news for Kentuckians!
Because if you recall, central Kentucky and eastern Kentucky folks, you all experienced a large cicada emergence last year, meaning it could result in high numbers of jakes this year and 2-year-old birds next year, just as it did in the western part of the state!
Congrats to all of our hunters, we are already counting down the days until next season!
