Turkey - In the Field
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Video: Turkey Hunting Colorado
In the Field
Turkey hunting is growing in popularity throughout North America, and Colorado offers exceptional hunting opportunities for two sub-species of these remarkable birds.
In this video, hunters will learn safety tips, techniques and strategies for hunting both the native Merriam’s wild turkeys of the mountains and the Rio Grande wild turkeys of the Plains.
Turkey Hunting Laws
Legal hunting hours for turkey are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Global Monitoring Laboratory website to pinpoint the sunrise/sunset time for your hunting location.
- Post, sign or indicate that public lands (except if under an exclusive control lease) are private.
- Hunt on private land without first obtaining permission from landowner or person in charge.
- Hunt on state trust lands (STLs) without permission of lessee, except those open for wildlife recreation.
- Have a loaded round in the chamber of a rifle or shotgun in or on any motor vehicle.
- Shoot from or use a motor vehicle, motorcycle, off-highway vehicle, snowmobile or aircraft to hunt, intercept, chase, harass or drive wildlife.
- Hunt under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances.
- Use any artificial light as an aid in hunting wildlife.
- Fail to reasonably dress, care for and prepare edible wildlife meat for human consumption. Internal organs are not considered edible portions.
- Party hunt: harvest someone else’s game or let someone harvest yours.
- Use recorded or electronically amplified calls.
- Use bait to hunt turkeys. Baiting is placing or scattering salt, mineral, grain or other feed to attract wildlife.
- Erect permanent blinds or tree stands on state wildlife areas (SWAs). Only portable blinds or tree stands may be erected on SWAs. These must be removed at the end of the day that they are used. No nails may be driven into trees. The hunter's Customer Identification number (CID) and dates of use must be visible on the outside of blinds or underside of stands. Placement of blinds or stands does not reserve them for personal use; they may be used by the public on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Use the internet or other computer-assisted remote technology while hunting or fishing. This includes unmanned or remote-control drones used to look for wildlife. Hunters must be physically in the immediate vicinity while hunting or fishing.
- Use live-action game cameras to locate, surveil, or aid or assist in locating or surveiling game wildlife in order to take/try to take game wildlife during the same or following day. “Live-action game camera” is any device capable of recording and transmitting photographic/ video data wirelessly to a remote device (such as a computer or smart phone). This doesn’t include game cameras that record photographic/ video data and store such data for later use, as long as the device cannot transmit data wirelessly.
Bag and possession limit for each season
- 2 Bearded turkeys in the spring. One must be taken with a limited license, the other must be taken with an over-the-counter license.
- 1 Either-Sex turkey in the fall.
- 2 Beardless turkeys in the late season.
- After harvesting a turkey, hunters must immediately detach, sign and date the carcass tag (bottom section of license) and attach it to the animal. Tags must stay attached while the carcass is transported, in camp, in storage or in your possession.
- If the carcass tag is accidentally detached from the license, lost or destroyed, you must get a duplicate before hunting and prove the loss, detachment or destruction was accidental. Duplicates can be obtained by furnishing proof of accidental detachment, loss or destruction to a CPW area office.
- Shotguns, including muzzleloading shotguns: maximum 10-gauge allowed and cannot be capable of holding more than three shells in the magazine and chamber combined. Shotguns capable of holding more than three shells must be plugged. Shot must be size #2 (lead or steel) or smaller. Single slugs are illegal.
- Hand-Held Bows
- Crossbows
- Rifles and Handguns:
- Spring Season: Rifles and handguns are illegal.
- Fall And Late Seasons Only: Rifles and handguns can be muzzleloading, centerfire or rim fire, and bullets must be a minimum 17 grains with manufacturer’s energy rating of at least 110 foot-pounds at 100 yards from muzzle.
- Air Guns, precharged pneumatic air guns .25 caliber or larger, during the fall or late season ONLY.
Note: Turkeys can be taken over standing crops or feed scattered solely for agricultural purposes.
Note: Artificial decoys and manual calls are permitted. Recorded or electronically amplified calls are illegal.
A turkey harvested in the spring must have its beard naturally attached while being transported. The beard is at the base of the turkey’s neck.
Video: Turkey Hunting Blind & Decoy Placement
Tools, Tips and Tactics
Turkey Hunting Blind & Decoy Placement
Whether you're heading to the mountains for Merriam's turkeys or the plains for Rios turkeys, having the right gear and knowing effective tactics are the key to finding success.
This video provides a basic overview of turkey hunting blind and decoy placement.
Know Before You Go
Road Closures
The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) are in charge of road closures. Roads are closed seasonally for many reasons. Some roads are closed to protect wildlife at critical times of the year; others are closed because they are not passable due to snow, snow drifts and ice or to protect the road bed. Please be aware that road closure information is subject to change daily.
Fire Restrictions and Prescribed Burns
Colorado is a high wildfire area, and there are often fire restriction and/or bans around the state. Some planned, or prescribed, burns occur during hunting seasons, which can lead to road closures. Closures of areas can change quickly (even daily or hourly) and your hunting destination or access route may be affected. Prior to license purchase, scouting or hunting, learn about closures and plan alternative routes and areas to hunt.
Firewood
If you’ll be camping during your hunting trip, please help protect our forests by buying your firewood in Colorado. Firewood can spread harmful insect pests and diseases such as emerald ash borer, sirex wood wasp, gypsy moth, Asian longhorned beetle and oak wilt disease. If you have firewood from another state, please burn it immediately. For more information, visit our Invasive Species pages or contact the Colorado Department of Agriculture at (303) 239-4140.
Altitude Sickness
Learn about altitude sickness: what it is, the symptoms, how to lessen your chances of being affected, and treatments. The lowest point in Colorado is 3,317 feet above sea level, so altitude sickness can affect you even if you aren't venturing into Colorado's high country.
Information to Leave for Friends and Family
Each member of the hunting party should provide contact information, a schedule with planned locations, and other information that can be used to locate the person to their family or friends. Instruct family members and/or friends on the procedure to follow should it be necessary to contact you in an emergency.
Register Your Off Highway Vehicle
All off-highway vehicles operated in Colorado on public lands or traveling on an OHV-designated route must have a valid Colorado OHV registration or permit. Vehicle use is limited to transporting hunters and downed game.
Find out moreColorado Turkey Hunting Brochures
Colorado Turkey Hunting Brochure
Be sure to read the “What’s New” pages to see a full list of changes on tap for the upcoming hunting seasons.
Download the Brochure
You Can Help Stop Poaching
If you see a poaching incident, report it. Look at it this way: if you saw someone breaking into your neighbor's house, would you just stand by and watch? Of course not; you would report it. Poaching is a crime against you, your neighbor, and everyone else in the state of Colorado. Call 1-877-COLO-OGT toll-free or Verizon cell phone users can simply dial #OGT.