Mississippi's 2026 Turkey Season Forecast

Mississippi’s spring turkey season opens on Saturday, March 14, and runs through May 3. Young hunters aged 15 and under get an early start with a special youth season beginning March 7.

The last few years have been exceptional for Magnolia State turkey hunters. In the 2025 season, hunters harvested over 32,000 gobblers.  This number is 15% above the average compared to the previous decade.  With another strong hatch recorded during the summer of 2025, Mississippi’s turkey population is at one of its highest levels in a generation. While turkey numbers will vary from property to property, the overall forecast for the 2026 season is highly optimistic across nearly every region of the state.

Below is a region-by-region breakdown of what hunters can expect this spring:

North Mississippi

Northern Mississippi continues to boast some of the highest turkey numbers in the state, thanks to its ideal mix of hardwoods and open fields. The summer of 2024 produced one of the best hatches in the past decade, and winter sightings have been notably high. This means there should be a higher percentage of 2-year-old gobblers for hunters to pursue this season compared to last season.                                     

The Delta

Turkey populations along the Mississippi River are heavily influenced by flooding, but recent years have seen relatively stable conditions. As a result, turkey numbers behind the Mississippi River levee are as strong as they have been in a long time, with multiple properties reporting strong hatch numbers again this summer. However, the hatch numbers for the entire Delta region were considerably lower in 2024 and 2025.  Hunters should expect the majority of toms to be older birds. 

East-Central Mississippi

Since 2020, east-central Mississippi has experienced a string of solid hatches with no major downturns. As a result, turkey numbers have steadily increased, positioning this region for a strong 2026 season. Similar to northern Mississippi, hunters should expect an abundance of turkeys, with a high percentage of the toms being 2-year-olds. 

Southwest Mississippi  

Turkey populations in southwest Mississippi have surged in recent years. Since 2022, the region has experienced consecutive large hatches, and the harvest numbers have supported these observations.  Hunters should expect plenty of gobblers to chase in this region this spring. 

Southeast Mississippi

Like its southwestern counterpart, the Piney Woods of southeast Mississippi have seen a dramatic recent increase in turkey populations. The 2022 hatch was outstanding, and the 2024 and 2025 hatches have been excellent as well. Winter sightings have been high as expected, so hunters should expect an excellent season in this part of the state. 

Final Thoughts

Mississippi’s 2026 spring turkey season is shaping up to be another great one, as turkey populations have significantly rebounded in recent years. With strong turkey populations across nearly every region, hunters should have ample opportunities to experience an exciting and successful season.

For more information on Mississippi’s turkey hunting regulations, visit MDWFP’s Wild Turkey Program webpage.