With spring turkey season opening on Apr. 18 across Michigan, new rules and a new mandatory turkey harvest reporting requirement will be in effect.

Here are some more details from the Michigan DNR:

REPORTING A HARVEST

Starting this year, all successful turkey hunters must report their harvest within 72 hours of harvest or before transferring possession of the bird, whichever comes first. Harvests can be reported online via Michigan.gov/DNRHarvestReport or through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Hunt Fish mobile app.

“Mandatory harvest reporting gives us a clearer picture of turkey harvest across the state and helps ensure sustainable turkey populations for the future,” said Adam Bump, the DNR's upland game bird specialist. “It also allows hunters to see near real-time harvest information as the season progresses.”

Hunters must use the unique license number printed on their paper kill tag or listed with their electronic kill tag (eHarvest tag) to report a harvest. Once the report is submitted, hunters will receive a confirmation number. Hunters using an electronic tag must also validate the harvest in the app immediately after harvest.

You can transport your own and another person’s lawfully taken game. You cannot transport or possess a turkey unless a validated kill tag is attached to the leg of the turkey or you have validated your eHarvest tag. You cannot destroy the identity or evidence of the sex of a turkey while in the field or when transported in a motor vehicle.

NEW MANAGMENT & LICENSE RULES

Another major change this year involves the number of turkey management units. The DNR has reduced the number of spring TMUs from 14 to three. In the Northern Lower Peninsula (Hunt 0134 in Unit NN), the season will run April 18-May 1 with a 18,000 license quota. This will be valid on public and private lands. There is also a statewide spring turkey hunt (Hunt 0234) from May 2-31 with unlimited licenses. This license allows hunters to pursue spring turkey across the majority of the state.

Leftover licenses are available for each spring turkey hunt period until the end of the respective period or until quotas are reached. Unlimited licenses are available for Hunt 0234 and Hunt 0301 through May 31. Check available licenses on the DNR’s Licenses & Permits webpage.

The mentored youth license is a license package that allows youth hunters 9 years old and younger to hunt turkey with a qualified mentor. The spring turkey license issued with the mentored youth license is valid for one bearded turkey in any open spring turkey management unit on public or private land.

In another change for the spring turkey season, hunters ages 10 to 16 may now purchase a spring turkey youth license until the end of the season on May 31. This license allows the harvest of one bearded turkey on public or private land within any open spring TMU and season dates. You must have permission from the landowner to hunt on private property. Youth licenses do not require an application.

Season dates, license quotas, harvest reporting requirements and additional details are available here: 2026 Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations Summary.

_{Release information and photo courtesy of Michigan DNR.}