Wild Turkey Harvest Reporting Begins Fall 2022
Photo courtesy of Larry Stephens
New Wild Turkey Harvest Reporting Requirement
Starting with the 2022 fall turkey season, hunters will be required to log and report wild turkeys harvested in Florida. This harvest reporting requirement will apply to spring and fall wild turkey seasons.
At the March 2022 meeting, the Commission approved rule amendments for the 2022-23 hunting seasons, including rules that require reporting harvested wild turkeys. This harvest reporting requirement takes effect with the 2022 fall turkey season and applies to spring and fall wild turkey seasons.
Beginning in the fall of 2022, all hunters are required to: a) log their harvested wild turkey prior to moving it from the point where they located their harvest and b) report it within 24 hours of being harvested using the same FWC harvest reporting options used by deer hunters: paper harvest log, telephone, website or mobile app.
Data obtained from harvest reporting will provide biologists with valuable information about the number of wild turkeys harvested during spring and fall seasons. It also will provide data about when wild turkeys are being harvested and from what county or wildlife management area.
About the Rulemaking Process
Rule change proposals are based on requests from staff, cooperators and stakeholders. The FWC seeks input on proposed changes throughout the rulemaking process to achieve regulations based on hunter preference and sound science to ensure sustainability. Learn more about the rulemaking process. See other approved rule amendments for 2022-2023 hunting seasons.
FAQs About Wild Turkey Harvest Reporting
A harvest reporting system fosters bag limit compliance and gives the FWC another source of wild turkey harvest data. The FWC will continue to conduct its annual phone survey with turkey hunters after the spring season ends.
It's been shown that voluntary reporting of game harvests does not provide meaningful data for species management decisions. It also does not support bag limit enforcement.
The confirmation number received upon successfully reporting a harvested wild turkey will provide a mechanism to recognize and track legally harvested wild turkeys.
Issuing physical harvest tags is unnecessary because the act of logging a harvested wild turkey produces a virtual tag, which has the same impact as a physical tag.
Most hunters support providing information that advances game wildlife management. Harvest reporting will provide real time data on when and what county or wildlife management area turkey harvest is occurring as well as the sex and age class of the harvest. This information is a valuable addition to the FWC's post-season phone survey in managing Florida's wild turkey population.
County-level turkey harvest, harvest timing (within season and time of day), fall season harvest, private land harvest, public land harvest from all wildlife management areas, and sex and age class of harvest.
The FWC is charged with managing all wild turkeys in Florida. Private lands comprise the greatest amount of turkey habitat in the state. The detailed information provided by wild turkey harvest reporting will improve monitoring the wild turkey population throughout the state.
Wild turkey harvest reporting requirements take effect beginning with the 2022 fall turkey season.
Harvest reporting requirements apply to spring and fall wild turkey seasons.
FAQs About Harvest Reporting Requirements
All hunters (including those under 16 years of age, resident hunters 65 years old and older, military personnel on leave for 30 days or less, and those hunting on their homestead in their county of residence*) must (Step 1) log their harvested wild turkey prior to moving it from the point where the hunter located the harvested wild turkey, and (Step 2) report their harvested wild turkey within 24 hours.**
* Hunters exempt from license and permit requirements who do not have an FWC customer ID number (CID) can obtain one by visiting GoOutdoorsFlorida.com and clicking “Create Customer Account.”
**Hunters must report a harvested wild turkey: 1) within 24 hours of harvest, or 2) prior to final processing of the wild turkey, or 3) prior to the wild turkey or any parts of the wild turkey being transferred to a meat processor or taxidermist, or 4) prior to the wild turkey leaving the state, whichever occurs first.
Hunters must log their harvested wild turkey prior to moving it from the point of harvest, which is that point where the hunter located the harvested wild turkey.
Hunters must report a harvested wild turkey: 1) within 24 hours of harvest, or 2) prior to final processing of the wild turkey, or 3) prior to the wild turkey or any parts of the wild turkey being transferred to a meat processor or taxidermist, or 4) prior to the wild turkey leaving the state, whichever occurs first.
NOTE: After a wild turkey has been logged and prior to reporting it, hunters may field dress their wild turkey and begin processing the meat themselves while afield or at camp. However, if a commercial meat processor is used, the harvested wild turkey must be reported before transferring the wild turkey or parts of the wild turkey to a commercial processor.
It's been shown a 24-hour reporting window provides enough time to complete the harvest reporting process and is consistent with FWC requirements for deer harvest reporting.
You would still be able to log your harvest report. Once you regain cell service, open the mobile app and your harvest report will be automatically submitted. You would then receive a confirmation number.
Harvest reporting does not require or use your location. Like other mobile apps, the Fish|Hunt Florida App is unable to retrieve your location unless you allow the app to access that information to use other app features such as forecasted sunrise and sunset times.
Hunters should have an app-enabled mobile device with the Fish|Hunt Florida App; a mobile device connected to the internet or a wild turkey harvest log with them in a backpack, fanny pack or pocket while hunting to avoid any delays in moving their harvested wild turkey. Hunters will need the following information when reporting a harvested wild turkey:
- Name (first and last name of the person who harvested the wild turkey)
- FWC Customer ID number (CID)
- Date of harvest
- Time of harvest
- County
- Public or private land
- Wildlife management area (if applicable)
- Male or female
- Spur rounded or pointed/sharp
- Estimated spur length
- Beard present
- Estimated beard length (if applicable)
- Method of take
No. Once a wild turkey has been logged and the confirmation number recorded, the harvest log is no longer required to be retained by the hunter.
Yes. All harvested wild turkeys must be logged and reported in addition to checking in at a check station at wildlife management areas that operate check stations.
Hunters exempt from license and permit requirements who do not have an FWC customer ID number (CID) can obtain one by visiting GoOutdoorsFlorida.com and clicking “Create Customer Account.”