Arkansas
92,960 to 113,320
Wild Turkey Population
Easterns
Turkey Subspecies
216,000
Number of Licenses Sold Annually
$25
Cost of Resident License and Permit
$325
Cost of Non-Resident License and Permit
Photo by David Turko.
This great state is known for greenheads, not gobblers, but its turkey hunting tradition runs deep.
Upside: Arkansas offers more than 3 million public acres, with 650,000 overseen by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Downside: There are many management concerns about Arkansas turkey populations. In 2009, the AGFC voted to abruptly cancel the fall turkey season, even after it was officially listed in the law book. Low kill numbers and poor hatches were cited. This hinted at declining flock populations, then estimated at 130,000 to 140,000, according to the National Wild Turkey Federation. That number has flattened to about 92,960 to 113,320 in 2026. Arkansas hunters shot 11,332 turkeys during Spring 2025.
But there's plenty of optimism for the future. Arkansas has experienced several years of good turkey reproduction, which should equate to good hunting opportunities in 2026.
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