Eastern Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris)

The Eastern Wild Turkey is one of the five wild turkey subspecies in North America (excluding hybrids and the Ocellated Turkey, which is a separate species). It is the only species present in Illinois and it can be found across the entire state.

Identifying Male vs. Female Wild Turkeys

Why Does it Matter?

In Illinois, only toms and jakes (males) or a hen with a visible beard are legal to harvest during the spring season, and turkeys of any sex are legal to harvest during the fall gun and fall archery seasons. Please remember this is not the case in every state, so it’s good to practice distinguishing between toms, jakes, and hens! Learning how to identify whether the turkeys in the area are toms, jakes, and/or hen is also useful when scouting, determining decoy set-ups, and choosing a call to use.

How to Do It

Males vs. Females

There are several features that can be used to distinguish between male (toms and jakes) and female (hens) wild turkeys.

Physically, the size, color of body, and color of head can be key indicators. For example, male turkeys are larger than hens and are also generally darker in color with more brightly colored heads. Their heads are most vibrant in the spring, especially when displaying or strutting. When ground cover obstructs their chest and beards (which are also dark and difficult to see at dawn), looking for a bright head is key! Please note that in the fall, however, gobbler heads tend to be more muted (as their hormones shift with the length of daylight hours) and less diagnostic. In the spring, gobblers aim to draw attention of hens, but for hens, it is important to remember that concealment is key for the survival of young turkeys, so hens tend to be more drab in color (usually a grayish brown), as this makes them less visible when sitting on nests. As the NWTF graphic below notes, this is also why hens have more feathers on her blue-gray head than males.

Spurs and beards can also be helpful for identification, but be aware that some hens do have beards (around 10%) and others sometimes have spurs (less than 1%). Hen beards and spurs are significantly smaller than mature male equivalents when present.

There are also differences in the characteristics of the sign left behind by male and female turkeys, including track sizes, scat shapes, and the tips of breast feathers. The sizes can also give you an indication of the age of the animal that left them (we will discuss other ways to age wild turkeys below).

For example, Gobblers have tracks that are approximately 4 1/2-inches long from the base of the heel to the tip of the center toe, while hen tracks are an inch shorter. Poults leave smaller tracks than hens. Gobbler tracks may also have an extra dot behind the foot pad (see image on right) left by their spur (although this is not always the case).

Male wild turkey scat is J-shaped, while female scat tends to be more spiral-shaped or blob-like (see below). Like tracks, the bigger the scat, the older the bird is likely to be.

The tips of Eastern Wild Turkey breast feathers also vary by sex (see below): male feathers have a black tip, while females are more of a brown/buff on the ends.

Aging Wild Turkeys

Besides understanding the general differences between males and female wild turkeys, it can also be helpful to understand how to estimate the age of an immature male (jakes) and understand the differences between them and hens, as the general male and female physiological differences are often less obvious than they are between a mature tom and hen. The best way to do this is to examine the beard, the spurs, and the feathers.

Beard: Generally males, length varies based on age

Spurs: Almost always males, size varies based on age

Note how much smaller hen feet are compared to jakes and toms.

Feathers: Varies in coloration and shape based on sex and age

Tail Feathers

Juvenile tail feathers are longer in the center, giving the fan an uneven look, while adults have more even feathers that give the fan a rounded look.

Breast Feathers

As discussed above, male wild turkey breast feathers are tipped in black, while female breast feathers are tipped in brown or buff.

Juvenile male and female wild turkey breast feathers often look the same, but you can sometimes brush your hand again the breast feathers and see new feathers growing in. If they have any that are black-tipped, they are males. Generally, juvenile feathers, especially when they are young juveniles, cannot be used to determine sex. These breast feathers are rounded and more slim than adult feathers, and are also much more downy (fine and fluffy) throughout the feather.

Wing Feathers

Looking at the ninth and tenth wing feathers on a turkey can help you age it. On adult wings (left), the outermost feathers are rounded or blunted on the ends and have white bars that extend almost to the very end of the feathers. Juvenile wings (right) have sharper ends and the white bars stop much further from the end.

We also recommend reading:

Sexing, Aging, and Measuring Wild Turkeys by NJ Fish and Wildlife (great photos!)
Wild Turkey Anatomy by David Gladkowski
Tracking Turkeys by John Higley
What’s Got Dewlaps and Wattles? by Cory Pelc

As we mentioned above, wild turkey tracks, scat, and other sign like feathers can provide a wealth of information beyond “turkeys live around here” when you’re out scouting, like the number, sex, and size of the turkeys in the area. Because we’ve gone over those signs above, we’re going to focus on the other things turkeys leave behind in this section.

Wing Drag Marks (“Strut Marks”)

When gobblers strut, their primary wing feathers touch the ground and create distinctive drag, or strut, marks. If you find these when you’re out scouting, you know you’ve found a “strut zone.”

Pecking Holes and Scratch Marks

Both pecking holes and scratch marks are left behind on the ground as turkeys search for food. Peck marks are left in the ground as turkey use their beaks to search for food, while scratch marks are left when turkeys use their feet to kick away ground cover like leaves and other plant litter and uncover the ground beneath.

Dust Bowls

Wild turkeys of all ages take dust baths for a variety of reasons related to maintaining their feathers, like parasite management and soothe their itchiness when molting. They leave behind shallow “dust bowls” which, when found, can indicate that turkeys are in the area.

We also recommend reading:

Wild Turkeys by Kim A. Cabrera (EXCELLENT resource for photos of less-frequently discussed sign, scat and track comparisons, etc.).
Scouting for Turkeys by Bob Humphrey (lots of good tips about what the different types of sign actually mean instead of just what they are)

Illinois has four wild turkey hunting seasons: spring season, spring youth season, fall archery season, and fall shotgun season. Please refer to the current edition of the Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations for more detailed information about the different dates, hours, limits, and other regulations, and please be sure to familiarize yourself with site-specific regulations, as well. Also, please note that during the Spring season, you can use a shotgun or archery equipment, but that the two methods have two distinct fall seasons with distinct dates, permit processes, and regulations.

Spring Season

The dates of the spring season vary based on regional zones and segments, so be sure you refer to the map of turkey hunting zones to understand which dates apply to the sites you intend to hunt, and please note that not all counties are open for the spring turkey hunting season. During the spring season, you are allowed a maximum of three permits total and can take one tom, one jake, or one bearded hen per permit.

Permits are specific to the county and/or Special Hunt Area (SHA) and dates indicated on permit. If you want to learn more about how to apply for spring turkey hunting permits, check out our video on how to find a good public land spot that allows turkey hunting, how to find and read public land harvest reports, how to determine if a site requires a county or site-specific (special hunt area, SHA) permit, how apply for a permit on ExploreMore IL, and how to know if you have successfully drawn a permit. For more details about spring lottery dates, please click here.

Legal shooting hours run from half an hour before sunrise to 1 p.m., and you may use either a shotgun (.410 bore to 10 gauge only) or archery equipment during this season. You cannot legally shoot a wild turkey while it is in a tree before 7 a.m.. Please visit the Digest or Hunt Illinois’ Turkey page to review the specifics of what constitutes legal hunting equipment during this season.

Spring Youth Season

The dates of the spring youth season vary and so do the counties and sites that are open for the spring youth season, so please refer to the IDNR Youth Season page for current information.

This season is open only to hunters who have not reached the age of 18 prior to the opening date of the youth season. Hunters must have an apprentice or youth hunting license, or they must have completed a State-approved Hunter Education course and have a hunting license, unless exempt. In addition, hunters 18 and older must have a Habitat Stamp; hunters under 18 are exempt. Hunters are eligible to purchase only one Youth Turkey Hunt Permit.

The Youth Turkey Hunt Permit is valid only for the dates and counties/Special Hunt Area listed on the permit. It is unlawful to use any weapon except a shotgun (.410 bore to 10 gauge only) or archery equipment, and #4 shot is the largest size shot that may be legally used or possessed while turkey hunting. Shooting hours run from half an hour before sunrise to 1 p.m., you cannot legally shoot a wild turkey while it is in a tree before 7 a.m., and hunters can take one tom, one jake, or one bearded hen per permit.

Each hunter participating in the Illinois Youth Turkey Hunt while using an Apprentice Hunter License or Youth Hunting License must be accompanied by a non-hunting, validly-licensed (Illinois hunting license) adult who is 21 years of age or older. All other hunters (using other types of hunting licenses or license-exempt) participating in the Youth Turkey Hunt must each be accompanied by a non-hunting supervisor (parent, guardian or responsible adult). If the youth is hunting with a firearm, a nonresident supervisor must have a valid Illinois hunting license.

The non-hunting supervisor must remain with the hunting youth so as to have the youth under immediate control. Each supervisor may only accompany a single youth at any given time during the hunt. The supervising adult shall be criminally liable for the actions of the youth in the hunting party and shall be subject to the criminal penalties provided by law.

Please visit the Digest or Hunt Illinois’ Turkey page for more details.

Fall Archery Season

Fall Archery Turkey season is DISTINCT (having its own dates, regulations, etc.) from Fall Shotgun Turkey Season.

Fall Archery Turkey hunting is permitted in all 102 counties in Illinois (but refer to specific sites for their own regulations, as not every site opens for this season), and permits are valid statewide (as opposed to being county- or site-specific). You may harvest one turkey of EITHER SEX per permit, with a maximum of two fall permits total.

Please note that this season closes during firearm deer season in counties that are open to firearm deer hunting.

Legal shooting hours run from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset., and you may ONLY use archery equipment during this season. You cannot legally shoot a wild turkey while it is in a tree before 7 a.m.. Please visit the Digest or Hunt Illinois’ Turkey page to review the specifics of what constitutes legal hunting equipment during this season.

Fall Shotgun Season

Fall Firearm (Shotgun) Turkey is DISTINCT (having its own dates, regulations, etc.) from Fall Archery Turkey Season.

Not all counties in Illinois are open to Fall Firearm (Shotgun) Turkey hunting. Please review the Digest, the IDNR Turkey page, or Hunt Illinois for a list or map of open counties, as they can change year to year. As of January 1, 2025, both .410 and 28 gauge shotguns can be used as legal method of take for both the Illinois Spring Turkey and Fall Shotgun Turkey seasons, so you can now use shotguns from .410 bore up to 10 gauge during this season.

Unlike Fall Archery Turkey Season, permits for this season are either county-level or site-specific (special hunting areas, SHAs). If you’re not sure whether you need a county level tag or a SHA permit to hunt a specific IDNR site, check out the charts in the “Public Hunting Areas” section of the current version of the Digest (and if you need help understanding how to decipher the charts, read harvest reports, determine if you’ve drawn a permit, and more, check out our How to Apply for a Spring Turkey Permit video! The process is that same for Fall Firearm (Shotgun) Turkey permits)

During this season, you may harvest one turkey of EITHER SEX per permit, with a maximum of two fall permits total, legal shooting hours run from half an hour before sunrise to sunset, and you may ONLY use shotguns during this season. You cannot legally shoot a wild turkey while it is in a tree before 7 a.m.. Please visit the Digest or Hunt Illinois’ Turkey page to review the specifics of what constitutes legal hunting equipment during this season.

We also recommend reading:

Change in Legal Shotguns for Hunting Wild Turkeys in Illinois by Luke Garver

Licenses, Stamps, and Permits

Residents and non-residents will need the following to legal hunt turkey in Illinois:

Hunting license (unless exempt: see Hunting Licenses: Exceptions)
State Habitat Stamp
Turkey permit

Other General Regulations

Firearm Regulations

The only firearm that can be used to hunt wild turkeys in Illinois is a shotgun, ranging from .410 up to 10 gauge
.410s to 10 gauge are allowed as of Spring 2025 (pursuant to Public Act 103-0622) for Spring Turkey Season and Fall Shotgun Turkey Season
Your shotgun must only be capable of holding 3 shells. If your shotgun has the capacity to hold more shells than 3, you must add a “plug” to the magazine tube to ensure that it can only hold 3 shells.
You may not possess any other type of firearm for the purpose of hunting wild turkeys unless in accordance with the Firearm Concealed Carry Act.
No. 4 shot is the largest shot that may be used.

Archery Regulations

Legal vertical bow types are long, recurved or compound bows with a minimum pull of 30 pounds at some point within a 28-inch draw. Minimum arrow length for all vertical bow types is 20 inches (not including point).
To use a crossbow it must have a minimum draw weight of 125 pounds; minimum overall length of 24 inches; a working safety; and used with fletched bolts or arrows of not less than 14 inches (not including point).
Broadheads must be used for archery turkey hunting. Broadheads may have fixed (must be metal or flint-, chert or obsidian-knapped) or expandable (must be metal) cutting surfaces, but they must have a minimum 7/8in diameter when fully opened.
All other bows and arrows, including electronic arrow-tracking systems utilizing radio-telemetry, are illegal.
Hunters can legally carry a shotgun AND bow and arrow during spring season.
Hunters cannot legally have any firearm in possession while hunting turkey with any type of bow and arrow during fall season .Legal vertical bow types are long, recurved or compound bows with a
minimum pull of 30 pounds at some point within a 28-inch draw. Minimum arrow length for all vertical bow types is 20 inches (not including point).
To use a crossbow it must have a minimum draw weight of 125 pounds; minimum overall length of 24 inches; a working safety; and
used with fletched bolts or arrows of not less than 14 inches (not including point).
Broadheads must be used for archery turkey hunting. Broadheads may have fixed (must be metal or flint-, chert or obsidian-knapped) or expandable (must be metal) cutting surfaces, but they must have a minimum 7/8in diameter when fully opened.
All other bows and arrows, including electronic arrow-tracking systems
utilizing radio-telemetry, are illegal.
Hunters can legally carry a shotgun AND bow and arrow during spring season.
Hunters cannot legally have any firearm in possession while hunting turkey with any type of bow and arrow during fall season.

Mandatory Turkey Harvest Reporting

Successful hunters must register their harvest by 10 p.m. on the same calendar day the turkey was harvested by calling toll-free 1-866- 452-4325 (1-866-ILCHECK) or by accessing the online check-in system at www.exploremoreil.com. Hunters must provide all information requested by the telephone check-in system and will be provided with a confirmation number to verify that they checked in their harvest. The confirmation number must be written by the hunter onto the leg tag.

Clothing Regulations

While not required, hunters are encouraged to wear at least a blaze orange or blaze pink hat or vest when not actively hunting to maximize visibility to other hunters.

You CANNOT legally:

Shoot a wild turkey while it is in a tree before 7 a.m.
Use live or electronic decoys, dogs, or recorded calls.
Possess or use any net or trap for harvesting turkeys.
Harvest wild turkeys by the use or aid of bait or baiting of any kind (see Digest for definitions).
Hunt wild turkey without first obtaining an IDNR permit.
Hunt wild turkey unless the permit is signed and is in the hunter’s possession while hunting.
Harvest in Illinois, or have in possession, more than one wild turkey per legally authorized permit.
Leave in the field or transport a wild turkey without first immediately attaching the leg tag securely around the leg as instructed on the permit.
Note: Leg tag must be affixed to the wild turkey immediately upon kill. The leg tag must remain attached to the leg of the turkey until it is at the legal residence of the person who legally took or possessed the turkey and the turkey has been checked in.
Butcher a turkey until it has been checked in.
Possess, while in the field during wild turkey seasons, any wild turkey permit issued to another person.
Hunt wild turkey in a county or area other than specified on the permit.

Please note that regulations can and do change from season to season, and sites may have unique rules. Be sure to refer to the current version of the Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations and check the site directory/hunter fact sheet for your site before going out in the field.

Generally, archery shots will focus on the vitals (heart and lungs) of the turkey (unlike shotguns, which focus on the head/base of the neck).* Keep in mind that because turkeys are two-legged animals, the placement of the vitals may not be exactly where you expect, and that you will be aiming for an area that is roughly grapefruit sized.

As the chart above illustrates, the main shots you want to consider when hunting turkeys with archery equipment are: standing broadside, strutting broadside, strutting forward, and strutting away.

It may seem counterintuitive, but broadside shots are actually one of the more tricky ones to take because of the resistance that wing feathers and bones can have. It is also recommended that only advanced turkey archery hunters should take strutting broadside shot — the fluffed out feathers can cause hunters to misjudge where the vitals are.

Do not shoot a moving bird (unless you are trying to finish off a wounded bird).

Bowhunters United has a great video (below) to help you learn about how to make ethical shots for turkeys in a variety of different positions, and they also have a great photo breakdown here.

When it comes to archery hunting, practice (and patience) is key!

*More advanced bowhunters do sometimes take headshots, generally using decapitator broadheads. This can be a very tricky shot, as turkey heads tend to move around quite a bit even when standing still.

To learn more, we also recommend:

Where to Arrow a Wild Turkey by Cassie Gasaway
Tricky Business: Shot Placement on Turkeys by Jackie Holbrook
Bowhunting Basics for Spring Gobblers by Darron McDougal (NWTF)
Head Shot vs. Body Shot for Turkeys: Which Works Best? by Darron McDougal
Where to Shoot a Turkey: A Guide to No More Misses by Alex Robinson

Placement

When using a shotgun and you have a turkey walking toward you, away from you, or broadside, the best spot to aim for an ethical kill is just above where the major caruncles end (the lower part of the wattle) on the neck of the turkey. If you aim too high, especially at close range, you’re more likely to miss because turkeys tend to bob their heads.

Do not shoot a turkey that is moving or in full strut when using a shotgun.

It is always going to be more difficult to accurately hit a target that is moving than one that is standing still. Turkeys generally don’t move rapidly or without pause unless startled, so be patient and wait for it to pause.

A strutting gobbler will likely have his head tucked close to his body, which makes it much more difficult to accurately aim at and shoot the key area on his neck. If you miss, you will likely hit his body, wound him and roll him, and he’ll get up and run off. This is not only not an ethical shot, but you may loose your chance entirely to recover the bird.

How to Pattern a Shotgun for Turkey Hunting

Turkeys boast remarkably small vital zones, making accurate shot placement crucial for a clean and ethical harvest. Patterning your shotgun allows you to understand the spread and distribution of pellets at various distances, enabling you to fine-tune your aim and select the optimal choke and load combination for your hunting conditions.

Use the Ammunition You Plan to Hunt With

Before delving into patterning, it’s essential to ensure you’ve chosen the right tools for the job. Specialized turkey loads, featuring heavier shot and tight patterns, are designed to provide the lethal impact needed for turkey hunting. Choosing the proper ammunition is imperative, so experiment with different shot sizes and brands to find the combination that works best for your shotgun and chokes.

Understanding Shot Pattern Basics

Shotguns disperse pellets in a circular pattern, and the goal is to have a dense concentration of pellets within the vital zone of a turkey’s head and neck. Understanding the basic principles of shot patterning will help you fine-tune your setup for maximum effectiveness.

Effective Range: The effective range of your shotgun is the distance at which you can consistently deliver a lethal shot. This varies depending on your shotgun, ammunition, and choke combination. Patterning helps you determine your effective range and avoid taking shots beyond it.
Pattern Density: Achieving a balance between pattern density and effective range is crucial. A dense pattern ensures sufficient pellet concentration for a clean kill, while avoiding over-constriction that may lead to missed opportunities at close range.

Shotgun Patterning – The Process

When patterning your shotgun, it’s essential to mimic the conditions of a real hunt as closely as possible. Set up your target at a distance representative of your expected shooting distance during turkey hunting, typically between 20 to 40 yards. Turkey head and neck targets are widely available and can help you zero in on the vital areas for an ethical harvest.

Establishing a Consistent Shooting Rest

To obtain accurate and repeatable results, it’s crucial to establish a consistent shooting rest. Use a sturdy bench, sandbags, or a shooting rest to stabilize your shotgun and minimize the influence of human error on the pattern. This ensures that the patterns you observe are a true reflection of your shotgun’s performance.

Shotgun Pattern Evaluation

After firing a shot, carefully inspect the target for pellet distribution. Pay close attention to the density of pellets within the vital zone of the turkey target. Look for even distribution and avoid patterns with significant gaps or overly concentrated clusters, as these may lead to inconsistent results in the field.

Adjustments for Centering: If the majority of your pellets are consistently off-center, consider adjusting your aiming point or making modifications to your shotgun, such as adjusting the bead sight or scope (if using one).

Choke and Load Adjustments: Based on your initial pattern, you may need to experiment with different choke and load combinations to achieve the desired pattern density. This process may require multiple rounds of patterning and adjustments.

Recording Results and Making Adjustments

Keep a detailed record of each shot, noting the distance, choke, load, and any modifications made to your shotgun. This information will help you track your progress and make informed decisions about adjustments for future hunts.

Practicing Shooting Positions

After you’re satisfied with the patterning process and have made your decision for ammunition and choke, practice! During a real hunting scenario, you won’t always have the luxury of a perfect shooting rest. Practice shooting from various positions, including standing, kneeling, and sitting. This ensures that you’re prepared for the unpredictability of turkey hunting and can confidently take shots from different stances.

To learn more, we also recommend:

Pattern Your Shotgun for Turkeys by Dick Durham
Shotgun Choke and Shot String (hunter-ed)
When is Your Shot Patterning Correct? (hunter-ed)
Pattern Your Shotgun to Kill Gobblers (Realtree)
How to Pattern a Shotgun for Hunting by Steven Rinella
Where to Shoot a Turkey: A Guide to No More Misses by Alex Robinson
How to Pattern a Turkey Hunting Gun by Alex Robinson

Before you take a shot, make sure you’ve considered the following:

Is this a bird I can legally harvest during this season?

Is it a safe shot? What’s beyond the bird?

Be aware of what is behind the bird you are focusing on — don’t just look for people and property (which you should always do), but also consider other birds. You don’t want to hit decoys, birds you cannot legally harvest during the season, more birds than you have permits for, or risk injuring but not killing a different bird with your shot (or stray pellets, if using a shotgun).

Is it standing still?

Always wait until the bird is standing still to take your shot. If it is moving, you are more likely to be just a little bit off on your aim, which can make your shot less effective.

Is this a good shot for ME to take? Is it within MY effective range?

Effective and ethical range is based on your personal skill level and your equipment setup. The best way to determine your range is to practice with your archery equipment or pattern/practice with your shotgun using the gun, chokes, and loads you plan to use in the field.

Even if you make a good shot, it can take a few seconds for your turkey to die. You do NOT want your turkey to run or fly away. If this happens using a shotgun and:

“…the bird drops but flops around, quickly go after him and place the heel of your boot on its neck to finish the job. Make sure that when you do this you keep your gun pointed in a safe direction and lean outward from the turkey to avoid getting spurred. If a bird flies away or runs outside of your shooting range, avoid the temptation of taking any follow-up shots. Doing so will only risk wounding the bird. Instead, pay close attention to how the bird reacts and the direction it takes off before disappearing. If he is struggling when attempting to fly or runs away, then he has been hit. However, if it runs away and continues to stay in an upright position he is likely okay, but probably won’t come back. Either way, an effort should be made to check the area and look for signs that it is wounded.”

Darin Potter, “Recovering a Wounded Turkey,” Midwest Outdoors (May 2016), https://midwestoutdoors.com/hunting/recovering-a-wounded-turkey-hunting

If you think you wounded a bird using archery equipment:

“Resist the temptation to run after the wounded bird…This will only push it farther away and decrease your chances of recovering it…Keeping up with a bird can be nearly impossible. Your best bet is to give it an hour or so before tracking it. In the meantime, hold your position and listen for any noises the turkey might make. These include leaves rustling, wings flapping or the bird “crash-landing.” After giving the bird some time to settle down, walk to the spot where you first shot the bird and look for any blood, feathers and your arrow, if it passed through. This will help give you clues as to how badly the turkey is hit.”

Darin Potter, “Recovering a Wounded Turkey,” Midwest Outdoors (May 2016), https://midwestoutdoors.com/hunting/recovering-a-wounded-turkey-hunting

Always take your archery equipment or gun with you when you approach your wounded or (assumed) dead turkey, and always be prepared to make a follow-up shot.

Once you are sure your turkey is dead, take a breath, then notch (cut, see image below) your turkey permit. Make sure it is SIGNED (by you), if you haven’t already done so.

Next, tag your bird by attaching the permit to its leg.

Remember, it is unlawful to leave in the field or transport a wild turkey without first immediately attaching the leg tag securely around the leg as instructed on the permit. The leg tag must remain attached to the leg of the turkey until it is at the legal residence of the person who legally took or possessed the turkey and the turkey has been checked in (Step 3).

Now, you can finally take those photos! However, we have a few tips for you there, too.

We HIGHLY recommend that when you take photos of your harvest, you do so in a way that is tasteful and respectful to the animal.

Beyond simply being respectful of the life you took, which is key to being an ethical hunter, there is also the reality that ethical hunter behavior and conduct, especially on social media, is key to maintaining public support for hunting.

“Our photos of harvested game are a display of hunting ethics and, in this case, folks are watching more than ever when we post images on social media. Being a responsible and ethical hunter is of such critical importance that an entire chapter is devoted to it in hunter safety education courses where we are taught as new hunters not to share graphic photos, vividly describe the kill to non-hunters, or parade around town with a deer strapped to a vehicle. Nationally, about 5 percent of the population hunts and roughly the same percentage actively opposes hunting. The rest of the population is predominately neutral. Hunters need to work to maintain a good relationship with the non-hunting public. We should not provoke more people to become anti-hunters and create more challenges for the rest of us to protect hunting as a tradition and critically important instrument of conservation. Hunting annually provides millions of dollars to fund wildlife conservation through the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act. We have a lot to lose!”

Nathan Grider, “Ethical Photographs of Your Harvest; It’s Worth the Time” (2022), OutdoorIllinois

So, you’re on board with why taking tasteful photos is important — excellent! Now, how do you do it? A good rule of thumb is that you try to take photos that tell the story of the hunt and share the experience, rather than glorifying the kill.

Some good ways to show respect for the animal and hunting overall include:

Keeping your firearm muzzle in a safe direction (even if it’s unloaded) and NOT using any part of the animal as a gun/bow rack
Take photos of animals before they are field dressed
Face wounds away from the camera, aim for a natural body position, and put the tongue back in
Remove visible blood, leaves, dirt, etc. from yourself and the animal
Sit or kneel NEXT TO the animal, provide realistic perspective, and look either at the camera or admiringly at the animal
DO NOT sit, stand on, ride, etc. the animal
Wear blaze orange if required by a law and don’t take photos of untagged animals
Turkeys are often photographed with tail fanned out, spurs and beard showing, and you can also hold it by the legs

Some good ways to tell the story of the hunt include:

Include the habitat in the photos
Take photos of scouting process, the scenery, the people you are hunting with, cool things you find along the way, etc. rather than only the “trophy” photo

We also recommend reading:

Photographing Our Hunting Memories and the Image We Project by George Bettas (Boone and Crockett Club)
Seven Tips for Ethical Field Photos by Boone and Crockett Club
Your Photos Are Antis’ Ammunition by Boone and Crockett Club
13 Tips for Great Field Photos by Boone and Crockett Club
Ethical Photographs of Your Harvest; It’s Worth the Time by Nathan Grider
Tips for Taking Quality, Ethical Hunting Photos by Kirstie Pike

After you tag your turkey, you must check it in (or register it) by 10 pm on the same calendar day of harvest either by calling 1-866-452-4325 or online. During all seasons, it is unlawful to field dress or butcher a turkey until it has been checked in. 

Most hunters treat turkeys like they would other birds and keep the carcass intact (guts included) until they arrive home, unless they have a long journey or are otherwise unable to process the animal in a timely manner. However, if you want to gut your bird, we recommend this tutorial or this one, if you also want to learn how to pluck the bird and how to remove the beard and tail fan for mounts.

If you do not plan to process your turkey in the field, we HIGHLY recommend hanging blaze orange on yourself, your turkey, or both as you leave the field/woods to avoid incidents where other hunters think you are a turkey and take a shot. When you’re home or back at camp, move on to Step 5.

If you plan on processing your turkey in the field, move on to step 5 now but MAKE SURE THE LEG TAG REMAINS ATTACHED TO THE LEG OF THE TURKEY UNTIL YOU ARRIVE HOME.

Remember, do NOT begin field dressing, butchering, or otherwise processing your turkey until it has been checked in. If you’re curious about how to remove the beard and tail fan for mounting or want to pluck your bird, check out this video. If you want to learn how to remove the breasts and legs from the carcass without plucking, watch our video below!

The flavor of wild turkey meat is probably the most familiar of all the game meats to non- or new hunters, as it is very similar to domestic turkey. The trickiest thing about cooking wild turkeys is that it is very easy to dry it out, especially when cooking the breasts, but you definitely do NOT want to serve it rare. Wild turkey should be cooked thoroughly: APHIS (USDA) recommends that poultry should reach an internal temperature of 165 °F to kill disease organisms (like avian influenza) and parasites.

Wild Turkey Leg Carnitas (Hank Shaw)
Smoked Wild Turkey Breast (Larry White, Wild Game Gourmet)
Turkey Lemongrass Soup (Elevated Wild)
Wild Turkey Pho (Justin Adams, NWTF)
5-Alarm Wild Turkey Chili (Jeremiah Doughty, NWTF)
Fried Turkey Nuggets (Hank Shaw)

Want more inspiration? We recommend the following for wild turkey (and other game meat) recipes:

The Turkey Book: A Chefs Journal of Hunting and Cooking America’s Bird by Jesse Griffiths
Hunter Angler Gardener Cook (Hank Shaw)
Pheasant, Quail, Cottontail: Upland Birds and Small Game from Field to Feast by Hank Shaw (includes turkey recipes)
Wild Harvest Table (Cornell Cooperative Extension)
Wild Game Gourmet (Larry White)
Elevated Wild
The Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering, and Cooking Wild Game: Volume 1: Big Game by Steve Rinella
Illinois Learn to Hunt Cookbook

Feel free to download a copy of our turkey hunting reference packet and our turkey hunting equipment checklist to save to your phone or print to have as a reference out in the field!

Turkey Hunting Reference Packet
Turkey Hunting Equipment Checklist

Please note that regulations can and do change from season to season, and sites may have unique rules. Be sure to refer to the current version of the Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations and check the site directory/hunter fact sheet for your site before going out in the field.

IDNR Turkey Management: Annual Spring Turkey Harvest Reports
Illinois Public Hunting Areas Wildlife Harvest Reports
Illinois Wild Turkey Survey
Turkey Hunting (IDNR)
Hunt Illinois: Turkey (IDNR)
Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations (IDNR)