Turkey hunters across North Central Arkansas are looking to another strong season as the spring opener begins today. The 2026 turkey season runs through May 10 for North Central Arkansas.
Recent data from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) shows the region continues to be one of the state’s most productive for turkey hunting, driven by several years of improved reproduction and strong harvest numbers.
Hunters checked 11,332 birds statewide during the 2025 season, a 22 percent increase over 2024 and the first time harvest has topped 10,000 since 2017. Wildlife officials attribute that increase to strong hatches from 2021 through 2023 combined with favorable hunting conditions.
North Central Arkansas saw a 37 percent jump in harvest from the previous year.
Baxter County remained a key contributor, with 331 turkeys checked in 2025, placing it among the top 10 counties statewide. Izard led as the top county in the state with 419 birds, Sharp with 407, Searcy with 351, Stone logged 349, and Fulton County recorded 332 checked in.
The 2026 turkey season in this area opens April 20 and runs through May 10.
2026 Regular Turkey Season Dates
Zone 1: April 20-May 10, 2026
Zone 1A: April 20-28, 2026
Zone 2: April 13-May 3, 2026
Zone 2A: April 13-21, 2026
Zone 3: April 6-26, 2026
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Turkey Program Coordinator David Moscicki said current conditions suggest another promising year.
“Barring any unforeseen events, the spring 2026 hunting season looks even brighter yet,” Moscicki said.
Moscicki said harvest trends are largely driven by reproduction from two years prior, meaning the strong hatches in recent years are now producing more mature gobblers for hunters.
At the same time, management efforts appear to be helping sustain the population. Only 4 percent of the 2025 harvest consisted of jakes, allowing more young birds to mature.
Reproduction dipped slightly in 2025 compared to the previous year, though it remains above the long term average, indicating the overall population is still stable.
For hunters in the Twin Lakes region, the outlook remains positive heading into the season, with a solid supply of gobblers expected.
AGFC is encouraging hunters to report their observations throughout the season to help guide future management decisions.
Visit www.agfc.com/education/turkey-harvest-and-scientific-reports to read the 2025 Annual Turkey Program Report. The 2026 Turkey Hunter Survey is available at www.agfc.com/turkeysurvey.
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