The U.S. States with The Most Wild Turkeys: One Has Half a Million

There’s something truly captivating about watching a flock of wild turkeys glide through a forest clearing—scratching the ground for insects, gobbling in unison, and shimmering with iridescent colors beneath the sun. For wildlife enthusiasts, moments like these are more than picturesque; they’re proof of what dedicated conservation can achieve. Just a few decades ago, wild turkeys were on the brink of disappearing from much of North America due to habitat loss and unregulated hunting. Yet through reintroduction efforts, habitat restoration, and sound wildlife management, these iconic birds have staged one of the most successful recoveries in modern conservation history.

Today, wild turkeys thrive across the continent, from the pine forests of the Southeast to the hardwood hills and farmland of the Midwest. Understanding where these birds flourish is important not only for hunters but for anyone invested in protecting biodiversity and natural habitats. Their comeback stands as a living reminder that with care, balance, and commitment, we can restore and sustain the wild places and species that define our shared landscape.

We’ve looked at data from the National Wild Turkey Federation on the states that actively report turkey population (please note, that some states do not and are not featured here).

25. Maryland

There are 40,000 wild turkeys located in Maryland. Turkeys can be found throughout the entire state.

24. Louisiana

There are 40,000 wild turkeys located in Louisiana. The most common wild turkey that you will find in Louisiana is the Eastern turkey.

23. Vermont

There are 45,000 wild turkeys located in Vermont. Turkeys can be found throughout the entire state.

22. Oregon

There are 45,000 wild turkeys located in Oregon. Although you’ll find them more in Southwestern Oregon, turkeys are popping up in the Willamette Valley, as well.

21. New Hampshire

There are 45,000 wild turkeys located in New Hampshire. Although you can find them throughout the state, wild turkeys are prone to being more in the northern part of New Hampshire.

20. Idaho

There are 25,000 to 55,000 wild turkeys located in Idaho. Located mostly in the mountains and forested areas, the most common turkey you’ll find in Idaho is the Rio Grande turkey.

19. Maine

There are 70,000 wild turkeys located in Maine. For those wanting to spot turkeys in the wild, you can see them throughout the state.

18. Oklahoma

There are 85,000 to 90,000 wild turkeys located in Oklahoma. The most common wild turkeys to find in the state are Rio Grande turkeys, but you can also find Eastern turkeys.

17. West Virginia

There are 100,000 wild turkeys located in West Virginia. Although more common in the Bluestone Gorge, you will be able to find turkeys throughout the entire state.

16. South Carolina

There are 100,000 wild turkeys located in South Carolina. If you want to spot a turkey in the state, you will have luck throughout.

15. Arkansas

There are 80,000 to 100,000 wild turkeys located in Arkansas. The most common wild turkey that you will find in Arkansas is the Eastern turkey.

14. Montana

There are 120,000 wild turkeys located in Montana. The southeastern part of the state is where turkeys roam around more frequently.

13. Iowa

There are 110,000 to 120,000 wild turkeys located in Iowa. These birds are most likely going to roam around near the Missouri River in forested areas.

12. Indiana

There are 125,000 wild turkeys located in Indiana. You’ll have the luck of finding wild turkeys in every single county in the state.

11. Ohio

There are 150,000 to 170,000 wild turkeys located in Ohio. The most common areas where you’ll find wild turkeys in the state are in the eastern regions of Ohio.

10. New York

There are 170,000 wild turkeys located in New York. Wild turkeys usually roam around the forested areas, mostly in Upstate New York.

9. Virginia

There are 180,000 wild turkeys located in Virginia. The most common areas to find turkeys in the state are the South Piedmont, South Mountain, or Tidewater areas.

8. Tennessee

There are 250,000 wild turkeys located in Tennessee. About 53,000 are harvested every year.

7. North Carolina

There are 270,000 wild turkeys located in North Carolina. You will mostly spot the Eastern turkey in forested areas.

6. Mississippi

There are 225,000 to 275,000 wild turkeys located in Mississippi. The most common wild turkey you will find in Mississippi is the Eastern turkey.

5. Alabama

There are 365,000 wild turkeys located in Alabama. The most common turkey in Alabama is the Eastern wild turkey — usually found in the Appalachian Mountains or the Mobile Delta swampland.

4. Missouri

There are 390,000 wild turkeys located in Missouri. About 40,000 are harvested every single year, and the best place to spot them is in the Ozark Mountains.

3. Kentucky

There are 250,000 to 400,000 wild turkeys located in Kentucky. About 30,000 of these birds are harvested each year, and turkeys live in all 120 counties of the state.

2. California

There are 300,000 to 400,000 wild turkeys located in California. The most common turkey you will find in California is the Rio Grande turkey — they usually roam in the Sierra Nevadas and forested areas.

1. Texas

There are 510,500 wild turkeys located in Texas, which is the most in the country. The type of turkey that roams around in Texas is primarily the Rio Grande turkey, found in great numbers throughout the state.