TOPEKA – Kansas’ spring turkey season is just around the corner, and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) is encouraging hunters to apply for limited permits during the annual lottery application period, open Jan. 13 through Feb. 13.

Kansas is divided into six turkey management units. Turkey Management Units 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 are open to Kansas residents and qualifying nonresident tenants through over-the-counter permit sales, while nonresidents must apply through a lottery draw for those units.

 Permits to hunt in Turkey Management Unit 4 in southwest Kansas are available exclusively through a lottery draw only to Kansas residents and nonresident landowners and tenants.

Unit 4 Resident and Resident-Tenant Draw Permits

Applications open Jan. 13 for the Unit 4 spring turkey draw, which is available only to Kansas residents and nonresident tenants. A total of 375 spring turkey permits are available for Unit 4, with 200 permits reserved for resident landowners and tenants and nonresident tenants of land within Unit 4. The remaining 175 permits are allocated to other Kansas residents who enter the draw.

Nonresident Permits

Nonresident hunters, except nonresident tenants, must obtain a permit through the lottery draw to hunt in Turkey Management Units 1, 2, 3, 5 or 6. Each application requires a non-refundable $12.50 application fee. Applicants who are successfully drawn will then also be charged the $75 turkey permit fee for a total cost of $87.50. A total of 9,700 spring turkey permits will be drawn for nonresident hunters in these units.

To apply: Visit gooutdoorskansas.gov between Jan. 13 and Feb. 13. Select “Purchase Licenses, Permits & Tags.” Create a new account or log in to an existing account. Select “Limited Draw Applications.” Follow the prompts to submit the application.

Applicants will be notified by email of their draw status in early March. Successful applicants will be charged the permit fee, while unsuccessful applicants will receive a preference point for future drawings. Applicants also may choose to purchase a preference point only during the application period rather than entering a draw.

The 2026 spring turkey archery season runs April 6–14, and the regular season runs April 15 through May 31. Starting March 10, Kansas residents and qualifying nonresident tenants may purchase spring turkey permits for Units 1, 2, 3, 5 or 6 over the counter or online.

For more on turkey hunting in Kansas — including season dates, management units and electronic permitting — visit ksoutdoors.gov/turkey.