Spring turkey harvest / Iowa / Shelby County
Shelby County, Iowa Spring Turkey Harvest
Shelby County hunters reported 43 spring turkeys in 2026, ranking #81 of Iowa's 99 counties.
Data through the 2026 spring season. Dataset generated 2026-10-10. Basis: mandatory real-time harvest reports.
Shelby County turkey harvest facts
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| 2026 spring harvest | 43 |
| State rank, 2026 | #81 of 99 |
| 5-season average (2022 to 2026) | 44.2 |
| 5-season average rank | #81 of 99 |
| Harvest per 100 sq mi, 2026 | 7.28 |
| Harvest per 100 sq mi, 5-season average | 7.48 |
| Land area (Census), sq mi | 590.8 |
| Share of Iowa county total, 2026 | 0.308% |
| Trend | +27.9% |
| Trend basis | Latest 3 seasons (2024 to 2026) average 44.33; comparison seasons (2014 to 2016) average 34.67. |
| 2026 compared with earlier seasons | highest since 2024 |
| Series high | 81 in 2020 |
| Seasons in the Iowa top 10 | 0 of 20 |
2007 to 2026 harvest by season
One bar per season, 2007 to 2026; the brightest bar is 2026 (43). The tallest bar is 81 in 2020.
| Season | Harvest | State rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 43 | #81 of 99 | Iowa DNR |
| 2025 | 39 | #84 of 99 | Iowa DNR |
| 2024 | 51 | #80 of 99 | Iowa DNR |
| 2023 | 48 | #80 of 99 | Iowa DNR |
| 2022 | 40 | #79 of 99 | Iowa DNR |
| 2021 | 64 | #66 of 99 | Iowa DNR |
| 2020 | 81 | #68 of 99 | Iowa DNR |
| 2019 | 50 | #68 of 99 | Iowa DNR |
| 2018 | 43 | #74 of 99 | Iowa DNR |
| 2017 | 39 | #76 of 99 | Iowa DNR |
| 2016 | 39 | #76 of 99 | Iowa DNR |
| 2015 | 39 | #77 of 99 | Iowa DNR |
| 2014 | 26 | #80 of 99 | Iowa DNR |
| 2013 | 19 | #85 of 99 | Iowa DNR |
| 2012 | 21 | #87 of 99 | Iowa DNR |
| 2011 | 19 | #83 of 99 | Iowa DNR |
| 2010 | 12 | #89 of 99 | Iowa DNR |
| 2009 | 18 | #87 of 99 | Iowa DNR |
| 2008 | 15 | #89 of 99 | Iowa DNR |
| 2007 | 14 | #90 of 99 | Iowa DNR |
How these numbers work
What is counted. Spring turkey harvest by county, counted as mandatory real-time harvest reports.
Seasons. Shelby County has 20 of the 20 seasons in the Iowa series.
Data note. These are birds reported through Iowa's mandatory harvest reporting, all spring seasons combined. Fall harvest is a separate hunt and is not included.
Method. Every Iowa county is figured the same way. How these numbers are built. Each season in the table above links to the agency page it came from.
Seasons and rules
Seasons, bag limits and legal methods change. Check Iowa Department of Natural Resources for the current turkey regulations before you hunt. This page lists no dates or limits.
More on Shelby County
See Shelby County on the map
Parcels with owner and acreage, public hunting land and leaf-off imagery, together on one hunting map.
Closest in rank
Frequently asked questions
How many turkeys are killed in Shelby County each spring?
Shelby County hunters reported 43 spring turkeys in 2026. Over the 5 seasons 2022 to 2026 the average was 44.2 a season.
How does Shelby County rank in Iowa for turkey?
Shelby County ranks #81 of Iowa's 99 counties for 2026 spring turkey harvest, with 43. On the 2022 to 2026 average (44.2) it ranks #81 of 99. It was in the state top 10 in 0 of 20 seasons from 2007 to 2026.
Is Shelby County's turkey harvest going up or down?
Shelby County's 3-season average (2024 to 2026) is 44.33, up 27.9% from 34.67 (2014 to 2016). The latest season-to-season change was 39 in 2025 to 43 in 2026. Counts alone do not show hunter success or bird numbers.
Which season had the most turkeys in Shelby County?
Shelby County's highest season from 2007 to 2026 was 81 in 2020. The 2026 count of 43 is the highest since 2024.