DEC Announces Start of Spring Turkey Seasons

Youth Turkey Hunt April 20-21; Regular Season Opens May 1

Turkey Hunting Opportunities for Youth Ages 12-15

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced the Youth Turkey Hunting Season will take place on Saturday, April 20, and Sunday, April 21, for junior hunters ages 12 to 15. The regular spring turkey season for all licensed turkey hunters opens May 1 in Upstate New York north of the Bronx-Westchester County boundary and in Suffolk County on Long Island.

“Youth turkey hunting season provides an excellent opportunity for experienced adults to mentor young hunters to promote safe and ethical hunting practices, while enjoying time together outdoors and connecting with nature,” DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said. "As hunters take to the field this spring to enjoy the many turkey hunting opportunities throughout New York State, DEC reminds everyone to hunt safe and hunt smart by following the guidelines to support hunter safety."

To participate in the youth turkey hunt, both the junior hunter and their adult mentor must have a hunting license and turkey permit. Each youth hunter can harvest one bearded bird during the two-day hunt. For eligibility requirements and more information, visit DEC’s website.

Overall, spring turkey harvest in New York averages approximately 16,000 to 18,000 birds but varies based on the number of participants and turkey productivity in the previous few springs. This spring, DEC expects improved turkey harvest compared to last year. Hunters prefer to take toms (two+ year-old birds), so typically there is a two-year lag between summer productivity and spring take. Overall, New York turkey populations are lower currently than in the early 2000s but are generally stable throughout the state.

Spring Turkey Harvest Data Dashboard

In both the spring and fall, DEC uses extensive hunter surveys to reliably estimate turkey harvest. Data from these surveys help biologists understand trends in populations around the state and are used to help guide management. DEC recently released a new interactive online dashboard for the public to explore historic spring turkey harvest. The dashboard allows hunters to select Wildlife Management Unit aggregates near where they hunt or where they are considering hunting to understand trends in turkey harvest success. For more information or to explore the data, visit DEC’s website.  

Other Important Details for the Spring Turkey Season, May 1-31, 2024

• Hunting is permitted in most areas of the state, except for New York City and Nassau County.
• Hunters must have a turkey hunting permit in addition to a hunting license.
• Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to noon each day.
• Hunters may take two bearded turkeys during the spring season, but only one bird per day and no more than one bird per season in Wildlife Management Unit 1C (Suffolk County).
• Hunters may not use rifles or handguns firing a bullet. Hunters may hunt with a shotgun or handgun loaded with shot sizes no larger than No. 2 or smaller than No. 9, or with a bow or crossbow. Crossbows may not be used in Westchester or Suffolk counties.
• Successful hunters must fill out the tag that comes with a turkey permit and immediately attach it to any turkey harvested.
• Successful hunters must report harvests within seven days of taking a bird. Report harvests online at DEC's Game Harvest Reporting website or call 1-866-426-3778 (1-866 GAMERPT).

For more information about turkey hunting in New York, see the 2023-24 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide or visit the Turkey Hunting pages of DEC's website.

Tips for a Successful and Safe Turkey Hunting Season

• Don't stalk. More than half of turkey hunting injuries happen when a hunter stalks another.
• Wear hunter orange when going in or out of the woods and when walking around.
• When sitting still waiting for a turkey, put hunter orange on a nearby tree.
• When calling, sit still with against a tree to break-up any silhouette.
• Wrap any takes or decoys in hunter orange.
• Never wear turkey colors – red, white, or blue.
• Always assume any call or footsteps are from another hunter. Don't shoot until the whole turkey can be observed and its sex identified.
• When encountering another hunter, speak clearly and don't move. Never wave or use a turkey call to alert another hunter.
• Turkeys are tough, and 30 yards or less is the best distance for a clear head or neck shot. Do not try to shoot turkeys in the body or while they are flying.
• Smaller shot, no. 4, 5, and 6, work better than larger shot, due to denser shot patterns. New shotshell technologies allow for shot sizes as small as 8 and 9 to be effective for turkeys. Do research and pattern shotguns to learn what works for each setup.

Buy Sporting Licenses Online

Sporting licenses may be purchased online at any time, and anglers may use privileges immediately by simply carrying a DEC ID# with them while afield. Anglers, hunters, and trappers may also use the HuntFishNY mobile app to display an electronic copy of a license. The HuntFishNY app is available for download through the Apple App or Google Play stores. If purchasing any type of hunting license, permit or privilege online or over the phone, allow up to 14 business days to receive back tag, carcass tags, and license via mail.

Sporting licenses can also be purchased in-person at over 1,100 License Issuing Agents (LIAs) throughout the state. LIAs will print license and tags immediately upon purchase. To locate a LIA, use the Vendor Locations search tool on the DEC’s sporting license sales website. For more information about sporting licenses, visit DEC’s website.

Earlier this year, DEC announced the transition to paper tags and sporting licenses for the 2024-25 license year that begins Aug. 1, 2024. The change to plain paper does not apply to the spring 2024 turkey season; please allow ample time to receive your backtag and carcass tags if buying a license online or over the phone.

Citizen Science Opportunity: DEC Seeks Turkey Hunters for Ruffed Grouse Drumming Survey

Turkey hunters can record the number of ruffed grouse heard drumming while afield to help DEC track the distribution and abundance of this game bird. To get a survey form, visit DEC's website or call (518) 402-8883. To participate in DEC's Summer Wild Turkey Sighting Survey or other wildlife surveys, visit the Citizen Science page of DEC's website.