Spring turkey season opens May 1, said the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

In addition, DEC's annual youth turkey hunting weekend will take place April 25-26. The youth turkey hunt for junior hunters aged 12 to 15.

Turkey hunters took about 17,000 birds in New York during the 2019 spring season. Spring harvest success is often tied to productivity two years prior, as hunters like to focus on adult gobblers (i.e., two-year-old birds).

While the cold, wet start to the 2019 breeding season meant low reproductive success and poor recruitment in many areas, conditions were better in summer 2018. The population gains made in 2018, combined with good overwinter survival because of abundant food in the fall and relatively mild winter conditions this year, may offset 2019's poor reproductive success, DEC said in a press release.

Guidelines for th Youth Turkey Hunt April 25-26 include:

• Hunters 12-15 years of age are eligible and must hold a hunting license and a turkey permit;

• Youth 12-13 years of age must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or adult over 21 years of age with written permission from their parent or legal guardian. Youth 14-15 years of age must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or adult over 18 years of age with written permission from their parent or legal guardian;

• The accompanying adult must have a current hunting license and turkey permit. The adult may assist the youth hunter, including calling, but may not carry a firearm, bow, or crossbow, or kill or attempt to kill a wild turkey during the youth hunt;

• Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to noon each day;

• The bag limit for the youth weekend is one bearded bird. This bird becomes part of the youth's regular spring season bag limit of two bearded birds. A second bird may be taken only in Upstate New York, north of the Bronx-Westchester County boundary, beginning May 1;

• Crossbows may only be used by hunters age 14 or older. In Suffolk and Westchester counties it is illegal to use a crossbow to hunt wild turkeys; and

• All other wild turkey hunting regulations remain in effect.

Rules for the Spring Turkey Season, May 1-31:

• Hunting is permitted in most areas of the state, except for New York City and Long Island;

• Hunters must have a turkey hunting permit in addition to their 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;

• 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. 8, or with a bow or crossbow (except crossbows may not be used in Westchester County);

• Successful hunters must fill out the tag that comes with their turkey permit and immediately attach it to any turkey harvested;

• Successful hunters must report their harvest within seven days of taking a bird. Call 1-866-426-3778 (1-866 GAMERPT) or report harvest online at DEC's Game Harvest Reporting website; and

• For more information about turkey hunting in New York, see the 2019-20 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide or visit the "Turkey Hunting" pages of DEC's website.

Buy Sporting Licenses Online

DEC is encouraging hunters, trappers, and anglers to purchase sporting licenses online to help further limit the community spread of COVID-19. Sporting licenses may be purchased online at any time, and anglers may use their privileges immediately by simply carrying their transaction number (DEC-LS#) with them while afield.

Anglers, hunters, and trappers may also use the HuntFishNY mobile app to display an electronic copy of their license.

The HuntFishNY app is available for download through the Apple App or Google Play stores. Back tags and carcass tags must still be mailed, and customers should allow 10-14 days for receipt of their tags. More information about sporting licenses is available online.

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