Spring Turkey Season is Right Around the Corner in New York

Right on the heels of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's annual Youth Turkey hunting weekend, is Spring Turkey Season, opening on Monday, May first in New York, north of the Bronx-Westchester County line.

According to the NYSDEC, this year's turkey population is up from previous years and this spring's hunting season is expected to yield more than the 18,400 birds taken last spring.

In order to take part in the spring season, you must have a turkey hunting permit in addition to a hunting license and rifles or handguns that fire bullets are not permitted. You can use shotguns or hand guns that use shot sizes no bigger than a 2 or smaller than an 8 and hunting is permitted from a half-hour before sunrise until noon. Bows and crossbows are also permitted.

While you can take two birds, you can't do it on the same day and while you must attach the tag on your turkey permit immediately on your turkey, you have up to seven days to report it.

You can get more information on the upcoming Turkey season here, and should you be successful during this spring's hunt, you can report your harvest here. While New York has some of the most safety-conscious hunters in the country, it's always good to brush up on some safety tips before you head out.