A healthy wild turkey can grow to well over 25 pounds. The New York State Spring Wild Turkey Hunting Season will run May 1–31. Photo by James Monteleone

Starting on Thursday the outdoor world for hunters in New York State bursts into renewal with the start of spring turkey season.

There is no more exciting hunting mode than pursuing wild turkeys in the springtime. The birds are wary, have keen eyesight (monocular vision), and have excellent hearing–the reason why turkey calls are so popular.

The regular New York spring turkey hunting season runs May 1 through May 31 and is open across most of New York State, excluding New York City and Nassau County. Hunters can harvest two bearded birds (males) during the season, but only one per day. The exception is in Suffolk County (WMU 1C), where the limit is one bird per season. Statewide hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to noon each day. A valid hunting license and turkey hunting permit are required of each hunter. While most turkey hunters use a 12-gauge shotgun with an extra full choke and #4-6 turkey pellet load, NY hunters may not use rifles or handguns that can fire a single bullet. Only pellet shot loads are allowed.

Hunters may hunt with a handgun loaded with shot sizes no larger than No. 2 or smaller than No. 9 (same shot load size constraints for a shotgun) or with a bow or crossbow (except crossbows may not be used in Westchester or Suffolk counties). We still have the usual crossbow physical size and loading force restrictions here in New York, though experts say this will change soon.

Successful turkey hunters must fill out the harvest tag that comes with their turkey permit and immediately attach it to any turkey harvested, then report their harvest within seven days of taking a bird. Do that by calling 1-866-426-3778 (1-866 GAMERPT) or use the easy way, report the harvest online at the DEC Game Harvest Reporting webpage at https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/hunting/report-your-harvest. The NYS youth turkey hunting weekend was last weekend, April 26-27, when many of our 12-15-year-old youth enjoyed a day in the woods with a mentor. Some did bag a turkey. For more details about safety and turkey hunting in New York, visit https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/hunting/turkey. Remember, safety is paramount in all outdoor activities, and adhering to the regulations for a secure and enjoyable experience is essential.

DEC reports that our turkey populations have been down from their peak 20 years ago, but are stable across the state today. Certain southern-tier hunting WMUs have reported high turkey populations. Spring turkey harvests in New York average 16,000 – 18,000 birds, with fluctuations based on turkey productivity in previous breeding seasons. With improved summer poult production in recent years, DEC reported that they expect an increase in turkey harvest this spring. Since hunters primarily target toms (2+ year-old birds), turkey harvest often reflects productivity trends from two years prior. Hunters see and experience many things in the wild while out hunting. This year, DEC is asking turkey hunters to play a more critical role in wildlife conservation by helping record and report the number of ruffed grouse they hear drumming in the field. This will help DEC track the distribution and abundance of ruffed grouse. To get a survey form, call 518-402-8883.

Last but not least, hunters are encouraged to wear blaze orange or blaze pink when moving between hunting spots to make themselves visible to other hunters. The essential safety rules include these: Point your firearm in a safe direction; treat every gun as if loaded; be sure of your target and beyond; keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot; and remember that stalking stinks! Set up with your back against a large tree or other object wider than your shoulders and call birds to you.

Following the morning hunt on Saturday, May 3, hunters can share their tales or tail fans with the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Group of WNY, which is holding its NYS spring turkey kick-off seminar. It will run from 2-4 p.m., with Brad Cimino, seminar speaker and host, at Rusty Nickel Brewing, 4350 Seneca Street in West Seneca. For tickets ($20), visit https://www.backcountryhunters.org.

Gotta love the outdoors.

Outdoor Calendar:

Apr. 29: Junior Olympic Archery Program (JOAD) for youth 5 – 16 yrs of age, 6 p.m. start, West Falls Conservation, 55 Bridge St., West Falls, NY.

May 1: NYS Fishing Seasons Open for walleye, northern pike, pickerel, and tiger musky. Visit: https://dec.ny.gov.

May 1: NYS Spring Turkey Season Opens. Visit: https://dec.ny.gov.

May 3: SWA 1-Day Perch Derby, L. Erie, $40 entry, Southtowns Walleye, Paul Sanchez, 716-228-6520

May 3: Kids & Adults Fishing Clinic, Free, 10AM-2PM, Gowanda Volunteer Fire Dept., 230 Aldrich St., Gowanda; Register: https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/225644; Info: gowandafirerescue@gmail.com. NOTE: Send Calendar info or related outdoor news to forrestfisher35@yahoo.com.