Practice your turkey call, the season is opening soon.  The NY DEC announced spring season will open May 1.  The Youth Hunting Weekend is this weekend, April 23 and 24.

The season for all of upstate New York, north of the Bronx-Westchester County boundary will run May 1 through May 31.  The 13th annual youth turkey hunting weekend is April 23-24 for junior hunters aged 12-15.  DEC Acting Commissioner Basil Seggos says they anticipate a larger than normal number of birds for the season.

Improved reproductive success in 2015 coupled with a mild winter has increased the number of turkeys on the landscape beyond the past few years, providing better prospects for New York's spring turkey hunters this season

Here are the rules in place for the spring season:

  • 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.
  • 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 or report harvest online at DEC's website.

Some additional details regarding the Youth Hunt this weekend:

  • 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 youth turkey hunt is open in all of upstate New York, north of the Bronx-Westchester County boundary and across Suffolk County.
  • 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.
  • All other wild turkey hunting regulations remain in effect.

More From Big Frog 104