Log in Subscribe
Sportsman Outdoors

Turkey Season!

Jack Danchak
Posted 4/29/22

The spring turkey season in New York starts on May 1 and ends on May 31. Hunters are allowed to take two bearded turkeys, but only one bird per day. If you fill your bag limit, you may call turkeys …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in
Sportsman Outdoors

Turkey Season!

Posted

The spring turkey season in New York starts on May 1 and ends on May 31. Hunters are allowed to take two bearded turkeys, but only one bird per day. If you fill your bag limit, you may call turkeys for another hunter, but you cannot carry a bow or firearm. You must report a turkey to DEC within 7 days, call 866-426-3778.

Shooting hours are from thirty minutes before sunrise until noon. Immediately after taking a turkey, you must fill out the carcass tag and attach it to the turkey. The carcass tag must stay attached to the turkey carcass until it is prepared for eating.  

Pennsylvania’s spring turkey season starts on April 30 and ends on May 31. Hunters are allowed to take one bearded turkey with the general hunting license, and if desired to take a second turkey a hunter must purchase a second turkey permit before the season begins. Cost to residents is $21.97 and $41.97 for non-residents.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission expects more than 150,000 hunters will take to the forest and fields this spring to hunt turkeys.

PA turkey biologist Mary Jo Casalena said the statewide flock of turkeys, always among the largest anywhere in the east, is likely bigger right now than at any time in the last few years. She credits an influx of new turkeys into the population because of warm, dry weather last spring, and in places there were lots of cicadas to eat. A survey taken revealed 3.1 poults per hen, an average statewide.

Mary Jo said, “all this should translate into a lot of high spirited Jakes on the landscape. Hunters should find a larger than normal percentage of older 3-year-old turkeys out there too. So there’s certainly reason for optimism again this year.”

Mary Jo went on to say, “The most important call is the hen yep. The hunters want to imitate a hen to attract a gobbler to come within range. After that it’s a matter of practicing and learning other calls like the different cackles and purrs and understanding when to use each. Friction calls have a great sound and pitch, while mouth calls are the most convenient, especially when sitting still is important.”

Good luck and safe hunting to all turkey hunters!

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here