May is Turkey Season in New York

The 2014 spring turkey season opens today in all of New York north of the Bronx-Westchester County boundary, and it includes several Citizen Scientist opportunities. 

“Approximately 100,000 turkey hunters will take to the field this spring, making it a very popular activity,” said New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens. “Governor Cuomo recognizes the importance of offering this special opportunity for junior hunters. The Youth Turkey Hunt is an excellent chance for young hunters to spend time afield with experienced adult hunters to learn about conservation first-hand, gaining the necessary knowledge and skills to become safe and responsible members of New York’s hunting community.”

New York's turkey population—surely you've seen them in your neighborhood, or office park parking lot—is a large one. 

So large, in fact, that Connecticut re-introduced wild turkeys into that state with New York birds. 

Connecticut state wildlife managers successfully employed a new method in the 1970s: they attracted turkeys in New York with bait and then used rockets to shoot a large, lightweight net over them. The 22 captured turkeys were released in Connecticut, where they took up residence. In subsequent years, as turkeys successfully bred and increased in number, wildlife managers used the same method to capture turkeys in Connecticut and move them elsewhere in the state.

Here is more from the New York Department of Conservation:

 Important Details for the Spring Turkey Season, May 1-31, 2014:

• 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 small game hunting or sportsman license (if purchased before Feb. 1) or hunting license (if purchased afterFeb. 1).
• 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 and arrow.
• Crossbows may not be used for the spring 2014 turkey season.
• 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 athttp://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8316.html. 

The state’s enacted 2014-15 budget, signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo, includes language authorizing the use of crossbows for hunting under certain circumstances. DEC will draft regulations soon and will implement the new law in time for the fall 2014 hunting season. Hunters cannot use crossbows to take wild turkey during the 2014 spring season. For more information about turkey hunting in New York, see the 2013-14 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide or visit the “Turkey Hunting” pages of DEC’s website athttp://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8366.html.  

New York has an extremely safety-conscious generation of hunters, largely due to the annual efforts of more than 3,000 dedicated volunteer sportsman education instructors. DEC suggests hunters  follow the cardinal rules of hunting safety: assume every gun is loaded,  control the muzzle,  keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot,  be absolutely sure of your target and what may be beyond it and  don’t stalk.  Set up with your back against a large tree and call birds to you. To find a sportsman education class in your area, go to:http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7860.html or call 1-888-HUNT-ED2 (1-888-486-8332).

Governor Cuomo’s NY Open for Fishing and Hunting Initiative is an effort to improve recreational opportunities for sportsmen and women and to boost tourism activities throughout the state. This initiative includes streamlining fishing and hunting licenses, reducing license fees, improving access for fishing and increasing hunting opportunities in New York State.

In support of this initiative, this year's budget includes $6 million in NY Works funding to support creating 50 new land and water access projects to connect hunters, anglers, bird watchers and others who enjoy the outdoors to more than 380,000 acres of existing state and easement lands that have gone largely untapped until now. These 50 new access projects include building new boat launches, installing new hunting blinds and building new trails and parking areas. In addition, the 2014-15 budget includes $4 million to repair the state's fish hatcheries.

This year's budget also reduces short-term fishing licenses fees; increases the number of authorized statewide free fishing days to eight from two; authorizes DEC to offer 10 days of promotional prices for hunting, fishing and trapping licenses; and authorizes free Adventure Plates for new lifetime license holders, discounted Adventure Plates for existing lifetime license holders and regular fee Adventure Plates for annual license holders 

Citizen Science Opportunities:

DEC Seeks Turkey Hunters for Ruffed Grouse Drumming Survey - Turkey hunters in pursuit of that wary gobbler in the spring are ideally suited for monitoring ruffed grouse during the breeding season. Turkey hunters can record the number of grouse they hear drumming while afield to help DEC track the distribution and abundance of this game bird. To get a survey form, go to http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/48169.html or call (518) 402-8886.          

To participate in DEC’s Summer Wild Turkey Sighting Survey or other wildlife surveys, visit the “Citizen Science” page of the DEC website, http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/1155.html.

Send DEC your pictures:

Do you have photos from a spring turkey hunt you would like to share? 

DEC has created a Hunting and Trapping Photo Gallery for junior hunters ages 12-15, young trappers under age 16, and hunters who have harvested their first big or small game animal. If you are the parent or legal guardian of a junior hunter, or if you are an adult who would like to share your first successful hunt, visit the photo gallery on the DEC website, http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/54055.html.