Outdoors with Larry DiDonato

2024 Spring Turkey Season in Full Swing

Mike and Mike "tag-out." Mike Brennan, of Saugerties, "tagged-out"  bagging his second gobbler while hunting with good friend and hunting partner, Mike Dodig, also of Saugerties. Brennan shot this mature three-year-old tom to close out his 2024 spring turkey season; "tagging-out" by the third day on May 3rd. Mike Dodig got his limit harvesting his second gobbler one week later on May 11th. It's been a great start to the spring season confirming expectations. Turkey harvests are up seventeen percent over the past three years. 

We are smack in the middle of the 2024 regular spring turkey hunting season and if the current trend continues, it looks to be a good year for NY turkey hunters. The regular spring turkey season opened on May 1^st in Upstate NY and in Suffolk County and closes on May 31^st. During spring turkey seasons, hunters can harvest two bearded birds for the season, but only one on any given day. Estimates are the spring turkey harvest this year is up approximately 17 percent over the past three years. This is in-line with anecdotal observations where a number of local hunters are sending in reports of already having “tagging out”, by harvesting their second mature gobbler. The earlier youth turkey hunting weekend in late April also enjoyed similar success. 

Wild Turkey Population Trends

DEC uses harvest data and surveys as indices of population size and trends. They currently estimate a statewide population of between 160,000-180,000 birds. 

“After reaching their peak around 2001, wild turkey populations declined gradually over the next decade. This was followed by a more severe decline since 2009. There are several reasons for this, including a natural population contraction as turkey populations settled down to levels more in line with local environmental conditions. Other factors include density dependence, poor production, and changing habitats and predator communities.”

 DEC says reasons for declines in turkey numbers include cold wet spring weather, tough winters, and changes in habitat quantity and quality. Predation can play a role in limiting turkey populations but it’s more likely poor habitat quality makes birds, their nests, and broods more vulnerable to predation. 

“…in highly fragmented landscapes predators may be more efficient in finding turkeys and their nests. This is particularly true for nest predators such as raccoons, skunks, and opossums. In areas with poor brood habitat quality, such as low stem densities or poor overhead cover, turkeys and poults may be more vulnerable to predation.”

The good news is while overall NY turkey populations are lower currently than in the early 2000s, for the past eight or nine years, they have been stable across the state. 

Spring turkey harvests in NY average between 16,000 to 18,000 birds. Biologists anticipated improved turkey harvest this year and the birds are definitely cooperating. Lots of gobbling especially early in the month made it easier to locate and set-up for wary toms.  

Spring Turkey Harvest Data Dashboard

In both the spring and fall, DEC uses extensive hunter surveys to reliably estimate turkey harvest. Data from these surveys help biologists understand trends in populations around the state and are used to help guide management. DEC recently released a new interactive online dashboard for the public to explore historic spring turkey harvest. The dashboard allows hunters to select Wildlife Management Unit aggregates near where they hunt or where they are considering hunting to understand trends in turkey harvest success. For more information or to explore the data, visit DEC’s website.   

DEC reminds everyone to hunt safe and hunt smart by following these guidelines to support hunter safety:

• Hunting is permitted in most areas of the state, except for New York City and Nassau County.
• Hunters must have a turkey hunting permit in addition to a 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 and no more than one bird per season in Wildlife Management Unit 1C (Suffolk County).
• 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. 9, or with a bow or crossbow. Crossbows may not be used in Westchester or Suffolk counties.
• Successful hunters must fill out the tag that comes with a turkey permit and immediately attach it to any turkey harvested.
• Successful hunters must report harvests within seven days of taking a bird. Report harvests online at DEC's Game Harvest Reporting website or call 1-866-426-3778 (1-866 GAMERPT).

For more information about turkey hunting in New York, see the 2023-24 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide or visit the Turkey Hunting pages of DEC's website.

Tips for a Successful and Safe Turkey Hunting Season

• Don't stalk. More than half of turkey hunting injuries happen when a hunter stalks another.
• Wear hunter orange when going in or out of the woods and when walking around.
• When sitting still waiting for a turkey, put hunter orange on a nearby tree.
• When calling, sit still with against a tree to break-up any silhouette.
• Wrap any takes or decoys in hunter orange.
• Never wear turkey colors – red, white, or blue.
• Always assume any call or footsteps are from another hunter. Don't shoot until the whole turkey can be observed and its sex identified.
• When encountering another hunter, speak clearly and don't move. Never wave or use a turkey call to alert another hunter.
• Turkeys are tough, and 30 yards or less is the best distance for a clear head or neck shot. Do not try to shoot turkeys in the body or while they are flying.
• Smaller shot, no. 4, 5, and 6, work better than larger shot, due to denser shot patterns. New shotshell technologies allow for shot sizes as small as 8 and 9 to be effective for turkeys. Do research and pattern shotguns to learn what works for each setup.

Happy Hunting, Fishing, and Trapping until next time!

News and Notes…

The New York Bowhunters Banquet in Greenville is Saturday, May 18^th 

New York Bowhunters will hold their 33^rd Annual Banquet and Rendezvous on Saturday, May 18^th 2023 at the Sunny Hill Resort and golf course at 352 Sunny Hill Road in Greenville, NY. For early birds arriving the day before, there will be a BBQ on Friday night at 6:00 pm with a 50/50 raffle. Discounted rooms that include breakfast at Sunny Hill are available. Go to www.sunnyhill.com or call them at 518-634-7642 to make your discounted room reservation. Registration for the day’s activities start at 9:00 am with their General Meeting scheduled for 1:00 pm, cocktail hour at 5:00 pm, and dinner and silent auction at 6:00 pm. The keynote speaker this year is Colorado big game hunter and guide, John Gardner. The event includes 3D archery and novelty shoots, antler scoring, contests, prizes, and free golf for NY Bowhunter members. Genesis bows will be provided for participants. There will be vendor tables, raffles and plenty of fun things to do. Tickets are $55.00 for individuals with kids under 12 are free. To purchase tickets and for more information, contact Annie Jacobs via email at nyboffice@newyorkbowhunters.com , or by regular mail: 5937 County Road 33 Canandaigua, NY 14424. You can also give Annie a call at 585-229-7468 for more information.  Local NY Bowhunters representative Ed Gorch reminds all attending to bring a gift box for their “Camo to Camo” program supporting our veterans.

Norton Hill Wildlife Club’s First 2024 Trap Shooting Event Will be Held on May 12^th 

Trap shooting at Norton Hill Wildlife Club at 946 Big Woods Road in Greenville begins at 10:00 am on Sunday, May 12^th and continues at the same time on June 9^th and 16^th, July 14^th and 28^th, August 4^th and 25^th, and on September 15^th and 29^th.  Cost is just $5.00 per round. Bring your own ammo. Trap shooting is open to all; you don’t have to be a member to take advantage of this opportunity. 

Remember to report poaching violations by calling 1-844-DEC-ECOS.