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GOBBLE GOBBLE: May 1 is Upstate New York opener for spring Turkey season

Published on April 29, 2025

Turkey DEC

GOBBLE GOBBLE! Hunters are gearing up for a springtime tradition here in the North Country – the opening of Turkey season on May 1.

According to the DEC, New York State is home to some of the best turkey hunting opportunities in the Northeast, with diverse landscapes and abundant turkey populations statewide.

Average spring bird harvests range between 16,000 to 18,000 turkeys and the DEC says certain years can be an overabundance of large Toms for hunters to target, while some years are on the thinner side.

It all depends on summer poult production, which has improved in recent years and is based on trends from two-years prior.

Although New York turkey populations experienced declines from their peak in the early 2000s, populations are generally stable statewide.

DEC continues to monitor population trends and implement conservation efforts to support sustainable hunting opportunities.

Tips for a Successful and Safe Turkey Hunting Season: Turkey hunting is safe and it is important that hunters remain vigilant to keep it that way.

  1. Don't stalk. More than half of turkey hunting injuries happen when one hunter stalks another.
  2. Always assume any call or footsteps you hear are from another hunter. Don't shoot until you clearly see the whole turkey and know its sex.
  3. If you see another hunter, talk to him or her clearly, and don't move. Never wave or use a turkey call to alert another hunter.
  4. When calling, sit still with your back against a big tree, to hide you from turkeys and stalkers.
  5. Never wear turkey colors -- red, white, or blue. 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 tree near you.
  6. If you take a turkey or carry a decoy, wrap it in hunter orange.
  7. Turkeys are tough. You need to be close (30 yards or less is best). You need to get a clear head and neck shot. Do not try to shoot them in the body or when they are flying.
  8. 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.
  9. Do research and pattern your shotgun to learn what works for your setup.

 NYS DEC image.

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