Gobble, Gobble! Turkey Hunting Season Starts May 1

The spring turkey hunting season opens on May 1st in New York state, and the annual Youth Turkey Hunting Weekend is set for April 24-25.

Hunting is permitted in most areas of the state, except for New York City and Long Island. Shooting hours are from a half hour before sunrise to noon each day.

Hunters take an average of about 35,000 turkeys each spring, and last year was no different. The top five counties for harvest last spring were Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Steuben, Oneida, and Otsego.

The harvest last fall was far below average, however, at only 7,204 birds. That's a decrease of 38 percent from the fall 2008, and the lowest fall harvest in 20 years.

The decline was attributed to fewer hunters and a very poor nesting season in the summer of 2009.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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