For Release: Tuesday, October 4, 2005

DEC: Saturday Kicked off Eastern NY Fall Turkey Season

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Acting Commissioner Denise M. Sheehan today announced that hunters can expect a great fall turkey hunting season, which opened on Saturday, October 1, 2005, in eastern New York. The season opens in Western New York areas on Saturday, October 22, 2005.

"This past weekend's great weather helped kick off our 2005 fall turkey seasons, giving hunters the opportunities to bring home their own Thanksgiving dinner," Commissioner Sheehan said. "I encourage hunters to remember the most important part of a successful season - safety. Before going afield, all hunters should review the hunting safety guidelines contained in DEC's Hunting and Trapping Guide."

Details of the 2005 fall turkey hunting season regulations are included on the DEC website and in this year's Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide. Some highlights include:

Turkey hunting is permitted in most areas of the State, except for New York City and Long Island;
Season dates and bag limits vary among the five turkey regions of the state. Opening day in eastern New York is October 1, as it has been for many years. Opening day in western New York is on a Saturday (October 22) for the first time ever. This adjustment was made as part of an overall restructuring of hunting seasons, including opening of regular big game seasons in the Southern Zone on a Saturday;
Shooting hours are sunrise to sunset each day;
In areas with a 2-bird season limit, hunters may take both birds in one day;
Hunters must have a turkey hunting permit in addition to their small game hunting or sportsman license. Hunters can obtain the permits from any license-issuing agent; and
Hunters are required to tag and report any birds they shoot (see below).

Fall 2005 Outlook

During fall 2004, hunters took an estimated 12,200 birds, after several years of average or below average wild turkey production in New York. We expect hunting opportunities and harvest to increase this year because of excellent production this summer. DEC compiles data on turkey populations during August each year, and while the data have not been analyzed yet, preliminary indications are that nesting success was well above average. This was likely because we did not have cold, wet conditions during late spring that often reduce nest success or survival of young turkey poults (young of the year).

Spring 2005 Season

The spring 2005 harvest estimate is not available yet, but hunter reports of birds taken suggest that harvest was similar to the 26,300 birds taken in spring 2004.

The 2005 spring hunting season also featured New York's second youth hunt for wild turkey, held April 23-24. Approximately 6,800 youth hunters (12-15-years of age) participated in this special opportunity and they took an estimated 1,161 turkeys. Results of a survey conducted after the youth hunt indicated that it was again very well received by the youth hunters and their parents. Commissioner Sheehan said "New York State recognizes that our young people represent the future of environmental conservation. I congratulate all of the youth and their adult mentors who participated in this special opportunity."

Mandatory Harvest Reporting

Harvest reporting requirements have changed over the years, but hunters are reminded that they are required by DEC regulation to report any turkeys they shoot. Any hunter who has taken a turkey must fill out the tag which comes with their hunting permit and immediately attach it to any turkey shot. The hunter must also, within 48 hours of taking the animal, report the harvest via the DECALS phone reporting system (1-866-GAME-RPT) and provide the information requested during the call.

Turkey Hunting Safety

Hunting safety should be a primary emphasis throughout the fall turkey season, as it should be during any hunting season. Some important safety tips for turkey hunting include:

Do not stalk turkeys - it is too dangerous! Most turkey hunting injuries happen when one hunter stalks another;
Never wear turkey colors - red, white or blue;
Assume anything that sounds like a turkey is another turkey hunter;
Call with a large tree at your back. Wrap an orange vest around a tree near your calling location to let other hunters know you are there;
If you see another hunter....DON'T MOVE. Speak up in a loud, clear voice to identify yourself; and
Be especially careful when carrying a decoy or harvested bird in the field - keep it covered if possible.

The National Wild Turkey Federation has taken a leadership role in promoting turkey restoration and hunting safety. For more information about hunting tactics and safety tips, go to their website: www.nwtf.org/new_hunting_tactics.html.

For More Information

For more information on turkey hunting and harvest in New York, see the DEC website or see this year's Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide for details.

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