DEC forecast on spring wild turkey hunting season: Adult gobblers could be scarce
Updated Apr 29, 2021;
Posted Apr 29, 2021
Two adult gobblers (male) wild turkeys. A female turkey is called a hen, and it is quite different from its flamboyant male counterpart. Female turkeys do the majority of incubation and caring for young chicks, and their plumage is much more camouflaged to help provide them with better security while on the nest or tending youngsters.
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New York’s spring turkey season kicks off Saturday in all parts of Upstate New York. Hunters will likely see lots of birds, but fewer adult gobblers (mature male birds) than usual, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
DEC forecast on spring wild turkey hunting season: Adult gobblers could be scarce
Updated Apr 29, 2021;
Posted Apr 29, 2021
Two adult gobblers (male) wild turkeys. A female turkey is called a hen, and it is quite different from its flamboyant male counterpart. Female turkeys do the majority of incubation and caring for young chicks, and their plumage is much more camouflaged to help provide them with better security while on the nest or tending youngsters.
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New York’s spring turkey season kicks off Saturday in all parts of Upstate New York. Hunters will likely see lots of birds, but fewer adult gobblers (mature male birds) than usual, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
Turkey Hunting
New York State has both spring and fall hunting seasons. The most successful turkey hunters use a variety of calls (e.g., box calls, slate calls, mouth calls) to bring a bird within gun range (usually 30 yards or less). Head-to-toe camouflage helps hunters to stay undetected prior to the shot. Movement must only occur when the bird is behind a tree or other obstacle. Few hunting experiences can rival the excitement as a turkey approaches a hunter. Turkey hunters need to be extremely careful, however, before taking a shot.
The excitement of a turkey hunt should sharpen the hunter s awareness of key safety rules: Always identify the target before shooting, and be sure that no other person is in harm s way. Some people are tempted to try to stalk a wild turkey. Forget it! First, it is extremely difficult to approach a turkey undetected. You will be much more successful calling the bird to you. Second, stalking turkeys puts both you and other hunters at risk. Let the bir