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DEC Announces Annual Youth Turkey Hunting Weekend
April 25-26
Published: April 23, 2026 at
01:30 p.m.
By: Press Release
from NYS DEC
DEC Announces Annual Youth Turkey Hunting Weekend
April 25-26
New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton
today announced DEC's annual youth turkey hunting weekend will take place
April 25-26. The youth turkey hunt, for junior hunters ages 12-15, is open
across upstate New York and Suffolk County.
“Connecting young
hunters with adult mentors provides a chance to teach the next generation
about safety, ethics, and outdoor appreciation,” DEC’s Deputy
Commissioner for Natural Resources Katharine Petronis said. “The
youth hunt is another great opportunity to ‘Get Offline and Get Outside’ by
spending quality time connecting with nature.”
Important Details
for the Youth Turkey Hunt on April 25 and 26
- Hunters 12-15 years of age are eligible and
must hold a hunting license and a turkey permit.
- Youth 12-13 years of age must be accompanied
by a parent, legal guardian, or adult over 21 years of age with
written permission from their parent or legal guardian. Youth 14-15
years of age must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or adult
over 18 years of age with written permission from their parent or
legal guardian.
- The accompanying adult must have a current
hunting license and turkey permit. The adult may assist the youth
hunter, including calling, but may not carry a firearm, bow, or
crossbow, or kill or attempt to kill a wild turkey during the youth
hunt.
- Shooting hours are from one-half hour before
sunrise to noon each day.
- The youth turkey hunt is open in all upstate
New York, north of the Bronx-Westchester County boundary, and across
Suffolk County.
- The bag limit for the youth weekend is one
bearded bird. This bird becomes part of the youth's regular spring
season bag limit of two bearded birds. A second bird may be taken only
in upstate New York, north of the Bronx-Westchester County boundary,
beginning May 1.
- Junior hunters may not use rifles or
handguns. Junior hunters may hunt with a shotgun loaded with shot
sizes no larger than No. 2 or smaller than No. 9, or with a bow.
Fourteen- and fifteen-year-old hunters may also use a
crossbow.
- All other wild turkey hunting regulations
remain in effect.
DEC Continues to
Encourage Hunter Safety
Statistics show
that hunting in New York State is safer than ever. Hunting-related
shooting incidents are easily prevented by following the four basics of
firearm safety:
- Always point your
firearm in a safe direction.
- Treat every firearm as if it were
loaded.
- Be sure of your target and beyond.
- Keep your finger off the trigger until ready
to shoot.
DEC also
encourages hunters to practice these specific safety behaviors when hunting
spring turkeys:
- Don't wear red, white, blue, or black;
- Never stalk turkeys; and
- If you see or hear another hunter, shout and
use your words. Don't try to signal or wave to get their
attention.
For more
information on the youth hunt for wild turkey visit DEC’s website.
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