In New York State, the spring turkey season started on Wednesday, May 1 and will end on Friday, May 31. You may take two bearded gobbler turkeys, but only one per day. 

You do need to take careful spur, beard and weight measurements for reporting your harvest. 

Spurs should be measured from the tip of the spur to the base of the spur, where it emerges from the scaly part of the leg. Measure to the nearest 1/4 inch.

Beard measurements should start from the tip of the beard to the base, where it emerges from the skin. Put the end of your ruler against the base of the beard and extend the beard along the body of the ruler. Measure to the nearest 1/4 of an inch.

Record the weight of the turkey to the nearest pound. 

Hunting hours for the spring gobbler turkey season is a half hour before sunrise to noon each day. 

Pennsylvania’s spring gobbler turkey season starts on Saturday, May 4 and ends on Friday, May 31. Only bearded turkeys may be taken. Daily limit is one, and the season limit is two.

The spring gobbler turkeys may be only taken by hunters who possess a valid special wild turkey license. Hunting hours from May 4 to May 18 is half an hour before sunrise until noon. 

From May 20-31, legal hunting hours are half an hour before sunrise until half an hour after sunset. During this time and date, hunters can hunt for bearded turkeys all day. 

Good luck to all turkey hunters hunting in New York and Pennsylvania. Enjoy the hunt, but please make sure of your target and beyond before you shoot.  

Attention Crossbow Hunters!

The New York Crossbow Coalition is seeking hunters to join their Crossbow Coalition. They say, your bow choice should be yours.

The Crossbow Coalition is a dynamic and dedicated action group committed to advancing the rights and interest of crossbow hunters across the state of New York.  

They currently have two crossbow bills, A2940 and S3191, pending in the New York State Congress. If these bills are approved by the Assembly and the Senate, they will do the following: 

1. Change crossbows from muzzleloader privilege to archery privilege. 

2. Allow 55 and older to use crossbows during the entire archery season. 

3. Allow junior archery license hunters to use a crossbow during the entire archery season starting at age 12. 

4. Allow hunters between the age of 16 and 54 with DR certified disability to hunt during the entire archery season. 

5. Retains current 10-day Northern Zone and 14-day Southern Zone seasons for 16-54 without disability exemption. 

6. Reduce discharge setback from 250 to 150 and 

7. Remove the max 200lb draw weight and the 17” with restrictions.

To get more information, and an application to join the Crossbow Coalition, go to: info@crossbowcoalition.com.