Spring turkey season will open on May 1 this year.

Turkey season will open May 1 in all of upstate New York north of the Bronx-Westchester County boundary, and the DEC annual youth turkey hunting is scheduled for April 21-22.

The youth turkey hunt is for junior hunter ages 12-15 is open in all of upstate New York and Suffolk County.

"Each spring in New York, nearly 90,000 turkey hunters take to the field in pursuit of this exciting game bird. This is the 15th year DEC is offering special youth-only turkey hunting opportunities for junior hunters," DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said in a press release. "The Youth Turkey Hunt is an excellent chance for young hunters to spend time afield with experienced adult hunters to learn about conservation first-hand, gaining the necessary knowledge and skills to become safe and responsible members of New York's hunting community."

The spring turkey harvest is expected to be down from last year, due to reproductive success is below the long-term average, and harsh winter conditions.

Almost 6,000 junior hunters harvested an estimated 1,600 birds during the two-day youth-only hunt in 2017. The estimated turkey harvest for spring 2017 was about 17,500 birds.

For more information on turkey hunting in New York State, visit the DEC website.

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