State proposes wild turkey hunting season for 2023
A wild turkey peeks from behind a tree in Bellport on Nov. 26, 2019. Credit: Newsday/Steve Pfost
Watch out, Suffolk County wild turkeys.
Draft regulations "giving hunters additional turkey hunting opportunities" — including a spring turkey season for Suffolk in 2023 — have been proposed by the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
The spring season would be from May 1 through May 31, "with a bag limit of one bearded bird," a department news release said in the announcement, made Wednesday.
"The existence of wild turkeys on Long Island is a relatively recent phenomenon, with populations growing to more than 3,000 birds," according to the release. "The first turkey hunting season on Long Island was a five-day fall season in 2009 with a one-bird bag limit."
"In addition, another proposal scheduled to take effect this fall, would change the minimum shot size from #8 to #9 for turkey hunting statewide, to account for advances in shotshell technology," the release said. "Previously, shot sizes smaller than #8 were prohibited because they lacked the kinetic energy downrange to humanely harvest a turkey."
Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.
Sarra Sounds Off, Season 3, Ep 3: Top football teams in action, fantasy update and plays of the week Gregg Sarra sounds off on the Northport and Half Hollow Hills East matchup, plus Tess Ferguson has an update on the high school fantasy football standings and Jared Vailuzzi has the plays of the week.
Sarra Sounds Off, Season 3, Ep 3: Top football teams in action, fantasy update and plays of the week Gregg Sarra sounds off on the Northport and Half Hollow Hills East matchup, plus Tess Ferguson has an update on the high school fantasy football standings and Jared Vailuzzi has the plays of the week.
