Wild turkeys are one of the most popular game species in New York State. About 90,000 hunters participate in the spring hunting season and 45,000 hunters take to the field each fall in pursuit of this great game bird.
We set the timing of the seasons, season lengths, and bag limits fairly conservatively. This ensures a sustainable harvest and a quality hunting experience. We base these decisions on long-term biological data such as:
- historic harvest numbers from the spring and fall seasons
- surveys of poults and hens during the summer
- surveys of flocks during the winter
- estimates of habitat quantity and quality in various geographic areas
- research findings about survival and harvest rates
Turkey harvest management can be quite a challenge. Our primary goal is to protect the long-term security of the wild turkey population while still providing opportunities for hunters and others to enjoy the wild turkey resource now and in the future.
Management Considerations for the Spring Season
Breeding Season
The spring hunting season lines up with the breeding season for wild turkeys. A recent study by Virginia Tech looked at the timing of turkey hunting seasons in the northeastern U.S. It found that the timing of New York's spring season was ideal based on data for breeding and nesting turkeys in our region.
The goal for managing the spring hunting season is to:
- give hunters the greatest amount of opportunity to go afield and harvest a bird;
- minimize the risk to nesting hens, causing minimum disruption to breeding behavior; and
- minimize the risk of overharvest. To do this, we open the spring season near the median date for the onset of incubation (when hens are on nests).
When managing the wild turkey, it is important that spring harvest is limited to males or "gobblers". Research has shown that, in many cases, you can remove a large portion (up to 30%) of the gobblers from a population and still have a healthy turkey population. The removal of females ("hens") by hunting, predation, disease, or other means plays a much larger role in limiting the turkey population. Therefore, we try to reduce the loss of hens during the critical breeding, nesting, and brood-rearing (raising young) season in the spring. In New York, spring turkey hunters are allowed to take only "bearded birds". The vast majority of bearded birds are males, although a small number of females have beards (about 5%). However, only about 1% of the spring harvest is bearded hens, and we have found that this does not have a significant impact on turkey numbers.
Shooting Hours
One way we try to protect hens in the spring is to restrict shooting hours. The current shooting hours from ½-hour before sunrise until noon are intended to protect nesting hens. Incubating hens (hens sitting on eggs in a nest) tend to leave the nest to feed in the afternoon. If hunters are in the field in the afternoon, the likelihood that a hen is killed, either accidentally (mistaken for a gobbler) or illegally ("poaching") may increase. Research in states like Missouri, Virginia, and West Virginia has shown that poaching can have a negative impact on population growth.
Other concerns related to all-day hunting include:
- disturbing birds when they are going to the roost in the evening
- potential for people to shoot birds while they are roosted in trees at dusk
- disruption of traditional spring hunting activities such as "roosting" birds at dusk (locating birds at a distance by encouraging them to gobble while on the roost)
Management Considerations for the Fall Season
Due to concerns about the decreasing turkey population, DEC began a multi-year project which will guide decisions regarding the fall hunting season structure. Its purpose was to understand and respond to long-term declines in turkey populations and to ensure that harvest opportunities are sustainable (maintaining consistent numbers). The new fall hunting season structure began in 2015. It is based on the results of research conducted by DEC and its partners on ecological and social factors that influence turkey populations and management. This included:
- a study of how weather and habitat features influence the number of turkeys found in different parts of the state;
- surveys of turkey hunters to identify what they value in terms of turkey populations, a high-quality hunting experience, and the trade-offs they are willing to make between hunting opportunity and turkey abundance; and
- field research where more than 450 hen turkeys are banded annually (some with satellite radios) so biologists can determine their survival and fall harvest rates.
The first step in this process was to decide on the right regional boundaries to set for the fall seasons. We assessed how weather and habitat characteristics interact to influence the turkey harvest potential of regions across the state. Analyses indicated that May and June rainfall and the complexity of habitat types, as well as edges between habitats are important determinants of the number of turkeys a particular region produces. This resulted in grouping the state into three broad geographic regions based on their similar harvest potentials (northern NY, southeastern NY, and western NY).
We analyzed biological data on population size, productivity, and survival to see how these factors vary regionally. It was also used to develop a turkey population model to simulate the effects of different fall harvest strategies on turkey population dynamics and future harvest potential. We also initiated a field study in 2013 to track hen harvest and survival.
Structured Decision Making
In order to set an appropriate fall hunting season structure, we employed a "Structured Decision Making" (SDM) process. SDM is a process which breaks a complex problem (e.g., turkey population size and harvest opportunity) into its component parts. SDM allows managers to develop a framework that evaluates strategies for providing a sustainable wild turkey population and optimal opportunities for hunters and other stakeholders.
The factors evaluated during the SDM process included:
- turkey population size
- productivity
- survival data
- hunters' motivations
- hunters' values
- hunters' trade-offs in determining between hunting opportunities and turkey abundance
These biological and social data sets then allowed us to evaluate a series of harvest alternatives, from a conservative season (2 weeks, 1 bird bag limit) to a liberal season (7 weeks, 2 bird bag limit). It allowed us to identify the optimal season framework for each region that best balances turkey populations and hunter satisfaction.
The best season alternative that did the best job of balancing the turkey population and hunter satisfaction was the same throughout the state: a two-week season with bag limit of one bird of either sex. The proposed season dates in the northern zone, southern zone and Long Island do not overlap. Therefore, a very dedicated hunter could hunt turkeys for up to six weeks in total if they were willing to move around the state.
"Making Decisions for Fall Turkey Harvest in New York State" (PDF) can be viewed for more information regarding the SDM process.
Research-informed Decision Making
The changes to the fall hunting season were evaluated as part of a four-year research program. DEC staff banded almost 2,000 hens from 2013 through 2016. We attached satellite radios to over 200 hens over the four years to assess survival rates and harvest rates under the current (2013 and 2014) and revised (2015 and 2016) fall season structure. Over the four-year study, half or more of radioed hens were lost to predation and other sources of mortality during the summer months, and the majority (about 40%) of these were lost from May 9-July 4. This pattern of higher seasonal mortality during the nesting and brood rearing season was similar across years, but annual survival varied by year. The estimated annual survival was lowest in 2013 and highest in 2016 (about 56%).
Fall harvest rates between 2013-2014 and 2015-2016 were compared because regulations were changed in 2015. Harvest rates were similar among all four years and when 2013-14 (pre-regulation change) and 2014-15 (post-regulation change) were compared (about 4%). Relatively low fall harvest rates maybe off-set by relatively high seasonal mortality and low annual survival.
While harvest rates on hens were similar among years, the percentage of hens in the harvest declined from an average of 50% in 2013-14 to 45% in 2015-16. More data are needed to determine whether the change in season structure that began in 2015 will consistently result in a lower percentage of hens in the fall harvest.
Changes to Fall Turkey Seasons
DEC adopted new regulations to modify fall turkey hunting seasons across the state starting in fall 2015. The new fall seasons are two weeks long with a statewide season bag limit of one bird of either sex. The regulatory proposal to implement these changes was published on May 13, 2015 and during the 45-day public comment period the department received over 100 comments. See the Assessment of Public Comment (PDF) to view a summary of the comments submitted and DEC's response. Almost all of the comments received on the regulatory proposal expressed concern over the decline in wild turkey populations over the past 15 years. Many were supportive of DEC's efforts to modify the fall hunting season to accommodate changing turkey populations and environmental conditions.
Wild Turkey Population Trends
We do not produce annual estimates of turkey population size. Instead, we use harvest data and other surveys as indices of population size and trends. Based on these data, we estimate an average statewide population of 160,000-180,000 birds. There are some problems with using harvest numbers as an index of abundance. However, in general, harvest data do a fair job of showing trends in populations over time (view the graphs of trends in fall harvest and spring harvest).
After reaching their peak around 2001, wild turkey populations declined gradually over the next decade. This was followed by a more severe decline since 2009. There are several reasons for this, including a natural population contraction as turkey populations settled down to levels more in line with local environmental conditions. Other factors include density dependence, poor production, and changing habitats and predator communities.
The decline in turkey numbers may be more pronounced in some areas. Reasons for this include cold wet spring weather, tough winters, and changes in habitat quantity and quality. In areas where open habitats such as agricultural fields, hayfields, old fields, thickets, and young forests have been lost due to development and vegetative succession, there are fewer turkeys. In areas with a larger proportion of "big woods" turkeys will persist, but at lower densities than areas with a mix of mature timber, early successional habitats, and agriculture.
Predation can play a role in limiting turkey populations. Still, it is more likely that the problem is poor habitat quality that makes birds, their nests, and broods more vulnerable to predation. Turkeys have evolved behaviors and reproductive strategies to cope with predation. However, in highly fragmented landscapes predators may be more efficient in finding turkeys and their nests. This is particularly true for nest predators such as raccoons, skunks, and opossums. In areas with poor brood habitat quality, such as low stem densities or poor overhead cover, turkeys and poults may be more vulnerable to predation.
You Can Help
DEC is committed to preserving the long-term health of wild turkey populations for the people of New York State. In order to do this, we need the help of hunters and others to monitor trends in turkey abundance and distribution.
Whether you hunt, or just enjoy seeing turkeys, you can contribute your observations to DEC in our Summer Wild Turkey Sighting Survey during the month of August. The Summer Survey helps us estimate productivity (number of poults per hen). For more information, click the link above, call 518-402-8883, or e-mail us (please write the name of the survey in the subject line).
If you are a hunter, it is important that you report your harvest. The information you provide helps us accurately estimate harvest and make sound management decisions for this important game bird. Remember, you're not just a hunter, you're a conservationist. Help us manage the wildlife resource.
Thank you!
