You must have a New York hunting license and a Turkey Permit, and you’re required to carry both while hunting. You can buy only one Turkey Permit per year, and it includes two spring tags and one fall tag.
First, make sure you’ve taken an NYS-approved Hunter Education Course.
Then, to hunt wild turkey in New York, you need two things: a New York State hunting license and a Turkey Permit (one per license year). The Turkey Permit comes with three carcass tags: two for spring and one for fall.
You must have a New York hunting license and a Turkey Permit, and you’re required to carry both while hunting. You can buy only one Turkey Permit per year, and it includes two spring tags and one fall tag.
Bag limit: Up to 2 bearded birds per season, one per day; in WMU 1C (Suffolk County) the limit is one bearded bird per season.
Hunting hours: ½ hour before sunrise to noon.
Where open: Most of New York (not NYC or Nassau); Suffolk has spring with its own limit.
Tagging: Immediately fill out and attach the carcass tag; record spur, beard, and weight measurements for reporting.
Bag limit: One bird of either sex statewide (that’s your single fall tag).
Hunting hours: Sunrise to sunset.
Dates vary by zone: Check DEC’s current Wild Turkey Seasons map before you go.
Tagging & leg sample: Tag immediately; DEC requests you save and submit a leg for population monitoring.
Allowed: Bow or crossbow; shotgun with shot only (#2–#9); muzzleloading shotgun. Note: Crossbows are not legal for turkey in Westchester or Suffolk counties, and in the Northern Zone you may not use a crossbow if hunting with dogs in the fall.
Not allowed: Rifles, or handguns firing a bullet (non-shot). Electronic calls and bait are prohibited.
Dogs: Not allowed in spring; allowed in fall. (You may not use a crossbow with dogs in the Northern Zone during fall.)
When: Two-day spring weekend before the regular season.
Bag limit: One bearded bird (counts toward the youth’s spring limit of two). A second bird may be taken beginning May 1 (upstate).
Hours: ½ hour before sunrise to noon.
All first-time hunters must complete Hunter Education before they can buy a New York hunting license and hunt turkey. This applies to adults and youth alike.
Read More: Is Hunter Education Required in New York?
Take NY Hunter Education online or in person (in-person classes are typically free).
The course covers firearm and hunting safety, ethics, wildlife ID, and New York regulations.
Keep your course certificate info handy for license purchase (out-of-state hunter-ed certificates are accepted).
Read More: New York Online Hunter Education
Youth hunters (ages 12–15) may hunt turkey after completing Hunter Education, with the required license + Turkey Permit and proper supervision per junior hunter rules.
For the Youth Spring Turkey Hunt (weekend before May 1), the youth must be licensed and permitted; a qualified adult must accompany them.
Pro tips for passing & staying compliant:
Register early. Classes fill quickly.
Review turkey-specific rules (hours, implements, tagging, reporting) after you finish the course.
Even though blaze orange/pink isn’t required for turkey, wearing it is strongly recommended for safety, especially when moving between setups.
You must report every turkey harvest within 48 hours using the online system, by phone, or in the HuntFishNY app; if you’re using an e-tag, submit the report immediately in the app. If you use paper tags, fill them out, make the required date cut/mark, and keep the tag attached to the carcass until the meat is prepared for eating.
Blaze orange or pink is recommended for turkey hunting to increase visibility (it isn’t legally required for turkey), but it is required for deer and bear firearm hunts. For turkey-specific safety, don’t stalk birds; avoid wearing red, white, or blue; call with a tree at your back; and always identify your target and what’s beyond it before you shoot.
You can purchase online, by phone, or in person via license agents. During checkout, add the Turkey Permit to your hunting license. DEC’s “Hunting Licenses” page lists fees and links to the “What You Need” checklist so you can confirm you have the right credentials before checkout.
No. You need a hunting license plus the Turkey Permit (one per year, includes 3 turkey tags).
Yes, crossbows are legal for turkey in most areas during open turkey seasons, except they are not allowed in Westchester or Suffolk counties, and in the Northern Zone, you may not use a crossbow when hunting with dogs in the fall. Always confirm your zone/county rules in the current DEC notice.
½ hour before sunrise to noon; two bearded birds per season (one per day), except WMU 1C (Suffolk) where it’s one per season.
One bird of either sex statewide (your single fall tag).
