Can You Shoot Turkeys For Thanksgiving In New York State?

The big day is not that far away and across New York State, people are making their Thanksgiving plans! Will you travel? Or is dinner at your place? Either way, you'll need a turkey to make it complete!

The fall means pumpkin spice, falling leaves and, for some, hunting season! Deer hunting gets the headlines and attention in the fall. However, here in New York State, the fall turkey season is very exciting.

As the prices of everything we need go up, now may be a great time to head to the woods and get your turkey! If you have the proper hunting licenses, there are plenty of wild turkeys roaming.

READ MORE: Massive Warning For Duck Hunters In New York State

Thanksgiving will be here on November 28th and now is the time to make those plans. The fall turkey season in New York State is on NOW through November 1st for much of the state. Hunters can take one bird of either sex in the fall. That means either a hen or gobbler (Tom) turkey.

Unlike the spring, there are longer hunting hours in the fall. New York State law allows hunters to go after their fall birds from sunrise to sunset! In the spring season, hunters can only hunt turkeys until noon.

If you are planning on killing a turkey to give to another person to prepare for Thanksgiving, that is allowed. The New York State DEC website says: "You may give your turkey to another person. You must attach a tag with the following information to the turkey carcass (name, address, and various other information)".