Turkey Hunting With A Rifle

[Grouse]

I have hunted turkey with a rifle in another state in the past and the people who do it are well aware of it's dangers.  No responsible hunter wants to risk shooting anyone, or anything, that isn't the intended target.  We always looked for a good backstop behind the turkey prior to the shot.  If it was on a ridge side, the shot would go into the dirt behind the bird.  If shooting downhill, the shot went into the dirt below the bird.  You can wait until the bird is in front of a large tree and be sure the round will hit the tree beyond the bird after it goes through the bird.  It wasn't hard to decide what was a safe shot and what wasn't. 

The safety factor is a matter of the man pulling the trigger.  I would like to see the states put more responsibility on the yahoos that shoot other hunters and not let them off the hook so easily when they claim it was an "accident".  It's hardly ever an "accident" and these people should be charged with a serious crime when they do it.  Maybe that would make some of the trigger happy yahoos think twice prior to pulling a trigger without thinking about the danger involved.  They should be held responsible for knowing the shot they took was safe and there was no chance anyone could get injured from it.

One thing I can tell you for certain, it's nice not having to pick a lot of bird shot out of a turkey you just killed.

BTW, since NY hasn't got the stomach to punish unsafe hunting yahoos with criminal charges and lifetime revocation of their hunting privileges, you can expect the state to mandate blaze orange for ALL hunting eventually, at least in some form.  Turkey hunters will eventually be required to wear it when moving around and also have some visible while not moving at least attached to a tree nearby.  This is what the government chooses to do to everyone involved rather than focus on the yahoos.  Heck, a few yahoos are the reason the rest of us suffer under oppressive gun control laws.  It just the mindset of those in power.

 

Edited March 2, 2023 by Grouse

[airedale]

I have not had much luck finding shooting incident stats involving rifles when hunting Turkeys. Did find this Indiana article below that has some revealing stuff.

Al

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Surprisingly, national studies show that most turkey season shooting incidents on persons involve experienced hunters who accidentally fire on their own hunting partners. The studies also show most turkey hunting shooting accidents occur on private land.

Did you know...

• Most shooting accidents take place at 11-50 yards when the shooter failed to properly identify the target.
• About two-thirds of all incidents occurred on private land.
• Shooters involved in these incidents were, on average, 45 years old with 30 years of hunting experience and 16 years of turkey hunting experience.
• Victims, on average, were 43 years old with 13 years of turkey hunting experience.

[mike103]

When I was a kid I had a Savage .22lr over 20 gauge combo. Always thought it would be the perfect turkey gun but it was taken in a burglary before the turkeys came back. 
 

Now I’m not of a mind to use a rifle on turkeys anymore. Safety and sportsmanship. Don’t think it’s a good idea. 

[mike103]

DEC Announces First-Ever Spring Long Island Wild Turkey Hunting Season

Responsible Management of Reintroduced Wild Turkeys Results in Rebounding Healthy Turkey Population

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced the dates for the first-ever spring Long Island wild turkey hunting season. The opening of this new season is the result of wild turkey reintroduction efforts DEC initiated in the mid-1990s.

"DEC is excited to give Long Island hunters an additional local turkey hunting opportunity," said Cathy Haas, DEC Regional Director."Not only does this new season give more opportunities to local hunters, it also serves as an example of how locally extirpated populations can be successfully reintroduced and flourish. Both the fall and new spring seasons are possible thanks to the diligent work of DEC's regional wildlife staff, as well as the cooperative efforts of local hunters and volunteers who took the time to share their turkey sightings, allowing our staff to assess population health and growth."

In 2009, the first fall-only wild turkey season opened in the region. DEC carefully monitored this new season over the ensuing years and confirmed the Long Island wild turkey population could continue to thrive while under hunting pressure. Long Island proved to be a region where safe and successful hunting of wild turkey was possible, with no hunting safety incidents reported throughout 14 fall seasons.

The spring wild turkey season will open on May 1 and run through May 31, consistent with management practices in New York State and the Northeast.

Season Dates: May 1-31

Hunting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise until noon

Manner of Taking: Hunters may hunt with a shotgun or handgun loaded with shot no larger than number 2 and no smaller than number 9, or with a bow. Hunters may not use crossbows or rifles. Handguns are not permitted while hunting on State lands.

Valid License and Tags: Hunters must have a valid New York State hunting license and a turkey permit to participate in the hunt.

Spring Turkey Season Bag Limit for WMU 1C:

• No more than one bearded turkey per day; and
• No more than one bearded turkey in wildlife management unit (WMU) 1C

Additional information on NYS Turkey Hunting Regulations can be found on DEC's website. Successful hunters will be strongly encouraged to bring harvested birds to the Ridge Hunter Check Station located at 484 Randall Road, Ridge, NY. DEC staff will be recording biological data to help evaluate the season and population structure. Visiting the check station will not be mandatory, but all birds harvested must be reported within 48 hours by phone (1-866-426-3778) or via DEC's Game Harvest Reporting webpage. For check station hours of operation, visit DEC's Hunting on Long Island webpage or call the Region 1 Wildlife Office (631-444-0310).

Status of Wild Turkey on Long Island

Long Island's wild turkey population is an example of successful restoration and management efforts. Populations of wild turkey on Long Island disappeared in the late 19^thCentury due to reduced forested habitat, as these environments were cleared for colonial farms and firewood. In the mid-1990s, DEC trapped approximately 75 wild turkeys in upstate New York and released these birds at three locations in Suffolk County. The Long Island population is now estimated at more than 3,000 birds and growing.

Wild turkeys have become a common sight at many locations in Suffolk County and some locations in Nassau County, and the population has reached a level that in some locations, nuisance permits have been issued in order to control the amount of damage the birds are causing. DEC monitors population size and distribution through annual August turkey surveys, bow hunter sighting logs, and harvest indices. Based on that information, DEC determined the population is sufficient to support a spring hunting season.

Areas Open for the Spring Season

All of Wildlife Management Unit 1C (Suffolk County) is open for spring turkey hunting.The demand for spring turkey hunting on DEC-managed lands makes it necessary for hunters to follow specific access procedure to ensure equal hunting opportunities for all. More information is available on the DEC website at DEC's Hunting on Long Island webpage. Properties open to shotgun spring turkey hunting require entering a drawing and advance reservations. Lands that will be open for spring turkey on Long Island are:

DEC-Managed Lands in Suffolk County:

• Calverton Pine Barrens State Forest - Archery Only
• East Bartlett Pine Barrens State Forest - Archery Only
• Carmans River Pine Barrens State Forest - Archery Only
• Ridge Conservation Area - Archery Only
• Rocky Point Pine Barrens State Forest - Shotgun and Archery
• Westhampton Dwarf Pine Plains Preserve - Shotgun and Archery
• Henrys Hollow Pine Barrens State Forest - Shotgun and Archery

Cooperative Hunting Areas that will allow spring hunting season are:

• Barcelona Neck Cooperative Hunting Area - Shotgun and Archery
• David A. Sarnoff Cooperative Hunting Area - Shotgun and Archery
• Kings Park Cooperative Hunting Area - Archery Only
• Otis Pike Preserve Cooperative Hunting Area - Shotgun and Archery

Tidal Wetlands Properties: (archery only, no reservation required)

• Fireplace Neck
• Havens Point
• Long Beach Bay

DEC-managed lands open to shotgun turkey hunting will be closed to other users from two hours before sunrise until noon throughout the season. Properties owned by local, county, and/or state (State Parks) governments may or may not allow spring turkey hunting. Hunters and recreationalists should reach out to the landowner to determine if access restrictions are in place. For more information on hunting seasons and regulations, please visit the DEC's hunting webpage. For tips and further details on regulations on turkey hunting, contact DEC regional wildlife office at (631) 444-0310 or visit DEC's Turkey Hunting Regulations webpage.

Additional information can be found at the following webpages:

Hunting on Long Island
Long Island Public Hunting Areas
Public Hunting Opportunities in Suffolk County, Long Island
Conditions for Use of DEC-Managed Lands in Suffolk County

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[mike103]

Read the manor of taking. Pistols with shot? Not on state land. Has this always been allowed turkey hunting? Never read it before. Did not think those pistol shot cartridges were capable of killing a turkey unless pressed to the head.

[airedale]

9 hours ago, mike103 said:

Read the manor of taking. Pistols with shot? Not on state land. Has this always been allowed turkey hunting? Never read it before. Did not think those pistol shot cartridges were capable of killing a turkey unless pressed to the head.

You are pretty much on the money as far as pressing the muzzle to the head, I have had quite a bit of experience shooting Rat shot out of revolvers, both 357 and 44mag, the shot is small and the patterns are good for only a few feet. There are revolvers that can fire 410 shells and Thompson Center made a 410 barrel for it's Contenders, I suppose with TSS - Heavy shot it would be possible at short range to kill a Turkey but a lousy choice in my opinion, maybe in a survival situation but for sport hunting a solid no for me.

Like you I did not know a handgun was legal for Turkeys?????

Al

[mike103]

Manner of Taking: Hunters may hunt with a shotgun or handgun loaded with shot no larger than number 2 and no smaller than number 9, or with a bow. Hunters may not use crossbows or rifles. Handguns are not permitted while hunting on State lands.
 

I put up the entire announcement to show authenticity instead of just the manner of taking paragraph. Because I would have a hard time believing it if only the one section was printed by someone. 
 

Well freedom and all that. Maybe someone will work up loads for a 410 handgun that kills turkeys. I’m not surprised they said No Handguns on state land on Long Island. The soccer moms would have the vapors if the saw someone open carrying a handgun while they are taking their hike/ bike ride. 
 

 

[jperch]

This strikes me as extremely weird!  Why would anyone do this and why different rules for state lands???