Turkey Season: Hikers Beware of Hunters

A special Turkey hunting day will be held Saturday for youth hunters who are accompanied by an adult mentor. The hunt will also be open for youth on April 21.

Regular turkey hunting season begins on April 25 and runs until May 26. Hunters are allowed to take two bearded turkeys on state land and three on private land, according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Hunting is permitted from one-half hour before sunrise until noon each day. Hikers may choose to venture out in the afternoons during the hunting season.

The turkey population in Connecticut is estimated between 35,000-38,000 birds. Healthy and numerous wild turkey populations exist throughout the majority of Connecticut’s woodlands. Last spring, 8,505 hunters took 1,424 bearded turkeys.

Recommended safety precautions for turkey hunting season:

• If another person is encountered in the woods, remain still and speak in a loud clear voice to announce your presence.
• Eliminate the colors red, white, and blue from your hunting outfit. These colors are associated with a gobbler’s head and could be mistaken as a turkey.
• Hunters must be sure of their target and what is beyond it, prior to taking a shot.

“Common sense and patience are required for maintaining a safe hunting experience and harvesting a gobbler,” said Rick Jacobson, director of the DEEP Wildlife Division.

More information is available through the DEEP's website.