The 2013 spring turkey hunting season opens May 1 in St. Lawrence County and all of upstate New York.

Hunting is permitted in most areas of the state from May 1 to 31.

A few facts that the state Department of Environmental Conservation suggests hunters should be familiar with are:

· Hunters must have a turkey hunting permit in addition to their small game hunting or sportsman license.

· Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to noon each day.

· Hunters may take two bearded turkeys during the spring season, but only one bird per day.

· Hunters may not use rifles or handguns firing a bullet. Hunters may hunt with a bow and arrow, or with a shotgun or handgun loaded with shot sizes no larger than No. 2 or and no smaller than No. 8, or.

· Successful hunters must fill out the tag which comes with their turkey permit and immediately attach it to any turkey harvested.

· Successful hunters must report a kill within seven days of taking a bird. Call (866) 426-3778 (1-866 GAMERPT) or report online at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8316.html.

For more information about turkey hunting in New York, see the 2012-13 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide or visit the “Turkey Hunting” pages of the DEC website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8366.html.

Results from 2012:

An analysis of the 2012 spring turkey take, including a county-by-county breakdown, can be found on the DEC website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/30420.html