Annual Suffolk County Youth Wild Turkey Hunt Returns 

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced that the 2026 spring turkey season in Suffolk County will be held Friday, May 1, through Sunday, May 31. This season marks the fourth year DEC is offering spring turkey hunting in Suffolk County. The Suffolk County Youth Turkey Season runs from April 25-26 and is open to youth hunters holding a hunting license and turkey permit. 

Following the success of the January 2026 Long Island deer hunting season reservation system changes, DEC similarly streamlined the spring turkey season reservation method to hunt on State-managed lands to an online system. Hunters can now fully complete their reservation through Reserve America. Access to state lands during the Youth Turkey Season will remain first-come first-served with a State Managed Lands Access Permit and not through Reserve America. 

Suffolk County Spring Wild Turkey Season Specifics
All of Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 1C (Suffolk County) is open for spring turkey hunting. 

Season Dates: 

Youth Season: April 25–26 

Regular Season: May 1–May 31 

Hunting Hours: 30 minutes before sunrise until noon 

Manner of Taking: Hunters may hunt with a shotgun loaded with shot no larger than #2 and no smaller than #9, or with a bow. Hunters may not use rifles or crossbows. Handguns are not permitted while hunting on State lands and cannot be used by junior hunters. If handguns are used elsewhere, they must be loaded with shot pellets no larger than #2 and no smaller than #9. 

Valid License and Tags: Hunters must have a valid New York State hunting license and a turkey permit to participate in the hunt. During the youth hunt weekend, both the junior hunter and their mentor must have a valid hunting license and turkey permit, but only the junior hunter is allowed to carry a firearm. 

Spring Turkey Season Bag Limit for WMU 1C: No more than one bearded turkey may be taken in WMU 1C. For more information on reporting your harvest, please visit DEC’s “Game Harvest Reporting” webpage or download the HuntFishNY app. 

Information on the Youth Turkey Season can be found on DEC’s Youth Hunt for Wild Turkey webpage. 

Access to State-Managed Lands in Suffolk County
The demand for spring turkey hunting on DEC-managed lands makes it necessary for hunters to follow specific access procedures to ensure equal hunting opportunities for all. 

Hunting reservations will no longer be made according to a drawing number. Reservations will be made on a first-come, first-served basis through Reserve America. Hunters will be able to make a reservation for the same locations that have always been available during the spring turkey season. Access to state lands during the Youth Turkey Season will still be first-come first-served with a State Managed Lands Access Permit and not through Reserve America. 

Hunters are required to make an account on the New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation “Campgrounds and Camping Reservations” webpage. Please note this is different from a general ReserveAmerica account.  

ReserveAmerica will open for reservations at 9 a.m. on Friday, April 17, 2026, and will accept entries through midnight on Thursday, April 23, 2026. During that time, hunters will be limited to one initial reservation. Reservations will reopen on Sunday, April 26, at 9 a.m. and remain open for the remainder of the season. Hunters will be able to make same-day reservations up until 11:30 a.m. Hunters will be limited to making one reservation per day and cannot reserve multiple spots on the same date.  

Step-by-step instructions on reserving a time and location on a DEC-managed property are available on DEC’s “Hunting on Long Island” webpage. For further information on regulations and public lands available for spring turkey season in Suffolk County, visit DEC’s “Turkey Hunting Regulations” webpage.  

The reservation confirmation email and number will serve as a hunter’s daily access permit and parking pass. Please print out the confirmation email and place it in your windshield during a hunt. All hunting party members (no more than three) must print this email or carry a digital copy with them when on the property. It is advised to take a screenshot or save a copy of a reservation confirmation on a phone in the event that you do not have service in the field. Once a reservation is made, it cannot be changed or cancelled. 

DEC-managed lands that will be open for spring turkey season on Long Island include those listed below. 

DEC-Managed Lands in Suffolk County:

• Calverton Pine Barrens State Forest—Archery only, no reservation required

• East Bartlett Pine Barrens State Forest—Archery only, no reservation required

• Carmans River Pine Barrens State Forest—Archery only, no reservation required

• Ridge Conservation Area—Archery only, no reservation required

• Rocky Point Pine Barrens State Forest—Shotgun and archery, reservation required

• Westhampton Dwarf Pine Plains Preserve—Shotgun and archery, reservation required

• Henrys Hollow Pine Barrens State Forest—Shotgun and archery, reservation required 

Cooperative Hunting Areas:

• Barcelona Neck Cooperative Hunting Area—Shotgun and archery, reservation required

• David A. Sarnoff Cooperative Hunting Area—Shotgun and archery, reservation required

• Otis Pike Preserve Cooperative Hunting Area—Shotgun and archery, reservation required

• Kings Park Cooperative Hunting Area—Archery only, no reservation required 

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

• Fireplace Neck

• Havens Point

• Long Beach Bay 

Properties listed as “no reservation required” can be accessed using the State Managed Land Access Permit. 

DEC-managed lands open to shotgun turkey hunting will be closed to other users from two hours before sunrise until noon throughout the season. 

Visit DEC’s “Hunting” webpage for more information on hunting seasons and regulations. For further details about regulations on turkey hunting, contact the DEC regional wildlife office at 631-444-0310 or visit DEC’s “Turkey Hunting Regulations” webpage. 

Additional helpful information:

• “Hunting on Long Island”

• “Long Island Public Hunting Areas”

• “Conditions for Use of NYSDEC Managed Lands in Suffolk County”