Although a lower harvest was somewhat expected for youths after last season's record numbers surpassed the 2,000 mark the harvest is currently estimated to be down 20% according to DEC wildlife biologist Mike Schiavone. 

This year marked the 6th anniversary of the Youth Turkey Hunt in New York State and the DEC was expecting harvest results for the youth and regular seasons to come in around last year's 32,936 birds.

While I had the opportunity to hunt 6 or 7 different areas with turkey this season I only had gobblers come into bow range on one occasion and that was on May 2nd. After that I would hear an occasional gobble, but could not get the birds to come in. I noticed the birds gobbling on the roost and not making a sound once on the ground leading me to believe they were far along the breeding season and "henned up." 

There are two more weekends left and I'm sure a few more hunters will seal the deal this Memorial Day Weekend. I hope to find some success photos in my inbox! Good luck!