When Can You Hunt Turkey All Day in Pennsylvania?

Turkey hunting is a popular sport in Pennsylvania, with thousands of hunters eagerly awaiting the spring turkey season each year But unlike deer or bear hunting, which allow all-day hunting, turkey hunting has specific hours So when exactly can you hunt turkeys all day in PA?

Turkey Hunting Season Dates in Pennsylvania

The annual spring turkey season in Pennsylvania runs from early May through the end of the month. Here are the dates for 2023:

• Youth Turkey Hunting Day: April 22, 2023
• Regular Turkey Season: May 1-31, 2023

During the youth hunt, only junior license holders under 16 years old may hunt turkeys. This gives young hunters a special opportunity before the regular season opens up to all hunters.

Turkey Hunting Hours in Pennsylvania

Turkey hunting hours in Pennsylvania are different during certain segments of the season:

• May 1-13: Hunting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise until noon.
• May 15-31: Hunting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset.

So the only period when you can hunt turkeys all day is May 15-31, when hunting hours extend through the evening

This system is designed to maximize hunting opportunities while also allowing hens to reach nests undisturbed during the early nesting period By setting an earlier cutoff in May, nesting hens are protected at a vulnerable time Then after most hens are on nests, hunters can take advantage of full day hunting.

Why You Can’t Hunt Turkeys All Day at First

You might be wondering why the Pennsylvania Game Commission doesn’t simply allow all-day turkey hunting for the whole season. Here are some of the reasons behind the split hunting hours:

• Protecting hens: Ending hunting by noon gives hens a better chance to reach nest sites undisturbed early in the nesting period.

• Preventing overharvest: Restricting hunting to half-days prevents hunters from excessive harvesting during the peak mating period.

• Fairness: Giving gobblers time to rest midday makes the season more equitable by not allowing hunters to overpursue individual birds all day long.

• Tradition: Pennsylvania has used split hunting hours for decades, and many hunters appreciate the arrangement. It’s become an accepted part of PA turkey hunting culture.

• Safety: With hunters leaving woods by noon, there is reduced risk of accidental shootings compared to all-day hunting.

So while hunters might wish they could hunt gobblers sunrise to sunset every day, the split hours do provide benefits to the turkey population and hunters alike.

Hunting All Day During the 2-Week Spring Season

The good news for hunters is you still get 14 days to hunt turkeys from dawn to dusk in Pennsylvania. Here are some tips for making the most of the full days:

• Scout early and often to pattern gobbler movements and know where they roost.

• Use locators and decoys to draw active gobblers within range.

• Be mobile and cover ground to find birds in different areas.

• Take advantage of midday lulls to move positions without alerting turkeys.

• Have multiple setup options prepared for morning and evening hunting.

• Use owl or crow calls before daylight to shock gobblers into sounding off.

• Play the wind properly and mask your scent from turkey’s keen noses.

• Be patient and focused as the evening winds down – the last minutes can still produce.

While limited at first, Pennsylvania gives turkey addicts ample opportunity to hunt all day during the peak of spring gobbler mating activity. Following the split hours and honing your skills will help you make the most of your time in Penn’s Woods chasing spring longbeards.