ANNAPOLIS (April 3, 2014)—Youth hunters will kick-off Maryland’s spring turkey season with the Junior Turkey Hunt on April 12 statewide, and April 13 on private land in Calvert, Caroline, Charles and St. Mary’s counties and private and public land in Dorchester County. The regular spring turkey season will run from April 18 to May 23 statewide.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is encouraging adults to take young hunters on a Junior Turkey Hunt. These events allow licensed youth ages 16 and under to hunt wild turkeys when accompanied by an unarmed adult, 21 and older, who holds a valid Maryland hunting license, or is exempt from the hunting license requirements. Adults may not possess a bow, crossbow or firearm while accompanying a youth hunter during the junior hunt.
The daily bag limit is one bearded turkey with a season bag limit of two bearded turkeys. Hunting hours are as listed:
-- April 12 and 13 (Junior Turkey Hunt): Half-hour before sunrise to sunset;
-- April 18-May 9: Half-hour before sunrise to noon; and
-- May 10-May 23: Half-hour before sunrise to sunset.
Complete regulations, turkey check-in procedures, and information on public land hunting opportunities is located at http://dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide or in the 2013-2014 Maryland Guide to Hunting & Trapping.