Sure, Thanksgiving is in November, but the turkey hunt at Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts begins in late April this year.

The spring Eastern wild turkey hunt starts April 26. This is the tenth season that spring turkey hunting will be permitted in the national seashore. The 2021 national seashore turkey hunting season is April 26 through May 15, which is the first three weeks of the state’s four-week turkey season. The spring youth turkey hunt is April 24.

The spring turkey hunt in the national seashore will be consistent with most of Massachusetts Department of Fish and Wildlife regulations. However, a national seashore turkey hunting permit is required in addition to the state hunting license and state turkey permit. The April 24 youth turkey hunt does not require additional permitting through the seashore beyond state licensing requirements.

State regulations restrict turkey hunting to Monday through Saturday, from 30 minutes before sunrise until noon. These regulations will apply in the national seashore as well. The tactics most hunters use during this season is hunting from a stationary location while using calls to try and attract toms (male turkeys) to their location.

A turkey hunting permit application may be obtained on the Cape Cod National Seashore website

. Turkey hunting permit applications need to be postmarked by March 31. The application includes all information needed to enter the spring turkey hunt lottery.

For more information about the Cape Cod National Seashore spring turkey hunt, contact Supervisory Ranger Chris Hartsgrove, at 508-487-2100, ext. 0911.