Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge
accepting spring turkey hunting applications

Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge in Genesee and Orleans Counties is now accepting applications for spring turkey hunting. The refuge uses a random drawing to fill the 50 turkey hunting permits available. There are a couple of things hunters need to keep in mind this year: first, the Youth Hunt Day which is the first Sunday of the season falls on opening day this year. This means that only those youths who have been selected for the Youth Turkey Hunt Program will be allowed to hunt on May 1; second, to participate, hunters must complete an application form.

The application can be mailed or hand-carried, along with a non-refundable $5 processing fee to the refuge office. Since the application fee must accompany the application, no fax, e-mail or phone applications will be accepted. Only one application per person will be accepted.

The application must be received by March 31, 4 p.m. The drawing will be held on April 1 and permits will be sent out that day. The permit is non-transferrable and will be valid for the entire state spring turkey hunting season, except for May 1 (the Youth Hunt Day). In the event a junior hunter is drawn, but his/her parent or hunting guide is not, a non-hunting permit will be issued to the adult who will serve a non-hunting guide.

To obtain an application contact the refuge by phone, by email at Iroquois@fws.gov or by mail. You can also print an application out from the website: http://iroquoisnwr.fws.gov.

For further information contact: Iroquois NWR, 1101 Casey Road, Basom, NY 14013 or call 585-948-5445.