11 Important Facts About the Annual Spring Turkey Hunt at Cape Cod National Seashore

What is the Annual Spring Turkey Hunt?

The Cape Cod National Seashore’s Spring Turkey Hunt is a two-week event that helps keep the wild turkey population between 300-400 birds. It draws more than 800 hunters to the park each year.

This 2025, the season will run from April 28 to May 17. Here’s what you need to know before joining the hunt.

Get Your Hunting Permits

You’ll need a Massachusetts Class A hunting license and a special Seashore permit in addition to the state hunting license and turkey permit. The CCNS turkey permit is free of charge.

The CCNS turkey hunting permit application is available on the Cape Cod National Seashore website and must be emailed to CACO_TurkeyPermits@nps.gov.

Applications must be received by March 31, 2025. Before applying, you must complete a Basic Hunter Education course that’s free of charge. A total of 150 weekly permits are available for the spring turkey hunt, with 50 permits selected per week.

Where Hunting Is Allowed?

The hunt takes place across 8,274 acres, split between Provincetown (2,100 acres), Truro (3,874 acres), and Wellfleet (2,300 acres). Many experienced hunters prefer the North Truro section, especially the High Head area’s 80-acre oak and pine forest, where turkeys are often seen.

Each hunting zone has three entry points and parking lots that fit 25 vehicles. Orange markers show the boundaries every 50 feet, and hunters get digital maps with GPS tracking.

Spring Turkey Hunting Dates

The spring turkey season in Massachusetts typically opens on the last Monday in April. Hunting starts 30 minutes before sunrise (around 5:15 AM) and ends at noon. You can take up to two male turkeys during the season, but only one per day, and each must weigh at least 18 pounds.

You must report your catch within 48 hours through MassFishHunt online or by calling 1-800-MASS-WILD. Most successful hunts happen between 6:00 AM and 9:00 AM, with the best time being just after sunrise.

Required Safety Equipment

Your safety gear must include bright orange clothing (500 square inches) above your waist. You can only use certain shotguns (10, 12, 16, or 20 gauge) with #4-#7 shots and three shells maximum.

Always carry your permits, license, and ID in a waterproof holder. You can use traditional turkey calls (slate, box, or diaphragm), but electronic calls are banned. If you use a tree stand, you’ll need a safety harness (at least 12 feet high) that must be taken down daily.

Wild Turkeys Behavior

Cape Cod’s turkeys follow daily patterns shaped by the coastal environment and food sources. At night, they sleep in tall white pines and oaks, choosing thick branches 30-50 feet up.

Male turkeys become very vocal in spring, making calls that travel up to a mile. These birds have sharp eyes that can spot movement from 100 yards away and see things twice as fast as humans do.

How the Hunt Helps Conservation

The hunt keeps the turkey population balanced at one turkey per 40 acres. Park scientists track the turkeys’ movements with GPS and study movement patterns, reproduction success rate, and habitat use.

The average weight of an adult male wild turkey (tom) is typically between 16 and 24 pounds. Wildlife agencies use harvest data to decide how many hunters to allow next season and which areas to open for hunting.

Weather Affects the Hunt

Spring weather at Cape Cod can change quickly, with temperatures often changing by 30 degrees in one day. Turkeys move less when winds are stronger than 15 mph or when rain is heavy.

Hunters often monitor local weather patterns, including wind direction and speed, as these can impact turkey behavior. The weather can be quite different between the coast and inland areas, with up to 10 degrees difference in temperature.

Local Help and Resources for Hunters

Local stores like Cape Gun Works sell equipment and high-performance clothing and offer advice. The Cape Cod turkey hunting group, with 350 members, holds monthly training sessions, sharing updates on hunting laws, bag limits, and seasons.

Park rangers update a turkey sighting hotline daily and maintain an online map of recent sightings. Many local hunting clubs organize practice events, workshops, or field days to help hunters improve their skills.

Process Your Turkey

You must clean your turkey within two hours of catching it (off-site or at home). The park has three cleaning stations with water and disposal bins at Province Lands, High Head, and Wellfleet.

Five local butcher shops, including Peterson’s and Cape Cod Custom Cuts, will process your turkey for $45-75. You must put all waste in strong bags and place them in special wildlife dumpsters.

Activities for Non-Hunters

Family members who don’t hunt can join daily nature walks to learn about turkeys. The Province Lands Visitor Center hosts “Turkey Talk” sessions twice weekly, showing how to call turkeys and teaching about their biology.

Photographers can join guided tours in safe areas away from hunters. The park has six photo blinds that you can reserve to watch and photograph turkeys.

Rules for Reporting Your Hunt

After catching a turkey, you must report details like location, weight, and measurements within 48 hours. The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife typically provides information on check station locations during the hunting season.

Bring your turkey to one of two check stations, where staff will measure it and take DNA samples. You should also record every turkey you see, whether you catch one or not.