N.B. makes changes to the wild turkey season, expands it

New Brunswick is making changes to this year’s wild turkey hunting season in an effort to boost the economy and attract more non-resident hunters.

In a press release on Thursday, the province announced is adding an extra week to the season and allowing Canadian Forces and RCMP members born in New Brunswick but living elsewhere to apply for the resident wild turkey draw.

The season will now begin the first Monday of May and run for three weeks

John Herron, Natural Resources Minister, said the press release the expansion of the season will “contribute to local econonomies” through tourism, licence sales, and outfitting and guiding services.

The non-resident licence draw deadline will also move to the last Friday of November in the year prior to the hunting season to support earlier promotion efforts at hunting and fishing trade shows.

According to the release, the annual hunt began in 2021 to manage the growing population.

It was expanded in 2023 to include non-resident licences and expanded again in 2024 to include youth aged 12 and older.