COVID19
Hunting & Fishing Seasons COVID-19 4/28 Update, Improving
Update of currently impacted state turkey hunting and fishing seasons. Some states are now easing up restrictions, hopefully more will be sooner than later. I will continue to update as states ease and or rescind restrictions entirely.
Alaska– current 14-day mandatory quarantine order is extended to May 19, 2020 link added 4/28 Gov. Mike Dunleavy rescinded the cancellation of all spring bear hunts in Alaska Thursday, saying that spring bear hunts will be open to Alaskan hunters, but not available to those non-residents and anyone from outside the state. link
Arkansas– Buffalo National River closure includes angling, turkey hunting. link added 4/18
California– Hunting, fishing on base is suspended until further notice. link Edwards Air Force Base – restricted to mission-essential personnel only. link Fort Hunter Liggett- All 2020 Fishing and 2019-20 Hunting permits sales have been suspended. link
Arizona– San Carlos Apache Reservation turkey hunts canceled link
Colorado– all playgrounds, campgrounds, dispersed camping and camping facilities (including yurts and cabins) at Colorado’s state parks as well as camping at State Wildlife Areas are closed. Spring turkey hunters now are able to return their license for a refund at any time before the opening day of turkey season. link San Juan County-all public lands closed Fort Carson- hunting is NOT available on Fort Carson or Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, USAF Academy “official business only”. Fishing the 5 lakes closed link Yuma County delaying spring turkey season to 5/2/20, Gunnison county banning any visitors until further notice. link
Delaware– All out-of-state residents traveling into Delaware to immediately self-quarantine for 14 days link
Florida– 30-day stay-at-home order. those who fly or drive into Florida from states with substantial community spread to self-isolate in Florida for 14 days or the duration of their trip, whichever is shorter. Some resources are closed link
Georgia– Fort Benning- Restricted to Authorized personnel only link Fort Gordon- close 1 Apr 2020 – 6 June 2020 link The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests is temporarily shutting down all dispersed camping corridors, day-use areas, trailhead facilities and other recreation sites on the Blue Ridge Ranger District link
Hawaii– All arriving residents and visitors will immediately go into a 14-day quarantines upon entering the state link Lana‘i Axis Deer Hunt Canceled link
Idaho– The purchase of non-resident black bear, fishing and turkey tags is no longer available link If you already had an agreement with an outfitter for a spring black bear hunt before the April 4th suspension, you may still obtain your tags and go on the hunt.
Illinois– all state parks, fish and wildlife areas, recreational areas and historic sites closed, hunting and fishing prohibited on public areas link DNR to Reopen Select Sites for Limited Activities May 1 link added 4/28
Kansas – travel quarantine from the following: International– China, South Korea, Japan, Italy and Iran States- California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York and Washington link Kansas has an “explicit ” call out of quarantine of 14 days before you can hunt link
Kentucky– All Fort Campbell iSportsman activities including hunting, fishing and general outdoor recreation are closed. link People traveling to Kentucky from out-of-state will now be placed under quarantine for 14 days due to an executive order link suspending sale of non-resident turkey-hunting permits- 2020 spring turkey season link
Massachusetts – All travelers arriving in the Commonwealth are instructed to self-quarantine for 14 days, link Joint Base Cape Cod/Camp Edwards controlled turkey hunt canceled link
Maine– all travelers coming to Maine quarantine for 14 days link Maine regular turkey season open two days early, on May 2. The youth season has also changed from May 2 to April 25 and adding a additional day, April 27. Turkey hunters will not be required to register their birds at tagging stations. Changes are temporary for 2020 only. link
Maryland– strict w/penalty stay at home directive. recreational boating is banned. Subsistence hunting and fishing — limited hunting and limited recreational fishing and crabbing for sustenance only. No permits for fishing tournaments, Commercial fishing deemed essential link
Michigan– charter fishing and guide operations are not permitted link travel between two residences is not permitted, the use of a motorboat, or similar watercraft (includes gas and electric motors) is not permitted State harbors and marinas closed link
Missouri– Fort Leonard Wood – Restricted to Authorized personnel only link
Montana– travelers arriving from another state or country to Montana for non-work-related purposes undergo a 14-day self-quarantine. The Directive follows the governor’s prior travel advisory and last week’s Stay at Home Directive link FWP has suspended all spring turkey and spring black bear seasons through at least April 24th for non-resident
Nebraska– suspended the sale of nonresident spring turkey hunting permits immediately. link
New Hamshire– no longer issuing kid’s fishing derby permits or any bass tournament permits. Online sales only for licenses and permits link link
New York– West Point, Outdoor Recreation CLOSED or CANCELLED (until further notice) All reservations cancelled through 30 Apr 2020 link Boat launches, marinas allowed to open
North Carolina– multiple boat access, camping, public land closures see: link Dare County- Resident only travel. link
North Dakota– All travelers arriving to North Dakota from international locations and states with widespread coronavirus outbreaks must quarantine immediately for 14 days link
Ohio– stay-at-home order until May 1. People traveling into Ohio to self-quarantine for 14 days. link non-resident hunting and fishing licenses suspended link
Oklahoma– order requiring travelers from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, California, Louisiana and Washington to undergo a 14-day quarantine. link
Oregon– recreational fishing for salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River closed link hunting and fishing to non-residents closed link
Pennsylvania- will reopen marinas and allow guided fishing trips again. Private campgrounds will also reopen. State parks and public campgrounds remain closed. link added 4/28
Rhode Island– all out-of-state travelers will be stopped at the border and told to quarantine for 14 days if they intend to stay in the state. Order extended to all states because of the rate of infection in other areas, mentioning New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and New Hampshire by name link Fishing system in place-staggers the days when licensed anglers can fish. Those with last names beginning with A through M can only fish on even numbered calendar days, and those with last names beginning with N through Z can only fish on odd numbered calendar days. link
South Carolina– travelers from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and the city of New Orleans will be ordered to isolate or self-quarantine for 14-days or the duration of their trip. The order does not apply to people employed by airlines, performing or assisting with the military, health care or emergency response. link All dates all SCDNR Lottery hunts on WMA properties have been canceled. Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge hunts remain open unless a “Stay Home” order is declared. link Fishing events link
Texas– Joint Base San Antonio – Hunting closed until further notice link 14 Day travel quarantine from the following: flying into Texas from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and the city of New Orleans, driving from the cities of Miami, Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta. Also included in the order are the states of Washington and California. link Texas Attorney General Says Gunnison County’s Temporary Nonresident Ban Is Unconstitutional link
Utah– All recreational travel by non–residents of San Juan County is prohibited link
Vermont– 14 Day travel quarantine from any state link
Virginia– Langly AFB outdoor recreation canceled link Marine Corps Base Quantico- outdoor recreation canceled link
Washington– link All state lands closed til 5/4 link Spring bear and turkey seasons are postponed until at least May 4. link Local hunting for turkey and spring bear will open on May 5. Spring turkey season will end on May 31, as originally scheduled. Spring bear special permit seasons will be extended until June 30. Spring bear hunters who would normally travel outside their local areas to hunt may wait to see how travel guidance evolves, or seek a permit refund link added 4/28
West Virginia– 14 Day travel quarantine from the following: Louisiana, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Italy, and China link
Wisconsin– No Motors in Michigan Boundary Waters link
Wyoming– all travelers coming to Wyoming quarantine for 14 days link nonresident fishing licenses has been suspended until April 30 link
Canada– inaugural New Brunswick spring turkey season canceled link US Border currently closed to all non-essential travel
Not listed, check your state of interest as many have their park buildings and camping and restroom facilities either closed altogether or not taking reservations until later this summer. Also noted that some states are banning overnight camping on public lands or designated primitive sites.
Hunting & Fishing Seasons COVID-19 4/18 UPDATE
Update of currently impacted state turkey hunting and fishing seasons. Non of the states have eased restrictions at this time Corrected: NY opens up Marina’s and boat launches. I will continue to update as states ease and or rescind restrictions entirely.
Alaska– current 14-day mandatory quarantine order in place until April 21st. Hunters should not plan to travel to or arrive in Alaska before this date. link Gov. Mike Dunleavy rescinded the cancellation of all spring bear hunts in Alaska Thursday, saying that spring bear hunts will be open to Alaskan hunters, but not available to those non-residents and anyone from outside the state. link
Arkansas– Buffalo National River closure includes angling, turkey hunting. link added 4/18
California– Hunting, fishing on base is suspended until further notice. link Edwards Air Force Base – restricted to mission-essential personnel only. link Fort Hunter Liggett- All 2020 Fishing and 2019-20 Hunting permits sales have been suspended. link
Arizona– San Carlos Apache Reservation turkey hunts canceled link
Colorado– all playgrounds, campgrounds, dispersed camping and camping facilities (including yurts and cabins) at Colorado’s state parks as well as camping at State Wildlife Areas are closed. Spring turkey hunters now are able to return their license for a refund at any time before the opening day of turkey season. link San Juan County-all public lands closed Fort Carson- hunting is NOT available on Fort Carson or Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, USAF Academy “official business only”. Fishing the 5 lakes closed link Yuma County delaying spring turkey season to 5/2/20, Gunnison county banning any visitors until further notice. link
Delaware– All out-of-state residents traveling into Delaware to immediately self-quarantine for 14 days link
Florida– 30-day stay-at-home order. those who fly or drive into Florida from states with substantial community spread to self-isolate in Florida for 14 days or the duration of their trip, whichever is shorter. Some resources are closed link
Georgia– Fort Benning- Restricted to Authorized personnel only link Fort Gordon- close 1 Apr 2020 – 6 June 2020 link The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests is temporarily shutting down all dispersed camping corridors, day-use areas, trailhead facilities and other recreation sites on the Blue Ridge Ranger District link
Hawaii– All arriving residents and visitors will immediately go into a 14-day quarantines upon entering the state link Lana‘i Axis Deer Hunt Canceled link
Idaho– The purchase of non-resident black bear, fishing and turkey tags is no longer available link If you already had an agreement with an outfitter for a spring black bear hunt before the April 4th suspension, you may still obtain your tags and go on the hunt.
Illinois– all state parks, fish and wildlife areas, recreational areas and historic sites closed, hunting and fishing prohibited on public areas link
Kansas – travel quarantine from the following: International– China, South Korea, Japan, Italy and Iran States- California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York and Washington link Kansas has an “explicit ” call out of quarantine of 14 days before you can hunt link
Kentucky– All Fort Campbell iSportsman activities including hunting, fishing and general outdoor recreation are closed. link People traveling to Kentucky from out-of-state will now be placed under quarantine for 14 days due to an executive order link suspending sale of non-resident turkey-hunting permits- 2020 spring turkey season link
Massachusetts – MassWildlife canceled all 2020 Youth Turkey Hunt Seminars. Only those who have completed Basic Hunter Education and the Youth Turkey Hunting Seminar allowed to participate in the Youth Turkey Hunt on April 25. link All travelers arriving in the Commonwealth are instructed to self-quarantine for 14 days, link Joint Base Cape Cod/Camp Edwards controlled turkey hunt canceled link
Maine– all travelers coming to Maine quarantine for 14 days link Maine regular turkey season open two days early, on May 2. The youth season has also changed from May 2 to April 25 and adding a additional day, April 27. Turkey hunters will not be required to register their birds at tagging stations. Changes are temporary for 2020 only. link added 4/21
Maryland– strict w/penalty stay at home directive. recreational boating is banned. Subsistence hunting and fishing — limited hunting and limited recreational fishing and crabbing for sustenance only. No permits for fishing tournaments, Commercial fishing deemed essential link
Michigan– charter fishing and guide operations are not permitted link travel between two residences is not permitted, the use of a motorboat, or similar watercraft (includes gas and electric motors) is not permitted State harbors and marinas closed link added 4/18
Missouri– Fort Leonard Wood – Restricted to Authorized personnel only link
Montana– travelers arriving from another state or country to Montana for non-work-related purposes undergo a 14-day self-quarantine. The Directive follows the governor’s prior travel advisory and last week’s Stay at Home Directive link FWP has suspended all spring turkey and spring black bear seasons through at least April 24th for non-resident
Nebraska– suspended the sale of nonresident spring turkey hunting permits immediately. link
New Hamshire– no longer issuing kid’s fishing derby permits or any bass tournament permits. Online sales only for licenses and permits link link
New York– West Point, Outdoor Recreation CLOSED or CANCELLED (until further notice) All reservations cancelled through 30 Apr 2020 link All marinas and boat launches ordered closed link Boat launches, marinas allowed to open added 4/20
North Carolina– multiple boat access, camping, public land closures see: link Dare County- Resident only travel. link
North Dakota– All travelers arriving to North Dakota from international locations and states with widespread coronavirus outbreaks must quarantine immediately for 14 days link
Ohio– stay-at-home order until May 1. People traveling into Ohio to self-quarantine for 14 days. link non-resident hunting and fishing licenses suspended link
Oklahoma– order requiring travelers from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, California, Louisiana and Washington to undergo a 14-day quarantine. link
Oregon– recreational fishing for salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River closed link hunting and fishing to non-residents closed link
Rhode Island– all out-of-state travelers will be stopped at the border and told to quarantine for 14 days if they intend to stay in the state. Order extended to all states because of the rate of infection in other areas, mentioning New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and New Hampshire by name link Fishing system in place-staggers the days when licensed anglers can fish. Those with last names beginning with A through M can only fish on even numbered calendar days, and those with last names beginning with N through Z can only fish on odd numbered calendar days. link
South Carolina– travelers from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and the city of New Orleans will be ordered to isolate or self-quarantine for 14-days or the duration of their trip. The order does not apply to people employed by airlines, performing or assisting with the military, health care or emergency response. link All dates all SCDNR Lottery hunts on WMA properties have been canceled. Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge hunts remain open unless a “Stay Home” order is declared. link Fishing events link
Texas– Joint Base San Antonio – Hunting closed until further notice link 14 Day travel quarantine from the following: flying into Texas from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and the city of New Orleans, driving from the cities of Miami, Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta. Also included in the order are the states of Washington and California. link Texas Attorney General Says Gunnison County’s Temporary Nonresident Ban Is Unconstitutional link
Utah– All recreational travel by non–residents of San Juan County is prohibited link
Virginia– Langly AFB outdoor recreation canceled link Marine Corps Base Quantico- outdoor recreation canceled link
Washington– Fishing closed, youth turkey hunt canceled. Six game management units that were scheduled to open on April 1 for spring bear hunting closed pending further evaluation. Nearly 90 percent of spring bear permit holders traveling from outside the area. A decision on regular spring turkey may come by 4/6 link All state lands closed til 5/4 link Spring bear and turkey seasons are postponed until at least May 4. link
West Virginia– 14 Day travel quarantine from the following: Louisiana, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Italy, and China link
Wisconsin– No Motors in Michigan Boundary Waters link added 4/18
Wyoming– all travelers coming to Wyoming quarantine for 14 days link nonresident fishing licenses has been suspended until April 30 link added 4/18
Vermont– 14 Day travel quarantine from any state link
Canada– inaugural New Brunswick spring turkey season canceled link US Border currently closed to all non-essential travel
Not listed, check your state of interest as many have their park buildings and camping and restroom facilities either closed altogether or not taking reservations until later this summer. Also noted that some states are banning overnight camping on public lands or designated primitive sites.
Hunting & Fishing Seasons COVID-19 4/10 UPDATE
Update of currently impacted state turkey hunting and fishing seasons that are now an unfortunate reality. I will continue to update this as more states follow suit and when states ease and or rescind restrictions entirely.
Alaska– current 14-day mandatory quarantine order in place until April 21st. Hunters should not plan to travel to or arrive in Alaska before this date. link Gov. Mike Dunleavy rescinded the cancellation of all spring bear hunts in Alaska Thursday, saying that spring bear hunts will be open to Alaskan hunters, but not available to those non-residents and anyone from outside the state. link
California– Hunting, fishing on base is suspended until further notice. link Edwards Air Force Base – restricted to mission-essential personnel only. link Fort Hunter Liggett- All 2020 Fishing and 2019-20 Hunting permits sales have been suspended. link
Arizona– San Carlos Apache Reservation turkey hunts canceled link
Colorado– all playgrounds, campgrounds, dispersed camping and camping facilities (including yurts and cabins) at Colorado’s state parks as well as camping at State Wildlife Areas are closed. Spring turkey hunters now are able to return their license for a refund at any time before the opening day of turkey season. link San Juan County-all public lands closed Fort Carson- hunting is NOT available on Fort Carson or Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, USAF Academy “official business only”. Fishing the 5 lakes closed link Yuma County delaying spring turkey season to 5/2/20, Gunnison county banning any visitors until further notice. link added 4/8
Delaware– All out-of-state residents traveling into Delaware to immediately self-quarantine for 14 days link
Florida– 30-day stay-at-home order. those who fly or drive into Florida from states with substantial community spread to self-isolate in Florida for 14 days or the duration of their trip, whichever is shorter. Some resources are closed link
Georgia– Fort Benning- Restricted to Authorized personnel only link Fort Gordon- close 1 Apr 2020 – 6 June 2020 link The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests is temporarily shutting down all dispersed camping corridors, day-use areas, trailhead facilities and other recreation sites on the Blue Ridge Ranger District link
Hawaii– All arriving residents and visitors will immediately go into a 14-day quarantines upon entering the state link Lana‘i Axis Deer Hunt Canceled link
Idaho– The purchase of non-resident black bear, fishing and turkey tags is no longer available link If you already had an agreement with an outfitter for a spring black bear hunt before the April 4th suspension, you may still obtain your tags and go on the hunt. added 4/8
Illinois– all state parks, fish and wildlife areas, recreational areas and historic sites closed, hunting and fishing prohibited on public areas link
Kansas – travel quarantine from the following: International– China, South Korea, Japan, Italy and Iran States- California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York and Washington link Kansas has an “explicit ” call out of quarantine of 14 days before you can hunt link
Kentucky– All Fort Campbell iSportsman activities including hunting, fishing and general outdoor recreation are closed. link People traveling to Kentucky from out-of-state will now be placed under quarantine for 14 days due to an executive order link suspending sale of non-resident turkey-hunting permits- 2020 spring turkey season link
Massachusetts – MassWildlife canceled all 2020 Youth Turkey Hunt Seminars. Only those who have completed Basic Hunter Education and the Youth Turkey Hunting Seminar allowed to participate in the Youth Turkey Hunt on April 25. link All travelers arriving in the Commonwealth are instructed to self-quarantine for 14 days, link Joint Base Cape Cod/Camp Edwards controlled turkey hunt canceled link
Maine– all travelers coming to Maine quarantine for 14 days link
Maryland– strict w/penalty stay at home directive. recreational boating is banned. Subsistence hunting and fishing — limited hunting and limited recreational fishing and crabbing for sustenance only. No permits for fishing tournaments, Commercial fishing deemed essential link
Michigan– charter fishing and guide operations are not permitted link added 4/11
Missouri– Fort Leonard Wood – Restricted to Authorized personnel only link
Montana– travelers arriving from another state or country to Montana for non-work-related purposes undergo a 14-day self-quarantine. The Directive follows the governor’s prior travel advisory and last week’s Stay at Home Directive link FWP has suspended all spring turkey and spring black bear seasons through at least April 24th for non-resident added 4/9
Nebraska– suspended the sale of nonresident spring turkey hunting permits immediately. link
New Hamshire– no longer issuing kid’s fishing derby permits or any bass tournament permits. Online sales only for licenses and permits link link
New York– West Point, Outdoor Recreation CLOSED or CANCELLED (until further notice) All reservations cancelled through 30 Apr 2020 link All marinas and boat launches ordered closed link added 4/10
North Carolina– multiple boat access, camping, public land closures see: link Dare County- Resident only travel. link
North Dakota– All travelers arriving to North Dakota from international locations and states with widespread coronavirus outbreaks must quarantine immediately for 14 days link
Ohio– stay-at-home order until May 1. People traveling into Ohio to self-quarantine for 14 days. link non-resident hunting and fishing licenses suspended link
Oklahoma– order requiring travelers from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, California, Louisiana and Washington to undergo a 14-day quarantine. link
Oregon– recreational fishing for salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River closed link hunting and fishing to non-residents closed link added 4/10
Rhode Island– all out-of-state travelers will be stopped at the border and told to quarantine for 14 days if they intend to stay in the state. Order extended to all states because of the rate of infection in other areas, mentioning New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and New Hampshire by name link Fishing system in place-staggers the days when licensed anglers can fish. Those with last names beginning with A through M can only fish on even numbered calendar days, and those with last names beginning with N through Z can only fish on odd numbered calendar days. link added 4/7
South Carolina– travelers from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and the city of New Orleans will be ordered to isolate or self-quarantine for 14-days or the duration of their trip. The order does not apply to people employed by airlines, performing or assisting with the military, health care or emergency response. link All dates all SCDNR Lottery hunts on WMA properties have been canceled. Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge hunts remain open unless a “Stay Home” order is declared. link Fishing events link
Texas– Joint Base San Antonio – Hunting closed until further notice link 14 Day travel quarantine from the following: flying into Texas from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and the city of New Orleans, driving from the cities of Miami, Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta. Also included in the order are the states of Washington and California. link Texas Attorney General Says Gunnison County’s Temporary Nonresident Ban Is Unconstitutional link added 4/10
Utah– All recreational travel by non–residents of San Juan County is prohibited link added 4/10
Virginia– Langly AFB outdoor recreation canceled link Marine Corps Base Quantico- outdoor recreation canceled link
Washington– Fishing closed, youth turkey hunt canceled. Six game management units that were scheduled to open on April 1 for spring bear hunting closed pending further evaluation. Nearly 90 percent of spring bear permit holders traveling from outside the area. A decision on regular spring turkey may come by 4/6 link All state lands closed til 5/4 link Spring bear and turkey seasons are postponed until at least May 4. link
West Virginia– 14 Day travel quarantine from the following: Louisiana, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Italy, and China link
Wyoming– all travelers coming to Wyoming quarantine for 14 days link
Vermont– 14 Day travel quarantine from any state link
Canada– inaugural New Brunswick spring turkey season canceled link US Border currently closed to all non-essential travel
Not listed, check your state of interest as many have their park buildings and camping and restroom facilities either closed altogether or not taking reservations until later this summer. Also noted that some states are banning overnight camping on public lands or designated primitive sites.
Hunting & Fishing Seasons COVID19 Non-Resident Hunting Shut down 4/6 Update
Update of currently impacted state turkey hunting and fishing seasons that are now an unfortunate reality. I will continue to update this as more states follow suit and when states ease and or rescind restrictions entirely.
Alaska– current 14-day mandatory quarantine order in place until April 21st. Hunters should not plan to travel to or arrive in Alaska before this date. link Gov. Mike Dunleavy rescinded the cancellation of all spring bear hunts in Alaska Thursday, saying that spring bear hunts will be open to Alaskan hunters, but not available to those non-residents and anyone from outside the state. link
California– Hunting, fishing on base is suspended until further notice. link Edwards Air Force Base – restricted to mission-essential personnel only. link Fort Hunter Liggett- All 2020 Fishing and 2019-20 Hunting permits sales have been suspended. link
Arizona– San Carlos Apache Reservation turkey hunts canceled link
Colorado– all playgrounds, campgrounds, dispersed camping and camping facilities (including yurts and cabins) at Colorado’s state parks as well as camping at State Wildlife Areas are closed. Spring turkey hunters now are able to return their license for a refund at any time before the opening day of turkey season. link San Juan County-all public lands closed Fort Carson- hunting is NOT available on Fort Carson or Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, USAF Academy “official business only”. Fishing the 5 lakes closed link Yuma County delaying spring turkey season to 5/2/20, Gunnison county banning any visitors until further notice. link added 4/8
Delaware– All out-of-state residents traveling into Delaware to immediately self-quarantine for 14 days link
Florida– 30-day stay-at-home order. those who fly or drive into Florida from states with substantial community spread to self-isolate in Florida for 14 days or the duration of their trip, whichever is shorter. Some resources are closed link
Georgia– Fort Benning- Restricted to Authorized personnel only link Fort Gordon- close 1 Apr 2020 – 6 June 2020 link The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests is temporarily shutting down all dispersed camping corridors, day-use areas, trailhead facilities and other recreation sites on the Blue Ridge Ranger District link
Hawaii– All arriving residents and visitors will immediately go into a 14-day quarantines upon entering the state link Lana‘i Axis Deer Hunt Canceled link
Idaho– The purchase of non-resident black bear, fishing and turkey tags is no longer available link added 4/4 If you already had an agreement with an outfitter for a spring black bear hunt before the April 4th suspension, you may still obtain your tags and go on the hunt. added 4/8
Illinois– all state parks, fish and wildlife areas, recreational areas and historic sites closed, hunting and fishing prohibited on public areas link
Kansas – travel quarantine from the following: International– China, South Korea, Japan, Italy and Iran States- California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York and Washington link Kansas has an “explicit ” call out of quarantine of 14 days before you can hunt link added 4/6
Kentucky– All Fort Campbell iSportsman activities including hunting, fishing and general outdoor recreation are closed. link People traveling to Kentucky from out-of-state will now be placed under quarantine for 14 days due to an executive order link suspending sale of non-resident turkey-hunting permits- 2020 spring turkey season link
Massachusetts – MassWildlife canceled all 2020 Youth Turkey Hunt Seminars. Only those who have completed Basic Hunter Education and the Youth Turkey Hunting Seminar allowed to participate in the Youth Turkey Hunt on April 25. link All travelers arriving in the Commonwealth are instructed to self-quarantine for 14 days, link Joint Base Cape Cod/Camp Edwards controlled turkey hunt canceled link
Maine– all travelers coming to Maine quarantine for 14 days link
Maryland– strict w/penalty stay at home directive. recreational boating is banned. Subsistence hunting and fishing — limited hunting and limited recreational fishing and crabbing for sustenance only. No permits for fishing tournaments, Commercial fishing deemed essential link
Missouri– Fort Leonard Wood – Restricted to Authorized personnel only link
Montana– travelers arriving from another state or country to Montana for non-work-related purposes undergo a 14-day self-quarantine. The Directive follows the governor’s prior travel advisory and last week’s Stay at Home Directive link
Nebraska– suspended the sale of nonresident spring turkey hunting permits immediately. link
New Hamshire– no longer issuing kid’s fishing derby permits or any bass tournament permits. Online sales only for licenses and permits link link
New York– West Point, Outdoor Recreation CLOSED or CANCELLED (until further notice) All reservations cancelled through 30 Apr 2020 link
North Carolina– multiple boat access, camping, public land closures see: link Dare County- Resident only travel. link
North Dakota– All travelers arriving to North Dakota from international locations and states with widespread coronavirus outbreaks must quarantine immediately for 14 days link
Ohio– stay-at-home order until May 1. People traveling into Ohio to self-quarantine for 14 days. link non-resident hunting and fishing licenses suspended link added 4/6
Oklahoma– order requiring travelers from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, California, Louisiana and Washington to undergo a 14-day quarantine. link
Oregon– recreational fishing for salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River closed link
Rhode Island– all out-of-state travelers will be stopped at the border and told to quarantine for 14 days if they intend to stay in the state. Order extended to all states because of the rate of infection in other areas, mentioning New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and New Hampshire by name link Fishing system in place-staggers the days when licensed anglers can fish. Those with last names beginning with A through M can only fish on even numbered calendar days, and those with last names beginning with N through Z can only fish on odd numbered calendar days. link added 4/7
South Carolina– travelers from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and the city of New Orleans will be ordered to isolate or self-quarantine for 14-days or the duration of their trip. The order does not apply to people employed by airlines, performing or assisting with the military, health care or emergency response. link All dates all SCDNR Lottery hunts on WMA properties have been canceled. Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge hunts remain open unless a “Stay Home” order is declared. link Fishing events link
Texas– Joint Base San Antonio – Hunting closed until further notice link 14 Day travel quarantine from the following: flying into Texas from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and the city of New Orleans, driving from the cities of Miami, Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta. Also included in the order are the states of Washington and California. link
Virginia– Langly AFB outdoor recreation canceled link Marine Corps Base Quantico- outdoor recreation canceled link
Washington– Fishing closed, youth turkey hunt canceled. Six game management units that were scheduled to open on April 1 for spring bear hunting closed pending further evaluation. Nearly 90 percent of spring bear permit holders traveling from outside the area. A decision on regular spring turkey may come by 4/6 link All state lands closed til 5/4 link added 4/6 Spring bear and turkey seasons are postponed until at least May 4. link added 4/6
West Virginia– 14 Day travel quarantine from the following: Louisiana, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Italy, and China link
Wyoming– all travelers coming to Wyoming quarantine for 14 days link
Vermont– 14 Day travel quarantine from any state link
Canada– inaugural New Brunswick spring turkey season canceled link US Border currently closed to all non-essential travel
Not listed, check your state of interest as many have their park buildings and camping and restroom facilities either closed altogether or not taking reservations until later this summer. Also noted that some states are banning overnight camping on public lands or designated primitive sites.
Hunting & Fishing Seasons COVID19 State Closures & Restrictions 4/3 Update
Update of currently impacted state turkey hunting and fishing seasons that are now an unfortunate reality. I will continue to update this as more states follow suit and when states ease and or rescind restrictions entirely.
Alaska– current 14-day mandatory quarantine order in place until April 21st. Hunters should not plan to travel to or arrive in Alaska before this date. link Gov. Mike Dunleavy rescinded the cancellation of all spring bear hunts in Alaska Thursday, saying that spring bear hunts will be open to Alaskan hunters, but not available to those non-residents and anyone from outside the state. link added 4/3
California– Hunting, fishing on base is suspended until further notice. link Edwards Air Force Base – restricted to mission-essential personnel only. link Fort Hunter Liggett- All 2020 Fishing and 2019-20 Hunting permits sales have been suspended. link
Arizona– San Carlos Apache Reservation turkey hunts canceled link
Colorado– all playgrounds, campgrounds, dispersed camping and camping facilities (including yurts and cabins) at Colorado’s state parks as well as camping at State Wildlife Areas are closed. Spring turkey hunters now are able to return their license for a refund at any time before the opening day of turkey season. link San Juan County-all public lands closed Fort Carson- hunting is NOT available on Fort Carson or Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, USAF Academy “official business only”. Fishing the 5 lakes closed link
Delaware– All out-of-state residents traveling into Delaware to immediately self-quarantine for 14 days link
Florida– 30-day stay-at-home order. those who fly or drive into Florida from states with substantial community spread to self-isolate in Florida for 14 days or the duration of their trip, whichever is shorter. Some resources are closed link
Georgia– Fort Benning- Restricted to Authorized personnel only link Fort Gordon- close 1 Apr 2020 – 6 June 2020 link The Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests is temporarily shutting down all dispersed camping corridors, day-use areas, trailhead facilities and other recreation sites on the Blue Ridge Ranger District link added 4/3
Hawaii– All arriving residents and visitors will immediately go into a 14-day quarantines upon entering the state link Lana‘i Axis Deer Hunt Canceled link added 4/3
Illinois– all state parks, fish and wildlife areas, recreational areas and historic sites closed, hunting and fishing prohibited on public areas link
Kansas – travel quarantine from the following: International– China, South Korea, Japan, Italy and Iran States- California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York and Washington link
Kentucky– All Fort Campbell iSportsman activities including hunting, fishing and general outdoor recreation are closed. link People traveling to Kentucky from out-of-state will now be placed under quarantine for 14 days due to an executive order link suspending sale of non-resident turkey-hunting permits- 2020 spring turkey season link added 4/3
Massachusetts – MassWildlife canceled all 2020 Youth Turkey Hunt Seminars. Only those who have completed Basic Hunter Education and the Youth Turkey Hunting Seminar allowed to participate in the Youth Turkey Hunt on April 25. link All travelers arriving in the Commonwealth are instructed to self-quarantine for 14 days, link Joint Base Cape Cod/Camp Edwards controlled turkey hunt canceled link added 4/3
Maine– all travelers coming to Maine quarantine for 14 days link
Maryland– strict w/penalty stay at home directive. recreational boating is banned. Subsistence hunting and fishing — limited hunting and limited recreational fishing and crabbing for sustenance only. No permits for fishing tournaments, Commercial fishing deemed essential link
Missouri– Fort Leonard Wood – Restricted to Authorized personnel only link
Montana– travelers arriving from another state or country to Montana for non-work-related purposes undergo a 14-day self-quarantine. The Directive follows the governor’s prior travel advisory and last week’s Stay at Home Directive link
Nebraska– suspended the sale of nonresident spring turkey hunting permits immediately. link
New Hamshire– no longer issuing kid’s fishing derby permits or any bass tournament permits. Online sales only for licenses and permits link link
New York– West Point, Outdoor Recreation CLOSED or CANCELLED (until further notice) All reservations cancelled through 30 Apr 2020 link
North Carolina– multiple boat access, camping, public land closures see: link Dare County- Resident only travel. link
North Dakota– All travelers arriving to North Dakota from international locations and states with widespread coronavirus outbreaks must quarantine immediately for 14 days link
Ohio– stay-at-home order until May 1. People traveling into Ohio to self-quarantine for 14 days. link added 4/3
Oklahoma– order requiring travelers from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, California, Louisiana and Washington to undergo a 14-day quarantine. link
Oregon– recreational fishing for salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River closed link
Rhode Island– all out-of-state travelers will be stopped at the border and told to quarantine for 14 days if they intend to stay in the state. Order extended to all states because of the rate of infection in other areas, mentioning New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and New Hampshire by name link
South Carolina– travelers from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and the city of New Orleans will be ordered to isolate or self-quarantine for 14-days or the duration of their trip. The order does not apply to people employed by airlines, performing or assisting with the military, health care or emergency response. link All dates all SCDNR Lottery hunts on WMA properties have been canceled. Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge hunts remain open unless a “Stay Home” order is declared. link added 4/3 Fishing events link added 4/3
Texas– Joint Base San Antonio – Hunting closed until further notice link 14 Day travel quarantine from the following: flying into Texas from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and the city of New Orleans, driving from the cities of Miami, Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta. Also included in the order are the states of Washington and California. link
Virginia– Langly AFB outdoor recreation canceled link Marine Corps Base Quantico- outdoor recreation canceled link
Washington– Fishing closed, youth turkey hunt canceled. Six game management units that were scheduled to open on April 1 for spring bear hunting closed pending further evaluation. Nearly 90 percent of spring bear permit holders traveling from outside the area. A decision on regular spring turkey may come by 4/6 link
West Virginia– 14 Day travel quarantine from the following: Louisiana, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Italy, and China link
Wyoming– all travelers coming to Wyoming quarantine for 14 days link added 4/3
Vermont– 14 Day travel quarantine from any state link
Canada– inaugural New Brunswick spring turkey season canceled link US Border currently closed to all non-essential travel
Not listed, check your state of interest as many have their park buildings and camping and restroom facilities either closed altogether or not taking reservations until later this summer. Also noted that some states are banning overnight camping on public lands or designated primitive sites.
Hunting & Fishing Seasons COVID19 State Closures & Restrictions 4/2 Update
Update of currently impacted state turkey hunting and fishing seasons that are now an unfortunate reality. I will continue to update this as more states follow suit and when states ease and or rescind restrictions entirely.
Alaska– current 14-day mandatory quarantine order in place until April 21st. Hunters should not plan to travel to or arrive in Alaska before this date. https://gov.alaska.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/COVID-19-Health-Mandate-010-Travel-Declaration.pdf added 4/1
California– Hunting, fishing on base is suspended until further notice. https://www.pendleton.marines.mil/Unit-Home/COVID-19/ added 4/2 Edwards Air Force Base – restricted to mission-essential personnel only. https://www.edwards.af.mil/coronavirus/ added 4/2 Fort Hunter Liggett- All 2020 Fishing and 2019-20 Hunting permits sales have been suspended. https://fthunter.isportsman.net/default.aspx added 4/2
Arizona– San Carlos Apache Reservation turkey hunts canceled https://www.huntingfishing.com/index.php/2020/03/28/san-carlos-apache-tribe-cancels-spring-turkey-hunts-due-to-covid-19-concerns/
Colorado– all playgrounds, campgrounds, dispersed camping and camping facilities (including yurts and cabins) at Colorado’s state parks as well as camping at State Wildlife Areas are closed. Spring turkey hunters now are able to return their license for a refund at any time before the opening day of turkey season. https://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/COVID-19-Response.aspx#HuntFish updated 4/1 San Juan County-all public lands closed updated 4/2 Fort Carson- hunting is NOT available on Fort Carson or Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site updated 4/2 USAF Academy “official business only”. Fishing the 5 lakes closed https://usafa.isportsman.net/Default.aspx updated 4/2
Delaware– All out-of-state residents traveling into Delaware to immediately self-quarantine for 14 days https://6abc.com/health/delaware-covid-19-death-toll-rises-to-10;-319-confirmed-cases/6068140/ updated 4/2
Florida– 30-day stay-at-home order. those who fly or drive into Florida from states with substantial community spread to self-isolate in Florida for 14 days or the duration of their trip, whichever is shorter. Some resources are closed https://myfwc.com/recreation/notices/ added 4/1
Georgia– Fort Benning- Restricted to Authorized personnel only https://ftbenning.isportsman.net/default.aspx added 4/2 Fort Gordon- close 1 Apr 2020 – 6 June 2020 https://ftgordon.isportsman.net/default.aspx added 4/2
Hawaii– All arriving residents and visitors will immediately go into a 14-day quarantines upon entering the state https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/03/30/breaking-news/watch-live-gov-david-ige-discusses-coronavirus/ added 4/2
Illinois– all state parks, fish and wildlife areas, recreational areas and historic sites closed, hunting and fishing prohibited on public areas https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/news/Pages/Illinois-Department-of-Natural-Resources-Guidance–for-Spring-2020-Turkey-Seasons.aspx
Kansas – travel quarantine from the following: International– China, South Korea, Japan, Italy and Iran States- California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York and Washington https://khap2.kdhe.state.ks.us/NewsRelease/PDFs/3-27-20%20travel.pdf https://ksoutdoors.com/Hunting/When-to-Hunt/Turkey
Kentucky– All Fort Campbell iSportsman activities including hunting, fishing and general outdoor recreation are closed. https://ftcampbell.isportsman.net/default.aspx added 4/1 People traveling to Kentucky from out-of-state will now be placed under quarantine for 14 days due to an executive order https://www.glasgowdailytimes.com/news/out-of-state-travelers-to-face-14-day-quarantine/article_5fb57cd6-7531-11ea-beb2-039ce4407c47.html added 4/2
Massachusetts – MassWildlife canceled all 2020 Youth Turkey Hunt Seminars. Only those who have completed Basic Hunter Education and the Youth Turkey Hunting Seminar allowed to participate in the Youth Turkey Hunt on April 25. https://www.mass.gov/news/masswildlife-covid-19-response All travelers arriving in the Commonwealth are instructed to self-quarantine for 14 days, https://whdh.com/news/baker-all-travelers-arriving-in-mass-by-plane-train-or-car-will-be-asked-to-self-quarantine/ added 4/2
Maryland– strict w/penalty stay at home directive. recreational boating is banned. Subsistence hunting and fishing — limited hunting and limited recreational fishing and crabbing for sustenance only. No permits for fishing tournaments, Commercial fishing deemed essential https://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2020/03/30/dnr-issues-guidance-on-governor-hogans-stay-at-home-order/
Missouri– Fort Leonard Wood – Restricted to Authorized personnel only https://ftleonardwood.isportsman.net/default.aspx added 4/2
Montana– travelers arriving from another state or country to Montana for non-work-related purposes undergo a 14-day self-quarantine. The Directive follows the governor’s prior travel advisory and last week’s Stay at Home Directive http://fwp.mt.gov/covid19 added 4/1
Nebraska– suspended the sale of nonresident spring turkey hunting permits immediately. http://outdoornebraska.gov/wildturkey/
New Hamshire– no longer issuing kid’s fishing derby permits or any bass tournament permits. Online sales only for licenses and permits https://wildlife.state.nh.us/about/covid19.html https://www.1011now.com/content/news/Nonresident-spring-turkey-permit-sales-to-end-immediately-569248661.html
New York– West Point, Outdoor Recreation CLOSED or CANCELLED (until further notice) All reservations cancelled through 30 Apr 2020 https://westpoint.armymwr.com/covid19 added 4/2
North Carolina– multiple boat access, camping, public land closures see: https://www.ncwildlife.org/News/NCWRC-Coronavirus-related-Closings-and-Alerts#107242136-public-fishing-access-area-closures Dare County- Resident only travel. https://www.darenc.com/departments/emergency-management/entry added 4/2
North Dakota– All travelers arriving to North Dakota from international locations and states with widespread coronavirus outbreaks must quarantine immediately for 14 days https://www.cbs58.com/news/here-are-the-states-restricting-travel-from-within-the-us added 4/2
Ohio– stay-at-home order until May 1. People traveling into Ohio to self-quarantine for 14 days. https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/governor-mike-dewine-ohios-stay-at-home-order-extended-until-may-1/95-5c687939-2c07-4bc0-925b-91e44dfdd9ef added 4/3
Oklahoma– order requiring travelers from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, California, Louisiana and Washington to undergo a 14-day quarantine. https://www.sos.ok.gov/documents/executive/1924.pdf added 4/2
Oregon– recreational fishing for salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River closed https://www.dfw.state.or.us/news/2020/03_mar/032520c.asp added 4/2
Rhode Island– all out-of-state travelers will be stopped at the border and told to quarantine for 14 days if they intend to stay in the state. Order extended to all states because of the rate of infection in other areas, mentioning New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and New Hampshire by name https://www.cbs58.com/news/here-are-the-states-restricting-travel-from-within-the-us added 4/2
South Carolina– travelers from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and the city of New Orleans will be ordered to isolate or self-quarantine for 14-days or the duration of their trip. The order does not apply to people employed by airlines, performing or assisting with the military, health care or emergency response. https://www.wyff4.com/article/live-at-4-pm-sc-governor-health-officials-give-update-on-coronavirus-cases-states-response/31957513 added 4/2
Texas– Joint Base San Antonio – Hunting closed until further notice https://jbsa.isportsman.net/default.aspx added 4/2 14 Day travel quarantine from the following: flying into Texas from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and the city of New Orleans, driving from the cities of Miami, Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta. Also included in the order are the states of Washington and California. https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-mandates-14-day-quarantine-for-road-travelers-arriving-in-texas-from-any-location-in-louisiana added 4/2
Virginia– Langly AFB outdoor recreation canceled https://www.jble.af.mil/Coronavirus/ added 4/2 Marine Corps Base Quantico- outdoor recreation canceled https://www.quantico.usmc-mccs.org/QuanticoMCCS/assets/File/MCCS%20COVID-19%20Update%2031%20Mar.pdf added 4/2
Washington– Fishing closed, youth turkey hunt canceled. Six game management units that were scheduled to open on April 1 for spring bear hunting closed pending further evaluation. Nearly 90 percent of spring bear permit holders traveling from outside the area. A decision on regular spring turkey may come by 4/6 https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/covid-19-updates
West Virginia– 14 Day travel quarantine from the following: Louisiana, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Italy and China https://www.cbs58.com/news/here-are-the-states-restricting-travel-from-within-the-us added 4/2
Vermont– 14 Day travel quarantine from any state https://www.cbs58.com/news/here-are-the-states-restricting-travel-from-within-the-us added 4/2
Canada– inaugural New Brunswick spring turkey season canceled https://www.facebook.com/251311101719404/photos/pcb.1360785240771979/1360796154104221/?type=3&theater US Border currently closed to all non-essential travel updated 4/1
Not listed, check your state of interest as many have their park buildings and camping and restroom facilities either closed altogether or not taking reservations until later this summer. Also noted that some states are banning overnight camping on public lands or designated primitive sites.
HUNTING & FISHING SEASONS COVID19 STATE CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS 4/1 Update
Update of currently impacted state turkey hunting and fishing seasons that are now an unfortunate reality. I will continue to update this as more states follow suit and when states ease and or rescind restrictions entirely.
Alaska– current 14-day mandatory quarantine order in place until April 21st. Hunters should not plan to travel to or arrive in Alaska before this date. https://gov.alaska.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/COVID-19-Health-Mandate-010-Travel-Declaration.pdf added 4/1
Arizona– San Carlos Apache Reservation turkey hunts canceled https://www.huntingfishing.com/index.php/2020/03/28/san-carlos-apache-tribe-cancels-spring-turkey-hunts-due-to-covid-19-concerns/
Colorado– all playgrounds, campgrounds, dispersed camping and camping facilities (including yurts and cabins) at Colorado’s state parks as well as camping at State Wildlife Areas are closed. Spring turkey hunters now are able to return their license for a refund at any time before the opening day of turkey season. https://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/COVID-19-Response.aspx#HuntFish updated 4/1
Florida– 30-day stay-at-home order. those who fly or drive into Florida from states with substantial community spread to self-isolate in Florida for 14 days or the duration of their trip, whichever is shorter. Some resources are closed https://myfwc.com/recreation/notices/ added 4/1
Illinois– all state parks, fish and wildlife areas, recreational areas and historic sites closed, hunting and fishing prohibited on public areas https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/news/Pages/Illinois-Department-of-Natural-Resources-Guidance–for-Spring-2020-Turkey-Seasons.aspx
Kansas – travel quarantine from the following: International– China, South Korea, Japan, Italy and Iran States- California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York and Washington https://khap2.kdhe.state.ks.us/NewsRelease/PDFs/3-27-20%20travel.pdf https://ksoutdoors.com/Hunting/When-to-Hunt/Turkey
Kentucky- All Fort Campbell iSportsman activities including hunting, fishing and general outdoor recreation are closed. https://ftcampbell.isportsman.net/default.aspx added 4/1
Massachusetts – MassWildlife canceled all 2020 Youth Turkey Hunt Seminars. Only those who have completed Basic Hunter Education and the Youth Turkey Hunting Seminar allowed to participate in the Youth Turkey Hunt on April 25. https://www.mass.gov/news/masswildlife-covid-19-response
Maryland– strict w/penalty stay at home directive. recreational boating is banned. Subsistence hunting and fishing — limited hunting and limited recreational fishing and crabbing for sustenance only. No permits for fishing tournaments, Commercial fishing deemed essential https://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2020/03/30/dnr-issues-guidance-on-governor-hogans-stay-at-home-order/
Montana– travelers arriving from another state or country to Montana for non-work-related purposes undergo a 14-day self-quarantine. The Directive follows the governor’s prior travel advisory and last week’s Stay at Home Directive http://fwp.mt.gov/covid19 added 4/1
Nebraska– suspended the sale of nonresident spring turkey hunting permits immediately. http://outdoornebraska.gov/wildturkey/
New Hamshire– no longer issuing kid’s fishing derby permits or any bass tournament permits. Online sales only for licenses and permits https://wildlife.state.nh.us/about/covid19.html https://www.1011now.com/content/news/Nonresident-spring-turkey-permit-sales-to-end-immediately-569248661.html
North Carolina– multiple boat access, camping, public land closures see: https://www.ncwildlife.org/News/NCWRC-Coronavirus-related-Closings-and-Alerts#107242136-public-fishing-access-area-closures
Washington- Fishing closed, youth turkey hunt canceled. Six game management units that were scheduled to open on April 1 for spring bear hunting closed pending further evaluation. Nearly 90 percent of spring bear permit holders traveling from outside the area. A decision on regular spring turkey may come by 4/6 https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/covid-19-updates
Canada– inaugural New Brunswick spring turkey season canceled https://www.facebook.com/251311101719404/photos/pcb.1360785240771979/1360796154104221/?type=3&theater US Border currently closed to all non-essential travel updated 4/1
Not listed, check your state of interest as many have their park buildings and camping and restroom facilitates either closed altogether or not taking reservations until later this summer. Also noted that some states are banning overnight camping on public lands or designated primitive sites.
Hunting and Fishing Seasons COVID19 State closures and Restrictions
COVID19 , Corona Virus, China Virus, etc. will have an impact on your turkey hunting and fishing seasons in more than a few states. upon publishing prior related post earlier today, it became apparent that more than a few statewide decisions were made known yesterday and today. This is an update of currently impacted state turkey hunting and fishing seasons that are now an unfortunate reality. I will update this as more states follow suit and when states ease and or rescind restrictions entirely.
Arizona– San Carlos Apache Reservation turkey hunts canceled https://www.huntingfishing.com/index.php/2020/03/28/san-carlos-apache-tribe-cancels-spring-turkey-hunts-due-to-covid-19-concerns/
Colorado– all playgrounds, campgrounds, dispersed camping and camping facilities (including yurts and cabins) at Colorado’s state parks as well as camping at State Wildlife Areas are closed.
Illinois– all state parks, fish and wildlife areas, recreational areas and historic sites closed, hunting and fishing prohibited on public areas https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/news/Pages/Illinois-Department-of-Natural-Resources-Guidance–for-Spring-2020-Turkey-Seasons.aspx
Kansas – travel quarantine from the following: International– China, South Korea, Japan, Italy and Iran States- California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York and Washington https://khap2.kdhe.state.ks.us/NewsRelease/PDFs/3-27-20%20travel.pdf https://ksoutdoors.com/Hunting/When-to-Hunt/Turkey
Massachusetts – MassWildlife canceled all 2020 Youth Turkey Hunt Seminars. Only those who have completed Basic Hunter Education and the Youth Turkey Hunting Seminar allowed to participate in the Youth Turkey Hunt on April 25. https://www.mass.gov/news/masswildlife-covid-19-response
Maryland– strict w/penalty stay at home directive. recreational boating is banned. Subsistence hunting and fishing — limited hunting and limited recreational fishing and crabbing for sustenance only. No permits for fishing tournaments, Commercial fishing deemed essential https://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2020/03/30/dnr-issues-guidance-on-governor-hogans-stay-at-home-order/
Nebraska– suspended the sale of nonresident spring turkey hunting permits immediately. http://outdoornebraska.gov/wildturkey/
New Hamshire– no longer issuing kid’s fishing derby permits or any bass tournament permits. Online sales only for licenses and permits https://wildlife.state.nh.us/about/covid19.html https://www.1011now.com/content/news/Nonresident-spring-turkey-permit-sales-to-end-immediately-569248661.html
North Carolina– multiple boat access, camping, public land closures see: https://www.ncwildlife.org/News/NCWRC-Coronavirus-related-Closings-and-Alerts#107242136-public-fishing-access-area-closures
Washington- Fishing closed, youth turkey hunt canceled. Six game management units that were scheduled to open on April 1 for spring bear hunting closed pending further evaluation. Nearly 90 percent of spring bear permit holders traveling from outside the area. A decision on regular spring turkey may come by 4/6 https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/covid-19-updates
Canada– inaugural New Brunswick spring turkey season canceled https://www.facebook.com/251311101719404/photos/pcb.1360785240771979/1360796154104221/?type=3&theater Ontario is also rumored to have changes, unable to confirm at this time.
Hunting and Fishing Seasons Still On With COVID19?
COVID19 , Corona Virus, China Virus, whatever label you prefer, it has or will have an impact on your turkey hunting and fishing seasons. For those of you with early seasons down south, you have enjoyed a geographic advantage that the rest of the country will see less of or maybe not at all. You have my envy for time afield.
Before I comment further it is prudent to say that health concerns, the well being of family, friends, neighbors, fellow humans rise well above our beloved pursuits of fin and feather. It may be painful to put our favorite seasons on the back burner, however the reasons for measures taken are stark and very clear although we may or may not agree on the severity or extent of some measures. We defer to our healthcare experts and those in charge of protecting the public. Fisherman, turkey hunters may know a lot of stuff, know it all according to some opinions, but let us leave this to the healthcare professionals as the go-to experts…
I will defer as to what is open or legal to engage in to each of your respective states as it changes daily if not hourly. Some states are temporarily closing public lands, gun stores,sporting good stores and waterways. Fishing in the state of Washington closed just recently. Please check with your local and state governments and respective DNR’s, DEC’s. etc Some states are recommending fishing, hiking, using open spaces as a means to decompress, work off stress, engage in healthy exercise without being in proximity of others.
For us in the northern states trout seasons open tomorrow in many places, turkey hunting opens mid April or May 1st for much of the North East. Maybe…
Turkey hunting and fishing can be enjoyed as a singular pursuit and with minimal interactions with others, easily beyond the six foot social distancing rule currently in place. Trips to the diners, restaurants after a great morning hunt, or day on the water are not allowed currently here in NY. The comforts that we might enjoy during epic fishing and hunting trips now have to be planned and in some cases discarded as non-essential services, businesses are either not open, or pickup and delivery only. Gatherings at hunting and fishing camps are now either temporarily banned or strongly discouraged. Again, you have to check with your respective state. Guiding and charter businesses are taking an especially hard hit in this shutdown.
Those that have planned trips, self guided, outfitters, fishing charters, any of you that have plans to travel may have to reschedule or absorb the costs of canceled hunts, and fishing charters well into early summer. We know it will open back up, but when is the billion dollar question.
For me, the trip to Maryland in late April looks to be a non starter. I am pledged to help the land owner take care of a nemesis gobbler on a great property that needs to be dealt with and it is a personal matter, a vendetta if you will. First fish camp for me in May is postponed, possibly canceled til next May. Just got word that the NYSOWA Spring safari for NY writers is canceled and to be combined in the fall. A trip to Maine later in May is sketchy as well. It is all very understandable, yet terribly disappointing. Like most of you, Spring seasons are a time of rejuvenation, recharging the batteries, a time we more than look forward to.
Should there be a travel ban which keeps coming up as a solution for mitigating the spread of the virus, it would put a big damper on racing from one hot spot to another to find a hot gobbler or from one body of water to another in the quest to find where the fish are biting . It would stop out of state travel all together from NY. Should the news turn from bad to something worse on this pandemic, you can see it happening.
As sportsmen we are driven each season sometimes with reckless abandon. As we are morally and legally obligated to follow the emergency measures in place and that has to be checked daily. We should be mindful of the spirit of the laws/orders put in place. The health and well being of our families, ourselves. any and all those we share this planet with can be greatly affected by our failure to do our part to reduce the spread, and the unfortunate impacts of the foe we currently face.
Stay safe, care for your families, and we’ll see you on the other side of this.
-MJ
© 2020 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
The Ultimate Spring Hat Trick Destination-Chautauqua County
A bold claim for a resource-laden state such as New York. To be clear, New York boasts many vibrant outdoor adventure meccas, but you’ll want to plan your next turkey hunting and spring fishing getaway to the outdoor paradise in Chautauqua County. Hunting and fishing interests are easy to satisfy and that’s the honest goal for every sportsman.
My recent hat-trick getaway to Chautauqua was memorable and was just what the doctor ordered to decompress and rejuvenate my busy business life. The excursion found me spring turkey hunting in the mornings with Jake Ensign, followed by an afternoon of fishing with Captain Frank Shoenacker of Infinity Charters. In the evenings, after the outings, I could choose from a smorgasbord of places to visit and explore. My base of operations would be at the Comfort Inn Hotel in Jamestown – it was close to Chautauqua Lake and the turkey woods. Perfect for the extra minutes of sleep needed when chasing gobblers. .
I met up with Jake Ensign, a supreme hunting friend that lives nearby.
Jake provided an eye-opening personal tour of his game room, as he is one of only a few dozen archery hunters to successfully hunt all of the North American Big Game Species. It was evident to me, Jake had spent many years of dedicated preparation to be so successful. Jake goes the extra mile, the extra 10 miles, in making each hunt an exercise in due diligence. It is impressive even to a veteran turkey hunter like myself.
My introduction to the Chautauqua County turkey woods came early the next morning and did not disappoint. We started out just above a vineyard on a ridge top with plenty of roost trees. Plenty of sign was present. Feathers, tracks, scat and dusting bowls were scattered about during our walk in and out. With the exception of two clucks further up the ridge behind us, we were greeted with a whisper quiet, yet beautiful morning. You could hear every sound and if a turkey gobbled, we could easily locate the bird and make an approach.
As the sunrise greeted us, a chorus of trains blasted their air horns providing shock gobble inspiration from nearby highway crossings far below us. The gobblers, however, opted to be of the strong and silent types. We gave it some time to let the place reveal itself and after several setups, we backed out to not disturb the location. Running and gunning was not the game plan that so many engage in when the action is at a lull. Jake had mentioned they have had many successful hunts in that spot. Assessing the area with such ample sign, I would agree. Of course, when you have plenty of Intel on an area, courtesy of Jake, you conduct each hunt more patiently.
After checking a number of properties in the southern region of the county we came upon a parcel not far from Route 86 and got an eager gobble in response to our pleas. With a flat ridge top that lay between us, we settled in to see if we could persuade him across. The wind had come up and it was a solid “maybe” as to whether or not the bird answered us after that. Thirty minutes later a report of something lesser than a 12ga shotgun rang out ahead of us, but much lower on the ridge on another property. We decided to back out. Consistent with other properties we checked, we would come across plenty of turkey sign including sets of gobbler tracks. We were in the middle of great turkey country.
The first morning concluded with sightings of a few hens out bugging in the fields, as we searched for more gobblers to keep track of for the next hunt tomorrow.
Having hunted gobblers in nearly half of New York’s 62 counties, I would point out that the turkey woods of Chautauqua County are among the nicest woods I’ve ever set foot in. A quick review of the past 10 years of harvest data reveals Chautauqua as #1 in New York for turkey hunting harvest. In any given season, Chautauqua is always in the top echelon. With over 20,000 acres of public forests and a mix of land types and food sources, it would be a sound recommendation to add Chautauqua County to your annual spring and fall gobbler chasing vacations.
Before heading out for an afternoon of fishing with Captain Frank Shoenacker on Chautauqua Lake, Jake suggested that we have the best sandwich to be had anywhere (i.e. North America) for lunch. I naturally agreed. My sampling verified his suggestion. A trip to the Ashville General Store is must do stop during your time in the area. The “Jester” spicy turkey sub served hot is a turkey hunter-approved menu item –https://ashvillegeneral.com
After that great lunch, I met up with Frank at the Bemus Point boat launch. The launch was easy to find and not far from the exit off Route 86 for Bemus Point. With eight boat launch sites available on Chautauqua Lake, there is ample access for all boaters – https://www.dec.ny.gov... The Lund Tournament Pro-V was perfect on this beautiful, sunny afternoon. The Lund had a heavier hull and was stable, even in the slight chop we had.
On this outing, Frank and I would both fish and that set the table for a relaxing time on the water. We fished simple, drifting live worms along weed beds and enjoyed lots of fun conversation. As Frank spends more time guiding than fishing, I invited him to fish too and our trip became perfect fun. We were using a killer rig, a homemade double-hook worm harness with a butterfly spinner made by Frank. It’s sort of a secret rig.
We were one of just a handful of boats on the water as you might expect at mid-week of the early season. We caught walleye, perch and a surprisingly large bullhead. A perfect afternoon.
In his larger boat, Frank also guides on Lake Erie: Infinity Charters – https://www.infinitycharters.com/. It is a fantastic way to plan an essential part of your Chautauqua Hat Trick.
Having fished Lake Erie in the past, it is also on my ‘A’ list to frequently visit. I plan to return with my bride of nearly nineteen years to modify the hat trick concept, this time, to be a fishing and lazy-tourist combo. Lee, my wife, loves to fish, and I have promised her to revisit the region.
For the evening, I visited the Southern Tier Brewing Company for a craft beer tasting and a pulled pork sandwich. Accompanied by their “Nitro Stout,” a great beer product, they earned my attention for another “must-do” stop while in the region. Their friendly staff and personal service were 5-star.
I caught up with Jake after dinner to plan the morning hunt and received good news. As Jake scouts at sunset periods, he has endless energy, he found two different turkeys roosted. This is the best kind of news to get when chasing gobblers. Again, another short night, but I would wake up 10 minutes before the alarm clock sounded. Excited? A little bit.
This last morning of my hunt, I would come to appreciate the dedicated strategies that Jakes executes. Our walk to the first roosted bird was in total silence, not a twig nor a dried leaf to reveal our progress. Jake routinely rakes and grooms his paths for stealthy approaches to known roosting areas. It is this extra effort that ups the odds for a successful hunt.
As daylight approached, a hen began to yelp on the limb, not sixty yards from where I sat. Jake mimicked her and I would also respond with muted tree yelps. No gobbling nearby, but one volley of gobbles came from the second location that Jake had marked the night before. It was a little over 250 yards from us. Once the hen flew down, she walked right past Jakes’ location as he sat motionless. She fed away. Once she left, we moved up about 100 yards toward a low swampy area where we had heard the gobbling
We got a quick response from four different gobblers once we sat down and began calling from our new position. They had closed the distance, spotting them moving to my left around the swamp at 80 yards. They were circling and closing fast. As seconds seemed far too long, the most aggressive and vocal of the birds marched in and would stop within range to survey for the hen. The brilliant red, white and blue heads of the gang of four was impressive. The boom that followed sent the other three back as quickly as they came. Maybe a little faster, as I think of it.
The turkey woods were picturesque with a lush green canopy newly emerged. It was a great hunt in a beautiful set of hardwoods. It also reaffirmed the wisdom in scouting, roosting, letting the hunt play out, and having patience which is a hallmark of Jakes’ approach and one I also favor.
We concluded the hunt with a hearty breakfast which always tastes a little better after a successful hunt! We’ll catch up again in the near future as we hunt common areas not far from my home and I’ll be sure to return!
There are so many places to visit here. Great eateries, wineries, breweries, entertainment venues – something for everyone.
I have planned a returned visit for next year, stay tuned!
-MJ
© 2019 Mike Joyner- Joyner Outdoor Media
#chautauqua, #Collin Voss, #Frank Shoenacker, #Jake Ensign, #Jamestown, #North American Big Game, #Southern-Tier Brewing, #turkey, Mike Joyner
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