Bill Conners reports in the Poughkeepsie Journal that the Department of Environmental Conservation is considering expanding turkey hunting. The proposed changes include changing the minimum shot size from No. 8 to No. 9, and starting a spring turkey season in Suffolk County on Long Island in spring 2023. "Wild turkey restoration is one of the greatest success stories of modern wildlife conservation," DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said. "In New York, DEC's management and protection of wild turkeys has allowed the birds to maintain self-sustaining populations in all suitable habitats of the state. This regulation change would expand hunting downstate, ensuring New York remains a premiere destination for turkey hunters in the northeast." Recent advances in shotshell technology that use heavier metals such as tungsten alloy, tungsten-iron, or bismuth are said to be more humane, and allow for smaller shot size. This month is the spring turkey hunting season north of New York City. Public comments on proposed changes to turkey hunting rules can be made through June 5 by email to wildliferegs@dec.ny.gov with "Proposed Turkey Regulations" in the subject line or by mail to Joshua Stiller, NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4754. Read more about this story in the Poughkeepsie Journal.