AUGUSTA (AP) — The severe winter has put an end to the turkey hunt in parts of northern Maine.

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife said the hunt has been suspended in wildlife management districts 1-6. The spring turkey season will remain unchanged in all other areas of the state.

Commissioner Chandler Woodcock said late winter is a critical time for turkeys and the weather has been rough. He said the hunt, on top of winter deaths, could harm the turkey population for years to come.

The National Weather Service ranked March 2014 in northern Maine as the third-snowiest on record. That means the woods are snow-covered at a time of the year when turkeys are supposed to be breeding and nesting.