The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced that the state's most popular big game hunting season begins on Saturday, Nov. 16, and continues through Dec. 8. With …
Stay informed about your community and support local independent journalism.
Subscribe to The River Reporter today. click here
This item is available in full to subscribers.
Please log in to continue |
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced that the state's most popular big game hunting season begins on Saturday, Nov. 16, and continues through Dec. 8. With an estimated 470,000 licensed hunters participating, approximately 60 percent of the total statewide deer harvest and 30 to 60 percent of the statewide bear harvest occurs during this season.
DEC is simultaneously responding to an isolated detection of Chronic Wasting Disaes (CWD) in a captive deer facility in southern Herkimer County. While there is no evidence that CWD is present in wild deer at this time, DEC is enhancing CWD surveillance in the area and requesting successful deer hunters in the area submit the deer’s head to DEC for CWD testing.
Hunters Can Help Prevent the Introduction of CWD into Wild Deer
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is an always fatal deer disease that threatens New York's wild white-tailed deer and moose populations. When introduced into wild deer, CWD can spread rapidly, is nearly impossible to eliminate, and threatens future deer hunting opportunities. Hunters can help prevent the introduction of CWD into New York’s wild deer populations by taking the following precautions:
Hunting outside of New York
Hunting in New York
DEC is requesting that successful deer hunters in the towns of Columbia, German Flatts, Litchfield, Warren, or Winfield in Herkimer County, and the town of Richfield in Otsego County submit the deer’s head for CWD testing at one of seven drop-off locations (instructions and addresses below). Taxidermists can sample deer intended to be mounted.
Deer head drop-off instructions
Deer head drop-off locations
Town of Warren
Town of Columbia
Town of Litchfield
Town of Winfield
Town of Herkimer
Town of Richfield
Continuing New York's Record of Safe Hunting
DEC is encouraging all hunters to continue to take steps to remain safe while afield. Most hunting-related injuries occur when hunters are climbing in and out of a tree stand. Hunters should Strap Up Before You Go Up to stay connected from the time leaving the ground to the time they get back down, read the manufacturer's instructions and warnings before using a tree stand, check all stands (including straps and chains) before every season, and replace any worn or missing parts. Never climb in or out of a tree stand with a loaded firearm.
Daily hunting hours for deer and bear include the full daylight period, beginning 30 minutes before sunrise and continuing until 30 minutes after sunset. These hunting hours ensure there is enough light for hunters to identify their target and what’s beyond, while maximizing opportunities to harvest deer and bear in the early morning and late afternoon when these species are most active. Hunters should check the sunrise and sunset times before hunting each day.
Hunters must wear fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink clothing (either a hat, vest, or jacket which are visible in all directions) when pursuing deer or bear with a firearm, and should always follow the basic rules of firearm safety:
Let Young Bucks Go and Watch Them Grow - Harvest a Doe
As a result of DEC’s Let Young Bucks Go and Watch Them Grow campaign and hunters’ willingness to voluntarily pass up opportunities to harvest young bucks, New York continues to document a steady decrease in the percentage of yearling bucks (1.5 years old) in the buck harvest, with the percentage of older bucks (at least 2.5 years old) in the harvest continuing to increase. As a result, more older bucks are being harvested in New York than ever before. By harvesting does instead of young bucks, hunters help keep deer populations in balance with available habitat which allows deer to meet their nutritional requirements for body and antler growth and fawn production. Hunters can help manage New York's deer herd by continuing to let young bucks go and harvesting at least one doe this hunting season.
Opportunities for Youth Hunters
Once again this year, 12- and 13-year-old hunters may hunt deer with a firearm during the regular firearms season when accompanied by a licensed, experienced adult mentor. This pilot program was established in 2021 and extended through 2025 for upstate counties that choose to participate. The program does not apply to Westchester or Suffolk counties; Erie and Rockland counties have not opted in to the program.
Take It - Tag It - Report It
It has never been easier for hunters to report their deer, bear, or turkey harvest using DEC’s HuntFishNY mobile app. Through the mobile app, hunters can access an electronic version of their hunting license and tags and report their harvests immediately using their mobile device. Hunters can also report their harvest by calling (1-866-GAME-RPT) or through DEC's website. Reporting your harvest within seven days is required by law and provides critical data to inform DEC’s management of deer, bear, and turkey populations.
Other Reminders for the 2024-25 Southern Zone Regular Hunting Season
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here