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New York Spring Turkey Season Opens May 1st 2012

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:18:48 +0000

The 2012 spring turkey season opens May 1 in all of upstate New York lying north of the Bronx-Westchester County boundary and the annual Youth Turkey Hunting Weekend is set for April 21-22, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens today reminded hunters. The youth turkey hunt is open in all of upstate New York and Suffolk County.

“Turkey hunting remains a very popular activity with more than 100,000 turkey hunters taking to the field each spring,” Commissioner Martens said. “Since 2004, we have also offered a special opportunity for junior hunters. The Youth Turkey Hunt is an excellent chance for young hunters to spend time afield with experienced adult hunters to learn about conservation first-hand, gaining the necessary knowledge and skills to become safe and responsible members of New York’s hunting community.”

Important Details for the Youth Turkey Hunt on April 21 and 22:

· Eligible hunters are 12-15 years of age and must hold a junior hunting license and a turkey permit.

· Youth 12-13 years of age must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or adult over 21 years of age with written permission from their parent or legal guardian. Youth 14-15 years of age must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or adult over 18 years of age with written permission from their parent or legal guardian.

· The accompanying adult must have a current hunting license and turkey permit. The adult may assist the youth hunter, including calling, but may not carry a firearm or bow, or kill or attempt to kill a wild turkey during the youth hunt.

· Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to noon each day.

· The youth turkey hunt is open in all of upstate New York, north of the Bronx-Westchester County boundary, and Suffolk County.

· The bag limit for the youth weekend is one bearded bird. This bird becomes part of the youth's regular spring season bag limit of two bearded birds. A second bird may be taken only in upstate New York, north of the Bronx-Westchester County boundary, beginning May 1.

· All other wild turkey hunting regulations are in effect.

Other Important Details for the Spring Turkey Season, May 1-31, 2012:

· Hunting is permitted in most areas of the state, except for New York City and Long Island.

· Hunters must have a turkey hunting permit in addition to their small game hunting or sportsman license.

· Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to noon each day.

· Hunters may take two bearded turkeys during the spring season, but only one bird per day.

· Hunters may not use rifles or handguns firing a bullet. Hunters may hunt with a shotgun or handgun loaded with shot sizes no larger than No. 2 or smaller than No. 8, or with a bow and arrow.

· Successful hunters must fill out the tag which comes with their turkey permit and immediately attach it to any turkey harvested.

· Successful hunters must report their harvest within seven days of taking a bird. Call 1-866-426-3778 (1-866 GAMERPT) or report harvest online athttp://www.dec.ny.go...tdoor/8316.html.

For more information about turkey hunting in New York, see the 2011-12 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide or visit the “Turkey Hunting” pages of the DEC website at http://www.dec.ny.go...tdoor/8366.html.

New York has an extremely safety-conscious generation of hunters, largely due to the annual efforts of more than 3,000 dedicated volunteer Sportsman Education instructors. Even one incident is too many, so be sure to follow the cardinal rules of hunting safety: (1) assume every gun is loaded; (2) control the muzzle; (3) keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot; (4) be absolutely sure of your target and what may be beyond it; and (5) don’t stalk! Set-up with your back against a large tree and call birds to you. To find a sportsman education class in your area, go to http://www.dec.ny.go...tdoor/9191.html or call 1-888-HUNT-ED2 (1-888-486-8332).

Results from 2011:
An analysis of the 2011 spring turkey take, including a county-by-county breakdown, can be found on the DEC website at http://www.dec.ny.go...door/30420.html. Take figures for the 2011 fall turkey season and county-by-county breakdown can be found at http://www.dec.ny.go...door/30412.html.

Participation Opportunities:
DEC Seeks Turkey Hunters for Ruffed Grouse Drumming Survey - Turkey hunters in pursuit of that wary gobbler in the spring are ideally suited for monitoring ruffed grouse during the breeding season. The characteristic sound of a drumming male grouse is as much a part of the spring woods as yelping hens and gobbling toms. Turkey hunters can record the number of grouse they hear drumming while afield to help DEC track the distribution and abundance of this game bird. To get a survey form, go to http://www.dec.ny.go...mals/48169.html or call (518) 402-8886.

To participate in DEC’s Summer Wild Turkey Sighting Survey or other wildlife surveys visit the “Citizen Science” page of the DEC website,http://www.dec.ny.go...imals/1155.html.

Do you have photos from a spring turkey hunt you would like to share? DEC has created a Hunting and Trapping Photo Gallery for junior hunters ages 12-15, young trappers under age 16 and hunters who have harvested their first big or small game animal. If you are the parent or legal guardian of a junior hunter, or if you are an adult who would like to share your first successful hunt, visit the photo gallery on the DEC website, http://www.dec.ny.go...door/54055.html.

NY DEC Proposes Changes to Deer and Bear Huntin...

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:55:48 +0000

The DEC is proposing to:

Establish a three-day youth firearms season for deer to occur during Columbus Day weekend in portions of the Northern and Southern Zone where deer may be taken with a firearm which will increase opportunities for junior hunters. Junior hunters (ages 14 and 15) will be authorized to take one deer of either-sex with a firearm during the youth season. DEC anticipates participation by approximately 16,000 youth hunters, roughly one youth hunter for every two to three square miles of deer habitat in New York. The youth season will run concurrently with early bowhunting season and is not expected to have any noticeable impact on deer behavior or bowhunter success, particularly in light of the more than 100,000 small game hunters also afield during the early fall. Youth deer hunts are held concurrent with bowhunting seasons in many other states, including Connecticut, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Opinions of potential participants about a youth firearms season can be found at www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/ythdeer2012.pdf.
Lengthen bowhunting seasons in the Southern Zone by moving to a fixed opening date of October 1 to increase bowhunting opportunities. This will lengthen bowhunting seasons in the Southern Zone, and lengthen the regular season (bowhunting only) in Westchester County by an average of 15 days and include an additional four weekend days in most years.
Adjust the Northern Zone muzzleloader and regular season start dates by up to one week later certain years to increase bowhunting opportunities and accommodate the proposed youth firearms season. This rule will begin the Northern Zone muzzleloader and regular seasons one week later in 6 of 10 years allowing for a longer early bow season these years.
Establish a late bowhunting season in the Northern Zone, concurrent with the late muzzleloading season, to increase bowhunting opportunities. This rule will increase bowhunting opportunities in the Northern Zone by an additional seven days and will be similar to the concurrent bow and muzzleloader seasons in the Southern Zone.
Allow DMPs to be used during Northern Zone bow and early muzzleloader seasons to simplify regulations and increase hunter opportunity and choice. Current regulations allow use of DMPs in the Northern Zone only during the regular season and late muzzleloader season. This change will only affect those portions of the Northern Zone where DMPs can be issued (Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) 6A, 6C, 6G, 6H, 6K), and this change will not affect the number of DMPs issued. WMU locations can be identified at http://www.dec.ny.go...tdoor/8302.html.
Establish mandatory antler restrictions in WMUs 3A, 4G, 4O, 4P, 4R, 4S, and 4W to reduce harvest of yearling (1.5 year old) bucks. The mandatory antler restriction will prohibit hunters during all seasons in all portions of the listed WMUs from taking an antlered deer unless it has at least 3 points on at least one antler. Hunters less than 17 years old will be exempt from the restriction. In 2011, yearlings comprised 49 percent of the total adult bucks taken in these units. This rule is expected to change harvest composition so that 15-20 percent of the adult bucks taken in these units are yearlings. The restriction is expected to decrease total buck harvest approximately 35-45 percent initially.
Simplify the description of the area open for deer hunting during the January firearms season to include Suffolk County, subject to local discharge restrictions. Current regulations include a complex and lengthy description of open areas that are unnecessary considering existing local ordinances and legal setbacks from structures for discharge of firearms.
Establish provisions for designation of Deer Management Focus Areas to intensify use of traditional hunting in specifically designated geographic areas to assist communities with the burden of overabundant deer populations. This rule will increase bag limits to two antlerless deer per hunter per day and establish a Deer Management Focus Area deer hunting season in late January. This rule will establish specific permit, tagging and reporting requirements in focus areas. This rule also defines the first such focus area in Tompkins County that includes portions of the towns of Caroline, Danby, Dryden, Enfield, Ithaca, Lansing, Newfield, and Ulysses. This area has very high deer populations and relatively poor access for hunters. Deer management focus areas will enable greater harvest opportunity for hunters who are able to gain access to lands for hunting, and are intended to augment on-going management activities in the affected area.
Adjust bear seasons in the Northern and Southern Zone to remain consistent with bow, muzzleloader and regular seasons for deer.
Correct a road name in the boundary descriptions for WMUs 5A and 5C, where Franklin County Route 24 was incorrectly identified as State Route 24.

To see more detailed explanations of these proposals, including instructions for providing comments, visit the

The public comment period will remain open until May 21.

NY DEC Issues Guidance To Discourage Black Bear...

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 18:47:34 +0000

Some of this stuff is just plain common sense, however with our ever increasing bear population this is a great reminder from the NY DEC.

With the onset of warmer weather, New York’s black bear population will be on the move. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today issued guidance on how to prevent nuisance bear encounters.

Black bears will take advantage of almost any readily available food source, including bird feeders and garbage. To prevent encounters between bears and humans, people should never intentionally feed bears and should take every precaution to discourage bears from seeking out food sources in neighborhoods and other residential areas.

Typically, black bears are timid and will avoid all contact with humans. However, bears will become a nuisance and can cause significant damage if they believe they can obtain an easy meal from bird feeders, garbage cans, dumpsters, barbeque grills, tents, vehicles, out-buildings or houses.

It is not only illegal to intentionally feed bears, it is also illegal to inadvertently feed them. Specifically, after written notice from DEC, the incidental or indirect feeding of bears through food attractants such as garbage, pet food or bird seed is illegal. DEC has the authority to require the removal of these and other food attractants when bears become problematic.

It is in the best interest of both bears and people for bears to get their food solely from wild sources. Once a bear learns to associate certain structures with food, it can become a serious nuisance to people and a threat to itself. Bears that lose their natural fear of humans are much more likely to be illegally shot, hit by an automobile or destroyed under a DEC nuisance permit. Some studies suggest that when a bear is fed (either directly or indirectly), its life expectancy is cut by as much as 50 percent.

Once a bear becomes a problem, DEC is often asked to relocate the bear. Contrary to popular belief, bear relocations are rarely effective at solving the problem. Bears are extremely mobile and have excellent homing abilities. Relocated bears often return to their original capture site or maycontinue their bad habits at a new location. If the circumstances that led to the original problem are not corrected, other bears will quickly be attracted to the site and the bear/human conflicts will persist.

In addition to being ineffective, bear relocations are extremely time consuming and often dangerous. The heavy door on the bear traps, although not dangerous to bears, presents a potential danger to curious humans and pets. The simplest way to avoid a nuisance encounter is to remove all food sources. Removing the food source will remove the bear.

Because virtually all nuisance bear problems are the result of hungry bears being attracted to human food, pet food, bird food or garbage, these problems can be minimized by taking these simple precautions:

Never feed bears. It is illegal.
If you believe that bears are being fed, please report it to DEC.

· Stop feeding birds as soon as the snow melts. Birds do not need supplemental food in the summer, when natural foods are most abundant. Clean up all seed fragments and shells left over from winter feeding as the smell will attract bears.
· Dispose of garbage as frequently as possible and store in a secure building prior to disposal.
· If garbage is picked up at the curb, put the garbage out just before the scheduled pickup or place it in a roadside bear-resistant container. Do not put garbage out the night before pick-up at the curb.

Clean garbage cans frequently with ammonia.
Do not burn garbage, it’s illegal and it attracts bears.
Do not add meat scraps, bones or melon rinds to your compost pile.

· Clean up barbecue grills before night fall, and after they cool down store them inside.
· Feed pets indoors and store pet food indoors. If pets must be fed outdoors, take in all uneaten food and dishes before dark.
· Turn off kitchen exhaust fans that vent to the outside whenever possible.
· When camping, keep food out of sight and secured in the trunk of a hard topped, locked vehicle if one is available. If a vehicle is not available, hang food and garbage from a tree at least eight feet off the ground. Keep picnic tables, utensils, fireplaces and the surrounding areas clean.

NY DEC States Record Bear Harvest And Steady De...

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 19:46:06 +0000

Hunters in New York State harvested more than 228,350 deer and 1,250 bears during the 2011 hunting seasons, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens announced today. The deer take nearly matched the 2010 deer take while a new record was set for the bear harvest in southern New York.

“Deer and bear hunting are long-standing traditions in New York, providing a valuable source of food and a means of shared recreation for many families,” Commissioner Martens said. “Throughout the state, hunters play a crucial role by helping to maintain healthy and ecologically sound deer and bear populations.”

Deer Harvest

The 2011 deer take varied less than one percent from the 2010 take statewide.  In 2011, hunters took slightly more than 118,350 antlerless deer (adult females and fawns) and just over 110,000 adult male deer (bucks). In the northern zone, the buck take (about 15,900) was essentially unchanged from 2010, though the antlerless harvest (about 10,900) was down about 13 percent from last year. In the southern zone, excluding Long Island, the adult buck take (about 93,100) increased nearly four percent over last year while the antlerless harvest (about 105,400) decreased by three percent.

2011 marked the first year that crossbows were allowed as a legal hunting implement for deer. However, legislation limited crossbow use to the regular firearms seasons and subsequent muzzleloader seasons for deer. Relatively few hunters took crossbows afield and the estimated take by crossbows was only 491 deer statewide, less than 0.25 percent of the total deer harvest.

Throughout the state, hunters took a slightly higher proportion of 2.5-year-old and older bucks than in previous years, continuing a trend that has developed over the past two decades.  Throughout most of New York, hunters can take a buck of any age, but an increasing number of hunters are voluntarily choosing to take older bucks with larger antlers. In 2011, 46 percent of harvested bucks were 2.5-years-old or older, compared to only 33 percent in 2000 and 28 percent in the early 1990s.

Western New York and the Finger Lakes Region perennially lead the state in total deer-harvest densities, and deer take in 2011 remained true to form. The top five counties for 2011 were Yates (16.4 total deer per square mile), Wyoming 13.8 , Genesee 10.8, Ontario 10.5, and Livingston 10.0.

It’s important to note that the total deer harvest is strongly impacted by the number of Deer Management Permits (DMPs) available in a given area, which govern the harvest of antlerless deer and are used to manage the deer population in a given area.

A more accurate picture of relative deer abundance is revealed by the number of bucks harvested per square mile. The five counties with the most bucks harvested per square mile were: Yates (5.6), Wyoming (5.4), Orange (4.1), Ontario (4.1), and Allegany (4.0). The deer populations in four of the counties listed above (all except Allegany County) are higher than the deer population objectives set for those counties. DEC will continue its efforts to reduce the deer population to achieve the desired density levels wherever necessary.

In 2011, DEC adopted a white-tailed deer management plan (see: www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7211.html#DeerPlan). The plan will guide DEC deer management and deer hunting decisions for the next five years. In the upcoming weeks, DEC will propose several regulation changes that were identified in the deer management plan. Hunters and the public will have the opportunity to comment on these changes when a formal proposal is made. Some of the proposed revisions include:

· change the start date of the southern zone bow season to October 1;
· establish a youth hunt for deer;
· allow DMPs to be used during the northern zone bow and muzzleloader seasons;
· establish mandatory antler restrictions in seven additional Wildlife Management Units in the Catskills;
· establish a late bowhunting season in portions of the northern zone; and
· establish Deer Management Focus Areas to expand the use of traditional hunting in areas with overabundant deer.

Bear Harvest

Outside of the Adirondack region the 2011 bear harvest set new records, substantially exceeding previous record takes in central and western New York. In contrast, bear take in the Adirondack region dropped to a level not seen since 1998.

Hunters in southeastern New York harvested 630 bears in 2011, besting the previous record of 520 set in 2008. This was due in part to a new rule that expanded bear hunting in eastern New York State to include all or portions of seven new counties in eastern New York from Rockland and Westchester north to Washington beginning in 2011. Hunters took 50 bears from this new area, including 18 bears taken in Washington County, 11 in Rensselaer County, 10 in Columbia County, seven in Dutchess County, two in Putnam County and two in Rockland County. Yet even without these additional bears, take in the rest of the southeastern region exceeded previous record levels, reflecting a 25-year trend of generally increasing bear harvests in this region.

In central and western New York, the 2011 bear take of 353 greatly surpassed the previous record of 193 bears set in 2008. This was due in large part to a regulation change that moved the regular bear season opening day up one week to coincide with the start of the regular deer season. This change was implemented to reduce bear population growth and range expansion. Yet, as with bear take in the southeastern region, it is likely that even without these additional seven days of the regular season in the central-western region, bear take during the traditional season would have matched or exceeded the 2008 record, reflecting a 15-year trend of generally increasing bear harvests in this region.

In the Adirondacks, bear take was below the five-year average during each of the bear seasons and the overall bear take was down about 47 percent from 2010.

Bear harvest rates in the Adirondacks typically drop in the early season during years of abundant soft mast (cherries, raspberries and apples), while the take will increase during the regular season in years with abundant beech nuts.

This past season provided abundant soft mast, particularly raspberries and blackberries in September and October, and bear take during the early season was only 70 bears, about 70 percent below the five-year average. Beech nut abundance was mixed throughout the Adirondacks and the regular season bear take was approximately 15 percent below the five-year average. Additionally, much of the muzzleloading and regular season in the Adirondacks had above average temperatures and snow cover was inconsistent and relatively scarce making bear hunting all the more challenging.

Deer and bear harvest data are gathered from two main sources: harvest reports required by all successful hunters and DEC’s examination of harvested deer and bear at check stations and meat processors. Statewide harvest estimates are made by cross-referencing these two data sources.  For more information about the 2011 deer and bear harvests, see DEC’s website at: www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/42232.html.

See attached PDF for breakdown of the harvests.

NY DEC States 2011 Ties For The Safest Year In...

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:44:31 +0000

The 2011 hunting season tied 2009 for New York State’s safest year of hunting on record based on the number of hunting-related shooting incidents, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced today.

“Hunting is a tradition in New York state that continues to be safely enjoyed by many” said DEC Commissioner Joe Martens. “New York has an extremely safety-conscious generation of hunters thanks largely to more than 60 years of dedicated efforts of 3,000 volunteer Sportsman Education Instructors. All first-time hunters are required to attend a comprehensive hunter safety course of a minimum of 10 hours taught by DEC’s highly-trained instructors. Their hard work is paying off.”

In the 2011 hunting seasons, 26 personal injury hunting-related shooting incidents were reported, including four fatalities. All of the fatalities occurred during the regular deer season, one of which was self-inflicted.

The hunter safety courses stress safe practices and ethics, along with information on New York’s game species and their management. All courses are offered free of charge, but students must successfully complete the course and pass the final exam before being eligible to purchase a hunting license.

The number of hunters in New York State is declining, but the hunting incident rate (incidents per 100,000 hunters) is falling at a much faster rate. Since the 1960s, the number of hunters has declined about 20 percent, while the incident rate has declined more than 70 percent. The past five-year average is 5.3 incidents per 100,000 hunters, compared to 19 per 100,000 in the 1960s.

While hunting is safer than ever, accidents do happen and it is important to remember that every hunting-related shooting incident is preventable. Many, if not all of these incidents could have been prevented, if only the shooter or victim had followed the primary rules of hunter safety:

· Treat every firearm as if it were loaded
· Keep your muzzle pointed in a safe direction
· Identify your target and what lies beyond
· Keep finger off the trigger until ready to fire
· Wear hunter orange

NY DEC Long Island Youth Conservation Program D...

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:26:27 +0000

Bow Hunter and Hunter Safety Courses for Children 12 – 16 years-old Will Be Offered

Two separate two- day hands on programs on bow hunter safety and hunting safety will be offered in March and April by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Sportsman Education unit.

The Bow Hunter Safety Course will be offered on March 17 and 18 and the Hunter Safety Course will be offered on April 14 and 15 at the Peconic River Sportsman’s Club in Manorville.

Both events are being sponsored by the DEC’s Sportsman Education unit, the New York State Conservation Officers Association and the Peconic River Sportsman’s Club.

“Hunting and fishing are an important part of Long Island’s heritage, and we are very fortunate that our region offers a multitude of diverse and rewarding recreational opportunities,” DEC Region One Director Peter A. Scully said. “DEC applauds our local sportsmen and women, the Conservation Officers Association and the Peconic River Sportsman’s Club for their tireless work towards the protection of our environment and natural resources. The 2012 Youth Conservation Program is the perfect way to introduce children to hunting ethics and to teach them how to be responsible hunters.”

Each class is limited to 40 participants and selections are made by a panel that reviews a 75-word application.

Participants who successfully complete the program will receive their Hunter Education Training Certificate or Bow Hunter Education Training Certificate. These certificates are required in order to purchase a hunting license.

Enrollment in the class is open to all boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 16 who have not yet taken either their Hunter Education or Bow Hunter Education course.

For more information or to register for one or both of these sessions, contact the NYS DEC Sportsman Education Office at (631) 444-0255. A link to the application for these programs can be found at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/public/956.html.

The NY Dec Is Now Accepting Applications For Ph...

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:29:17 +0000

DEC ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR PHEASANT RELEASE PROGRAM

The application period is now open for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s cooperative Day-Old Pheasant Chick Program, the agency announced today. The program enhances opportunities for pheasant hunting in New York state through a partnership between DEC and the sporting community, 4-H youths and landowners interested in rearing and releasing pheasants.

The Day-Old Pheasant Chick Program began in the early 1900s. In the early days of the program, pheasant eggs and chicks were distributed to farmers and rural youths via 4-H clubs. Today, day-old chicks are available at no cost to participants who are able to provide a brooding facility and covered outdoor rearing pen, and have identified an adequate release site. Approved applicants will receive the day-old chicks in April, May or June. No chicks obtained through the Day-Old Pheasant Chick Program are permitted to be released on private shooting preserves. All release sites must be approved in advance by DEC and must be open to the public for pheasant hunting. The program is funded through the State Conservation Fund from license fees paid by hunters, trappers and anglers.

Participants must monitor the health of the birds daily to ensure there is adequate feed and water for the rapidly growing chicks. The pheasants may be released when they are eight weeks old and no later than Dec. 1. Individuals interested in these programs should contact their nearest DEC regional office (please refer to offices listed below) for applications and additional information.

In 2011, DEC distributed 46,496 day-old pheasant chicks to qualified applicants.
Applications must be filed with a DEC regional wildlife manager by March 15, 2011.

DEC Region 1 - Nassau and Suffolk counties:
SUNY at Stony Brook
50 Circle Road
Stony Brook, NY 11790
(631) 444-0310

DEC Region 3 - Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester counties:
21 South Putt Corners Rd.
New Paltz, NY 12561
(845) 256-3098

DEC Region 4 - Albany, Columbia, Delaware, Greene, Montgomery, Otsego, Rensselaer, Schenectady and Schoharie counties:
65561 State Hwy 10, Suite 1
Stamford, NY 12167
(607) 652-7367

DEC Region 5 - Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties:
1115 Route 86, PO Box 296
Ray Brook, NY 12977
(518) 897-1291

DEC Region 6 - Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida and St. Lawrence counties:
317 Washington Street
Watertown, NY 13601
(315) 785-2261

DEC Region 7 - Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, Oswego, Tioga and Tompkins counties:
1285 Fisher Ave. Cortland, NY 13045
(607) 753-3095 x 247

DEC Region 8 - Chemung, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne and Yates counties:
6274 East Avon-Lima Rd.
Avon, NY 14414
(585) 226-5380

DEC Region 9 - Allegany, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Erie, Niagara and Wyoming counties:
182 East Union, Suite 3
Allegany, NY 14706-1328
(716) 372-0645

NY DEC Is Asking For Your Assistance If You See...

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:41:10 +0000

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is asking the public to report any instances of deer appearing sick or acting abnormally. DEC is only investigating deer that appear to have died from unknown causes and not those that were killed by a vehicle, the agency announced today.

Anyone who sees a white-tailed deer acting abnormally or who finds a dead deer that was not struck by a vehicle is asked to report the animal to the nearest DEC regional office or to an Environmental Conservation Officer or Forest Ranger.

“One of the ways that DEC monitors the health of New York’s deer herd is by performing post- mortem examinations to determine the cause of the illness or death,” said Assistant Commissioner for Natural Resources Kathleen Moser. “We depend on information provided by people who are outdoors to tell us when they see something that does not look right to them.”

Recently, DEC indentified an uncommon bacterial disease in a deer from Warren County. This bacterial disease does not affect humans. However, DEC is seeking additional information to determine the prevalence of this disease in the deer herd and is responding to reports of deer that are acting abnormally. Deer with this bacterial disease may have a swollen head, neck or brisket. They also may exhibit excessive drooling, nasal discharge or respiratory distress. To aid in this investigation, DEC would also like to examine any deer that are found dead from unknown causes.

People should not handle or eat any deer that appears sick or acts abnormally. Sightings of sick, dying or dead deer should be reported to the nearest DEC regional office or an Environmental Conservation Officer or Forest Ranger.

NY DEC Amends Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Reg...

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:27:44 +0000

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has revised its Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) regulations to prohibit the importation of certain parts of white-tailed deer taken in the state of Maryland effective immediately, DEC Commissioner Joe Martens announced today.

The first case of CWD in the state of Maryland was confirmed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources last year. In response, DEC has amended its CWD regulations to prohibit the importation of the following parts of deer taken in Maryland: brain, eyes, spinal cord, tonsils, intestinal tract, spleen or retropharyngeal lymph nodes.

“Hunters who take a deer in Maryland must butcher the animal and remove the prohibited parts before entering New York State,” Commissioner Martens said. “Most successful hunters will opt to butcher a deer and put the meat in a cooler before traveling back to New York.”

DEC has conducted an extensive surveillance program since CWD was first confirmed in New York State in 2005 and has not discovered any additional cases of CWD since that time. CWD is a contagious neurological disease affecting deer, elk and moose. It causes a characteristic spongy degeneration of the brains of infected animals resulting in emaciation, abnormal behavior, loss of bodily functions and death.

It is not known exactly how CWD is transmitted. The infectious agent, a prion, may be passed from animal to animal through feces, urine or saliva. The minimal incubation period between infection and development of clinical disease appears to be about 16 months. The maximum incubation period is unknown, as is the point at which shedding of the CWD agent begins during the prolonged course of infection.

The movement of infectious material is believed to be one route of transmission. This amendment to the CWD regulations will prohibit the importation of those parts of a deer where the disease is most likely to be found. DEC advises hunters not to consume the meat of any animal that acts abnormal and to exercise precautions when butchering animals, such as using rubber or latex gloves.

Additional information about CWD can be found at the Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance’s website: www.cwd-info.org.

NY DEC Reminds Anglers Of New Ice Fishing Regul...

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:48:49 +0000

With the onset of winter, the thoughts of many anglers often turn to ice fishing and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today reminds ice anglers about a recent change to the Environmental Conservation Law.

In waters where ice fishing is permitted, anglers will be allowed to use up to three lines and five tip-ups except as noted in special regulations for specific waters. Previously, ice anglers could only use two lines with five tip-ups.

“Ice fishing provides a great opportunity for people to get outdoors during the long winter months,” said DEC Assistant Commissioner for Natural Resources Kathy Moser. “According to a recent DEC survey, ice fishing participation has doubled over the past 10 years.”

The use of fish for bait is very popular when ice fishing, and bait fish may be used in most but not all waters that are open to ice fishing. See DEC’s website for a list of special regulations by county to find out where bait fish can and cannot be used: www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/71546.html).

Anglers are reminded to take these important steps when ice fishing:

· Follow the bait fish regulations to prevent the spread of harmful fish diseases and invasive species.
· Use only certified disease-free bait fish purchased at a local tackle store or use only personally collected bait fish for use in the same waterbody in which they were caught.
· Check for sufficient ice thickness before venturing onto the ice.

A minimum of three to four inches of solid ice is usually safe for anglers on foot. However, ice thickness varies on every body of water and anglers should be particularly wary of areas of moving water and around boat docks/houses where “bubblers” may be installed to reduce ice buildup. DEC cautions that the presence of snowmobile tracks or footprints on the ice should not be taken as evidence of safe ice conditions. Individuals are strongly encouraged to check ice conditions for themselves and avoid situations that appear to present even a remote risk.

For more information on ice fishing, ice safety, and places to ice fish, please visit: http://www.dec.ny.go...tdoor/7733.html. New York’s freshwater fishing regulations can be found at www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7917.html.

NY DEC: Deer harvest same as 2010, Bear harvest...

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 21:49:31 +0000

NY DEC:

As it stands now, deer harvest reports seem to be on par with last year at this time. We started out with reported deer take through mid-November running about 5% less than last year. Then reports during the first week of the Southern Zone regular season were slow, near 20% less than the opening week in 2010. But hunters did well Thanksgiving week, and currently reports are tracking very close to reported take in 2010. At this point, we are just tracking harvest reports and aren't yet calculating the total harvest. That will come after the January deer season closes on Long Island and after we review all the data from our field checks of harvested deer.

For bears, this season has shaped up to be quite different from last year, with preliminary harvests down in the Northern Zone but at record levels in the Southern Zone. Bear hunting was expanded into eastern New York this year, with the newly opened area spanning from Westchester County to Washington County. Hunters in the new areas have taken over 40 bears so far. Even without these additional bears, the preliminary take in southeastern New York (DEC Regions 3 and 4) looks like it could be one of the top harvests. In central and western New York (DEC Regions 7, 8, and 9), we're on track to top 300 bears, which will shatter the previous record of 189 bears taken in 2008.

NY DEC acquires land in the Hudson Valley expan...

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:15:43 +0000

The Cranberry Mountain Wildlife Management Area has expanded by a third with New York state’s acquisition of a 261-acre property in Putnam County that is prized for wildlife habitat and water quality protection, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens announced today. The property, known as North Hollow, is located within the Great Swamp watershed and was acquired by the state with federal grant money and a private donation.

“Adding North Hollow to the Cranberry Mountain Wildlife Management Area will preserve forested and watershed land for use by the public for expanded recreational and sportsmen activities,” Commissioner Martens said. “This acquisition is an example of how New Yorkers can benefit when state, federal, non-for-profit and private entities all work together to achieve a common goal. The preservation of North Hollow will be a valuable addition to a network of protected lands within the Highlands and Great Swamp areas, further protecting one of the largest freshwater wetlands in the state that is home to many plant and animal species.”

DEC sought to add the North Hollow property to its 467-acre Cranberry Mountain Wildlife Management Area to further protect the Highlands region for its abundant natural and cultural resources.  The Cranberry Mountain WMA now totals 728 acres. Since 2006, DEC and the Trust for Public Land, a national conservation organization, have worked with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the family of the late Gerald Blumberg, a long-time resident of the Hudson River Valley, to conserve the property.

North Hollow features steep upland forests protecting the nearby Haviland Hollow Brook, a pristine trout stream. The brook watershed connects with the Great Swamp, Croton River and reservoirs in the New York Highlands that provide drinking water to New York City. The area is used for such recreational activities as hiking, cross-country skiing, hunting, fishing and trapping.

A federal Highlands Conservation Act grant for $653,500 was used toward the purchase of the property. The federal program is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is designed to assist Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania with conserving land and natural resources in the Highlands region.

The Highlands Conservation Act grant required a non-federal match on a dollar-for-dollar basis. The Blumberg family generously donated half the value of the property to meet the federal match requirement.

  Marc Matsil, the Trust for Public Land’s New York State Director said: “Completing the conservation of the North Hollow property is a vital addition to the Cranberry Mountain Wildlife Management Area. The Trust for Public Land is grateful to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for its dedication to protecting land in the Highlands and to the New York congressional delegation for their commitment to the Highlands Conservation Act, which made this project possible. This diverse cover type provides superb recreation opportunities and great economic value by enhancing regional ecotourism and builds on the vital work of the State and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection to safeguard drinking water for millions of New Yorkers.”

Senator Greg Ball said: “As Chairman of the New York Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus and an avid sportsman myself, the expansion of the Cranberry Mountain Wildlife Management area couldn’t make me happier. I believe it is vital to protect our watershed, promote strict clean air initiatives, and preserve natural wildlife areas and I look forward to working together to continue to keep Putnam County, and the Hudson Valley as a whole, beautiful by preserving our environment.”

Ron Essig, Acting Chief of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Division of Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration in the Northeast Region said: “The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been pleased to have the opportunity to assist the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation in protecting the North Hollow Property by awarding a Highlands Conservation Act grant to the Agency.  This project is a great example of the important conservation results that can be achieved with Highlands Conservation Act funding, and illustrates what a difference the Act can make in assisting states with protecting the natural resources of the Highlands Region.”

New York City Environmental Protection Commissioner Carter Strickland said: “Land acquisition is an important tool for the protection of water quality. The purchase of this 261-acre parcel that sits within the Croton watershed will keep this land unspoiled. Having the Trust for Public Land and the State of New York take steps that are in concert with our own, means a great deal to the nine million New Yorkers who rely on this water source for their daily drinking water needs.”

Lawrence S. Blumberg, a New York City attorney and seller of the land said: “My father acquired this land over 50 years ago. During this time, he turned down many offers to develop or sell the property because he was waiting for something special. Several years ago, before his death in 2009 at age 97, he was so happy and gratified to know that we were working with The Trust for Public Land.  I know that he would be very proud that his land has been preserved forever.”

Jim Utter, Chairman, Friends of the Great Swamp (FrOGS) said: “FrOGS is thrilled this area is protected and thanks Larry and Robyn Blumberg, DEC, TPL, and the Highlands Coalition for making it happen. This parcel is critical in maintaining the exceptional water quality and ecology of Haviland Hollow Brook, a major tributary of the Great Swamp, and the acquisition by DEC ensures it remains pristine.  We hope the matching parcel on the south side of the Hollow will also be protected soon.”

Raymond Merlotto, Putnam County sportsman and DEC Region 3 representative to the Fish & Wildlife Management Board: “The Cranberry Mountain Wildlife Management Area is an important destination for sportsmen and women from throughout the Lower Hudson. The addition of the North Hollow property to Cranberry Mountain will provide not just expanded opportunities for the region's hunters and anglers, but the acquisition will also provide further protection for the Croton Watershed, the Great Swamp and other important resources in the area that provide habitat vital to the fish and wildlife that thrive there.”

NY DEC officers ticket dozens of poachers over...

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:44:03 +0000

Just released a few minutes ago, the NY DEC announced that NY DEC officers ticket dozens of poachers over the past few weeks. The full announcement from the DEC and list of locations as well as those involved in the incidents is attached in PDF to this article.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) police officers recently concluded a blanket deer taking enforcement detail in the Capital Region and surrounding areas in conjunction with the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont, DEC announced today.

Environmental Conservation Officers (ECO) worked in conjunction with their counterparts in neighboring states to set up saturation patrols to target illegal deer shooting with the use of an artificial light, a practice commonly known as deer jacking. Typically, deer jacking occurs in remote rural areas, throughout the night. During this operation, which took place in late October and the first three weeks of November, ECOs worked long hours and often confronted armed individuals.

“The vast majority of hunters pursue and take game legally,” said DEC Law Enforcement Major Tim Duffy. “We work closely with the sporting community to stop individuals from illegally taking game to the detriment of wildlife populations and the legal efforts of honest hunters.”

ECOs are out in full force this time of year patrolling, staking out, and observing the lands on which people take deer. They are in uniform and undercover; they are in vehicles and on foot; they are checking licenses and watching over deer decoys.

View attachment: 11-29-11 DEC Police Ticket Dozens for Deer Poaching.pdf

The NY DEC Reminds Hunters to Be Safety Conscious

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 16:53:57 +0000

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today is advising hunters to use safety precautions when enjoying the sport this hunting season which runs until December 4 for the Northern zone and December 11 for the Southern zone.

“New York has more than 3,000 dedicated volunteer sportsman education instructors whose goal is to create an extremely safety-conscious generation of hunters,” said DEC Commissioner Joe Martens. “We want to take this opportunity to remind hunters to be extra vigilant this year and make 2011 one of the safest hunting seasons on record.”

Studies show that individuals wearing hunter orange clothing are seven times less likely to be injured than hunters who do not wear the bright fluorescent color. Over the past 10 years, 15 New York state big game hunters have been mistaken for deer or bear and killed - none wore hunter orange.

Hunters are encouraged to review hunting safety tips at DEC’s website (www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/9186.html) and pay careful attention to basic firearm safety rules that can prevent hunting-related shooting incidents:

Point your gun in a safe direction.
Treat every gun as if it were loaded.
Be sure of your target and beyond.
Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
Remember to wear hunter orange.

Hunting accidents generally have been on the decline, continuing a 50-year trend of increasing safety. Reports indicate that 2008 and 2009 were statistically the two safest years in the history of hunting in New York state. Although the 2010 report showed a minor increase in hunting related shooting incidents from the previous two years, the total incidents reported in 2010 were still well below the average of 66 incidents per year from the 1990s, and 137 incidents per year during the 1960s. Big game hunting incidents continue to be very low compared to previous decades, despite the increase in rifle zones and the passage of the youth mentoring law in 2008.

The number of hunters is declining, but the hunting incident rate (incidents per 100,000 hunters) is falling much faster than the number of hunters. During the 1960s, the incident rate was 19 incidents per 100,000 hunters. Since 2000, the incident rate is one-third of that, averaging 6.4 incidents per 100,000 hunters.

To put hunter safety into perspective, hunting is considerably safer than such common activities as swimming, riding a bike or driving a car.

Hunting NY News - Southern Zone Regular (Gun) S...

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:54:19 +0000

Wow, where did the time go? Southern Zone bow season comes to an end Friday and the 2011 SZ regular season starts Saturday! We wanted to get this announcement out earlier in the week but things have been a bit crazy. Hopefully this catches you before you head out to your camp / hunting grounds. We hope everyone has a safe and fun opening weekend, if you can please keep us updated on how your hunting season is going in one of the many threads on the forums. If you have a smart phone, check out the "live from stand" thread http://huntingny.com...the-stand-2011/ Check out a few of the beautiful deer already taken in the 2011 Harvest Thread as well, congrats to all!

Check out the Countdown to Saturday post, seems like everyone is ready to go, counting the final hours of this week till opening day of the regular season.

We have put a lot of time and effort into the site, and hope everyone is enjoying it. We love feedback, so let us know what you like, don't like, and what you would like to see added to the site. If you have any interest in writing an article for the "portal / home page" of the site, anything outdoor related be it camping, fishing, hunting, let us know!

As I noted in the past we launched our store which can be accessed here: http://huntingny.com/forums/store

Books and Media Link - > http://huntingny.com...dvds-and-media/
T-Shirts / Hats / Sweatshirts Link - > http://huntingny.com...unting-ny-gear/

Vinyl stickers should be ready by late next week, this has been the #1 request and we are trying our best to get these done ASAP. They will be added to the store as soon as we have them. Those who have purchased the "Supporting Member" package already (noted below) will receive them in the mail soon, and thank you for the support!

We also have the option of becoming a "Supporting Member", which gets you a supporting member status in the forums, 10% off all HuntingNY gear for the length of your membership, and a HuntingNY.com vinyl decal (to be mailed once they are in). A portion of each sale will be donated to the site to help fund activities, hosting / software costs and prizes such as the 2011 Best Buck and Story contest. Supporting member store link:

If you haven't had a chance to check the contest out out yet, please head on over to this link: http://huntingny.com...y-contest-info/ If you have had a buck hunting success this year make sure you share it with us for a chance to win some great prizes including a full head mount!.

If you are a Facebook user, please give us a "Like" our facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/HuntingNY and help spread the word. The site has grown leaps and bounds since started, there are over 90,000 posts as of today! Please remember to tell friends and family about the site, you can even forward them this email.

Last but not least, if you have a hunting related business (ex. hunting store / archery shop), hunting club or organization, or a hunting related website you want to share with members we have opened up a link sharing system here: http://huntingny.com/links Just select the category and click "Add Link" on the right side of the page. If you are interested in sponsoring the site you can contact us by using the contact form located here: http://huntingny.com/forums/index.php?app=contactus

NY DEC Announces Nov. 19th Opening of Southern...

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:08:30 +0000

The 2011 regular deer and bear hunting seasons open at sunrise on Saturday, Nov. 19 in New York's Southern Zone, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens announced today. The two big game seasons close at sunset on Sunday, Dec. 11.

“Hunters provide a valuable public service by keeping deer and bear populations in check. Regulated hunting is the most effective and efficient tool to maintain wildlife populations at levels that are compatible with our communities and natural resources,” Commissioner Martens said.  “We expect deer harvests to be up slightly from last year, and with expanded bear hunting opportunities in the Southern Zone, big game hunters should have an exciting season.”

The Southern Zone regular deer season is New York’s most popular hunting season, with participation from about 85 percent of New York’s 560,000 licensed deer hunters. Harvest during this season accounts for nearly 60 percent of the total statewide deer harvest. The remainder occurs in the Northern Zone, on Long Island, and during special seasons when only archery or muzzleloading firearms may be used.

Following the regular deer and bear seasons in the Southern Zone, late bowhunting and muzzleloading seasons will open at sunrise on Monday, Dec. 12 and close at sunset on Tuesday, Dec. 20.  Hunters taking part in these special seasons must possess either bowhunting or muzzleloading privileges.

In the Northern Zone, the regular deer and bear hunting season opened Oct. 22 and will close at sunset on Dec. 4. This zone generally includes the Adirondacks, Tug Hill Plateau, Eastern Lake Ontario Plain, and the Champlain and St. Lawrence valleys. A late muzzleloading season for deer will be open in portions of the Northern Zone from Dec. 5 to Dec. 11.

Hunters should be aware of several important programs and recent changes as they prepare for the 2011 regular Southern Zone hunting season.

· New Bear Hunting Areas: Bear hunting has been expanded in eastern New York to now include the counties east of the Hudson River from Westchester County north to Washington County, and is open during the same time periods as deer hunting.
· Crossbows:  Crossbows may be used during the regular deer and bear hunting seasons and during the late muzzleloading seasons.  See DEC’s website for more information: www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/68802.html
· Black Bear Tooth Collection: Successful bear hunters are asked to submit a tooth of their bear so DEC can age the bear and monitor bear population dynamics. See the bear tooth collection website for instructions at: www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/45598.html.

· Mandatory Antler Restrictions: A new law covers the portion of wildlife management unit (WMU) 3A that lies south and west of State Route 28 (which includes parts of Ulster, Sullivan and Delaware counties) and requires that bucks taken in this part of the unit have at least one antler with three or more points that are at least one inch long. The law applies to all public and private lands and all hunting seasons in the affected portion of the unit. Mandatory antler restrictions are also in effect in WMUs 3C, 3H, 3J, and 3K (which include portions of Ulster and Sullivan counties). Only hunters under the age of 17 are exempt and may take any antlered deer with at least one antler measuring three or more inches in length. See DEC’s website for more information:www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/27663.html

· Harvest Reporting:  Hunters are required to report their harvest of deer and bear within seven days.  Failure to report harvested deer or bear is a violation of NYS Environmental Conservation Law. Hunters may report via an online reporting system (www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8316.html) or by calling the toll-free automated reporting system at 1-866-GAME-RPT (1-866-426-3778).
· Junior Hunters:  Junior Hunters (14 and 15 years old) can hunt deer and bear with a firearm when appropriately accompanied by an experienced adult. See the junior hunter mentoring webpage for program requirements and to download the mentored youth hunter permission form: www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/46245.html
· Venison Donation:  Hunters are encouraged to participate in the Venison Donation program.  By filling your permits and donating your deer, you help accomplish the needed deer management and you can feed less fortunate families. For more information see: www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8351.html.
· Trespass: Property owners who have problems with trespassers should contact DEC’s tip line 24 hours a day/seven days a week at 1-800-847-7332. For more information about posting property against trespass see: www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8371.html.

Although safety-conscious hunters have significantly reduced the number of firearms-related injuries, studies show that individuals wearing hunter orange clothing are seven times less likely to be injured than hunters who do not wear the bright fluorescent color. Hunters are encouraged to review hunting safety tips (www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/9186.html) and pay careful attention to basic firearm safety rules that can prevent hunting related shooting incidents:

· Point your gun in a safe direction.
· Treat every gun as if it were loaded.
· Be sure of your target and beyond.
· Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
· Remember to wear hunter orange.

For specific descriptions of regulations and open areas, hunters should refer to the 2011-12 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide at:www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/37136.html. Hunters are urged to review all regulations and safety tips contained in the guide.

Leftover DMPs available beginning November 1; B...

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 19:45:45 +0000

Leftover DMPs
In some Wildlife Management Units (WMUs), we issued Deer Management Permits (DMPs) to all applicants during the initial application period, but the DMP target was still not reached. In these units, we will re-open the application process for leftover DMPs beginning tomorrow, November 1, 2011. Leftover DMPs are available for the following Wildlife Management Units (WMUs): 1C, 3M, 3R, 3S, 7H, 8A, 8F, 8G, 8H, 8J, 8N, 9A, and 9F.

Hunters may apply for up to 2 additional DMPs in these WMUs.
Applications are accepted at license issuing outlets only. You cannot apply by phone, mail or on-line.
DMPs are issued on a first-come / first-serve basis until the desired target is reached in each unit.
See www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/6399.html for additional details.

Bonus DMPs
Also, DEC continues to offer Bonus DMPs to successful hunters in WMUs 1C, 3S, 4J, and 8C. New this year, DEC will also be offering Bonus DMPs in WMU 9A.

Bonus DMPs are available to hunters who take an antlerless deer on a Deer Management Permit (DMP) or a Bonus DMP in one of these units.
To participate, hunters must visit a check station to confirm kill of an antlerless deer and properly filled out DMP.
See www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/10001.html for check station information and more details about the Bonus Permit program.

There is already a thread discussing this here: http://huntingny.com...vailable-nov-1/

Hunting NY Store opened and some news

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:05:01 +0000

We have launched our "Store" with a few Hunting NY items including T-Shirts, Hats, and hooded zipper sweatshirts. We have a few more things on the way including some warm hats. In addition to the Hunting NY gear, we also have three great NY hunting books from area authors Dan Ladd and Todd Mead as well as a 2011 Rut Prediction DVD by Oak Duke. The store can be accessed here: http://huntingny.com/forums/store

Books and Media Link - > http://huntingny.com...dvds-and-media/
T-Shirts / Hats / Sweatshirts Link - > http://huntingny.com...unting-ny-gear/

Use code Hunting2011 for 10% off all HuntingNY Gear (excludes Books and Media) for the next two weeks, the code is entered on the checkout page.

Vinyl stickers are in the works, and should be ready by mid/end of November, this has been the #1 request and we are trying our best to get these done ASAP. They will be added to the store as soon as we have them. We actually ordered our own vinyl cutting machine so we can offer everyone a few different types and sizes of stickers, the vinyl we ordered is also premium grade outdoor vinyl. As we get some more things in for the store we will let you know, if you have an idea of something you'd like for us to try to get please let us know as well.

We also have the option of becoming a "Supporting Member", which gets you a supporting member status in the forums, 10% off all HuntingNY gear for the length of your membership, and a HuntingNY.com vinyl decal (to be mailed once they are in). A portion of each sale will be donated to the site to help fund activities, hosting / software costs and prizes such as the 2011 Best Buck and Story contest. Supporting member store link: http://huntingny.com...-member-1-year/

If you haven't had a chance to check the contest out out yet, please head on over to this link: http://huntingny.com...y-contest-info/ If you have had a buck hunting success this year make sure you share it with us for a chance to win some great prizes including a full head mount!.

All items through the store can be paid via Paypal or you can send a check or money order, you are presented with both options at the time of checkout. If at any time you have problems with the store or checkout process just drop us an email through the "Contact Us" link at the top or start a new topic on the forums.

We hope everyone's season is going well, remember be safe out there and let us know how your hunting is going by posting a topic on the forums. Lots of folks are still posting some really impressive trail camera photo's even with the season in full swing - > http://huntingny.com...amera-pictures/ Check out some of the deer already harvested this year, there are quite a few impressive bucks and does taken down during the archery season: http://huntingny.com...1-deer-hunting/

If you are a Facebook user, please give us a "Like" our facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/HuntingNY and help spread the word. The site has grown leaps and bounds since started, there are over 81,000 posts as of today! Please remember to tell friends and family about the site, you can even forward them this email.

Please let us know if you have any suggestions, problems / issues, comments or are interested in sponsoring the site either post a topic on the site, or using the contact form located here: http://huntingny.com...p?app=contactus

Last but not least, if you have a hunting related business (ex. hunting store / archery shop), hunting club or organization, or a hunting related website you want to share with members we have opened up a link sharing system here: http://huntingny.com/links Just select the category and click "Add Link" on the right side of the page.

Assessment of Public Comment on the draft NYS D...

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:33:16 +0000

NY DEC:

We have now posted our Assessment of Public Comment on the draft NYS Deer Management Plan, 2012-2016 at www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7211.html.

We reviewed all of the input received on our draft deer management plan, and we appreciate the time and effort that so many took to express their personal and organizational views in writing. We prepared this Assessment of Public Comment as a brief overview of what seemed to be the principal issues identified with the draft plan, and we offer our response to those issues.

Attached is the Assessment of the public comments in PDF form.

View attachment: deerplanapc.pdf

NY DEC Adopts Deer Management Plan

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 02:21:31 +0000

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced that it has adopted a five-year deer management plan.  The final plan, which has been revised based on public comment on a previously released draft version, is now available at www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7211.html.
“White-tailed deer are an important and valued natural resource for New Yorkers,” Commissioner Joe Martens said.  “DEC’s new deer management plan provides strategic direction for our staff over the next five years and will help us focus our efforts where they can best meet the biological and social demands associated with deer.  This plan emphasizes the importance of hunting for deer management, and we are particularly excited to create new opportunities for young deer hunters,” Martens said.  “We are also cognizant of the significant ecological impacts associated with deer, and we are eager to more fully bring our knowledge of these impacts into the population management process.”

The plan describes six primary goals that encompass the current priorities for deer management and the values and issues expressed by the public:

• Manage deer populations at levels that are appropriate for human and ecological concerns;
• Promote and enhance deer hunting as an important recreational activity, tradition, and population management tool in New York;
• Reduce negative impacts caused by deer;
• Foster public understanding and communication about deer ecology, deer management, economic aspects and recreational opportunities;
• Manage deer to promote healthy and sustainable forests and enhance habitat conservation efforts to benefit deer and other species; and
• Ensure that the necessary resources are available to support sound management of white-tailed deer in New York.

Public comment on the draft deer management plan was carefully reviewed by the Department, and several notable changes were made in the adopted plan, including:

• Changing to a 5-year cycle for evaluating deer population objectives;
• DEC removed the proposal to completely discontinue either-sex and antlerless-only tags;

• DEC is committing to implementing a youth deer hunting opportunity. Details related to timing and structure of a youth hunt have been removed from the plan so as to allow continued discussion to identify the most appropriate option; and
• DEC clarified that a special antlerless-only season for muzzleloader hunters will only occur as the 3rd phase of a multi-phase process, and only in WMUs where additional doe harvest is needed.

DEC intends to begin implementing strategies of the deer plan immediately.  While many strategies will take several years to develop, DEC expects to begin rulemaking to implement a number of hunting-related aspects of this plan prior to the 2012-13 hunting seasons, including:
• Establishing a youth deer hunt;
• Starting the Southern Zone bow season October 1st;
• Allowing DMPs to be used during the bow and early muzzleloader season in the Northern Zone; and
• Expanding mandatory antler restrictions into 7 WMUs in southeastern New York.
DEC strives to provide a deer management program that balances diverse public interests and values with the biological needs and ecological relationships of deer, for the benefit of New York’s white-tailed deer herd and the people of New York.

The PDF of the complete management plan has been attached to this post.

View attachment: deerplan2012.pdf