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DEC ADOPTS CHANGES FOR STATE DEER HUNTING REGULATIONS
New Rules Include Longer Bow Seasons, Mandatory Antler Restrictions in More Areas and Other Deer Hunting Changes
The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has adopted rules affecting deer and bear hunting in New York, to implement certain aspects of the state's Five-Year Deer Management Plan, Commissioner Joe Martens announced today.
“With these changes, DEC has started implementing several strategies of the recently adopted Management Plan for White-tailed Deer,” Commissioner Martens said. “Though the management plan addresses much more than deer hunting, these changes emphasize the value of hunting as a tradition for New Yorkers and as the primary tool for deer management.”
The adopted changes include:
· Beginning bowhunting season and the regular season for the Southern Zone in Westchester County (bowhunting only) on October 1 and establishing a late bowhunting season concurrent with the late muzzleloader season in the Northern Zone. These changes will increase opportunities by several weeks for most New York bowhunters.
· Adjusting the Northern Zone season dates by opening the Northern Zone regular season for 44 days, beginning on the 2nd Saturday after Columbus Day. This is a slight change from the original proposal to begin the regular season on the 4th Saturday in October. Some hunters were concerned that the original proposal would extend the season too late into December. The adopted season structure results in fewer years when the regular season will extend later than it has in the past.
· Allowing Deer Management Permits (DMPs, “doe tags”) to be used in all seasons in the Northern Zone. This change will simplify regulations and increase hunter opportunity and choice. No management impact is expected since DEC determines the total number of DMPs issued in each area of the state based on current deer population conditions and hunting activity.
· Expanding mandatory antler restrictions (3 points on one side minimum) into Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) 3A, 4G, 4O, 4P, 4R, 4S, and 4W, as called for in the Deer Management Plan. DEC is working to develop a systematic and objective process to guide future decisions regarding antler restrictions or other buck harvest strategies to best satisfy the desires of New York deer hunters and stakeholders.
· Opening all of Suffolk County for the special January firearms season, subject to local discharge ordinances. This change will simplify options for hunters, should local municipalities change ordinances to allow discharge of bows or firearms.
· Establishing a Deer Management Focus Area in central Tompkins County to intensify use of hunting to assist communities in the Ithaca area with the burden of overabundant deer populations. The focus area program is established to reduce total deer populations within the focus area by providing more time and more tags to hunters who can gain access to huntable land. DEC plans to evaluate this new approach over the next several years and, depending on the results, will consider designation of other locations as deer management focus areas. More information about the focus area program, including registration forms will be available on the DEC website in September.
· Adjusting bear hunting seasons to remain concurrent with deer seasons. DEC believes retaining a consistent season structure for big game hunting is currently preferable, though future bear management may necessitate deviation from this approach.
The full text of the adopted regulations is available at www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/81317.html.
HuntingNY
The DEC posted a few things over the last couple of hours including the new Hunting Season Dates for 2012 as well as Hunting Rule Changes and inclusion of a 2012 Youth Hunt.
http://www.dec.ny.go...ions/81317.html - Most important thing on this page is the inclusion of a 3 Day youth firearms hunt that starts on Saturday of Columbus Day weekend (October 8th).
Recent Hunting Rules Changes
2012-2013
More Bowhunting Opportunity
Bow season in the Southern Zone and the regular season in Westchester County (bowhunting only) will now begin October 1 each year. In the Northern Zone, a new bowhunting season will run for 7 days following the close of the regular season in areas that also have a late muzzleloader season.
Greater Use of Deer Management Permits (DMPs)
DMPs can now be used during all seasons in the Northern Zone and Bonus DMPs will be available in Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 9A.
Mandatory Antler Restrictions in More WMUs
Hunters in WMUs 3A, 4G, 4O, 4P, 4R, 4S, and 4W are now prohibited from taking a buck during any season (bow, regular, and muzzleloader) unless it has at least one antler with 3 or more points. Youth hunters (ages 12-16) are exempt from the 3 point restriction.
Deer Management Focus Area established in portions of Tompkins County
This program will intensify use of traditional hunting to assist communities with the burden of overabundant deer populations. Hunters that register with the Focus Area program and have access to hunt in the focus area will be eligible to take 2 antlerless deer per day and participate in a special season in January. More information about this program will be available soon.
More info can be found here: http://www.dec.ny.go...tdoor/8312.html
HuntingNY
The NY DEC has finally released the offical 2012 Deer and Bear Hunting season dates for Bow, Regular and Muzzleloading. Info and charts below of the dates.
Deer Season 2012
Southern Zone
Bow Hunting
Oct. 1 - Nov. 16
Dec. 10 - Dec. 18
Regular
Nov. 17 - Dec. 9
Muzzle
Dec. 10 - Dec. 18 (except WMUs 1C, 3S, 4J and 8C)
Northen Zone
Bow Hunting
Sept. 27 - Oct. 19
Dec. 3 - Dec. 9 (WMUs 5A, 5G, 5J, 6A, 6C, 6H, 6G only)
Regular
Oct. 20 - Dec. 2
Muzzle
Oct. 13 - Oct. 19
Dec. 3 - Dec. 9 (WMUs 5A, 5G, 5J, 6A, 6C, 6H, 6G only)
Westchester County
(WMU 3S)
Oct. 1 - Dec. 31
(bowhunting only)
Suffolk County
(WMU 1C)
Oct. 1 - Dec. 31
(bowhunting only)
Special Firearms Season
Jan. 7 - Jan. 31, 2013
(Weekdays only;
Special permit required)
Bear Seasons 2012
Northen Zone
Early
Sept. 15 - Oct. 12
Bow Hunting
Sept. 27 - Oct. 19
Regular
Oct. 20 - Dec. 2
Muzzle
Oct. 13 - Oct. 19
Southern Zone
Bow Hunting
Oct. 1 - Nov. 16
Dec. 10 - Dec. 18
Regular
Nov. 17 - Dec. 9
Muzzle
Dec. 10 - Dec. 18
Westchester County
Oct. 1 - Dec. 31
(bowhunting only)



HuntingNY
Wow time flies, Summer 2012 already. How many of you had a chance to go out and do some fishing? Let us know on the fishing section of the site here: http://huntingny.com...rum/37-fishing/ Folks are already setting up their trailcamera's and started prepping for the 2012 Hunting Season. There are some great photos already up here: http://huntingny.com...amera-pictures/and some great posts of people's food plots here:http://huntingny.com...-plots-and-qdm/
What are you doing to prep? Shooting/Scouting/Setting Up Tree Stands/Planting Plots... Let us know this this thread and poll here: http://huntingny.com...hunting-season/
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 130,000 posts as of today! Please remember to tell friends and family about the site, you can even forward them this email.
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/
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 via [email protected] or by using the contact form located here:http://huntingny.com...p?app=contactus
HuntingNY
Author Name: John Burmeister
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 at
http://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.
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