Angela

Probably just my air rifle and my Mossberg 12 gauge. I was looking into crossbows too. And as for why, I personally don't believe in killing for sport, truth is money was a little tight this year, and hunting would at least relieve some of the pressure from my food budget. Plus it's something I think everyone should know just in case society ever goes sideways lol. My grandfather fed his whole family during the great depression by hunting, so I'd like to make sure the tradition doesn't die.

Do they actually arrest people for hunting non red squirrels this time of year? I only ask because I'm red/green color blind, which in a green forest could mess with my eyes a little O.O And thanks so much guys for the fast responses!

Hi! So my name's Angela, and I'm trying to get into hunting. I'm only just now realizing the insane amount of red tape NYS has put up around the topic, and I'm not sure how to go about it without winning a pair of free bracelets and a trip to camp fed from the DEC. Right now I just want to do some small game hunting. Squirrels, Rabbits, etc. I've never had either, but I figure if worst comes to worst and I hate it, then my cat has some free food. So I live on Grand Island, and we only have one spot here to hunt at, Spicer's Creek. The lady I asked at the town hall basically lied to me and said hunting was banned on all government owned property on the Island, but when I followed up with the DEC and asked them, they said I could hunt there. After forwarding that little email, the town employee relented and said "I guess you can", but added that town law prohibited hunting with 500 feet of a dwelling or a town park boundary, both of which border the creek, leaving a pitifully small area where I could actually hunt. But it turns out it gets even more freaking complicated when you go to places like the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge or the Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area. I just want to hunt squirrels right now since Rabbit is out of season, looking up the DEC's rules, the only type squirrel with a year long open season is red squirrel, right? So for like half the year, that's the only thing you can hunt? The people who taught my hunter safety course didn't know this stuff. I asked, all they cared about was big game hunting (which I would love to try next year since I get a free permit for being in the military anyway), so I'm asking you guys, because the only material I can find online clearly wasn't meant to be read by newbies. Where can I hunt near Grand Island, NY? What else besides red squirrel can I hunt at the present time? Are there special areas with additional season limits to be observed? (the website for the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge said you can't hunt squirrel after February http://www.dec.ny.gov/regs/3972.html#13151) Any online resources you guys could include would be sooo helpful. Also, sorry for rambling, I'm just a little completely lost at the moment LOL. -Ang