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We are only a few days away from the 2014 Regular Gun Season for the Southern Zone (November 15th), the Northern Zone kicked off their Season already on Oct. 25th. We want to wish everyone a safe and successful hunting season! Please make sure you keep us updated with reports of your hunts successful or not. We wanted to point out a few important threads on the http://huntingny.com/forums/ forums to check out. There are a ton of new threads to read over in the Bow Hunting section and some beautiful 2014 bucks taken already. Check them out there: http://huntingny.com/forums/forum/16-bow-hunting/ Check out the the 2014 "Live From the Stand / Woods" thread is up and ready for posting live action and photos from the woods. -> http://huntingny.com/forums/topic/24012-live-from-the-stand-woods-2014/ As always there are some amazing trail camera photos up, some real nice deer have been posted over the last few days -> http://huntingny.com/forums/forum/23-trail-camera-pictures/ Also a good read for those who are following the Rut, -> Rut Report Thread http://huntingny.com/forums/topic/25304-rut-report-thread/ 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 338,870 posts as of today! Please remember to tell friends and family about the site, you can even forward them this email / link. 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. Thank you and be safe! This post has been promoted to an article

We are only a few days away from the 2014 Bow Season for the Southern Zone and Suffolk County, the Northern Zone kicked off their Season on the 27th. We want to wish everyone a safe and successful bow hunting season! Please make sure you keep us updated with reports of your hunts successful or not. We actually had someone in the Northern zone already post with a buck down, check it out here: http://huntingny.com/forums/topic/24478-2014-hunting-ny-archery-harvest-thread/ If you are a part of the 2014 Whitetail Challenge please find your thread that was made just for you to post, your username will be in the subject. http://huntingny.com/forums/forum/73-2014-huntingny-whitetail-challenge/ The rules and other info can be found in the thread at the top of that forum category as well. Please make sure you checkout the rule changes on the Sticky Topics. We wanted to point out a few important threads on the http://huntingny.com/forums/ forums to check out. The 2014 "Live From the Stand / Woods" thread is up and ready for posting live action and photos from the woods. -> http://huntingny.com/forums/topic/24012-live-from-the-stand-woods-2014/ Keep in mind, crossbows are now legal for hunting, however use is restricted to certain times and areas. For more info please see this post from the NY DEC: http://huntingny.com/forums/topic/23878-ny-dec-finalizes-rule-changes-for-crossbow-hunting/ As always there are some amazing trail camera photos up, some real nice deer have been posted over the last few days -> http://huntingny.com/forums/forum/23-trail-camera-pictures/ There are a ton of new threads to read over in the Bow Hunting section to get you ready for the season opener, http://huntingny.com/forums/forum/16-bow-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 317,970 posts as of today! Please remember to tell friends and family about the site, you can even forward them this email / link. 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. Thank you and be safe! This post has been promoted to an article

Approximately 30,000 adult pheasants will be released on lands open to public hunting for the upcoming fall pheasant hunting season, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today. The pheasant hunting season begins on October 1 in northern and eastern portions of New York, October 18 in central and western portions, and November 1 on Long Island. “The Day-old Pheasant Chick Program provides additional opportunities for pheasant hunters,” said DEC Commissioner Joe Martens. “Pheasant hunting opportunities have also been augmented by private landowners who have opened their land to public hunting. DEC is grateful for their help in providing a high-quality hunting experience for New York's sportsmen and sportswomen.” Since 2007, DEC has offered a special youth-only season to provide junior hunters (12-15 years old) the opportunity to hunt pheasants the weekend prior to the regular pheasant hunting season. In western New York, the youth pheasant hunt weekend is October 11-12. In northern and eastern New York, the youth pheasant hunt weekend is September 27-28, and on Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk counties) it is October 25-26. Pheasants will be released on a number of selected release sites across the state to provide ample hunting opportunities for junior hunters. All current pheasant hunting rules and regulations remain in effect during the youth hunt. Please note that due to new legislation that changed the start of the license year from October 1 to September 1, either a 2013-14 hunting license or a 2014-15 hunting license can be used to hunt during September this year. A 2014-15 license is required starting October 1. All release sites for pheasants provided by state-funded programs are open to public hunting. Pheasants will be released on state-owned lands prior to and during the fall hunting season, and thanks to a partnership with New York City Department of Environmental Protection, at a number of sites on New York City Watershed lands. A list of statewide pheasant release sites and sites receiving birds for the youth-only pheasant hunt weekends can be found on DEC's website at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/9349.html. The program was developed in the early 1900s to provide day-old pheasant chicks to cooperating 4-H groups and sportsmen and sportswomen. The chicks are distributed to program participants in May and June, and cooperators incur all costs associated with rearing the birds, including feed, water, utilities and facility construction. The birds are raised to adulthood and released on lands open to public hunting before the season opens. This year, about 40,000 pheasant chicks were distributed statewide as part of this program. For more information about DEC’s day-old pheasant rearing program, please see: Day-Old Pheasant Chick Program: http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7271.html. Those interested in raising and releasing pheasants to expand next year's hunting opportunities can contact DEC’s Reynolds Game Farm at (607) 273-2768. Boundaries for pheasant hunting zones conform to Wildlife Management Units used for management of other upland wildlife. Wildlife Management Unit boundary descriptions can be found on DEC’s website. In addition to knowing these unit boundary descriptions, hunters should review the 2014-15 New York Hunting & Trapping Guide for complete regulations and other important information before going afield. Hunters who plan to use private lands should ask permission from the landowner. In support of the NY Open for Fishing and Hunting Initiative, this year's budget includes $6 million in NY Works funding to support creating 50 new land and water access projects to connect hunters, anglers, bird watchers and others who enjoy the outdoors to more than 380,000 acres of existing state and easement lands that have not reached their full potential. These 50 new access projects include building new boat launches, installing new hunting blinds and building new trails and parking areas. In addition, the 2014-15 budget includes $4 million to repair the state's fish hatcheries; and renews and allows expanded use of crossbows for hunting in New York State. This post has been promoted to an article

Have you added new stands / blinds? (Post pictures!) New Bow / Gun / Xbow? Practiced for weeks on end? Do you have any crazy rituals? What have you done this year to prepare for the 2014 Hunting season?

Wow, time flies, its that time of the year again! Bow season starts in less then a month. I hope everyone had an fun summer, had time to shoot your bows, sight in your rifles, setup their stands and get everything ready for this season. Be sure to check out and signup for the 2014 HuntingNY Whitetail Challenge - > http://huntingny.com/forums/topic/23984-2014-huntingny-whitetail-challenge/ The 2014 deer season is almost upon us, and we are having our first annual deer hunting contest, The HuntingNY 2014 Whitetail Challenge! You can sign up for the contest by replying to the thread, sign up starts now and will end at Midnight on September 28, 2014. In the contest section, each hunter will get their own thread. Entries should be posted in the 2014 Whitetail Challenge section under your thread. Contest entries must be submitted by Midnight on January 2, 2015 (Sorry, Suffolk special gun season not included). For all info/rules please see the forum thread. We wanted to point out a few important threads on the http://huntingny.com/forums/ forums to check out. Keep in mind, crossbows are now legal for hunting, however use is restricted to certain times and areas. For more info please see this post from the NY DEC: http://huntingny.com/forums/topic/23878-ny-dec-finalizes-rule-changes-for-crossbow-hunting/ The 2014 "Live From the Stand / Woods" thread is up and ready for posting live action from the woods. -> http://huntingny.com/forums/topic/24012-live-from-the-stand-woods-2014/ Did you get a DMP? http://huntingny.com/forums/topic/24005-dmp-surprise/ As always there are some amazing trailcamera photos up, some real nice deer have been posted over the last few weeks -> http://huntingny.com/forums/forum/23-trail-camera-pictures/ We just posted up a new topic, http://huntingny.com/forums/topic/24013-what-have-you-done-this-year-to-prepare-for-the-2014-hunting-season/ - What have you done this year to prepare for the 2014 season. Jump on and let us know! There are a ton of new threads to read over in the Bow Hunting section to get you ready for the season opener, http://huntingny.com/forums/forum/16-bow-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 317,970 posts as of today! Please remember to tell friends and family about the site, you can even forward them this email / link. 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. Thank you and be safe! This post has been promoted to an article

DEC Announces That 2014-15 Sporting Licenses Are Now Available Deer Management Permits, Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Licenses Can Be Purchased at a Licensed Sales Outlet, Via Phone or Online Hunting and trapping licenses, and Deer Management Permits (DMPs) for the 2014-15 season are now available for purchase, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens announced today. “New York is home to some of the best hunting, trapping and fishing opportunities in the nation,” Commissioner Martens said. “Governor Cuomo’s NY Open for Fishing and Hunting initiative is creating new and improved, year-round recreation opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts, and DEC continues to develop and manage programs to enhance the outdoor experience while protecting our state’s natural resources. Hunting and trapping licenses and the DMPs will enable sportsmen and sportswomen to enjoy these outdoor opportunities for the 2014-15 season.” Sporting licenses and permits can be purchased at one of DEC’s 1,100 license sales outlets statewide. Licenses can also be ordered by telephone or online (http://www.dec.ny.go...rmits/6101.html). The 2014-2015 hunting and trapping licenses are valid for one year beginning September 1, 2014. (Under a new law that took effect in February, fishing licenses and recreational marine fishing registrations are now valid for 365 days from date-of-purchase.) Funds from the sale of all sporting licenses are deposited into the Conservation Fund, which is used to manage New York's fish and wildlife populations and protect and manage fish and wildlife habitat. As part of the NY Open for Fishing and Hunting Initiative, New York streamlined the hunting and fishing license structure, made it consistent for resident and non-residents, and reduced license fees. Some hunters and anglers may not be familiar with these license changes, but licensing-issuing agents are prepared to provide assistance and ensure the license buyers secure all the desired permits and privileges. Highlights of the changes are available on DEC’s website:http://www.dec.ny.go...mits/95007.html. In addition, the new Hunting & Trapping regulation guides are available at all license issuing outlets, as well as on DEC website at http://www.dec.ny.go...rmits/6101.html. New Fishing regulations guide will be available next spring. Individuals may donate to the Habitat Access Stamp Program, Venison Donation Coalition, Conservation Fund or the Trail Maintenance Program via DEC’s sporting license system. The DEC Call Center at (1-866-933-2257) is accessible from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdaythrough October 4 for people with questions regarding license purchases. Regular Call Center weekday hours from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. will resume on October 5. To facilitate the purchase of a sporting license, individuals should have the following items ready when buying a license: complete name and address information, DEC customer ID number if you have it, proof of residency information (driver's license number or non-driver's ID number with a valid NYS address to qualify for a resident license), and, if purchasing by phone or internet, a credit card and card expiration date. Hunting license purchases require individuals to provide proof of a hunting education certification or a copy of a previous license, if this information is not already contained in their sporting license system file. With the introduction of a new computerized system this year, it may take license-issuing agents some additional time to find previous license holders in the system. DEC asks that license purchasers remain patient as these agents gain experience with this new system. Important updates for 2014-2015 Upon finalization of regulations, crossbows will be allowed to be used to take big game and small game for the 2014-15 seasons. For more information, visit DEC's website: http://www.dec.ny.go...door/68802.html ; Set back distances for the discharge of a bow and crossbow have been reduced to 150 feet and 250 feet, respectively; Expanded bear hunting opportunities are available this fall, with bear hunting allowed in additional wildlife management units (WMUs) that are open to bear hunting and the establishment of an early bear season in the southern zone. See: http://www.dec.ny.go...door/28605.html; The Youth Firearms Deer Hunt will take place over Columbus Day weekend, October 11-13, 2014. For more information, see: http://www.dec.ny.go...door/46245.html ; New legislation allows the use of rifles for big game hunting in Albany and Livingston counties. See Rifle, Shotgun, and Bow Areas(http://www.dec.ny.go...door/35010.html) on DEC’s website for other counties where rifles can be used. Mandatory Antler Restrictions (http://www.dec.ny.go...door/27663.html) (3 points on one side minimum) remain in effect in WMUs 3A, 3C, 3H, 3J, 3K, 4G, 4O, 4P, 4R, 4S, and 4W during all seasons for all hunters 17 years and older (http://www.dec.ny.go...door/27663.html). Additional details are listed in the 2014-2015 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide http://www.dec.ny.go...door/37136.html.Deer Management Permits Because too few female deer are being taken to reduce populations as needed across the Lake Plains, Finger Lakes Region, Mohawk Valley, and Long Island, DEC will be issuing approximately 17 percent more Deer Management Permits (DMPs; tags for antlerless deer) this year. DEC issues DMPs to control antlerless harvest and move the deer population closer toward objective levels in each Wildlife Management Unit (WMU). DMPs will be available at all license issuing outlets and can also be obtained by phone, internet, or mail, through close of business October 1, 2014. DMPs are issued through a random selection process at the point of sale, and customers who are selected for DMPs will receive their permits immediately. For planning purposes, review the 2014 chances of selection for DMPs in each WMU on DEC's website at http://www.dec.ny.go...door/30409.html. Charts of the chances of selection are also available at License Issuing Agent locations, or on the DMP Hotline at 1-866-472-4332. The chances of obtaining a DMP remain the same throughout the application period - hunters do not need to rush to apply for a DMP on the first day of sale. If a significant number of DMPs are still available in a WMU after October 1, the sale of the remaining DMPs will commence on November 1, and continue on a first-come, first-served basis until the end of the hunting season or until all DMPs have been issued in the WMU. Additionally, Bonus DMPs will be available in the bowhunting-only WMUs 3S, 4J, and 8C and in WMUs 1C. For information about Bonus DMPs, see DEC's website at http://www.dec.ny.go...door/10001.html. An outline on how DMP targets are set and permits are issued is available on DEC's website at http://www.dec.ny.go...door/47743.html. Hunters are reminded that DMPs are only valid for antlerless deer in the WMU specified on the permit. To learn more about what to expect for deer hunting throughout the state this fall, see Deer Hunting Season Forecasts on DEC's website at http://www.dec.ny.go...door/37304.html. Contribute Via Habitat Stamps, Trail Supporter Patch, or Donate Directly to Support the Conservation Fund or the Venison Donation Program DEC encourages all outdoor enthusiasts to consider purchasing a Habitat/Access Stamp and/or a Trail Supporter Patch. These stamps and patches support DEC’s efforts to conserve habitat, increase public access for fishing and wildlife-related recreation, and maintain non-motorized trails. Buying a $5 stamp or patch or donating directly to the Conservation Fund is a simple way to help conserve New York's rich wildlife heritage and enhance outdoor recreation in the state. Additionally, anyone - not just hunters and anglers - can help feed the hungry by making a monetary contribution to the Venison Donation Program at any license issuing outlet. Individuals should inform the license sales agent if they are interested in making a donation of $1 or more to support the program. Since 1999, the Venison Donation Coalition has paid for the processing of more than 330 tons of highly nutritious venison, the equivalent of 2.8 million meals served. For more information about the Venison Donation Coalition program, visit DEC's website. Participate in Citizen Science to Benefit Wildlife Management Each year, thousands of hunters, trappers and anglers help DEC monitor wildlife populations by recording their wildlife observations while afield. Information on how to participate in the Cooperator Ruffed Grouse Hunting Log, Bowhunter Sighting Log, Winter Wild Turkey Flock Survey and other Citizen Science programs is available on DEC's website at http://www.dec.ny.go...imals/1155.html. The latest updates on New York’s fish and wildlife can be easily accessed on the Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources E-mail News, a free online e-mail list that visitors can subscribe to available on DEC's website at http://www.dec.ny.go...blic/65855.html. Click here to view the article