Small game hunting on Long Island

[Stretcher Guy]

I just orderd a Crosman Nitro Venom Dusk pellet gun and I would like to use it small game hunting on the Island. I'm new to this, my Daughter and got our licenses last Spring. Where are good places to hunt squirrel, rabbit and woodchuck?

[mike rossi]

Do you mean where to go or where these animals are found? The DEC office in Stoney Brook has many pamplets about public hunting areas on LI.

For the second question, a good bet is to hunt along field edges and hegedrows for all three animals, but well inside woods you are less likely to see chucks and cottontails but off course you will see squirrels. Good luck!

[Elmo]

Check local regulations. Some people may see pellet guns as toys but other see them as legitimate firearms. Seeing the power of modern day pellet guns, I can see why. Some parks than ban firearm usage may or may not ban pellet gun usage as well. If you want to be safe, treat the pellet guns as if it were a firearm and follow the same regulations as that of a firearm. The other way to be safe is to call and ask a DEC officer as well as the park ranger of the park you plan to hunt.

[Felonious_Monk]

Maybe I have been misinformed. I was under the impression that along with the recent modification allowing airguns with a muzzle velocity ≥600 fps, they were then elevated, for the purposes of sporting hunts, to being actual rifles. As such, would not ENCON Law prohibit their use on L.I., as we are bow and shotgun only?

Edited August 28, 2012 by Felonious_Monk

[greybeard]

Stretcher Guy..

.I am not sure if airguns are permitted for on hunting on L.I., but a call to the DEC Law Enforcement , Stoney Brook may answer that.

Also as stated above call DEC and ask for hunting info just in case it's not on the computer.

As far as SOME places to hunt.. try this.. I think it's right :

go to DEC,NY website.. click on hunting..

click on Places to Hunt...

click on Hunting on Long Island.( read it) then.

scroll down to NYDEC Managed Hunting Areas and click.

It gives you maps etc.

There are many rules, and they are enforced.. so read them..

Also in season, for a few of the areas, you need to check in at the Coop check station, off route 25 in Ridge,...turn in your license.. sign in and get a daily permit, and a parking permit for your dashboard.... at the end of the day you check back, report your take and get your license back

For SOME areas you get a seasonal hunting permit then just hunt. without going to the check station...

Off season ( before Nov. 1 and after Dec. 31) the coop check station is closed so you need the seasonal permit... (The coop may be closed on weekdays during the L.I. firearms deer season in January, so it's open for deer hunting by lottery only.. no small game.)

Make sure if you want to hunt the coop that you find out specifically what the rules for air guns are there.., they have some coop rules...

I think that you apply for the seasonal permit online now.. you can apply for the coop and wetlands.. it's free.. the permit used to be for 3 years, but I'm not sure anymore..

There are designated parking spots in the coop areas which you must use.. they will specify how many cars can park there.

As you will see from the maps there are many parking areas, but they do fill up

There is a reservation system also, but I don't remember exactly how it works ( I used to, but just can't remember and I don't want to guess) .Find out about it because it can eliminate driving there and not being able to hunt because the coop is full... Also, as I recall ,you need reservations on weekends , and holidays (Double check)

They stock pheasants weekly.. shotgun only EVEN if air guns are allowed

There are squirrels, and rabbits, but in all my years hunting there I only saw one woodchuck ( I walked right up on it, but had small shot, so I didn't shoot it).

Watch for ticks !! I've gotten lots of them.

I'm sure I left something out, but this is the best I can remember..

Please double check my info because although I first started hunting there in the mid 60's, I haven't hunted there in about 3 years and things change.. I hope this helps.. good luck

[Elmo]

Maybe I have been misinformed. I was under the impression that along with the recent modification allowing airguns with a muzzle velocity ≥600 fps, they were then elevated, for the purposes of sporting hunts, to being actual rifles. As such, would not ENCON Law prohibit their use on L.I., as we are bow and shotgun only?

Airguns are classified as firearms but since the type is not clearly classified, whether it is closer to a rifle or to a shotgun is up to debate. While it resembles a rifle, the bullet doesn't travel as far as a center fire rifle does. The whole reason an area is shotgun only is because of the proximity of houses. Some place upstate that are shotgun only also allow airguns. I am not sure about Long Island. Again, you have to ask each individual governing body.

[mike rossi]

Never imagined as a kid that I would be on a computer talking about the percieved public safety issues involved in hunting chucks, squirrells, and cottontails - with an airgun no less. Its pretty hard to believe as an adult too.

This doesn't represent hoplophobia?

Edited August 28, 2012 by mike rossi

[Felonious_Monk]

I just spoke on the phone with an officer at the Stony Brook office. Air rifles are permitted for use on Long Island anywhere shotguns are. All small game regulations apply, as well as the prohibition on migratory game birds. No turkey/pheasant/waterfowl, that sort of thing. Seems you're good to go as soon as your license is valid.

[Stretcher Guy]

Thanks for the info. We have had our licenses since the spring so we are good to go on that part.

As far as being permitted "anywhere" shot guns are allowed is that refering to location or time of season?

[Elmo]

As far as being permitted "anywhere" shot guns are allowed is that refering to location or time of season?

Location, yes. Time of season? Please elaborate on that question.

[greybeard]

Sretccher guy..

Maybe I'm misinterpreting, but you state that you've had the hunting licenses since the spring, Therefore, I ASSUME that it is this years license which expires on Sept. 30, 2012.

The hunting license year is from Oct. 1 until Set. 30... So to hunt from 10/01/12 for the license year ending Sept. 30, 2013 you need to renew..

.

Squirrel/rabbit open Nov. 1 on Long Island..

sorry if I misinterpreted, but I once went upstate to hunt with a guy who didn't realize the dates, and when we got into the woods to set up noticed that my tag was a different color than his.He hadn't renewed it. We had to leave and find a place for him to get a license before we could go back to hunt.

Check the seasons and you'll see that for some species you can hunt with that license thru this Sept.

[Stretcher Guy]

"Time of season" meaning is there anytime on the Island WHEN a shot gun is not allowed?

And yes I know we will need this years license come October.

We are going to use the end of the 11/12 licenses as scouting trips.

[NFA-ADK]

I do not think you can hunt with a shot gun on LI during deer season, except for the special Jan firearms season. I could be wrong so dont quote me on this... Each town has it's own ordanance so check with the local DEC, ranger or town hall for proper information. Better safe than arrested...

[Elmo]

"Time of season" meaning is there anytime on the Island WHEN a shot gun is not allowed?

And yes I know we will need this years license come October.

We are going to use the end of the 11/12 licenses as scouting trips.

If hunting is allowed and the park doesn't specify a restriction, then you should be able to carry. Some parks specify. For example, I just stopped over at the Sterling Forest Ranger Station this past Saturday and asked about airguns usage before November 1st. Sterling Forest doesn't allow firearms before November 1st and I wanted to see where they stand on airguns. FYI: Airguns are not allowed in Sterling Forest prior to November 1st.

Bashakill on the other hand has no such restrictions and since sparrows and starlings have no close season, you can technically hunt there during the summer. Again, each park has their own restrictions and the safest way to check is to check each individual park ranger station as well.

[shawnhu]

As a general rule, airguns are allowed anywhere in the state of NY where shotguns are allowed. If it is stated that hunting is by bow only, then airguns are not allowed.

Westchester and Long Island are both bow hunting only, for deer. Small game is still allowed in Westchester with shotgun and airgun in some areas. Long Island is famous for the waterfowl hunting, so I can't imagine it not being able to hunt small game with a shotgun. Just be sure the land you hunt allows for shotguns/airguns.

By definition, and air rifle is not a rifle at all, since it does not use a cartridge. The definition of a rifle is to use a cartridge and a rifled barrel.

Good luck with the Nitro Venom, it's a great shooter for me up to 50 yards.

Edited August 31, 2012 by shawnhu