Syracuse.com - September marks the start of the fall hunting season in CNY

[HuntingNY-News]

The squirrel, early Canada goose and crow hunting seasons all opened Sept. 1.

Dick Blume/The Post-StandardThe squirrel hunting season kicked off Sept. 1. The daily bag limit is six.

Tis the season to hunt.

Three hunting seasons opened Sept. 1 — squirrel, early Canada goose and crow — with more to come in October and November.

Squirrels (gray, black and fox squirrel): The daily bag limit is six and the season lasts until Feb. 28. Red squirrels, though, are unprotected and may be hunted at any time without limit.

Some hunt squirrels with shotguns; others use small-caliber (.22) rifles.

“It’s a great opportunity to get out in the woods, to scout for the upcoming deer season and to get reacquainted with your firearm,” said Stephen Wowelko, of Syracuse. Wowelko said he eats the squirrels he shoots and has a great recipe for the meat, which he cooks in hard apple cider.

Canada goose: The daily bag limit for the early Canada goose season is eight birds and it lasts until Sept. 25. Hunters must also use “non-toxic” shot. Lead is not allowed.

This special season was created to cull the state’s resident (as opposed to migratory) Canada geese population. Last spring, the state Department of Environmental Conservation estimated there are more than 200,000 state-wide.

In addition to a small-game license, goose hunters must also possess a 2012-2013 federal migratory bird hunting stamp (available at the local post office.) and be registered under the Harvest Information Program (HIP) and have an HIP number. Call 1-888-427-5447 or register online at www.ny-hip.com.

If a hunter shoots a banded bird, those should be reported using the toll-free number (1-800-327-BAND) or web address on the band (www.reportband.gov).

Crows: There’s no daily bag limit and the season lasts until March 31. Although crows are classified as a migratory game bird, there’s no requirement for hunters to register with the Harvest Information Program, nor are there any restrictions on the type of shot that can be used. Crows can be hunted with shotguns or rifles, and recorded electronically amplified bird calls or sounds can be used to draw them in.

During the season, crows can only be pursued Friday through Monday. The hunting days restriction was prompted by the DEC to maximize the number of days allowed under federal guidelines for migratory birds.

Final note: For those hunting in these three seasons prior to Oct. 1, a 2011-2012 small-game, hunting license is required.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog