Syracuse.com - Target shooting on state lands, a rumor about timber wolves? Ask the Outdoors Guy

[HuntingNY-News]

Readers are constantly asking me questions about the outdoors and wildlife. Sometimes I can supply the answers myself. Other times I go to experts. The two questions answered this week are from a guy who wants to target shoot on state lands, and from a reader who's heard a rumor about timber wolves being released south of Ithaca. Q:...

Readers are constantly asking me questions about the outdoors and wildlife.

Sometimes I can supply the answers myself. Other times I go to experts.

The two questions answered this week are from a guy who wants to target shoot on state lands, and from a reader who's heard a rumor about timber wolves being released south of Ithaca.

Q: "I've been trying to find out if it's legal to target shoot on state lands during the off season of hunting. The DEC website is pretty vague about this. Basically, I'm new to hunting and I want to safely fire off some rounds without joining a club. I've heard Three Rivers allowed target shooting, but again, I've just heard that. Basically I just want to safely and legally fire my gun in a designated space. Any information you could provide would be most appreciated."

-Adam Lutwin, Syracuse

A: Lt. David McShane, an environmental conservation officer at the DEC's Syracuse office, said the rules and regulations for target shooting vary from state-owned property to property, and it behooves shooters to check beforehand. Many of the restrictions are posted at the entryways or trail heads of the properties. For example, he said hunting or target shooting is not allowed on land designated as "unique areas," but is allowed on most state reforestation lands.

In regard to the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area in the town of Lysander, hunting and target shooting is generally allowed on most of the land, but banned in two areas. Both are posted as a "Restricted Area" or have a sign that says, "No Target Shooting." One, has a maintenance building and other state-owned structures; the other, beyond Potter Road, it too close to a golf course.

McShane said target shooters should always try shoot in areas where they know there's a "safe backstop" of land or trees in case the bullet or slug travels through the target. Shooters should also pick up after themselves and not leave empty shell or bullet casings on the ground -- or leave their tattered targets. Some shooters in the past have left things like shattered TVs and broken bottles on the landscape.

"These are things we don't want to encourage," he said.

Finally, he noted it is illegal for shooters to nail, or fix targets to live trees on state land. "It ends up killing the trees," McShane said.

For additional questions, McShane recommended contacting a local environmental conservation officer . Their cell phone numbers and the areas they cover are listed in the DEC's hunting and fishing guides.

Finally, McShane said if a shooter is going to get out more than a couple of times to test or use his or her firearm, the best bet is to join a local sportsmen's club, where it can be done in a safe and controlled area.

Q: There is a rumor running around that DEC and Cornell has released six timber wolves at Connecticut Hill (State Game Management Area), south of Ithaca. Could you please run it down?

-SaltCuse

A: "No," said Steve Joule, head regional wildlife biologist at the DEC's Cortland office. "We don't do that. We haven't done that. We have no plans to do it."

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog