Hunting & Trapping Newsletter

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
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Hunting & Trapping Newsletter

Bowlog Reminder

Bowhunter sighting log participants, please return your log forms by Dec. 1.

Bow huntersEvery year, thousands of New York hunters record their time spent afield and the number of wildlife seen during their hunts as part of the Bowhunter Sighting Log program. As a reminder, for “Northern Zone” and “Southern Zone” log participants, please be sure to mail your log form to DEC by December 1. For those participating in the “Westchester/Suffolk” log, the deadline for submission is February 15. The annual Bowhunter Sighting Log is an important tool for managing New York’s deer population, and we appreciate the hardworking individuals who participate. 

If you are not currently enrolled in the annual Bowhunter Sighting Log and would like to be included in the future, please send an e-mail to wildlife@dec.ny.gov with the following information: name, address, DEC hunter ID# (12-digit backtag number), and the primary WMU where you hunt.                              


“WomenHuntFishNY" Photo Contest

Submit your entry for the “WomenHuntFishNY" Photo Contest by Dec. 31, 2018.

Mandy

DEC encourages women who hunt in New York State to share their photos with DEC by sending an e-mail to: socialmedia@dec.ny.gov. DEC welcomes photos of all aspects of safe and ethical hunting, including:

  • Preparing to go afield
  • The act of hunting
  • After the hunt
  • With family members

The deadline for contest entries is Dec. 31, 2018, however, DEC encourages hunters to share and send photos to the agency any time of year.

DEC will feature winning entries in next year's New York State Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide and may appear in a future issue of the Conservationist magazine, social media posts, DEC website, and other outreach. For more information, visit DEC's website.

Pictured: Mandy Bailey and her dog Boone.


2017 New York State Duck Hunter Survey

During fall 2017, DEC and Cornell University sent out a survey to 6,000 randomly-selected New York duck hunters to better understand factors that influence hunter preferences for timing waterfowl hunting seasons. Duck hunters seized the opportunity to provide their feedback on what they value with nearly 50 percent completing the survey (2,791 duck hunters). Hunters in all zones consistently ranked seeing and shooting mallards and black ducks as the most important factor influencing their satisfaction with duck season dates in their zone, followed closely by seeing and shooting any duck (regardless of species).

DuckThis survey gave a representative, large number of duck hunters direct input into how DEC selects season dates. Their input will be directly incorporated into the decision-making process for selecting the optimal duck season in each zone.

To view the full report on the 2017 Duck Hunter Survey, and for more information on the new process for selecting duck season dates, please visit DEC's website.