Hunting and Trapping Newsletter

Small Game Hunting Seasons are Upon Us!

Small game hunting opportunities abound in New York State. With a diverse array of small game species to pursue and access to public lands throughout the state, there is something for everyone. In addition, small game hunting is a great way to introduce someone new to the sport, teaching them how to be a safe and responsible member of the hunting community. Seasons have already begun for some species and start soon for others. Check the DEC website or the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide before heading afield.

Ruffed Grouse Hunter? We Need Your Help!

Ruffed grouse hunting season runs from Oct. 1 through the last day of February in most areas of the state. In northern New York, the season opened on Sept. 20 and runs through the last day of February. In New York City and Long Island, the season is closed.

DEC is looking for ruffed grouse hunters to submit feathers from harvested birds in order to assess recruitment (number of young produced per adult female grouse) for different parts of the state. Interested hunters should visit DEC's website.

Ruffed grouse hunters in the Northern Zone are reminded to positively identify quarry before shooting. The Northern Zone, specifically Wildlife Management Units 5C, 5F, 6F, and 6J, is also home to the spruce grouse. The spruce grouse is a state-endangered species and is not legal to hunt. Loss of a single spruce grouse, particularly a female spruce grouse, could be a significant setback for a small local population. Spruce grouse exist in lowland conifer forests in the Adirondacks. Although ruffed grouse occur in upland hardwoods statewide, during the fall and winter ruffed grouse may be found in spruce grouse habitat. Small game hunters in the Adirondack region must be able to distinguish between these species so that spruce grouse are not shot by mistake. For tips on how to discern the two species, view the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide or the ruffed grouse hunting information page on DEC’s website.

Pheasant Hunting Opportunities

About 30,000 adult pheasants will be released on lands open to public hunting for the upcoming fall pheasant hunting season. The pheasant hunting season begins Oct. 1 in northern and eastern portions of New York, Oct. 19 in central and western portions of the state, and Nov. 1 on Long Island. Since 2007, DEC has offered a special youth-only season to provide junior hunters the opportunity to hunt pheasants during the weekend prior to the regular pheasant hunting season. In western New York, the youth pheasant hunt weekend is Oct. 12 and 13. In northern and eastern New York, the youth pheasant hunt weekend was Sept. 28 and 29, and on Long Island, it is Oct. 26 and 27. Both the junior hunter and their adult mentor must have a hunting license. Only the junior hunter is allowed to carry a firearm and harvest birds on these dates.

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 at a number of sites on New York City Watershed lands thanks to a partnership with New York City Department of Environmental Protection. 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 high quality hunting experiences for New York's hunters.

DEC Encourages Hunter Safety

While statistics show that hunting in New York is safer than ever, mistakes are made every year. DEC believes every hunting-related shooting incident is preventable, and Commissioner Seggos is encouraging hunters to use common sense this season and to remember what they were taught in their DEC Hunters Education Course.

Firearms Safety:

1. Point your gun in a safe direction.
2. Treat every gun as if it were loaded.
3. Be sure of your target and beyond.
4. Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.

DEC also encourages hunters to wear blaze orange or blaze pink. Wearing orange or pink prevents other hunters from mistaking a person for an animal, or shooting in a hunter's direction. Hunters who wear hunter orange are seven times less likely to be shot. For more information on these and other important hunting safety tips, please visit DEC's website.