DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos reminded hunters that September marks the beginning of several hunting opportunities in New York State. Squirrel and Canada goose hunting seasons begin September 1 in upstate New York, and early bear and antlerless deer seasons begin September 10 at WMUs. acronyms in English) selected.
“Early hunting seasons are a great opportunity to mentor new hunters and introduce them to the conservation value and importance of hunting,” Seggos said. “Early bear season, antlerless deer season and September goose season are designed to reduce or stabilize wildlife populations in particular areas of the state. By participating in these seasons, hunters help manage wildlife populations toward socially and ecologically desirable levels, while also obtaining excellent meat for their families and friends.”
The first bear and antlerless deer seasons begin on September 10
In 2022, early bear season in parts of southeastern New York will begin on September 10 and run through September 25 in WMUs 3A, 3C, 3H, 3J, 3K, 3M, 3P, 3R, 4P, 4R and 4W. The early bow hunting season for bears will begin throughout the South Zone on October 1, followed by the regular firearms season beginning November 19. In the North Zone, bow hunting season for bears begins September 17 in WMUs 6A, 6G, 6K, and 6N, and regular bear season in WMUs 5A, 5C, 5F, 5G, 5H, 5J , 6C, 6H and 6J also starts on September 17.
The early antlerless deer season will begin on September 10 and run through September 18 at select WMUs. In WMUs 3M, 3R, 8A, 8F, 8G, 8J, 8N, 9A, and 9F, hunters may use firearms, crossbows, or vertical bows during the early antlerless season. In WMU 1C, 3S, 4J and 8C, hunters can only use vertical bows. During this season, only antlerless deer, those without antlers or those with antlers less than 3 inches long, may be harvested, and hunters may only use valid Deer Management Permits or Deer Management Assistance Program tags. .
Canada goose hunting seasons open on September 1
The September Canada goose hunting season occurs in all goose hunting areas except western Long Island. All upstate areas are open from September 1 through September 25. Canada goose seasons in central and eastern Long Island begin on September 6 and end on September 30. In western Long Island, the season begins on October 8. The September season includes liberal bag limits (eight to 15 birds/day depending on area), extended shooting hours, and other special regulations to maximize hunter success. Additional details on waterfowl hunting regulations, season dates, hunting area limits, and bag limits can be found on the DEC website.
The September goose hunting season is designed to help reduce or stabilize resident Canadian goose populations. Resident Canada Geese are those that breed in the United States and southern Canada, as opposed to migratory populations that breed in northern Canada. In general, resident geese are the birds commonly associated with nuisance situations in urban and rural areas. Over the past 25 years, New York’s resident Canadian goose population has grown from approximately 80,000 birds in 1995 to more than 340,000 today.
As the population grew, season length and catch limits were liberalized and hunters managed to stabilize the population. The September season is an important opportunity for hunters, as regular Canada goose seasons have been restricted to 30 days and bag limits have been lowered to one bird in most areas to protect more migratory geese. vulnerable. Resident geese look the same as migratory geese, making it difficult for the public to distinguish between the two populations. To learn more about the differences between migratory and resident geese and how these birds are managed, read the article “Canada Geese in New York: Residents or Visitors?” in the August 2019 issue of DEC’s Conservationist magazine.
Hunters dressed in safety orange. photo Dec.Harvest Information Program (HIP) Registration
All migratory game bird hunters must register annually for HIP through DEC’s licensing system. HIP registration is required by law and helps state and federal biologists estimate hunter share and take of migratory game birds. HIP registration identifies active hunters who receive follow-up surveys from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service. Providing a valid email address during HIP registration will ensure that you can participate in feedback and collection surveys. hunters. To learn more about how biologists estimate harvest, and to view harvest data for New York and the rest of North America, visit: Migratory Game Bird Harvest Survey
There are two options for registering with HIP: online at DEC’s hunting license website, or
through the automated phone system, available by calling 1-866-933-2257. At the end of either process, you will be given your HIP registration number. Hunters of migratory game birds must wear this number while hunting.
Safety
During all hunting seasons, hunters must remember to follow the main rules of gun safety: assume all firearms are loaded; keep the barrel pointed in a safe direction; keep the safety on and your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot; and always be sure of your goal and what is beyond it. For more information on hunter safety, visit the DEC website; Watch videos on hunter safety and tree safety for more tips on preventing accidents. Hunters must also be prepared to rapidly chill and process harvested game to preserve meat quality.
Hunters should also remember that several changes enacted in 2021 continue this year. Hunters and anyone accompanying them must wear a solid or patterned fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink hat, vest, or jacket when hunting deer or bear with a firearm. Hunting hours for deer and bear now include the entire period of ambient light from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Finally, 12 and 13 year old hunters may hunt deer (not bear) with a firearm or crossbow when accompanied by an experienced licensed adult.
Photo above: photo DIC.