ALBANY— New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos reminds hunters that September marks the beginning of several hunting seasons in New York State.
Squirrel and Canada goose hunting seasons began today in upstate New York, with the first bear and antlerless deer seasons beginning September 10 at select wildlife management units.
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 per 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 US 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 an estimated 80,000 birds in 1995 to more than 340,000, according to the DEC.
As the population grew, season length and catch limits were relaxed 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.
The first seasons of bears and antlerless deer begin
The early bow hunting season for bears will begin in 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 on 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 starts on September 17.
Early antlerless deer season will begin on September 10 and run through September 18 at select WMUs. During this season, only antlerless deer, those without antlers or those with antlers less than three inches long, may be harvested, and hunters may only use valid deer management permits or deer management assistance program tags. .
Harvest Information Program (HIP) Registration
All migratory game bird hunters must register annually for HIP through DEC’s licensing system. HIP registration is required and helps state and federal biologists estimate hunter share and take of migratory game birds. The HIP registry identifies active hunters who receive follow-up surveys from the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Providing a valid email address during HIP registration ensures that registrants can participate in hunter take and opinion surveys.
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 a HIP registration number. Hunters of migratory game birds must wear this number while hunting.
hunt safely
During all hunting seasons, hunters should remember to follow the main gun safety rules:
- 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; Y
- Always be sure of your goal and what lies beyond.
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; Y
- Hunters ages 12 and 13 may hunt deer (not bear) with a firearm or crossbow when accompanied by an experienced licensed adult.