Youth Big Game Hunt Coming Columbus/Indigenous Peoples' Day
Weekend
New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos
today announced that bowhunting seasons for deer and bear will begin in
the Northern Zone on Wednesday, Sept. 27 and in the Southern Zone on
Sunday, Oct. 1.
"New York State is home
to great opportunities for bowhunters to venture afield in a variety of
habitats," said
Commissioner Seggos. "With
mild weather and longer days, the early bow season is an ideal time to be
in the woods and introduce new hunters to deer and bear hunting."
Bowhunters may use a crossbow
during the last 10 days of the Northern Zone bow season (Oct. 11-20); and
the last 14 days of the Southern Zone bow season (Nov. 4-17). This season
is open to bowhunters who possess a muzzleloader privilege and a crossbow
qualifications certificate as required by law (see the Crossbow
Hunting webpage on DEC's website for details).
Additionally, early
muzzleloader season for deer and bear in the Northern Zone begins Oct.
14, and continues through Oct. 20. The regular firearms season for
deer and bear in the Northern Zone commences on Oct. 21.
Youth Big Game Hunt
New York's annual Youth Big
Game Hunt occurs on Columbus/Indigenous Peoples' Day weekend, Oct. 7-9
for 12-15-year-old hunters. This Youth Big Game Hunt takes place
throughout the State, except in Suffolk and Westchester counties and
bowhunting-only areas. Following legislation passed in 2021, 12- and
13-year-old hunters may hunt deer with a firearm during the youth hunt
and other firearms seasons in upstate counties that have passed a local
law allowing their participation. Currently, the list of counties that
have passed such a local law includes all counties north of Westchester, with the exception of Erie and Rockland counties.
During the Youth Big Game Hunt, licensed 12- to 15-year-olds may use a
firearm to hunt big game while accompanied by an
experienced, licensed adult hunter. All eligible junior hunters may take
one deer of either sex and 14- and 15-year-olds may also take one bear.
During the youth hunt, antlerless deer taken with a firearm may be tagged
with a regular season tag, Deer Management Permit (DMP), or a Deer
Management Assistance Program tag. Antlered deer may only be tagged with
the regular season tag. Though junior hunters may have multiple deer
tags, they may only take one deer with a firearm during the Youth Big
Game Hunt.
Additional rules that apply
to junior hunters and their adult mentors can be found on pages 36 and 37
of the Hunting and Trapping Guide or
through the Junior Hunter Mentoring Program.
Deer Management Permit
Application Deadline Oct. 1
DEC reminds hunters that the
application deadline for Deer Management Permits (DMPs) is Oct. 1.
Hunters should be prepared with the Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) they
intend to hunt prior to applying. The DMP Availability and Probability of Selection
webpage has more information regarding DMP availability
and chances of being selected in each WMU.
Take it, Tag
it, Report it!
DEC also reminds hunters of
the importance of reporting their harvest. Harvest
reporting is critical to wildlife management, and hunters
are required to report their harvest of deer, bear, and turkey within
seven days of taking the animal. The easiest way to report is via
DEC's HuntFishNY mobile app. Through this
mobile app, hunters, anglers, and trappers can access an electronic
version of their licenses and privileges, and report the harvest of deer,
bear, and turkey immediately while afield on their mobile device. It
takes only seconds. Hunters may still use the phone report system, but
the online and mobile systems are fast, convenient, and easy for hunters
to accurately enter information.
Protect New York Deer and
Moose from Chronic Wasting Disease
Chronic
Wasting Disease (CWD) continues to spread in other
states, and hunters have great responsibility to prevent CWD introduction
to New York. CWD is always fatal to deer. If introduced, CWD could
spread rapidly and be practically impossible to eliminate once
established. Hunters can help protect New York's deer herd from CWD
by following these tips:
·
If you hunt any type of deer, elk, moose,
or caribou outside of New York, you must debone your animal before
bringing it back. DEC will confiscate and destroy illegally imported
carcasses and parts;
·
Avoid deer urine-based lures or
attractant scents, as these could contain infectious material. If you use
lures, use synthetics;
·
Dispose of carcass waste in a landfill,
not just out on the landscape;
·
Report
any deer that appears sick or acting abnormally; and
·
Hunt only wild deer and support fair
chase hunting principles.
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