Be Seen, Stay Safe, and Show Respect During Fall and Winter
Hunting Seasons
The New York State Department
of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today encouraged outdoor enthusiasts
to respectfully share the woods and follow safety precautions this fall
and winter. Hikers, nature photographers, leaf peepers, and mountain
bikers are encouraged to follow safety measures while hunters and
trappers are afield. Regular big game hunting season in the Northern Zone
began Oct. 21 and closes Dec. 3. Bowhunting season for deer and bear is
ongoing in the Southern Zone and ends at the beginning of the regular
firearms season on Nov. 18.
Tips for hikers and hunters
venturing afield this fall include:
·
Tell someone intended destinations and
return times. If plans change, notify them;
·
Dress for the weather; account for both
location and elevation changes;
·
Become familiar with planned hiking
trails or hunting areas;
·
Wear bright clothing;
blaze orange or blaze pink. Bright colors allow hikers and hunters to be
seen more easily and from farther away; and,
·
Pack the 10
Essentials, especially a light source, map, and first aid kit.
For more tips on sharing the
woods this fall, check out this recent DEC video.
While hunting-related
shooting incidents involving non-hunters are extremely rare, DEC
encourages all outdoor adventurers to be aware of the presence of others
enjoying New York's natural resources. Hikers should be aware they may
meet hunters bearing firearms or archery equipment while hiking on
trails. Hunters are fellow outdoor recreationists and hunting is
permitted on Forest Preserve and Conservation Easement lands. Hunters
should likewise recognize they may encounter hikers and others enjoying
the outdoors.
Hunting is among the most
popular forms of wildlife recreation in the state, drawing an estimated
600,000 New Yorkers. Hunting is safe and economically important, helping
to manage wildlife populations and promote family traditions while
fostering an understanding and respect for the environment.
Hunters looking for solitude
can minimize the disturbance associated with other forms of recreation by
following a few tips. Before a season opens, when hunters are scouting
for the perfect spot or stand location, take the time to check if the
planned location is a popular one. Avoid crowding other hunters and
recognize that if a hunting location is near a popular hiking spot, noise
can be a factor. If a preferred hunting spot is too crowded, identify an
alternative location ahead of time.
When adventuring with a pet,
make sure to keep them on a leash. Loose pets can cause problems with
other recreators and can get into trouble with wild animals. Also, to
make pets more identifiable in the woods, give them a brightly colored
collar, leash or other covering.
DEC maintains hiking trails
and permits hunting in many areas of forest preserve lands in the Adirondack and Catskill Parks, as well as in state forests,
wildlife management areas, and unique areas. Find a place by visiting
our website, checking out DECinfo Locator,
or downloading the HuntFishNY Wildlife App. Many trails are
also accessible to people with
disabilities.
Chronic Wasting Disease
Hunters are critical to
protecting New York deer and moose from Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).
CWD is an untreatable, fatal disease of the brain and nervous system
disease caused by a misfolded protein called a prion that is spread in
deer tissues, saliva, urine, and feces. Hunters can bring CWD prions into
to New York without realizing it. To protect deer, do not bring
hunter-killed deer, elk, moose, or caribou carcasses into New York from
other states and do not use deer urine-based lures.
DEC 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. 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.
More information on harvest
reporting is available on DEC's website.
More information on CWD is
also available on DEC's website.
|
