Big Game Hunting Season Begins In New York State

Big Game hunting season kicks off Saturday (November 16) through December 8th for regular firearms. According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, approximately 470,000 licensed hunters are participating.

About 60 percent of the total statewide deer harvest and 30 to 60 percent of the statewide bear harvest occurs during this season. Hunting hours for deer and bear include the full daylight period, beginning 30 minutes before sunrise and continuing until 30 minutes after sunset.

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Stay Safe While Hunting

The NYS DEC reports that most hunting-related injuries occur when hunters are climbing in and out of a tree stand. The DEC recommends that hunters strap up before they go to stay connected from the time leaving the ground to the time they get back down, check all stands (including straps and chains) before every season, and replace any worn or missing parts. Do not climb in or out of a tree stand with a loaded firearm.

Also, be sure to wear fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink clothing, which can be a hat, vest, or jacket that is visible in all directions.

The NYS DEC also recommends that hunters:

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

The NYS DEC notes that there was an isolated detection of Chronic Wasting Disease in a captive deer facility in southern Herkimer County. Although there is no evidence that Chronic Wasting Disease is currently present in wild deer at this time.

The DEC is enhancing surveillance in the area and requesting successful deer hunters in the area submit the deer’s head to DEC for CWD testing. For more information about how hunters can help prevent the introduction of CWD into wild deer, and more tips for safe hunting, visit the NYS DEC website.