Hunting and Trapping Newsletter

TRAPPERS REPORT ™

Conservation and Trapping News

Hunting and Trapping Newsletter Sep 9, 2019 10:16 ET Original: Hunting and Trapping Newsletter Hunting and Trapping Newsletter September Canada Goose Seasons Now Open woman with harvested geese and goose decoys September Canada goose seasons occur in all goose hunting zones with the exception of the Western Long Island zone. All upstate areas run September 1 through September 25. Canada goose seasons in the Central and Eastern Long Island zones begin on the Tuesday following the Labor Day holiday (September 3rd this year) and run through September 30. In the Western Long Island zone, the season opens on October 12th. The September seasons include liberal bag limits (eight to 15 birds/day, depending on the zone), extended shooting hours, and other special regulations to maximize hunter success. You can find additional details on waterfowl hunting regulations, season dates, hunting area boundaries, and bag limits on DEC's website. image of this year's federal duck stamp artwork To participate in the September Canada goose hunting season, hunters must: 1. Have a 2019-2020 hunting license; 2. Be registered for the 2019-2020 New York Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program; and 3. All hunters 16 years of age or older must have a 2019-2020 federal duck stamp (obtained at your local post office) signed across the face of the stamp in ink. Hunting Safety and Etiquette Tips DEC reminds hunters to follow simple safety guidelines and use good judgment when choosing a time and place to hunt. Considering other people who enjoy the outdoors or live nearby can help avoid potential conflicts and ensure a safe and enjoyable season. As coastal areas become more populated, it is important for new landowners to receive a good impression of the safety, ethics and traditions of waterfowl hunting. A little courtesy and time spent before a hunt can go a long way to avoid or minimize conflicts with property owners and other outdoor enthusiasts. DEC encourages hunters to: Consider contacting owners of property adjacent to where they will be hunting, well in advance; Tell property owners when and where you will be hunting. Property owners may be less concerned if aware of planned hunts; Take the time to explain to the landowner the intent to abide by the laws and regulations pertaining to waterfowl hunting, familiarity with the locations of houses, and safety protocols; Plan out shooting directions and verify that the selected spot to hunt is safe and in compliance with the law. Keep in mind that shot pellets, especially when discharged at a high angle, can sometimes travel farther than 500 feet; During conversations with landowners, identify any concerns the landowner may have and discuss them before you go hunting; and Leave hunting locations as clean as you found them, and be sure to pick up your empty shell casings and other litter you may find. Bowhunters Help Monitor Wildlife Populations a table showing hunting zones, participants, days hunted, and hours hunted. In 2018, nearly 3,800 bowhunters logged an average of 12.1 days afield and 3.6 hours per day during the bowhunting season. Examples of the trend information for deer and turkeys obtained from the BowLogs are shown in the graphs below. You can find more information about the BowLog on DEC's website, and sighting trends for deer are included in the annual harvest report. A line and bar graph depicting deer sighting rates A line and bar graph depicting turkey sightings We are gearing up for the 2019 Bowhunter Sighting Log and welcome new participants. If you hunt during the bow season with a vertical bow or crossbow and have not participated before but would like to participate, send us an e-mail at wildlife@dec.ny.gov (subject: BowLog) by September 31st. Include your name, address, hunter ID (back tag number), and the county where you primarily hunt. DEC Announces Early Bear Hunting In southeastern New York, the early bear season runs from September 7 to September 22 in Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) 3A, 3C, 3H, 3J, 3K, 3M, 3P, 3R, 4P, and 4R. The early bowhunting season for bears will then open in all of the Southern Zone on October 1, followed by the regular firearms season beginning November 16. In northern New York, the early bear season runs from September 14 to October 18 in WMUs 5A, 5C, 5F, 5G, 5H, 5J, 6C, 6F, 6H, and 6J. Bowhunting season for bears also begins on September 14 in the other Northern Zone units (WMUs 6A, 6G, 6K, and 6N). Muzzleloader season then opens in all northern WMUs on October 19, followed by the regular firearms season for bears on October 26. During the early season, bear hunters may use a bow (with appropriate bowhunting eligibility), crossbow, muzzleloader, handgun, shotgun, or rifle (where allowed). Because of the likelihood of warm weather, bear hunters should be prepared to skin and cool harvested bears as soon as possible to protect the quality of the meat. Hunters may opt to skin and quarter the bear in the field, then pack out the meat in game bags to a waiting cooler of ice. Hunters are required to report their bear harvest within seven days. DEC encourages hunters to submit a premolar tooth and the scaled-dressed weights of the bears they harvest. DEC uses the teeth to determine the bear’s age and uses the weights to monitor bears' physical condition. Hunters who report their harvest and submit a premolar tooth from the bear are eligible to receive a commemorative NYS Black Bear Management Cooperator Patch.

Hunting and Trapping Newsletter Sep 9, 2019 10:16 ET Original: Hunting and Trapping Newsletter Hunting and Trapping Newsletter September Canada Goose Seasons Now Open woman with harvested geese and goose decoys September Canada goose seasons occur in all goose hunting zones with the exception of the Western Long Island zone. All upstate areas run September 1 through September 25. Canada goose seasons in the Central and Eastern Long Island zones begin on the Tuesday following the Labor Day holiday (September 3rd this year) and run through September 30. In the Western Long Island zone, the season opens on October 12th. The September seasons include liberal bag limits (eight to 15 birds/day, depending on the zone), extended shooting hours, and other special regulations to maximize hunter success. You can find additional details on waterfowl hunting regulations, season dates, hunting area boundaries, and bag limits on DEC's website. image of this year's federal duck stamp artwork To participate in the September Canada goose hunting season, hunters must: 1. Have a 2019-2020 hunting license; 2. Be registered for the 2019-2020 New York Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program; and 3. All hunters 16 years of age or older must have a 2019-2020 federal duck stamp (obtained at your local post office) signed across the face of the stamp in ink. Hunting Safety and Etiquette Tips DEC reminds hunters to follow simple safety guidelines and use good judgment when choosing a time and place to hunt. Considering other people who enjoy the outdoors or live nearby can help avoid potential conflicts and ensure a safe and enjoyable season. As coastal areas become more populated, it is important for new landowners to receive a good impression of the safety, ethics and traditions of waterfowl hunting. A little courtesy and time spent before a hunt can go a long way to avoid or minimize conflicts with property owners and other outdoor enthusiasts. DEC encourages hunters to: Consider contacting owners of property adjacent to where they will be hunting, well in advance; Tell property owners when and where you will be hunting. Property owners may be less concerned if aware of planned hunts; Take the time to explain to the landowner the intent to abide by the laws and regulations pertaining to waterfowl hunting, familiarity with the locations of houses, and safety protocols; Plan out shooting directions and verify that the selected spot to hunt is safe and in compliance with the law. Keep in mind that shot pellets, especially when discharged at a high angle, can sometimes travel farther than 500 feet; During conversations with landowners, identify any concerns the landowner may have and discuss them before you go hunting; and Leave hunting locations as clean as you found them, and be sure to pick up your empty shell casings and other litter you may find. Bowhunters Help Monitor Wildlife Populations a table showing hunting zones, participants, days hunted, and hours hunted. In 2018, nearly 3,800 bowhunters logged an average of 12.1 days afield and 3.6 hours per day during the bowhunting season. Examples of the trend information for deer and turkeys obtained from the BowLogs are shown in the graphs below. You can find more information about the BowLog on DEC's website, and sighting trends for deer are included in the annual harvest report. A line and bar graph depicting deer sighting rates A line and bar graph depicting turkey sightings We are gearing up for the 2019 Bowhunter Sighting Log and welcome new participants. If you hunt during the bow season with a vertical bow or crossbow and have not participated before but would like to participate, send us an e-mail at wildlife@dec.ny.gov (subject: BowLog) by September 31st. Include your name, address, hunter ID (back tag number), and the county where you primarily hunt. DEC Announces Early Bear Hunting In southeastern New York, the early bear season runs from September 7 to September 22 in Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) 3A, 3C, 3H, 3J, 3K, 3M, 3P, 3R, 4P, and 4R. The early bowhunting season for bears will then open in all of the Southern Zone on October 1, followed by the regular firearms season beginning November 16. In northern New York, the early bear season runs from September 14 to October 18 in WMUs 5A, 5C, 5F, 5G, 5H, 5J, 6C, 6F, 6H, and 6J. Bowhunting season for bears also begins on September 14 in the other Northern Zone units (WMUs 6A, 6G, 6K, and 6N). Muzzleloader season then opens in all northern WMUs on October 19, followed by the regular firearms season for bears on October 26. During the early season, bear hunters may use a bow (with appropriate bowhunting eligibility), crossbow, muzzleloader, handgun, shotgun, or rifle (where allowed). Because of the likelihood of warm weather, bear hunters should be prepared to skin and cool harvested bears as soon as possible to protect the quality of the meat. Hunters may opt to skin and quarter the bear in the field, then pack out the meat in game bags to a waiting cooler of ice. Hunters are required to report their bear harvest within seven days. DEC encourages hunters to submit a premolar tooth and the scaled-dressed weights of the bears they harvest. DEC uses the teeth to determine the bear’s age and uses the weights to monitor bears' physical condition. Hunters who report their harvest and submit a premolar tooth from the bear are eligible to receive a commemorative NYS Black Bear Management Cooperator Patch.