Environmental Conservation Officers will be patrolling and conducting a variety of field operations to help ensure a safe and enjoyable big game hunting season.
The DEC’s Director of the Division of Law Enforcement Karen Przyklek said in a press release, “Many of our ECOs are avid hunters themselves and participate in New York’s cherished big game hunting guidelines that come with this storied tradition. In response, I’ve directed my Officers to be on the lookout for the night hunters, poachers, and baiters who blatantly disregard the State’s stringent hunting laws.”
This statewide enforcement initiative began on Oct. 22, when the regular deer and bear season opens in the Northern Zone. So far, ECOs have written nearly 150 tickets, including 50 misdemeanor-level charges. The upcoming regular firearms season for deer and bear in the Southern Zone, which draws hundreds of thousands of hunters to New York State each year, got under way Nov. 19.
In addition to statewide enforcement, officers educate hunters on New York’s hunting laws and safety guidelines, both in the field and as instructors for the New York State Hunter Education Program. New York State continues to prioritize hunter safety year-round and the hunting seasons in New York were the safest ever, with the lowest number of incidents since record-keeping began.
DEC law enforcement is also reminding hunters they are key partners in protecting New York deer from Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). This disease continues to spread in other states, and hunters are key to preventing CWD introduction to New York. CWD is always fatal to deer. If introduced, it 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 hunting any type of deer, elk, moose, or caribou outside of New York, your animal must be deboned before bringing it back. See CWD Regulations for Hunters. The DEC will confiscate and destroy illegally imported carcasses and parts, including whole deer and deer heads.
Do not use deer urine-based lures or attractive scents, as these may contain infectious material.
Dispose of carcass waste in a landfill, not just on the landscape.
Report any deer that appears sick or is behaving abnormally.
Hunt only wild deer and support fair chase hunting principals.
The regular firearms season for deer and bear in the Southern Zone runs through Dec. 11, and includes participation from approximately 85% of New York’s 550,000 licensed hunters. For a breakdown of New York’s hunting seasons, visit https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/6952361.html.
Contact Ed Noonan at [email protected] with your hunting stories, where, when, and with what.
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Categories: Sports, Sports