The state's various hunting seasons, mostly in the fall, vary in length and in rules. Those who hunt need to take a hunter safety course before getting a hunting license. For an overview of the state's hunting seasons, see the state Department of Environmental Conservation website.
White-tailed deer
Year after year, the largest number of hunters in the state pursue white-tailed deer. There's three seasons: archery, regular firearms and muzzleloader seasons. The seasons and rules vary, though, depending upon what area is being hunted. For more on the seasons and what hunting implements are allowed in your area, see the DEC website. There's also a special Columbus Day Weekend Youth Firearms Hunt each year for junior hunters (ages 14-15).
DAVID J. SHEAKLEY
New York State has bear populations in the Adirondacks, Catskills, and Appalachian Hills and Plateau regions. In recent years, the majority of the state has been opened up for bear hunting. There are early, regular, muzzleloader, and archery seasons. For a summary of the seasons, see the DEC website. This year, for the first time, junior hunters (ages 14-15) are allowed to take a bear during the Columbus Day Weekend Youth Firearms Hunt.
Wild turkey
New York State has both spring and fall turkey hunting seasons and a youth turkey hunt for junior hunters (ages 12-15). During the spring, the season is open in all of upstate New York (north of the Bronx) and hunting hours are 1/2-hour before sunrise to noon. The fall season is divided in to six season zones and fall hunting hours are sunrise to sunset. For more, see the DEC website.
Another popular season, New York hunters can begin hunting this popular game bird Oct. 1, 15 or Nov, 1, depending on what part of the state one is hunting. For more on the seasons and where the DEC stocks these birds, see the DEC website.
Special to NYup.com
Gray, black and fox squirrels
A gray squirrel is pictured above. Gray, black and fox squirrels are considered small game. The daily bag limit is 6 when hunting these animals. For more on the seasons, see the DEC website.
Robert F. Cook photo
Ruffed grouse
A male, ruffed grouse quickly moves its wings to produce a "drumming" sound, which is a spring-time mating ritual. The fall season for his upland game bird begins Sept. 20 in the north country and Oct. 1 in most other parts of the state. The daily bag limit is 4. For more, see the DEC website.
American woodcock
The American woodcock is one of New York's most unusual upland birds. Approximately the size of a mourning dove, the woodcock has a bill that looks too long for its body, and ears that are placed forward on the face, between the eyes and the bill. The hunting season for them is relatively short and runs from Oct. 1 to Nov. 14. The daily bag limit is 3. In addition to a hunting license, hunters are required to have a Hunting Information Program number.
Cottontail rabbit
The cottontail rabbit hunting season in most parts of the state opens Oct. 1. For more, see the DEC website. The daily bag limit is 6.
D. Gordon E. Robertson
Varying (snowshoe) hare
A varying hare with its winter coat. The seasons and daily bag limits depend on where in the state one is hunting. For more, see the DEC website.
I, BS Thurner Hof
Bobwhite quail
Bobwhite quail hunting is limited to several parts of the southern part of the state, with Orange County being the northernmost area where they can be hunted. For more, see the DEC website.
Stu Gallagher
The state's waterfowl (migratory bird) seasons are set based on five hunting zones that have been approved by the U.S. Fish Wildlife Service. For a breakdown of the zones, seasons abnd daily bag limits, see the DEC website. All waterfowl hunters in the state are required to register annually for the Harvest Information Program (HIP).
Michael Greenlar l mgreenlar@syracuse.com
Canada geese
The early Canada goose hunting season kicks off Sept. 1 and continues through Sept. 25. At least two other seasons are scheduled afterward, depending on the area in the state. For more the seasons and hunting regulations for hunting Canadas, see the DEC website.
CAROLYN KASTER
In addition to the regular goose hunting seasons, the DEC has a special "conservation order" out on these birds because they are just too many of them and their destructive eating habits. The special season in the state lasts from Jan. 14 to April 15 and hunters are allowed to take 25 a day.
Haydenowensrulz at English Wikipedia ate.com
Great scaup (bluebills)
Greater scaup decoys, male on the left and female on the right. Each is attached to a lead weight.
David Lassman > dlassman@syracuse.com
Mallard duck
A male mallard duck comes in for a landing.
Bert De Tilly
Northern Pintail
A northern male pintail in flight.
Frank Vassen - Flickr:pstate.com
A male wood duck. These species of duck is considered by many aas the most colorful and beautiful of the ducks.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
American black duck
An American black duck in flight.
D. Gordon E. Robertson ate.com
Common mergansers
Juvenile merganzers. Although they can be hunted, many hunters don't care for the taste of this duck's meat.
Peter Massas
A black scoter. In addition, to scoters, other sea ducks that can be hunted into eiders and long-tailed ducks.
Michael Greenlar l mgreenlar@syracuse.com
Fur-bearing animals
Keith Andreason was from the winning team that killed 13 foxes in the 2015 Bob Evans Memorial Predator Hunt weigh in at the Pompey Rod and Gun Club. There are 10 species of furbearers that may be hunted: coyote, bobcat, raccoon, red fox, gray fox, opossum, skunk, weasel, mink, and muskrat. Mink and muskrat may only be hunted under special conditions. to hunt fur bearers, one needs to possess a hunting license. A trapping license is not enough.
This bobcat was spotted in Oriskany Falls and photographed on a trail camera. Some areas of the state are open to hunt bobcat; others are not. There area two seasons: Oct. 25 to Feb. 15 in some areas; Oct. 25 to Nov. 18 in others. There is no daily bag limit for this animal.
Robert F. Cook
The state's coyote hunting season is the longest hunting season in the state, opening Oct. 1 through Feb. 25, Coyotes may be taken day or night. Electronic calls can be used, as well as dogs to hunt them. There's no daily bag limit.
Jill Blanchard
A red fox makes its way across the snow. See the DEC website for the seasons during which this animal may be hunted. There is no daily bag limit.
Apterex te.com
A male and a female gray fox. See the DEC website for the seasons when this animal can be hunted. There is no daily bag limit.
A familiar sight for those who hunt raccoon -- a treed animal. Hunters usually use dogs to hunt and tree coons. Depending on where one hunts, the earliest season in the state begins Oct. 25. See the DEC website for the seasons. There is no daily bag limit for these animals.
Jon Hawkinson
Yes, you can hunt skunks, but only during set seasons, beginning Oct. 25 in two different areas of the state. For more, see the DEC website. There is no daily bag limit.
Brenda Duncan / The Post-Standar
A possum explores on a snowshoe trail at Beaver Lake Nature Center. For more on the seasons for this animal, see the DEC website.
Ohio Department of Natural Resources, courtesy of Keith and Kasia Moore
A long-tailed weasel. For the hunting season for this animal, see the DEC website.
Mink can be hunted in certain areas of the state. In most of those spots, a firearm can be used that's larger than .22 caliber. For more, see the DEC website.
Carol Keeler
A young muskrat dines on vegetation on the ice at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. Muskrats can be hunted in a few areas of the state -- in most of those areas, hunters are not allowed to use a firearm no larger than a .22 caliber. For more, see the DEC website.
Wikimedia Commons
Crows can be hunted Sept. 1 to March 31 -- but only from Friday to Monday each week. There is no daily bag limit. Rifles and electronically amplified bird calls or sounds permitted. For more, see the DEC website.
Special to NYup.com
Snapping turtle
A hunting license is required to take a snapping turtle. The only legal hunting implements for taking snapping turtles is a firearm or a bow. If one chooses to eat snapping turtles, one should carefully trim all fat and discard fat, liver, and eggs prior to cooking to reduce exposure to contaminants. The season is July 15 through Sept. 30. The daily bag limit is five; the season limit is 30.
Jupiterimages
A bullfrog eating a worm. Frogs that may be taken include bullfrogs, eastern spadefoot toads, eastern American toads, Fowler's toads, northern cricket frogs, northern gray tree frogs, northern spring peepers, western chorus frogs, green frogs, mink frogs, wood frogs, northern leopard frogs, southern leopard frogs, and pickerel frogs. A fishing or shunting license is required to take frogs with a spear, club, hook, or by hand. A hunting license is required to take frogs with a gun or bow. The season for hunting frogs is June 15 through Sept. 30
Special to NYup.com
'Unprotected' animals
Red squirrels are among a group of 'unprotected' animals that can be hunted anytime with no daily bag limit. Animals in this category include woodchucks, chipmunks and porcupines. Keep in mind, though, that a hunting license is still needed. An exception, though, is if the animals are causing a nuisance, such as damaging one's property or threatening one's safety. They can then be taken without a hunting license.
Steve from washington, dc, us
What about beavers?
Beavers can be trapped legally in New York, but there is no hunting season for them. As for nuisance beavers, the best solution, according to the DEC, is to get rid of them by trapping during the trapping season. It is illegal for you to move or relocate an animal off your property. During the off-season, beavers can be removed by trapping or shooting them -- but a special permit must first be obtained through the DEC. For more on this, see the DEC website.
Jerry. E. Reed
Animals you can't hunt
This bald eagle patiently perches on a branch along the Mohawk River near Delta Lake, north of Rome. Federally protected birds such as bald and golden eagles and other raptors such as hawks and owls are off limits to hunters. Other animals that can't be hunted include song birds, woodpeckers, certain protected migratory birds (such as cormorants) and animals that are classified as "endangered." Hunting wild boar is also banned in this state.
David Figura | dfigura@newyorkupstate.com
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