- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton said in a press release that this is the State’s most popular big game hunting season.
- Oneida County Sheriff’s Office officials offer safety tips for hunters going out into the field.
Mohawk Valley hunters will be hitting the woods starting Nov. 15 as regular game season kicks off and the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office is urging hunters to practice safe hunting.
“Hunting season is a tradition enjoyed by many residents and visitors in our region,” Oneida County Sheriff’s Office officials said in a statement. “Please remember to follow all laws and best practices to ensure a safe and successful season for everyone.”
The regular hunting season for deer and bear runs through Dec. 7 in the Southern Zone, which encompasses Utica and much of the Mohawk Valley. The season started Oct. 25 in the Northern Zone, which borders the city of Rome and Rt. 49 to its west and Rt. 365 to the east.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton said in a press release that this is the state’s most popular big-game hunting season.
“This November, hundreds of thousands of big game hunters will head afield to enjoy the outdoors and a chance to harvest deer or bear in New York’s Southern Zone,” said Lefton. “As stewards of hunting traditions and New York’s deer population, all hunters should keep their conservation responsibilities as a top priority while enjoying time afield.
“Foremost among these responsibilities are following safe hunting practices and protecting the health of New York State’s deer population by harvesting antlerless deer and preventing the spread of deer diseases such as (chronic wasting disease).”
Safety tips for NY hunters
The Oneida County Sheriff’s Office published the following list with safety tips for hunters going out into the field.
- Tell someone where you will be hunting and put hunting plans in writing, including dates, times, location, and expected time of return.
- Be familiar with the area you want to hunt.
- Always treat every firearm as if it is loaded.
- Dress properly and be prepared for the worst possible conditions and check weather reports before heading out.
- Always wear hunter orange to be highly visible to other hunters.
- Check hunting equipment before and after each outing, and maintain it properly. Familiarize yourself with its operation before using it in the field.
- Clearly identify your target before and what is beyond it before firing. Never shoot at movement, sound, or a patch of color. Identify your target completely.
- Be alert when hunting, other recreationists may be in the area as well.
- Respect private property and obtain landowner permission before entering.
Chronic Wasting Disease in NY
Chronic wasting disease is a fatal disease found in deer, elk, and moose that spreads through bodily fluids, saliva, urine, and feces of infected animals. A healthy deer, elk, or moose can become infected with CWD by direct contact with an infected animal or contaminated environments.
The New York State DEC takes CWD very seriously, as it is a prion disease that bind with soil particles and can remain infectious in the environment for years, with the ability to infect future generations of deer, elk, or moose. Prions can also be taken up into plant tissues and remain infectious.
Besides just being safe, the NYDEC encourages hunters to help prevent the introduction of CWD into New York’s wild deer populations by taking the following precautions:
If you harvest any type of deer, elk, moose, or caribou while hunting outside of New York, debone the venison before bringing it back into New York. DEC will confiscate and destroy illegally imported deer carcasses and parts.
- If you harvest a deer from an area outside of New York known to have CWD, submit samples to that state’s Department of Natural Resources for CWD testing before consuming the venison. If the test is positive for CWD, contact DEC for proper disposal of the venison.
- Avoid using deer urine-based lures or attractant scents, as these could contain CWD. Use synthetic products instead.
- Dispose of deer carcass waste in a landfill, not on the landscape.
- Hunt only wild deer and support fair chase hunting principles.
- Do not consume venison from deer that appeared sick or diseased.
DEC is also requesting that successful deer hunters in the towns of Columbia, German Flatts, Litchfield, Warren, or Winfield in Herkimer County submit the deer’s head for CWD testing at one of eight drop-off locations. Visit the DEC’s website for drop-off instructions and locations. Taxidermists can sample deer you intend to have mounted.
