ALBANY — September marks the start of several hunting seasons in New York, including squirrel and Canada goose beginning Thursday upstate, and the first bear and antlerless deer seasons beginning Sept. 10 on select units of wildlife management.
“The first hunting seasons are a great opportunity to guide and introduce new hunters to the hunt,” said Commissioner Basil Seggos. “The early bear, antlerless deer and September goose seasons are designed to reduce or stabilize wildlife populations in particular areas.”
The September Canada goose hunting season is in all goose hunting areas except western Long Island. All areas of the north of the state are open from September 1 to 25.
The September season includes liberal bag limits (eight to 15 birds per day depending on area), extended shooting hours and other special regulations to maximize hunter success.
The September goose hunting season is designed to help reduce or stabilize resident Canadian goose populations. Resident Canada Geese are those that breed in the US and southern Canada, as opposed to migratory populations that breed in northern Canada.
In general, resident geese are the birds commonly associated with nuisance situations in urban and rural areas. Over the past 25 years, New York’s resident Canadian goose population has grown from an estimated 80,000 birds in 1995 to more than 340,000.
As the population grew, season length and catch limits were relaxed and hunters managed to stabilize the population. The September season is an important opportunity for hunters, as regular Canada goose seasons have been restricted to 30 days and bag limits have been lowered to one bird in most areas to protect more migratory geese. vulnerable.
Resident geese look the same as migratory geese, making it difficult for the public to distinguish between the two populations.
In 2022, early bear season in parts of southeastern New York will begin on September 10 and run through September 25. The early bow hunting season for bears will open in the South Zone on October 1, followed by the regular firearms season beginning in November. 19. In the North Zone, bear bow hunting season begins on September 17 in certain WMUs and regular bear season in certain WMUs begins on September 17.
Early antlerless deer season will begin September 10 and run through September 18 at select WMUs. In WMUs 3M, 3R, 8A, 8F, 8G, 8J, 8N, 9A, and 9F, hunters may use firearms, crossbows, or vertical bows during the early antlerless season. In WMU 1C, 3S, 4J and 8C, hunters can only use vertical bows. During this season, only antlerless deer, those without antlers or those with antlers less than three inches long, may be harvested, and hunters may only use valid deer management permits or deer management assistance program tags. .
All migratory game bird hunters must register annually for HIP through DEC’s licensing system. HIP registration is required and helps state and federal biologists estimate hunter share and take of migratory game birds.
HIP registration identifies active hunters who receive follow-up surveys from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Providing a valid email address during HIP registration ensures registrants can participate in opinion polls. and capture of hunters.
There are two options for registering for HIP: online at DEC’s hunting license website or through the automated phone system available by calling (866) 933-2257. At the end of either process, you will be given a HIP registration number. Hunters of migratory game birds must wear this number while hunting.
