SARANAC LAKE — The fall hunting season is upon us, as several early hunting seasons have already begun in the state’s Northern Zone, while regular hunting season starts later this month for big game.

In the Northern Zone, which covers the Adirondack Park and Champlain and St. Lawrence valleys, early bowhunting for deer began on Sept. 27 and runs through Oct. 25. Muzzleloader season begins Oct. 19 for much of the North Country, while the regular black bear season starts Oct. 26, though early season is going on now.

Fall turkey in the Northern Zone began on Oct. 1 and runs through Oct. 14, while bobcat season runs from Oct. 25 to Feb. 15, 2020. Rabbit, hare and pheasant hunting all began on Oct. 1 and go through early next year, while ruffed grouse and squirrel hunting both began in early September and run through early next year.

For a full list of hunting season dates and bag limits, go to www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/65231.html.

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Safety

While the number of hunters has been steadily decreasing each year, the number of hunting-related incidents — shootings, accidents and injuries — has been decreasing even faster. The DEC and North Country state Assemblyman Billy Jones are still encouraging hunters to take caution, whether it’s handling firearms or climbing a tree stand.

“Hunters in New York are seriously injured, or worse, by tree stand falls each year,” a press release from Jones’ office said. “According to the state Department of Environmental Conservation, while firearm deaths during hunting season have decreased partly due to increased safety courses, injuries related to tree stand falls have increased. In 2017 and 2018, a total of 17 hunters fell from their stands, including six accidents that resulted in fatalities. The majority of those incidents involved hunters not wearing safety harnesses.”

Hunters who climb tree stands should wear a full-body harness, and every hunter should always treat every gun as if it’s loaded, according to the DEC. Hunters should also keep their weapons pointed in a safe direction, be sure of their target and what’s beyond, and keep their finger off the trigger until ready to fire.

Chronic Wasting Disease

Chronic Wasting Disease is a nervous system disease that attacks deer, moose and elk, and is untreatable and fatal.

CWD was first found in New York in 2005, and that outbreak was contained effectively enough that CWD has not made an appearance within the Empire State since. However, the DEC and state Department of Agriculture and Markets have proposed updating the rules regarding importation into the state of possible CWD-contaminated body parts.

The proposed changes include banning the importation of carcasses and carcass parts of CWD-susceptible animals, increasing environmental conservation officers’ ability to enforce DAM regulations, and clarifying the rules for taxidermists who handle CWD-susceptible animals. The changes would also clarify “that the only parts of CWD-susceptible animals that may be imported into New York are deboned meat, cleaned skull cap, antlers with no flesh adhering, raw or processed cape or hide, cleaned teeth or lower jaw, and finished taxidermy products,” a press release said.

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Ruffed grouse surveys

The DEC estimates that each fall, about 25,000 to 30,000 hunters head into the field to take ruffed grouse, making the small game birds second in popularity for bird hunting to turkeys. The DEC is asking all those hunters to take part in one or more citizen science programs.

One of the two programs is the cooperator ruffed grouse hunting log. The log is a journal that grouse hunters keep while out in the field, noting the number of birds flushed while hunting. The journal allows the DEC to estimate the number of grouse flushed per hour, a metric that is used to determine changes in the population.

The DEC is also asking successful hunters to send in certain types of feathers as well.

“We are seeking rump, wing, and tail feathers from birds taken during the season so we can identify the age and sex composition of the harvest,” the DEC’s webpage on ruffed grouse hunting says. “Information on recruitment is an important part of assessing the well-being of the grouse population.

“As part of a multi-state effort to study West Nile Virus in grouse populations, we are also requesting hunters to submit blood samples from harvested birds.”

Spring turkey hunters can also help the DEC with grouse by keeping track of ruffed grouse drumming during the spring turkey hunt.

For more information on how to participate in the grouse citizen science efforts, go to www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8360.html.

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Venison donation program

Successful deer hunters who find themselves with too much venison can help feed the hungry in New York through the Venison Donation Coalition. The coalition allows hunters to take a legally tagged deer to a local processor, who then donates all or part of the deer. The donated venison is then distributed through eight regional food banks in New York. Farmers who harvest deer can also donate through the program.

According to the coalition website, it serves 39 tons of venison each year and has served four million meals since 1999. People who would like to request venison should contact their local food bank.

Hunters can also make a cash donation at the time of license purchase to help support the venison donation program. For more information, go to www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8351.html.