From the October 2008 issue

Hunting Updates: DEC Opens New Bear Hunting Areas and Releases Pheasants for 2008 Seasons

Two steps, one new and the other a long tradition, have been taken by DEC to improve hunting in 2008: new black bear hunting areas have been added, and the annual pheasant release program is underway.

Southern Zone Bear Units Added

New regulations expand bear hunting to 13 additional Wildlife Management Units (WMUs), which include parts of Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Erie, Wyoming, Genesee, Monroe, Livingston, Wayne, Ontario, Seneca, Yates, Steuben, Schuyler, Tompkins, Tioga, Cortland, Broome, Chenango, Madison, Onondaga, Oneida and Otsego counties.

The new regulations are effective immediately and will allow hunters to pursue bears in these areas during the bowhunting, regular, and muzzleloading bear seasons in the Southern Zone. An updated map of New York's bear hunting seasons is available on DEC's Black Bear Hunting Seasons web page. A map and boundary descriptions of WMU locations can be found on DEC's Wildlife Management Units web page. Details of the specific changes for the Southern Bear Range are included in the complete press release on this topic.

Bear hunting areas in the Southern Zone have been expanded to better manage the growing bear population in that area.

"In recent years, the bear population in central and western New York has grown in number and expanded in distribution," DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis said. "Hunting is an important component of a comprehensive bear-management program that also emphasizes safety, education efforts and responses to individual problem bears. Expanding the bear hunting area is a continuation of efforts to manage bear population growth and range expansion."

Report Your Harvest

The commissioner also reminded hunters that they must report their black bear take to DEC. "Not only is reporting bear take required by regulations, it is a vital component of our black bear management program," Grannis said. Hunters can report their bear take by calling 1-866-GAMERPT (1-866-426-3778) or through DEC's new online reporting Game Harvest Reporting system.

While hunting is the most viable and cost-effective tool for managing bear populations, opening new areas to hunting will not eliminate bears or prevent all human/bear interactions. So DEC remains committed to continuing educational outreach and increasing public awareness of techniques to avoid conflicts with bears. The recently-produced DVD, "Living with New York's Black Bears," is available to the public for loan at local libraries and DEC wildlife offices, and is currently being distributed to school libraries throughout the state. A wealth of information about bears can also be found on DEC's Black Bear web page.

2008 Pheasant Release

About 25,000 adult pheasants are being released on lands open to public hunting this fall. Pheasant hunting begins on October 1, 2008, in northern and eastern portions of New York; October 18, 2008, in central and western portions, and November 1, 2008, on Long Island.
For the second year, junior hunters (12 to 15 years old) will have the opportunity to hunt pheasants the weekend prior to the regular pheasant hunting season. In northern and eastern New York, where the season opens October 1, the Youth Pheasant Hunt Weekend took place September 27 and 28. In western New York, where the season opens October 18, the youth weekend is October 11 and 12. Currently, no youth pheasant hunt is held on Long Island because DEC lacks regulatory authority to set pheasant seasons in that area of the state.

Pheasants will be released at a number of select sites across the state to provide ample youth hunting opportunities. Hunters are reminded that all current pheasant rules and regulations remain in effect during the youth hunt.

Hunters ages 12-15 can hunt the weekend prior to regular hunting season (except on Long Island) when supervised by an experienced hunter.

"Youth Pheasant Hunt Weekends provide our junior hunters with the opportunity to go afield during less-crowded conditions and under the supervision of an experienced hunter," said Commissioner Grannis. "DEC's pheasant programs enhance hunting opportunities across the state, and we are looking forward to another great year of pheasant hunting for youth and for all sportsmen and women. As always, pheasant hunters are strongly encouraged to review hunting regulations and safety guidelines before any hunting trip to ensure a safe and successful season."

Release Locations

Pheasants are raised at DEC's Reynolds Game Farm in Ithaca, NY. The majority of the birds will be released on state wildlife management areas and cooperative hunting areas prior to and during the fall hunting season. All release sites for pheasants provided by state-funded programs are open to public hunting. A list of statewide adult pheasant release sites and sites receiving birds for the youth pheasant hunt weekends can be found by visiting DEC's Pheasant Release Sites web page.

Two popular cooperative pheasant rearing and release programs, the Day-old Pheasant Chick Program and the Young Pheasant Release Program, provide additional opportunities for pheasant hunters. Birds from these programs are released before the season opens and disperse widely, presenting a greater challenge for experienced hunters. Anyone interested in raising and releasing pheasants should contact the Reynolds Game Farm at 607-273-2768.

Responsible Hunting

Hunters who plan to use private lands should ask permission from the landowner. In addition, hunters are also encouraged to hunt with a trained bird dog to improve their chances of finding and locating downed game. For the enjoyment of everyone, please do not disturb pheasants released prior to the youth pheasant hunt weekends or the opening of the regular season. Training dogs and flushing pheasants at these release sites moves the birds off these sites and negatively impacts hunting opportunities.

Hunters should become familiar with WMU boundaries which define pheasant hunting zones (see DEC's Wildlife Management Units web page link above). In addition to knowing these unit boundaries, hunters should review the 2008-2009 New York Hunting & Trapping Guide for complete regulations and other important information before going afield.