Section 2.20: Hunting Small Game Mammals
Statutory authority: Environmental Conservation Law, §§ 11-0303,
Contents:
Sec.
§2.20 Hunting small game mammals; opossum, weasel, skunk, black, gray and fox squirrels, raccoon, cottontail rabbit, varying hare, European hare, bobcat, red fox, gray fox and coyote.
(a) Open seasons for hunting small game mammals
(b) Shooting hours
(c) Tagging of bobcat
(d) Bag limits
(e) Falconry
(f) Possession of live animals
(g) Possession of dead animals or their parts
(h) Exceptions
(i) General provisions
(a) Open seasons for hunting small game mammals. The species listed below may be hunted or taken only in those open seasons and Wildlife Management Units (as described in section 4.1 of this Title) shown below.
(1) Raccoon, red fox, gray fox, opossum and weasel
| Open Season | Wildlife Management Units |
|---|---|
| November 1 to February 25 | 1A, 1C and 2A |
| October 25 to February 15 | All other WMUs |
(2) Coyote.
| Open Season | Wildlife Management Units |
|---|---|
| Closed | 1A, 1C and 2A |
| October 1 through the last Sunday in March | All other WMUs |
(3) Bobcat
| Open Season | Wildlife Management Units |
|---|---|
| October 25 to February 15 | 3A, 3C, 3F, 3G, 3H, 3J, 3K, 3M, 3N, 3P, 4B, 4C, 4G, 4H, 4J, 4K, 4L, 4M, 4P, 4R, 4S, 4T, 4U, 4W, 4X, 4Y, 4Z, 5A, 5C, 5F, 5G, 5H, 5J, 5N, 5P, 6A, 6C, 6F, 6G, 6H and 6J |
| October 25 to December 10 | 6N |
| Closed | All other WMUs |
(4) Skunk.
(i) Hunters may hunt skunk in the same areas and dates described for skunk trapping in Section 6.2 of this Title.
(5) Black, gray and fox squirrel.
| Open Season | Wildlife Management Units |
|---|---|
| November 1st through the last day of February | 1A, 1C and 2A |
| September 1st through the last day of February | in the remainder of the state. |
(6) Cottontail rabbit
| Open Season | Wildlife Management Units |
|---|---|
| November 1st through the last day of February | 1A, 1C and 2A |
| October 1st through the third Sunday in March | 5A, 5C, 5F, 5G, 5H, 5J, 6A, 6C, 6F, 6G, 6H, 6J, 6K and 6N |
| October 1st through the last day of February | 3A, 3C, 3F, 3G, 3H, 3J, 3K, 3M, 3N, 3P, 3R, 3S, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4F, 4G, 4H, 4J, 4K, 4L, 4M, 4N, 4O, 4P, 4R, 4S, 4T, 4U, 4W, 4X, 4Y, 4Z, 5K, 5N, 5P, 5R, 6P, 6R, 6S, 7A, 7F, 7H, 7J, 7M, 7R 7S, 8A, 8C, 8F, 8G, 8H, 8J, 8K, 8M, 8N, 8P, 8R, 8S, 8T, 8W, 8X, 8Y, 9A, 9C, 9F, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9M, 9N, 9P, 9R, 9S, 9T, 9W, 9X and 9Y |
(7) Varying hare.
| Open Season | Wildlife Management Units |
|---|---|
| October 1st through the 3rd Sunday in March | 5A, 5C, 5F, 5G, 5H, 5J, 6A, 6C, 6F, 6G, 6H, 6J, 6K and 6N |
| January 1 through January 31 | 8M, 8N, 8P, 8R, 8S, 8T, 8W, 8X, 8Y, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9M, 9N, 9P, 9R, 9S, 9T, 9W, 9X and 9Y |
| The day after the Southern Zone regular deer season through the last day in February. | 3A, 3C, 3F, 3G, 3H, 3J, 3K, 3M, 3N, 3P, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4F, 4G, 4H, 4J, 4K, 4L, 4M, 4N, 4O, 4P, 4R, 4S, 4T, 4U, 4W, 4X, 4Y, 4Z, 5K, 5N, 5P, 5R, 6P, 6R, 6S, 7A, 7F, 7H, 7J, 7M, 7R and 7S |
| Closed | All other WMUs |
(8) European hare
| Open Season | Wildlife Management Units |
|---|---|
| any time of year | all Wildlife Management Units |
(b) Shooting hours. No person shall hunt or take opossum, weasel, black, gray or fox squirrel, raccoon, cottontail rabbit, varying hare, European hare, bobcat, red fox, gray fox or coyote except from sunrise to sunset; provided, however, that after sunrise on the opening day of each respective season, bobcat, raccoon, skunk, red fox, gray fox, opossum and coyote may be taken at any time of day or night.
(1) A person taking a bobcat must comply with the regulations pertaining to the tagging and sealing of this species given in section 6.3 of this Title.
(2) To legally possess or transport the unskinned carcass or unprocessed pelt of a bobcat which was taken outside New York State, a person must comply with section 6.3 of this Title.
(1) Black, gray and fox squirrels. No person shall take in any one day more than six squirrels in the aggregate.
(2) Raccoon, opossum and weasel. A person may take raccoon, opossum and weasel in any number.
(3) Cottontail rabbit. No person shall take in any one day more than six cottontail rabbits.
(4) Varying hare. No person may take in any one day more than:
(i) six varying hare in Wildlife Management Unit 5A, 5C, 5F, 5G, 5H, 5J, 6A, 6C, 6F, 6G, 6H, 6J, 6K and 6N as described in section 4.1 of this Title;
(ii) two varying hare in Wildlife Management Units 3A, 3C, 3F, 3G, 3H, 3J, 3K, 3M, 3N, 3P, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4F, 4G, 4H, 4J, 4K, 4L, 4M, 4N, 4O, 4P, 4R, 4S, 4T, 4U, 4W, 4X, 4Y, 4Z, 5R, 6P, 6R, 6S, 7A, 7F, 7H, 7J, 7M, 7R, 7S, 8M, 8N, 8P, 8R, 8S, 8T, 8W, 8X, 8Y, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9M, 9N, 9R, 9S, 9T, 9W, 9X, and 9Y as described in section 4.1 of this Title.
(5) European hare. A person may take European hare in any number.
(6) Bobcat. A person may take bobcat in any number.
(7) Red fox, gray fox and coyote. A person may take red fox, gray fox and coyote in any number.
(1) Black, gray and fox squirrels, cottontail rabbit, varying hare and European hare may be taken during their respective open seasons by the use of raptors pursuant to the provisions of Part 173 of this Title.
(2) Cottontail rabbit may be taken statewide from March 1st through March 31st by the use of raptors pursuant to the provisions of Part 173 of this Title.
(f) Possession of live animals.
(1) No person shall possess any live black, gray or fox squirrel, raccoon, cottontail rabbit, varying hare, European hare, bobcat, red fox, gray fox, skunk, coyote, opossum or weasel other than pursuant to applicable provisions of the Environmental Conservation Law and rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto.
(2) No person shall transport, sell or otherwise transfer any live black, gray or fox squirrel, raccoon, cottontail rabbit, varying hare, European hare, bobcat, red fox, gray fox, skunk, coyote, opossum or weasel which they have legally taken unless the person purchasing or receiving such live black, gray or fox squirrel, raccoon, cottontail rabbit, varying hare, European hare, bobcat, red fox, gray fox, skunk, coyote, opossum or weasel possesses a valid special license issued by the department permitting such possession.
(g) Possession of dead animals or their parts. The carcasses, flesh, head, hide, feet, fur or parts thereof of fox, raccoon, skunk, opossum and weasel legally taken may be possessed, transported and bought and sold without restriction.
(h) Exceptions. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the taking of black, gray or fox squirrel, raccoon, cottontail rabbit, varying hare, European hare, bobcat, red fox, gray fox, skunk, coyote, opossum or weasel taken pursuant to the provisions of section 11-0523 or 11-1103 of the Environmental Conservation Law.
(i) General provisions. The general provisions of the Environmental Conservation Law shall be applicable to black, gray and fox squirrels, raccoon, cottontail rabbit, varying hare, European hare, bobcat, red fox, gray fox, coyote, skunk, opossum and weasel taken pursuant to this section.