Fish and Wildlife Regulatory Revisions
Proposed, Emergency, and Recently Adopted Regulations and Pre-proposals
Pre-proposals
6 NYCRR Part 182.5-Listing of Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern Species
This pre-proposal is to revise the list of endangered, threatened, and special concern species. The public are invited to review the draft changes and the accompanying species status assessments.
- Part 182.5 Pre-proposal Summary (PDF)
- Draft Species List Under Part 182.5 Pre-proposal (PDF)
- Current and Proposed Changes Comparison Document (PDF)
- Comment period is closed.
Proposed Regulations
How to Comment on Proposed Fish and Wildlife Regulations
6 NYCRR Part 1.4 - Amendments to Turkey Hunting Seasons on Long Island and Statewide Shot Size Restrictions
This rulemaking would establish a regular spring turkey hunting season on Long Island with a 1-bird bag limit and would amend the minimum shot size restriction to allow the use of shot sizes as small as #9.
- Text of Proposed Regulation (PDF) - Underlines contained in the text denote new material. Brackets [ ] indicate material to be deleted.
- Regulatory Impact Statement (PDF) - provides background and additional information.
- Comment period is open until June 5th, 2022. To provide comment, please send your comments by email with "Proposed Turkey Regulations" in the subject line or by mail to: Joshua Stiller, NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233.
6 NYCRR Parts 6.2 and 6.3 - Amendments to Fisher and Marten Trapping Regulations
This rulemaking is necessary to remove the requirement for trappers to obtain a special fisher trapping permit. This proposal would also remove the requirement for trappers to submit marten carcasses while maintaining the requirement for a special pine marten permit. A trapping license and pelt sealing would still be required for both fisher and marten.
- Text of Proposed Regulation (PDF) - Underlines contained in the text denote new material. Brackets [ ] indicate material to be deleted.
- Regulatory Impact Statement (PDF) - provides background and additional information.
- Comment period is closed.
6 NYCRR Part 182; ECL Sections 3-0301 and 11-0535 - Clarifying determination of jurisdiction under the Endangered and Threatened Fish and Wildlife regulations.
This rulemaking improves the review of projects by removing some project types from the review process that are known not to cause harm and continues to protect threatened and endangered species.
- Text of Proposed Regulation (PDF) - Underlines contained in the text denote new material. Brackets [ ] indicate material to be deleted.
- Regulatory Impact Statement (PDF) - provides background and additional information.
- Comment period is closed.
6 NYCRR Part 6.1 and 6.2 ECL Sections 11-0301, 11-0303, 11-1101 and 11-1103 - Amendments to New York State mink, muskrat, and beaver trapping season dates.
This rulemaking is to align existing mink, muskrat and beaver trapping season start dates and adjust the seasons to trapper-preferred dates.
- Text of Proposed Regulation (PDF) - Underlines contained in the text denote new material. Brackets [ ] indicate material to be deleted.
- Regulatory Impact Statement (PDF) - provides background and additional information.
- Comment period is closed.
6 NYCRR Parts 151, 153, 170, 174, 182; ECL Sections 11-0535, 11-0535-a, 11-0536, 11-1707, 11-1728, 11-1901, 11-903, 11-1905, and 11-1907-Omnibus changes to 6NYCRR
This rulemaking brings regulations current with statutory changes and to improve application efficiency as part of the Governor's Lean initiative.
- Text of Proposed Regulation (PDF) - Underlines contained in the text denote new material. Brackets [ ] indicate material to be deleted.
- Regulatory Impact Statement (PDF)
- Comment period is closed.
6 NYCRR Part 180.1; ECL Section 11-0511-Animals dangerous to health or welfare.
This rulemaking is to expand the list of animals which pose a risk to health or welfare of the people of the state or indigenous fish and wildlife.
- Text of Proposed Regulation (PDF) - Underlines contained in the text denote new material. Brackets [ ] indicate material to be deleted.
- Regulatory Impact Statement (PDF) - provides background and additional information.
- Comment period is closed.
6 NYCRR Part 1.11 - Amendment to Deer Hunting Seasons
This rulemaking would provide an option for counties to annually be excluded from the holiday deer hunt from December 26 to January 1 due to perceived concerns about potential impact to snowmobiling activity.
- Text of Proposed Regulation (PDF) - Underlines contained in the text denote new material. Brackets [ ] indicate material to be deleted.
- Regulatory Impact Statement (PDF) - provides background and additional information.
- Comment period is closed.
Emergency Regulations
There are no current emergency regulations for the Division of Fish and Wildlife.
Recently Adopted Regulations
6 NYCRR Parts 10, 19 and 35 - Sportfishing Regulation Simplification and Clean-up
These proposals eliminate unnecessary regulations, provide consistency and align regulations with actual management intent.
- Text of Proposed Regulation (PDF) - Underlines contained in the text denote new material. Brackets [ ] indicate material to be deleted.
- Regulatory Impact Statement (PDF) - provides background and additional information.
- Fishing Regulation Changes for 2022 webpage - provides additional information and supporting documents, including a text summary with rationales for proposed changes.
- Adopted on March 30, 2022. Effective April 1, 2022.
6 NYCRR Part 10 - Amendment to Sportfishing Regulations
These proposals would establish more conservative harvest regulations for sunfish and crappie, including an experimental program for larger sunfish.
- Text of Proposed Regulation (PDF) - Underlines contained in the text denote new material. Brackets [ ] indicate material to be deleted.
- Regulatory Impact Statement (PDF) - provides background and additional information.
- Adopted on March 23, 2022. Effective March 31, 2022.
6 NYCRR Part 51 - Adoption of Updated Wildlife Management Area Regulations
This rulemaking repeals 6 NYCRR Parts 51, 61, 75 and 84 and adopts a new 6 NYCRR Part 51. There has been increased public demand for WMAs as more people seek outdoor recreation and the amendments ensure these natural resources and wildlife are protected.
- Text of Regulation (PDF) - all text is new material.
- Regulatory Impact Statement (PDF) - provides background and additional information.
- Assessment of Public Comment (PDF)
- Adopted on November 3, 2021. Effective on January 1, 2022.
6 NYCRR Parts 1.11, 1.18, 1.31, 2.1, and 2.15 - Amendments to Deer and Bear Hunting Regulations
This rulemaking was necessary to increase antlerless harvest in specific Wildlife Management Units where needed, allow big game hunters to hunt during the entire daily period of ambient light, simplify bear hunting regulations in the Adirondacks, and enhance hunter safety while big game hunting with a firearm.
- Text of Regulation (PDF) - Underlines contained in the text denote new material. Brackets [ ] indicate material to be deleted.
- Regulatory Impact Statement (PDF) - provides background and additional information.
- Assessment of Public Comment (PDF)
- Adopted on September 1, 2021. Effective September 1, 2021.
6 NYCRR Part 10 - Amendment to Trout Stream Sportfishing Regulations
This rulemaking revised and standardizes inland trout stream fishing regulations by creating a statewide inland trout stream regulation, four regulation categories, and creating a catch and release season from October 15 through March 31.
- Text of Regulation (PDF) - Underlines contained in the text denote new material. Brackets [ ] indicate material to be deleted.
- Regulatory Impact Statement (PDF) - provides background and additional information.
- Adopted on March 24, 2021. Effective April 1, 2021.
6 NYCRR Part 1.11 - Amendment to Deer Hunting Seasons.
This rulemaking would establish a bow and muzzleloader deer hunting season in the Southern Zone during the Christmas and New Year holiday week.
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Text of Regulation (PDF) - Underlines contained in the text denote new material. Brackets [ ] indicate material to be deleted.
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Regulatory Impact Statement (PDF) - provides background and additional information.
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Adopted on January 27, 2021. Effective January 27, 2021.
More about Fish and Wildlife Regulatory Revisions:
- How to Comment on Fish and Wildlife Proposed Regulations - Help in interpreting and commenting on proposed changes to existing and new Fish and Wildlife regulations.
