The illegal trade and poaching of animal parts for medicine and food is closer to home than you think. For that reason, New York is doing something about it.

A new rule took effect this year in the state. It’s designed to stop the illegal sale of black bear parts that are in high demand in Asia for their medicinal purposes and as an ingredient in their cooking. The rule doesn’t eliminate foreign sale of black bear parts altogether, it simply requires that hunters document that the animal was legally taken and that all bear parts must be clearly labeled in order to be able to sell it.

New York was one of few states in the United States where such trade was unregulated. In an interview with NPR, Conservation Police Captain Lawrence DiDonato said wildlife biologists had no way of knowing how much illegal smuggling was going on because of the lack of oversight.

“We received 66 complaints since 2008 about poaching in general,” DiDonato said. “We have documented at least some cases where bears have been killed, and just paws and galls have been taken.”

DiDonato said wildlife officials worry that bears might also be poached in nearby states such as Vermont and Pennsylvania then transported back to New York for sale in Asian neighborhoods. Some parts have been known to be worth up to $1,000.

Some environmentalists in New York want the trade to be banned altogether. Conservationists counter the notion saying that black bear populations are stable in New York and across the country. Bud Piserchia, who runs North Country Taxidermy in Keene, N.Y. in the Adirondack Mountains, says the state of New York should want to utilize the entire bear. “They don’t want anything thrown away,” Piserchia said in an interview with NPR. “It’s a resource whether it’s the hide, the claws.”

Piserchia’s main business is taxidermy, mounting wild animal trophies, but every year he also collects as many as 150 tiny black bear gall bladders. The clients that come in to buy the parts are mostly Koreans from New York City.

“We have some people come in to buy 20 galls or more, and obviously they’re a dealer,” he says. “We also have Ma and Pa come up, and they’ll buy two galls. That’s obviously for their own consumption.”

Persons who are caught with undocumented paws or gall bladders can face fines up to $5,000.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - New York Regulates Sale of Bear Parts in Effort to Prevent Poaching

The filmmakers of the new indie thriller First Winter are currently under investigation in New York for killing two deer on-set outside of hunting season and without a permit.

A spokeswoman for the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) said the agency is looking into the incident, but has not released further information. The penalty for hunting a deer without a permit is a fine up to $2,000 and/or imprisonment.

“We are idiots. We didn’t know how to do this [hunting] stuff,” director Ben Dickinson told Manhattan-based DNAinfo.com. “There were so many deer weak from the winter and getting eaten by local dogs we didn’t even think about it.”

The film premieres at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York today, but the festival has canceled red carpet plans for First Winter (that may not be connected to the illegal shooting, the film’s publicist says the festival cancels many red carpets). The movie is about a group of Brooklyn hipsters who head to a remote country farmhouse in New York living a life of sex, drugs, yoga and organic cooking. Then an apocalyptic blackout strands them without heat or electricity during the coldest winter on record and they must work past power struggles, jealousy and the struggle to survive – hence where the killing of the deer comes in.

In an interview at Tribeca, the director was asked about the “lightning strikes” moment when they took the deer on camera. Dickinson said, “The hunting of the deer was an incredibly trying and intense process. We spent days and days walking around in the cold, and at a certain point even considered cheating in some way [faking the kill]. But in the end, I was convinced that it had to be authentic, and I was prepared to change the story if need be. I would recommend dressing an animal to anyone, especially if you eat meat or wear leather; it changes your perspective.”

Dickinson said it took them several days to even find a deer. One day, as they were practicing yoga inside the farmhouse, someone spotted a herd of deer in the neighboring field. They grabbed a rifle and ran outside. Actor Paul Manza, who plays the 34-year-old yoga instructor, who had no prior hunting or acting experience, pulled the trigger.

The bullet pierced and killed one deer and passed into a second behind it, wounding the second. To put it out of its suffering, the crew chased it down and shot it again. Then, they skinned one of the carcasses, cut it up and cooked it over an open fire for the camera.

After the fact, Dickinson did not think about the legality of hunting deer and simply didn’t secure a permit to do so. The film’s publicist, Jenny Lawhorn, is in discussions with the DEC, but a spokeswoman from the DEC doesn’t have any additional comments at this time.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Independent “Hipster” Filmmakers Illegally Kill Two Deer On-Set

The 2012 spring turkey season opens May 1 in all of upstate New York lying north of the Bronx-Westchester County boundary and the annual Youth Turkey Hunting Weekend is set for April 21-22, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens today reminded hunters. The youth turkey hunt is open in all of upstate New York and Suffolk County.

“Turkey hunting remains a very popular activity with more than 100,000 turkey hunters taking to the field each spring,” Commissioner Martens said. “Since 2004, we have also offered a special opportunity for junior hunters. The Youth Turkey Hunt is an excellent chance for young hunters to spend time afield with experienced adult hunters to learn about conservation first-hand, gaining the necessary knowledge and skills to become safe and responsible members of New York’s hunting community.”

Important Details for the Youth Turkey Hunt on April 21 and 22:

• Eligible hunters are 12-15 years of age and must hold a junior hunting license and a turkey permit.
• Youth 12-13 years of age must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or adult over 21 years of age with written permission from their parent or legal guardian. Youth 14-15 years of age must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or adult over 18 years of age with written permission from their parent or legal guardian.
• The accompanying adult must have a current hunting license and turkey permit. The adult may assist the youth hunter, including calling, but may not carry a firearm or bow, or kill or attempt to kill a wild turkey during the youth hunt.
• Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to noon each day.
• The youth turkey hunt is open in all of upstate New York, north of the Bronx-Westchester County boundary, and Suffolk County.
• The bag limit for the youth weekend is one bearded bird. This bird becomes part of the youth’s regular spring season bag limit of two bearded birds. A second bird may be taken only in upstate New York, north of the Bronx-Westchester County boundary, beginning May 1.
• All other wild turkey hunting regulations are in effect.

Other Important Details for the Spring Turkey Season, May 1-31, 2012:

• Hunting is permitted in most areas of the state, except for New York City and Long Island.
• Hunters must have a turkey hunting permit in addition to their small game hunting or sportsman license.
• Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to noon each day.
• Hunters may take two bearded turkeys during the spring season, but only one bird per day.
• Hunters may not use rifles or handguns firing a bullet. Hunters may hunt with a shotgun or handgun loaded with shot sizes no larger than No. 2 or smaller than No. 8, or with a bow and arrow.
• Successful hunters must fill out the tag which comes with their turkey permit and immediately attach it to any turkey harvested.
• Successful hunters must report their harvest within seven days of taking a bird. Call 1-866-426-3778 (1-866 GAMERPT) or report harvest online at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8316.html.

For more information about turkey hunting in New York, see the 2011-12 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide or visit the “Turkey Hunting” pages of the DEC website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8366.html.

New York has an extremely safety-conscious generation of hunters, largely due to the annual efforts of more than 3,000 dedicated volunteer Sportsman Education instructors. Even one incident is too many, so be sure to follow the cardinal rules of hunting safety: (1) assume every gun is loaded; (2) control the muzzle; (3) keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot; (4) be absolutely sure of your target and what may be beyond it; and (5) don’t stalk!  Set-up with your back against a large tree and call birds to you. To find a sportsman education class in your area, go to http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/9191.html or call 1-888-HUNT-ED2 (1-888-486-8332).

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - New York Spring Turkey Season Opens May 1

The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today proposed rules affecting deer and bear hunting in New York to implement the state’s Five-Year Deer Management Plan, Commissioner Joe Martens announced today. 

“Regulation changes are needed to implement many of the strategies of the recently adopted Management Plan for White-tailed Deer,” Commissioner Martens said.  “The changes to the deer hunting seasons, mandatory antler restrictions, use of Deer Management Permits (DMPs), and development of Deer Management Focus Areas will increase opportunities for New York hunters, consistent with input we’ve received from the public and deer management goals.”   

DEC adopted the five- year deer management plan in October 2011 following extensive public input and can be viewed at: www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/deerplan2012.pdf. 

Comments previously submitted on the draft deer management plan were important in finalizing the deer plan and developing this rulemaking proposal.  DEC will accept public comments on this proposal through May 21, 2012.  Comments on this rule should be specific to the proposals herein and should not be resubmissions of previous comments submitted on the full deer management plan or previous regulatory proposals.  

This rule also proposes some adjustment of bear hunting seasons, which are generally concurrent with deer seasons.  DEC is proposing to: 

To see more detailed explanations of these proposals, including instructions for providing comments, visit the DEC website athttp://www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/propregulations.html.  The proposed rulemaking can also be viewed in detail in the April 4, 2012 publication of the New York State Register, which will be posted at http://www.dos.state.ny.us/info/register/2012.html.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - New York State Deer Hunting Regulation Proposal Released

The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today proposed rules affecting deer and bear hunting in New York to implement the state’s Five-Year Deer Management Plan, Commissioner Joe Martens announced today.

“Regulation changes are needed to implement many of the strategies of the recently adopted Management Plan for White-tailed Deer,” Commissioner Martens said.  “The changes to the deer hunting seasons, mandatory antler restrictions, use of Deer Management Permits (DMPs), and development of Deer Management Focus Areas will increase opportunities for New York hunters, consistent with input we’ve received from the public and deer management goals.”

DEC adopted the five- year deer management plan in October 2011 following extensive public input and can be viewed at: www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/deerplan2012.pdf.

Comments previously submitted on the draft deer management plan were important in finalizing the deer plan and developing this rulemaking proposal.  DEC will accept public comments on this proposal through May 21, 2012.  Comments on this rule should be specific to the proposals herein and should not be resubmissions of previous comments submitted on the full deer management plan or previous regulatory proposals.

This rule also proposes some adjustment of bear hunting seasons, which are generally concurrent with deer seasons.  DEC is proposing to:

• Establish a three-day youth firearms season for deer to occur during Columbus Day weekend in portions of the Northern and Southern Zone where deer may be taken with a firearm which will increase opportunities for junior hunters.  Junior hunters (ages 14 and 15) will be authorized to take one deer of either-sex with a firearm during the youth season.  DEC anticipates participation by approximately 16,000 youth hunters, roughly one youth hunter for every two to three square miles of deer habitat in New York.  The youth season will run concurrently with early bowhunting season and is not expected to have any noticeable impact on deer behavior or bowhunter success, particularly in light of the more than 100,000 small game hunters also afield during the early fall. Youth deer hunts are held concurrent with bowhunting seasons in many other states, including Connecticut, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Opinions of potential participants about a youth firearms season can be found at www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/ythdeer2012.pdf. 

• Lengthen bowhunting seasons in the Southern Zone by moving to a fixed opening date of October 1 to increase bowhunting opportunities.  This will lengthen bowhunting seasons in the Southern Zone, and lengthen the regular season (bowhunting only) in Westchester County by an average of 15 days and include an additional four weekend days in most years.

• Adjust the Northern Zone muzzleloader and regular season start dates by up to one week later certain years to increase bowhunting opportunities and accommodate the proposed youth firearms season. This rule will begin the Northern Zone muzzleloader and regular seasons one week later in 6 of 10 years allowing for a longer early bow season these years.

• Establish a late bowhunting season in the Northern Zone, concurrent with the late muzzleloading season, to increase bowhunting opportunities. This rule will increase bowhunting opportunities in the Northern Zone by an additional seven days and will be similar to the concurrent bow and muzzleloader seasons in the Southern Zone.

• Allow DMPs to be used during Northern Zone bow and early muzzleloader seasons to simplify regulations and increase hunter opportunity and choice.  Current regulations allow use of DMPs in the Northern Zone only during the regular season and late muzzleloader season.  This change will only affect those portions of the Northern Zone where DMPs can be issued (Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) 6A, 6C, 6G, 6H, 6K), and this change will not affect the number of DMPs issued.  WMU locations can be identified at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8302.html.

• Establish mandatory antler restrictions in WMUs 3A, 4G, 4O, 4P, 4R, 4S, and 4W to reduce harvest of yearling (1.5 year old) bucks.  The mandatory antler restriction will prohibit hunters during all seasons in all portions of the listed WMUs from taking an antlered deer unless it has at least 3 points on at least one antler.  Hunters less than 17 years old will be exempt from the restriction. In 2011, yearlings comprised 49 percent of the total adult bucks taken in these units. This rule is expected to change harvest composition so that 15-20 percent of the adult bucks taken in these units are yearlings. The restriction is expected to decrease total buck harvest approximately 35-45 percent initially.

• Simplify the description of the area open for deer hunting during the January firearms season to include Suffolk County, subject to local discharge restrictions.  Current regulations include a complex and lengthy description of open areas that are unnecessary considering existing local ordinances and legal setbacks from structures for discharge of firearms.

• Establish provisions for designation of Deer Management Focus Areas to intensify use of traditional hunting in specifically designated geographic areas to assist communities with the burden of overabundant deer populations.  This rule will increase bag limits to two antlerless deer per hunter per day and establish a Deer Management Focus Area deer hunting season in late January. This rule will establish specific permit, tagging and reporting requirements in focus areas. This rule also defines the first such focus area in Tompkins County that includes portions of the towns of Caroline, Danby, Dryden, Enfield, Ithaca, Lansing, Newfield, and Ulysses. This area has very high deer populations and relatively poor access for hunters.  Deer management focus areas will enable greater harvest opportunity for hunters who are able to gain access to lands for hunting, and are intended to augment on-going management activities in the affected area.

• Adjust bear seasons in the Northern and Southern Zone to remain consistent with bow, muzzleloader and regular seasons for deer.

• Correct a road name in the boundary descriptions for WMUs 5A and 5C, where Franklin County Route 24 was incorrectly identified as State Route 24.

To see more detailed explanations of these proposals, including instructions for providing comments, visit the DEC website at www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/propregulations.html.  The proposed rulemaking can also be viewed in detail in the April 4, 2012 publication of the New York State Register, which will be posted at www.dos.state.ny.us/info/register/2012.html.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Changes Proposed for New York Deer Hunting Regulation to Implement Five-Year Management Plan

Hunters are invited to submit recommendations for the dates of the Fall 2012 duck hunting seasons to regional Waterfowl Hunter Task Forces, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced today. DEC will evaluate the task force recommendations in setting waterfowl seasons, which must comply with federal rules.

New York is divided into five waterfowl hunting zones: Western, Southeastern, Northeastern, Lake Champlain and Long Island. DEC recently appointed task forces for each zone (except Lake Champlain, see link below) to solicit recommendations for the Fall 2012 hunting seasons, including opening and closing dates, split seasons and a special hunting weekend for youths. Each task force includes representatives from the New York State Conservation Council, established waterfowl hunting organizations and individual waterfowl hunters who were chosen to provide input from diverse points of view.

The recommended dates must be within federal guidelines established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). For Fall 2012, DEC expects the USFWS to allow a 60-day duck season, split into no more than two segments per zone, opening no earlier than Sep. 22, 2012, and closing no later than Jan. 27, 2013.

Waterfowl hunters can participate by providing duck season suggestions to any task force member on, or before March 30, 2012. Names and contact information for all task force members are listed in alphabetical order in the attached table and on the DEC website at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/42364.html.

Comments can be provided by mail, telephone or e-mail. The task forces will meet in late March and April, and DEC plans to announce tentative duck hunting season dates in June.

Input on hunting seasons for other migratory game birds, including Canada geese, snow geese, brant and woodcock, may be submitted also to any member of DEC’s season-setting team. However, due to greater uncertainty about federal regulations for those species, decisions and tentative dates will probably not be known until later in the summer.

Waterfowl seasons in the Lake Champlain Zone will continue to be set by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Management Board, with input from DEC and waterfowl hunters in New York and Vermont. Although there is no formal task force for this zone, hunters can send their suggestions to any DEC season-setting team member on the attached list.

Descriptions of New York State’s waterfowl hunting zones can be found on the DEC website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/28497.html and are listed in DEC’s Waterfowl Hunting Seasons and Regulations brochure. The tentative waterfowl hunting season dates will be posted on the DEC website and announced in June.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - New York DEC Invites Hunter Input on Fall 2012 Waterfowl Season

Even with the addition of the crossbow as a legal weapon in 2011, deer harvest numbers barely changed between 2010 and 2011 in New York. The total number of deer actually varied less than one percent statewide. Hunters also continued a two-decade-long trend of taking a higher proportion of 2.5-year-old bucks and older.

Notably, there were more deer management permits issued in 2011 than in 2010 and the total 5-year average between 2006 and 2010. More deer were taken with a bow in 2011, although less were taken with a muzzleloader.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation reported a record number of bear harvested while deer take was steady in 2011. This article focuses on deer take. Read about the bear harvest here.

Original press release issued by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on March 1st, 2012:

Hunters in New York State harvested more than 228,350 deer during the 2011 hunting seasons, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens announced today. The deer take nearly matched the 2010 deer take in southern New York.

“Deer and bear hunting are long-standing traditions in New York, providing a valuable source of food and a means of shared recreation for many families,” Commissioner Martens said. “Throughout the state, hunters play a crucial role by helping to maintain healthy and ecologically sound deer and bear populations.”

The 2011 deer take varied less than one percent from the 2010 take statewide. In 2011, hunters took slightly more than 118,350 antlerless deer (adult females and fawns) and just over 110,000 adult male deer (bucks). In the northern zone, the buck take (about 15,900) was essentially unchanged from 2010, though the antlerless harvest (about 10,900) was down about 13 percent from last year. In the southern zone, excluding Long Island, the adult buck take (about 93,100) increased nearly four percent over last year while the antlerless harvest (about 105,400) decreased by three percent.

2011 marked the first year that crossbows were allowed as a legal hunting implement for deer. However, legislation limited crossbow use to the regular firearms seasons and subsequent muzzleloader seasons for deer. Relatively few hunters took crossbows afield and the estimated take by crossbows was only 491 deer statewide, less than 0.25 percent of the total deer harvest.

Throughout the state, hunters took a slightly higher proportion of 2.5-year-old and older bucks than in previous years, continuing a trend that has developed over the past two decades. Throughout most of New York, hunters can take a buck of any age, but an increasing number of hunters are voluntarily choosing to take older bucks with larger antlers. In 2011, 46 percent of harvested bucks were 2.5-years-old or older, compared to only 33 percent in 2000 and 28 percent in the early 1990s.

Western New York and the Finger Lakes Region perennially lead the state in total deer-harvest densities, and deer take in 2011 remained true to form. The top five counties for 2011 were Yates (16.4 total deer per square mile), Wyoming (13.8), Genesee (10.8), Ontario (10.5), and Livingston (10.0).

It’s important to note that the total deer harvest is strongly impacted by the number of Deer Management Permits (DMPs) available in a given area, which govern the harvest of antlerless deer and are used to manage the deer population in a given area.

A more accurate picture of relative deer abundance is revealed by the number of bucks harvested per square mile. The five counties with the most bucks harvested per square mile were: Yates (5.6), Wyoming (5.4), Orange (4.1), Ontario (4.1), and Allegany (4.0). The deer populations in four of the counties listed above (all except Allegany County) are higher than the deer population objectives set for those counties. DEC will continue its efforts to reduce the deer population to achieve the desired density levels wherever necessary.

In 2011, DEC adopted a white-tailed deer management plan (see: www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7211.html#DeerPlan). The plan will guide DEC deer management and deer hunting decisions for the next five years. In the upcoming weeks, DEC will propose several regulation changes that were identified in the deer management plan. Hunters and the public will have the opportunity to comment on these changes when a formal proposal is made. Some of the proposed revisions include:

• change the start date of the southern zone bow season to October 1
•  establish a youth hunt for deer
• allow DMPs to be used during the northern zone bow and muzzleloader seasons
• establish mandatory antler restrictions in seven additional Wildlife Management Units in the Catskills
• establish a late bowhunting season in portions of the northern zone
• and establish Deer Management Focus Areas to expand the use of traditional hunting in areas with overabundant deer

Deer Harvest Comparison

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Steady Deer Take in 2011 in New York

Hunters in 2011 set a record number of bears harvested in southeastern New York, beating 2008′s record of 520 bears by 110 bears. conversely, the Adirondack region saw its lowest bear harvest since 1998. In every region of New York with the exception of the Adirondack, the number of harvested bears increased in 2011 versus 2010 numbers.

These changes in bear harvest numbers are due in part to a new hunting rule that expanded the bear hunting area and a longer hunting season.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation reported a record number of bear harvested while deer take was steady in 2011. This article focuses on the bear harvest. Read about the deer harvest here.

Original press release issued by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation on March 1st, 2012:

Hunters in New York State harvested 1,250 bears during the 2011 hunting seasons, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens announced today. A new record was set for the bear harvest in southern New York.

“Deer and bear hunting are long-standing traditions in New York, providing a valuable source of food and a means of shared recreation for many families,” Commissioner Martens said. “Throughout the state, hunters play a crucial role by helping to maintain healthy and ecologically sound deer and bear populations.”

Outside of the Adirondack region the 2011 bear harvest set new records, substantially exceeding previous record takes in central and western New York. In contrast, bear take in the Adirondack region dropped to a level not seen since 1998.

Hunters in southeastern New York harvested 630 bears in 2011, besting the previous record of 520 set in 2008. This was due in part to a new rule that expanded bear hunting in eastern New York State to include all or portions of seven new counties in eastern New York from Rockland and Westchester north to Washington beginning in 2011. Hunters took 50 bears from this new area, including 18 bears taken in Washington County, 11 in Rensselaer County, 10 in Columbia County, seven in Dutchess County, two in Putnam County and two in Rockland County. Yet even without these additional bears, take in the rest of the southeastern region exceeded previous record levels, reflecting a 25-year trend of generally increasing bear harvests in this region.

In central and western New York, the 2011 bear take of 353 greatly surpassed the previous record of 193 bears set in 2008. This was due in large part to a regulation change that moved the regular bear season opening day up one week to coincide with the start of the regular deer season. This change was implemented to reduce bear population growth and range expansion. Yet, as with bear take in the southeastern region, it is likely that even without these additional seven days of the regular season in the central-western region, bear take during the traditional season would have matched or exceeded the 2008 record, reflecting a 15-year trend of generally increasing bear harvests in this region.

In the Adirondacks, bear take was below the five-year average during each of the bear seasons and the overall bear take was down about 47 percent from 2010.

Bear harvest rates in the Adirondacks typically drop in the early season during years of abundant soft mast (cherries, raspberries and apples), while the take will increase during the regular season in years with abundant beech nuts.

This past season provided abundant soft mast, particularly raspberries and blackberries in September and October, and bear take during the early season was only 70 bears, about 70 percent below the five-year average. Beech nut abundance was mixed throughout the Adirondacks and the regular season bear take was approximately 15 percent below the five-year average. Additionally, much of the muzzleloading and regular season in the Adirondacks had above average temperatures and snow cover was inconsistent and relatively scarce making bear hunting all the more challenging.

Deer and bear harvest data are gathered from two main sources: harvest reports required by all successful hunters and DEC’s examination of harvested deer and bear at check stations and meat processors. Statewide harvest estimates are made by cross-referencing these two data sources. For more information about the 2011 deer and bear harvests, see DEC’s website at: www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/42232.html.

2011 Black Bear Harvest Comparison

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Record Bear Harvest in 2011 in New York

The 2011 hunting season tied 2009 for New York State’s safest year of hunting on record based on the number of hunting-related shooting incidents, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced today.

“Hunting is a tradition in New York state that continues to be safely enjoyed by many” said DEC Commissioner Joe Martens. “New York has an extremely safety-conscious generation of hunters thanks largely to more than 60 years of dedicated efforts of 3,000 volunteer Sportsman Education Instructors. All first-time hunters are required to attend a comprehensive hunter safety course of a minimum of 10 hours taught by DEC’s highly-trained instructors. Their hard work is paying off.”

In the 2011 hunting seasons, 26 personal injury hunting-related shooting incidents were reported, including four fatalities. All of the fatalities occurred during the regular deer season, one of which was self-inflicted.

The hunter safety courses stress safe practices and ethics, along with information on New York’s game species and their management. All courses are offered free of charge, but students must successfully complete the course and pass the final exam before being eligible to purchase a hunting license.

The number of hunters in New York State is declining, but the hunting incident rate (incidents per 100,000 hunters) is falling at a much faster rate. Since the 1960s, the number of hunters has declined about 20 percent, while the incident rate has declined more than 70 percent. The past five-year average is 5.3 incidents per 100,000 hunters, compared to 19 per 100,000 in the 1960s.

While hunting is safer than ever, accidents do happen and it is important to remember that every hunting-related shooting incident is preventable. Many, if not all of these incidents could have been prevented, if only the shooter or victim had followed the primary rules of hunter safety:

• Treat every firearm as if it were loaded
• Keep your muzzle pointed in a safe direction
• Identify your target and what lies beyond
• Keep finger off the trigger until ready to fire
• Wear hunter orange

For more information, visit the Sportsman Education program section of the DEC website at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7860.html.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - 2011 Ties for Safest Year in New York Hunting History

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has revised its Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) regulations to prohibit the importation of certain parts of white-tailed deer taken in the state of Maryland effective immediately, DEC Commissioner Joe Martens announced today.

The first case of CWD in the state of Maryland was confirmed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources last year. In response, DEC has amended its CWD regulations to prohibit the importation of the following parts of deer taken in Maryland: brain, eyes, spinal cord, tonsils, intestinal tract, spleen or retropharyngeal lymph nodes.

“Hunters who take a deer in Maryland must butcher the animal and remove the prohibited parts before entering New York State,” Commissioner Martens said.  “Most successful hunters will opt to butcher a deer and put the meat in a cooler before traveling back to New York.”

DEC has conducted an extensive surveillance program since CWD was first confirmed in New York State in 2005 and has not discovered any additional cases of CWD since that time.  CWD is a contagious neurological disease affecting deer, elk and moose. It causes a characteristic spongy degeneration of the brains of infected animals resulting in emaciation, abnormal behavior, loss of bodily functions and death

It is not known exactly how CWD is transmitted. The infectious agent, a prion, may be passed from animal to animal through feces, urine or saliva. The minimal incubation period between infection and development of clinical disease appears to be about 16 months. The maximum incubation period is unknown, as is the point at which shedding of the CWD agent begins during the prolonged course of infection.

The movement of infectious material is believed to be one route of transmission. This amendment to the CWD regulations will prohibit the importation of those parts of a deer where the disease is most likely to be found. DEC advises hunters not to consume the meat of any animal that acts abnormal and to exercise precautions when butchering animals, such as using rubber or latex gloves.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - New York DEC Amends Chronic Wasting Disease Regulations in Response to Maryland Discovery