Tips for Hunters + Hikers (2020)

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Hikers + Hunters…there’s more of both of them in the Hudson Valley this season, here’s what to watch out for.

Record number of hunting licenses issued in 2020

Outdoor recreation is booming since COVID, especially here in the Hudson Valley and the Catskills. Not only are there more hikers, nature photographers, dog walkers, and bikers taking to the trails on public lands throughout New York State, but big game hunting season begins this weekend, and there have been a record-number of hunting licenses issued for the 2020 season.

"Thousands of New Yorkers are getting outside for a nature break this year during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and we're seeing record-setting enthusiasm from both experienced hunters and anglers and those new to the sport," DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said.

On the first day of big game sales this year, DEC reported $922,444 in sales, compared to $347,103 in 2019.

“We want 2020 to be the safest hunting season on record and to make sure all hunters, whether they have decades of experience or are just starting out, follow the principles of hunter safety. Nearly all hunting-related accidents are preventable. DEC urges New York’s 500,000 hunters to use common sense, follow the tenets taught in DEC’s Hunter Education Course, and put safety first in every hunting trip this season.”

— DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos

Dress appropriately – dogs included!

Hikers should be aware that they may meet hunters bearing firearms or archery equipment on public trails, the DEC says. Hunters should, likewise, recognize that they may encounter non-hunters while afield. Hunting accidents involving non-hunters are extremely rare.

All outdoor enthusiasts – hunters and hikers alike – should wear blaze orange or other hi-visibility colors while enjoying the outdoors this fall and winter. Dogs should also have on a bright vest or bandana, and stay leashed at all times.

New York State law requires hunters age 14 and 15 and their mentors hunting deer or bear with a gun to wear fluorescent hunter orange or pink that is visible from all directions-a shirt, jacket, or vest with at least 250 square inches of solid or patterned fluorescent orange or pink (the pattern must be at least 50 percent orange or pink) or a hat at least 50 percent fluorescent orange or pink.

Keep an eye out for ill deer

Since there will be more people outside, the DEC is asking for help reporting any cases of sick or dead deer they encounter due to a deadly viral disease spreading among the white tailed deer population.

If you see a deer that looks unhealthy, weak or drooling, report it to the DEC immediately. Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) is a deadly viral disease that affects whitetail deer, has been confirmed in Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Ulster and Westchester counties. The DEC has reported over 750 deer deceased due to EHD so far this year. EHD is a viral disease of whitetail deer and it cannot be contracted by humans.

The EHD virus is carried by biting midges, small bugs often called no-see-ums or 'punkies.' Outbreaks are most common in the late summer and early fall when the midges that carry the virus are abundant. Once infected with EHD, deer usually die within 36 hours. The disease is not spread from deer to deer or from deer to humans, according to the DEC. Symptoms in deer include fever, hemorrhage in muscles or organs, and swelling of the head, neck, tongue, and lips. A deer infected with EHD may appear lame or dehydrated. Frequently, infected deer will seek out water sources and many succumb to the disease near a water source. There is no treatment for nor means to prevent EHD. The dead deer do not serve as a source of infection for other animals.

Hunters should not handle or eat deer that is acting unusual or appears sick. Report sick or dying deer to your nearest DEC Regional Office or to an Environmental Conservation Police Officer.

Reminders:

Be bright!
Hunters, hikers and outdoor enthusiasts should wear blaze orange or pink with at least 50-percent fluorescence

Check hunting hours:
Big game hunting hours are sunrise to sunset. Sunday hunting is allowed in all areas of New York. There are some local exceptions. Check the area that you hunt carefully. For hunting on state parks, confirm regulations with the park before hunting.

Never climb in or out of a tree stand with a loaded firearm;
Hunters should tell friends and relatives where they will be hunting and when they will return. A map showing the tree stand location makes it easier for others to find a hunter if they do not return on time.

The four rules of firearm safety:

Treat every firearm as if it is loaded;
Always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction;
Hunters should keep their fingers off the trigger and outside the trigger guard until ready to shoot; and
Always be sure of the target and what is beyond.