Most small-game hunting seasons open on Saturday, Oct. 1, across New York state. 

“From waterfowl and upland gamebirds to squirrels, rabbits, and more, there are abundant opportunities for hunters across New York State,” Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said in a release announcing the seasons. “This year, hunters can enjoy even more waterfowl hunting opportunities, with an increase in mallard and Canada goose bag limits and an extended goose season.”  

Season dates, bag limits, and other hunting regulations for New York’s small-game species are available in the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide, which can be obtained from a license-issuing agent or on the DEC’s website.

Regular duck season opens locally on Oct. 7. Ruffed grouse hunting season runs from Oct. 1 through the last day of February.

Pheasant season opens locally on Oct. 1 with birds released by the DEC on lands open to the public.

During the spring of 2023, the Reynolds Game Farm suffered a highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak in the breeder flock, according to the DEC release. After enacting precautionary measures to ensure the facility was properly decontaminated, the DEC secured a contract to acquire 30,000 pheasants from a commercial hatchery to supplement fall upland bird hunting opportunities around the state.

Squirrel seasons started Sept. 1 in upstate New York and rabbit hunting begins on Oct. 1. Snowshoe hare season starts Oct. 1 in the Northern Zone.

Hunting for wild turkey runs from Oct. 1 to 14, in the Northern Zone, from sunrise to sunset.

Coyote hunting season begins Oct. 1 across much of the state and hunting seasons for other furbearers such as bobcat, raccoon, and fox begin on Oct. 25. Season dates and zone boundaries for all furbearers and other hunting information including tips for identifying coyotes can be found on DEC's website.

Citizen science efforts such as the Grouse and Woodcock Hunting Log, Ruffed Grouse Parts Collection, and the Bowhunter Sighting Log provide hunters the opportunity to partner with the DEC to monitor game species. To learn more about how to participate in these efforts, visit the DEC website.

Hunter safety

While statistics show hunting in New York is safer than ever, the DEC says, mistakes are made every year. The DEC believes every hunting-related shooting incident is preventable, and Commissioner Seggos encourages hunters to use common sense this season and to remember what they learned in their DEC Hunter Education Course.

The DEC gives this succinct list of instructions for firearms safety:

— Point your gun in a safe direction;

— Treat every gun as if it were loaded;

— Be sure of your target and beyond; and

— Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot. 

In addition to blaze orange or pink being required for hunting big game with firearms, the DEC encourages small-game hunters to wear blaze orange or blaze pink. Wearing orange or pink prevents other hunters from mistaking a person for an animal or shooting in a hunter's direction. Hunters wearing blaze orange are seven times less likely to be shot. 

For more information and other important safety tips, visit DEC's website and watch videos about hunter safety. For more information about getting outdoors safely and responsibly, visit DEC’s website.

— Melissa Hale-Spencer