January season on LI, some changes if you did stand-by before

[pequa1]

January Hunting Season on Long Island​

In Suffolk County, the regular bowhunting deer season runs through Jan. 31, and the special late firearms season runs from Jan. 3 through 31. Town permits are required in the towns of Southampton, Islip, and Smithtown. For DEC-managed lands, hunters not holding drawing numbers or who missed the reservation sign-up period can claim reservations for any unfilled hunting spots between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Dec. 19 - 24, 26 - 31, and between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Jan. 4 - 31. You must make reservations in person. For more information on reservation procedures and to see which DEC-managed lands are available for firearms deer hunting, visit DEC's website. For regulations, places to hunt, and more information, visit DEC's Hunting on Long Island webpage or contact the DEC Region 1 Wildlife Office at (631) 444-0310.

While statistics show that hunting in New York State is safer than ever, mistakes are made every year. Nearly every hunting-related shooting incident is preventable, and hunters are encouraged to use common sense this season and to remember the tools taught in DEC's Hunter Education Course.

Firearms Safety

• Point your gun in a safe direction
• Treat every gun as if it was loaded
• Be sure of your target and beyond
• Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot

DEC encourages all hunters to wear blaze orange or pink to make themselves more visible to other hunters. Hunters who wear hunter orange are seven times less likely to be shot.

When hunting in tree stands, use a safety harness and a climbing belt, as most tree stand incidents occur when hunters are climbing in and out of the stand. Hunters should never climb in or out of a tree stand with a loaded firearm.

 

[Hunter704]

I am hunting January 5th area #45 hope to add some meat to freezer

 

[pequa1]

I am hunting January 5th area #45 hope to add some meat to freezer

Good luck ! I am just sticking to a nuisance permit this year. I have had some really bad weather days over the years with the lottery and just getting too old for zero degree wind chills or driving rain, lol.

 

[Hunter704]

How does one get on a nuisance permit, I would be interested in doing that.

 

[pequa1]

The one I am on has a 4 year waiting list and the USDA has basically restricted us from weekday hunting which is unfortunately what I prefer as the weekends can get crowded on the little acreage left to hunt.
It was word of mouth and evidently still is and the manager has told us not to "recruit." There are nursery style operations out east that have DEC permits as well, and if things get even more restrictive I myself would be looking for them. the permit I am on is great for us old geezers as, excepting for having to make 5 phone calls starting and the same 5 when leaving, you normally can drive fairly close to where the deer was downed. Its shotgun only as they do not want a deer to run until it bleeds out, no archery. When you take a shot, hit or miss, you have to report where you were and the direction that you fired, even if you harvested a deer. Many "good areas are now out of bounds thanks to one jackass.
Don't let them know you passed on a small yearling either. They want them dead. If things get even worse I am going to google nursery/farm operations and make some calls myself.

 

[Hunter704]

The one I am on has a 4 year waiting list and the USDA has basically restricted us from weekday hunting which is unfortunately what I prefer as the weekends can get crowded on the little acreage left to hunt.
It was word of mouth and evidently still is and the manager has told us not to "recruit." There are nursery style operations out east that have DEC permits as well, and if things get even more restrictive I myself would be looking for them. the permit I am on is great for us old geezers as, excepting for having to make 5 phone calls starting and the same 5 when leaving, you normally can drive fairly close to where the deer was downed. Its shotgun only as they do not want a deer to run until it bleeds out, no archery. When you take a shot, hit or miss, you have to report where you were and the direction that you fired, even if you harvested a deer. Many "good areas are now out of bounds thanks to one jackass.
Don't let them know you passed on a small yearling either. They want them dead. If things get even worse I am going to google nursery/farm operations and make some calls myself.

Thank you for the info, it’s sad how things are getting harder and harder for us, hope it works out for you and you get some meat in the freezer, after Tuesday hunt for me I will pack my stuff away till next year

 

[pequa1]

Just reread what I wrote. Didn’t realize it was so negative, almost depressing lol. I am just glad i lucked into the permit when I did.

 

[pequa1]

I know you said Tuesday would be your last, but when we used to do January Shotgun we did a "standby" day or two later in the month and although we were not close enough, saw more deer those days than we did on our "lottery day."

 

[Hunter704]

I know you said Tuesday would be your last, but when we used to do January Shotgun we did a "standby" day or two later in the month and although we were not close enough, saw more deer those days than we did on our "lottery day."

I’ll see how Tuesday plays out I did manage a small doe the last day of rifle season so I didn’t skunked this year lol, not sure I’ll beat my personal best from three years ago

 

[Hunter704]

Personal best

 

[pequa1]

Nice! Good luck Tuesday!