This is a common occurrence on the public lands around Tompkins County such as Hammond Hill State Forest. New York State has both spring and fall hunting seasons. The spring season is May 01 - May 31 in 2013 and hours are sunrise until noon (all day in the fall). So, don’t be surprised to see hunters dressed in full camo in the mornings during the month of May. Head-to-toe camouflage helps hunters to stay undetected to the turkeys. More information on the NYS DEC website http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8366.html

Reminder: Deer hunting season in our area with guns, also known as “regular season” starts Saturday November 17th 2012 and ends December 9th 2012. Deer hunting continues after that with primitive weapons (archery and black powder). See NYS DEC website link below for exact dates on that. Please; whether you hunt, bike, hike or play: wear fluorescent neon colors (like “hunter orange” or “biker neon yellow”) so we can all see each other. The hunters in our area have an excellent safety record … but (for example) it is just as scary for them to think they hear a deer tromping through the woods only to discover it is a naive hiker wearing brown. So; wear neon! Oh and YES! hunting is permitted at Hammond Hill and Shindagin Hollow and generally all similar NYS forests. Deer hunting is not allowed after sunset. Regulations are stricter in areas designated “parks” like Treman or Buttermilk for example. Here is DEC’s web page with hunting dates: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/28605.html

There is a special deer hunting season closer to Ithaca in January 2013. A lot of people are asking about it. Here is the link again. There is a very detailed map and full details at this link. http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/82382.html

October 2012 - The populations of deer continue to increase while the number of hunters continues to decline. As part of the NYSDEC’s “Youth Mentoring Program”, DEC is offering this one weekend only introduction to deer hunting to encourage new hunters. More information at NYS DEC website links below.

Youth Firearms Deer Hunt: 14-15 Year Old Junior Hunters can hunt Deer with a Firearm over the 3-day 2012 Columbus Day weekend [Oct 6-8]. Resident and non-resident Junior Hunting license holders may take 1 deer with a firearm during the youth deer hunt. Junior hunters may use a Deer Management Permit (antlerless-only), Deer Management Assistance Program tag (antlerless-only), or a regular season tag. During the youth deer hunt, junior hunters may use the regular season tag for a deer of either-sex. The youth deer hunt will occur in both the Northern Zone and Southern Zone, except in bowhunting only areas and Suffolk County. During the youth deer hunt, mentors may not carry a firearm, crossbow, or bow to pursue deer. Junior Hunters may also use a crossbow during the youth deer hunt. Rules for 14-15 year old Junior Hunters and their mentors outlined at NYS DEC website, including blaze orange requirements, also apply during the youth deer hunt. DETAILS http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/46245.html#youth Additional hunting regulations here http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/hunting.html

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is asking the public to report any instances of deer appearing sick or acting abnormally. DEC is only investigating deer that appear to have died from unknown causes and not those that were killed by a vehicle, the agency announced today.

Anyone who sees a white-tailed deer acting abnormally or who finds a dead deer that was not struck by a vehicle is asked to report the animal to the nearest DEC regional office or to an Environmental Conservation Officer or Forest Ranger.

“One of the ways that DEC monitors the health of New York’s deer herd is by performing post-mortem examinations to determine the cause of the illness or death,” said Assistant Commissioner for Natural Resources Kathleen Moser.  “We depend on information provided by people who are outdoors to tell us when they see something that does not look right to them.”

Recently, DEC indentified an uncommon bacterial disease in a deer from Warren County.  This bacterial disease does not affect humans. However, DEC is seeking additional information to determine the prevalence of this disease in the deer herd and is responding to reports of deer that are acting abnormally. Deer with this bacterial disease may have a swollen head, neck or brisket. They also may exhibit excessive drooling, nasal discharge or respiratory distress.  To aid in this investigation, DEC would also like to examine any deer that are found dead from unknown causes.

People should not handle or eat any deer that appears sick or acts abnormally. Sightings of sick, dying or dead deer should be reported to the nearest DEC regional office or an Environmental Conservation Officer or Forest Ranger.

To locate your nearest DEC office, see: www.dec.ny.gov/about/50230.html 607 753-3095 Cortland office.

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Reminder: Deer hunting season in our area with guns know as “regular season” starts Saturday November 19th 2011 and ends December 11th 2011. Deer hunting continues after that with primitive weapons (archery and black powder). See NYS DEC website link below for exact dates on that. Please; whether you hunt, bike, hike or play: wear fluorescent neon colors (like “hunter orange” or “biker neon yellow”) so we can all see each other. The hunters in our area have an excellent safety record … but (for example) it is just as scary for them to think they hear a deer tromping through the woods only to discover it is a naive hiker wearing brown. So; wear neon! Oh and YES hunting is permitted at Hammond Hill and Shindagin Hollow and generally all similar NYS forests. Deer hunting is not allowed after sunset. Regulations are stricter in areas designated “parks” like Treman or Buttermilk for example. Here is DEC’s web page with hunting dates: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/28605.html