Outdoors with Larry DiDonato - Share the Woods; DEC Says to Hunt and Hike Safely

DEC encourages hikers and hunters to share the woods this hunting season.

DEC REMINDS NEW YORKERS TO HUNT SAFELY THIS SEASON

Hunters, Hikers, and all Outdoor Enthusiasts are Reminded to Share the Woods Safely During Hunting Season

NYS DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton reminds New Yorkers to once again be safe when hunting while urging all outdoor enthusiasts to respectfully share and enjoy the woods safely. Regular gun season for deer and bear in the Northern Zone began October 25th and closes December 7th. In the Southern Zone, archery season for deer and bear started October 1st and ends on November 14th. That’s the Friday before regular firearms big game season in the Southern Zone which begins on Saturday, November 15th.

“With nearly 600,000 New Yorkers participating annually, hunting is among the most popular forms of wildlife-related recreation in the state,” said Commissioner Lefton. Hunting remains a safe, ecologically important wildlife population management tool, and fosters an understanding and respect for the environment. I encourage everyone enjoying the woods to be aware of their surroundings and follow all outlined safety measures while afield.”

Hunting in NY is safe and getting safer. DEC credits that success to their Hunter Education Program, volunteer instructors, and the vigilance of New York’s hunting community. They cite Hunter Related Shooting Incident (HRSI) rates over the last five years are at the lowest levels ever in NY.

HRSIs can be prevented by following the primary rules of hunter safety:

Treat every firearm as if it were loaded;
Control the muzzle, always keep it pointed in a safe direction;
Identify your target and what lies beyond it;
Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to fire; and
Wear hunter orange or pink.

Complacency is the enemy of hunter safety. HRSIs are caused by failing to follow these long-established safety rules.

DEC offers additional safety tips for hunters venturing afield:

Tell someone your hunting location and anticipated return time. If plans change, notify them;
Dress for the weather and plan for both location and elevation changes;
Become familiar with planned hunting areas in advance; and
Pack the 10 Essentials, especially a light source, knife, map, and first aid kit.

Additionally, DEC encourages all New York hunters to Strap Up Before You Go Up to improve tree stand safety. Like shooting incidents, elevated stand incidents can easily be avoided by following simple safety measures. While there was only one shooting related hunting fatality in 2024, there were two hunter fatalities involving falls from tree stands that same year.

Hunters can protect against falls from a tree stand or elevated platform by using a fall-arrest system (FAS). A FAS keeps a hunter attached to the tree from the time they leave the ground until they get back down. A harness alone is not sufficient if it isn’t attached to the tree the entire time the hunter is off the ground.
An effective Fall Arrest System includes:

A full-body harness with shoulder, chest, and leg straps;
A strap that attaches to the tree when in the stand;
A tether strap that attaches the harness to the tree strap;
A “lifeline” to keep a hunter safe while climbing and descending; and
A suspension relief strap to be used in the event of a fall.

Other important safety tips for hunting from an elevated platform:

Select a healthy, straight tree.
Always maintain three points of contact (one hand and two feet or two hands and one foot) when climbing up or down from the stand.
Inspect all equipment before using it. Replace stands, parts, harness, straps, and lifeline as necessary.
Harnesses have an expiration date. Replace a harness if it is expired.
Once secured in your stand, use a haul line to raise and lower your UNLOADED gun, bow, and cocked but unloaded crossbow, pointed down, into the stand. Do not tie the haul line around the trigger or trigger guard.

Remember to Share the Woods

Hikers should be aware, but not unduly concerned when they encounter hunters legally bearing firearms or archery equipment on trails. This can avoid incidents like those in the past where hikers called “911” simply upon the sight or hearing hunters legally hunting on public lands. Hunters should likewise be respectful and recognize that they may encounter hikers and others enjoying the outdoors. Hunting-related shooting incidents involving non-hunters are extremely rare and hunting seasons the past few years were among the safest ever.

Hunters can minimize the potential for disturbance by and to other forms of recreation by:

Scouting for a safe stand location and checking if the planned location is popular.
Avoiding locations that crowd other hunters or are near a sought-out hiking spot.
If a preferred hunting spot is too crowded, identify an alternative location ahead of time.

DEC maintains hiking, biking, skiing, and snowmobile trails in many areas of Forest Preserve lands in the Adirondack and Catskill parks, as well as in State Forests, Wildlife Management Areas, and Unique Areas open to hunting.

Find recreation options by visiting DEC's Trails Less Traveled or checking out DECInfoLocator. Many trails are accessible to people with disabilities. Check out DEC's YouTube playlist, with tips for how to plan and prepare for a hike with Hiking Essentials, and DEC's Hunter Education playlist for more information about the Basic Rules of Hunter Safety.

Happy hunting, fishing, and trapping until next time!

News and Notes

Earlton Fish & Game Club to Hold Opening Day Hunter's Breakfast

The Earlton Fish & Game Club is once again hosting its Opening Day Hunter's Breakfast on Saturday, November 15th, 2025 from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm at their clubhouse at 56 Potic Creek Road, in Earlton. The breakfast, available for a free-will offering, includes cooked to order-pancakes, sausage, eggs, bacon and more! All donations will be appreciated. There will also be a 50/50 raffle. All are welcome, no need to be a hunter to come! For more info call 518-694-8323 or email Info@EarltonGunClub.com.

Remember to report poaching and polluting violations by calling the 24-hour ECO Dispatch at 1-844-DEC-ECOS.