DEC: Deer Hunting in Suffolk County to Begin in January

The state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), recently announced that the special shotgun season for deer hunting in Suffolk County will begin on Jan. 3, 2016.

Hunters must enter a drawing to hunt for deer on DEC managed lands during the firearms season by Nov. 30.

“Hunting on Long Island has been a long-standing tradition, enabling hunters to harvest food for their families as well as control deer population numbers that, if left unchecked, can be damaging to people’s health and property,” Acting Commissioner Basil Seggos said. “DEC’s recent updated deer hunting regulations in Suffolk County further allow hunters to control these populations by expanding access to properties and increasing the number of hunting days. We are excited for these new opportunities and wish all hunters a safe and successful season.”

The following state managed properties on the East End will be open for shotgun deer hunting from Jan. 3 to Jan. 31:

• Westhampton Dwarf Pine Plains Preserve in Westhampton
• Henrys Hollow Pine Barrens State Forest in Hampton Bays
• Barcelona Neck Cooperative Hunting Area in Sag Harbor
• David Sarnoff Cooperative Hunting Area
• Otis Pike Preserve in Calverton

The East Hampton Cooperative Area and Noyac (part of the Southampton Cooperative Areas) will be open for firearms deer hunting from Jan. 4 to Jan. 31; weekdays only.

Over the past several years changes have been made to existing laws and regulations expanding opportunity for hunters in order to help increase recreational deer harvests to better manage increasing deer populations in Suffolk County.

Overpopulations of deer have the ability to negatively impact natural habitats along with agricultural, public and private properties.

Public health can also be affected in the forms of automobile/deer collisions and tick-borne diseases.

Last year, Governor Cuomo signed legislation expanding the use of archery and firearms deer hunting seasons in Suffolk County.

The regular (bowhunting) season for deer in Suffolk County now runs through January 31.

The 2016 firearms deer season in Suffolk County will begin Sunday, Jan. 3 and continue until Sunday, Jan. 31, including weekends.

Town permits are now only required in the towns of Southampton, Islip and Smithtown.

To hunt for deer on DEC managed lands during the firearms season, hunters must enter a drawing.

Entries must be received at NYSDEC-Deer Drawing, PO Box 659, Ridge NY 11961-0659, by 4:45 p.m., Monday, Nov. 30. Entries can also be hand delivered to the Ridge Hunter Check Station by the above date.

To enter, hunters must send a No. 10 (4 1/8” x 9 ½”) envelope containing a self-addressed, stamped, No. 10 or No. 9 return envelope.

The hunter must write his/her back tag number on the back of the return envelope.

For more information, visit: www.dec.ny.gov.