Deer Shotgun Hunting Season Opens In Suffolk County In January

A special shotgun season for deer hunting is slated to begin on Jan. 7, 2018, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation — and here's what you need to know.

According to the NYSDEC, during the past several years changes have been made to existing laws and regulations expanding opportunity for hunters.

'These changes have been implemented to help increase recreational deer harvest to better manage increasing deer populations in Suffolk County," a DEC release said. "Overpopulations of deer have the ability to negatively impact natural habitats along with agricultural, public and private properties, and public health in the forms of automobile/deer collisions and tick-borne diseases. Hunting is DEC’s most effective and efficient known tool to maintain wildlife populations at levels that are compatible with communities and natural resources."

The regular bowhunting season for deer in Suffolk County now runs through January 31. The 2018 firearms deer season in Suffolk County will begin on Sunday, January 7 and continue until January 31, including weekends, the DEC said.

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

Here are the rules, according to the DEC:

DEC regulations require that lands eligible for firearms deer hunting must be at least 10 acres in size, and hunters must possess a valid big game hunting license, a signed landowner's endorsement, and a town permit where required. Deer may be taken only by:

· Shotgun, using a single ball or slug

· Muzzleloading rifle or pistol, shooting a single projectile having a minimum bore of 0.44 inches.

Shotgun barrels may be rifled, and telescopic sights may be used. Crossbows are not a legal hunting instrument in Suffolk County. Hunters should check with local towns and villages to determine any local restrictions or discharge ordinances.

Hunters who wish to hunt on state-managed lands in Suffolk County will be able to take advantage of the expanded special firearms deer season as well the extended archery season. The following state managed properties will be open for shotgun deer hunting from January 7 to 31:

· Rocky Point Natural Resources Management Area

· Westhampton Dwarf Pine Plains Preserve

· Henrys Hollow Pine Barrens State Forest

· Barcelona Neck Cooperative Hunting Area

· David Sarnoff Cooperative Hunting Area

· Otis Pike Preserve.

· The East Hampton Cooperative Area and Noyac, which is part of Southampton's Cooperative areas, will be open for firearms deer hunting from January 8 to 31, weekdays only.

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, P.O. Box 659, Ridge NY 11961-0659, by 4:45 p.m., Monday, December 4, 2017. Entries can also be hand delivered to the Ridge Hunter Check Station by the above date.

There are no applications for the drawing. To enter, hunters must send a No. 10 — 4 1/8" x 9 ½" — envelope. The envelope must contain 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. Entries submitted in other than No. 10 envelopes, or including other than No. 10 or No. 9 return envelopes will be rejected.

Individuals may only send one entry. Those who send more than one entry will have all of his or her entries removed from the drawing. Each member of a two-hunter party may send one entry.

Drawing entrants will receive a notice telling them when to appear at the Ridge Hunter Check Station to make a reservation to hunt on DEC-managed lands. Reservations will be made December 18 to 21, 2017.

Hunters looking to archery hunt on state-managed lands during the extended season can hunt at Brookhaven State Park Cooperative Hunting Area, Calverton Pine Barrens State Forest, Carmen’s River Pine Barrens State Forest, East Bartlett Conservation Area, Ridge Conservation Area, Wildwood State Park Cooperative Hunting Area and DEC tidal wetlands that are currently open to archery hunting. All hunters are required to have a DEC-Managed Lands Access Permit to hunt on these properties, the DEC said.

Patch file photo.