Big Changes for Hunters in New York This Year

Hunting season arrives in New York State soon and all hunters need to be aware of two big changes this year before they head into the woods.

As fall approaches in the Hudson Valley many of us get excited for everything that comes along with it. We've said it many times, there is no place we would rather be during the fall months than in the Hudson Valley. The apples, pumpkins, cooler temperatures, leaves changing colors, time around a fire pit, and for some the beginning of various hunting seasons.

Hunting in the Hudson Valley

The Hudson Valley has long been a destination for hunters from all over New York State. We are lucky enough to have various types of wildlife running around and depending on the time of year, they are free to harvest. The "big draw" hunting season each year is deer hunting and this year the white-tailed deer hunting season starts in the Hudson Valley region on October 1st according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC).

SEE ALSO: New Ban Makes These Illegal in New York

The bow hunting season runs in the "Southern Zone" of New York from October 1st through November 15th allowing bow hunters to hunt deer legally. The regular season (rifle) begins in New York in 2024 on November 16th and runs through December 8th.

Hunting Changes in New York 2024

This year the NYSDEC has announced changes to the "tags" that hunters are required to have to hunt. The first change will give hunters the ability to print out their tags themselves. The change will allow hunters to be ready before the season begins and will also help the DEC decrease its carbon footprint since it will no longer use plastic according to WBNG.

Additionally, hunters in New York will no longer be required to have a back tag on their clothing while they are out hunting in the woods. DEC Big Game Biologist Brendan Quirion told WBNG that New York was one of the last states that required hunters to wear the tag on their backs while hunting. For more information on hunting licenses and the dates of specific seasons check out the DEC online here.