Hunting Season 2003-2004

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New York and New Jersey have announced their hunting schedules for large game and times when firearms are permitted. We strongly urge hikers to wear safety orange clothing during these times. There are also small game seasons which are less dangerous but hikers should still be aware and consider wearing safety orange. Dates listed are inclusive.

Links to State Sites

New York - Southern Zone (including Catskills - South Taconics)

Deer

Archery: Oct. 15 - Nov. 16, Dec. 10-14
Archery (Westchester Co. only): Nov. 1-Dec. 31
Firearms: Nov. 17- Dec. 9
Muzzleloaders: Dec. 10-16

Bear (Catskills)

Archery: Oct. 15 - Nov. 16, Dec. 10-14
Firearms: Nov. 22 - Dec. 9
Muzzleloaders: Dec. 10-16

Hunting is not allowed in Bear Mountain-Harriman State Parks. However, it is allowed in parts of Minnewaska and Sterling Forest State Parks. Contact (845- 786-2701 for more details about hunting in these parks.

Black Rock Forest closes to hikers from Nov. 17 to Dec. 9 inclusive, including that portion of the Highlands Trail in the Forest. For details, call 845-534-4517.

Schunemunk is open and hunting is not allowed on OSI (former Mountainville Conservancy) lands, but, again, we advise extra caution in that area.

Hubbard-Perkins obeys the same rules as Fahnestock (archery only) but has a long history of hunting so use extra caution. Limited hunting is allowed on the private inholding (parts of the Perkins Trail).

Parts of Minnewaska allow hunting.

For more information about the New York hunting schedules, call the Office of Parks & Recreation, (518) 474-0456, or the hunting, fishing and game licensing/sales office (518) 457-3521.

NYSDEC - Hunting NYSDEC - Hunting Seasons

New Jersey

New Jersey has very complicated hunting seasons that vary depending on the location and kind of weapon permit. Hunting is not allowed on Sundays in New Jersey. Most of Ramapo Mountain State Forest is closed to hunting. For more information about the New Jersey hunting season, call (609) 292-6685 (M-F) or (908) 637-4125 (Any day). Here are the dates that cover all the zones - not all dates apply in any given zone. See Full deer hunting season by zones NJ (PDF) for zone specific dates.

Deer

Archery: Sept. 6 - Oct. 26, Oct. 25 - Nov. 22, Nov. 27 - Dec. 31, Jan. 1, 2004 - Feb. 14, 2004 (exclude Dec. 25)
Firearms: Dec. 8 - Dec. 13
Shotgun: Nov. 24, 25, 26, 28, Dec. 17-19, Jan. 3- Feb. 14, 2004
Muzzleloaders: Dec. 1, 2, 15, 16, 20, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31 and Jan. 1 - Feb. 14, 2004

Bear

An amendment to the 2003 Game Code has been adopted by the Fish and Game Council that will provide a six-day, black bear, special permit hunting season for the area of New Jersey north of Interstate Route 78 and west of Interstate Route 287 for December 8-13, 2003.

Hunting in New Jersey NJ - Full deer hunting season by zones NJ - Bear Season NJ Fish and Wildlife

High Point State Park

As in the past, High Point State Park is holding a special deer hunt on Nov. 10 - 13 and Nov. 17 - 20. Please note we will be closing the AT on the first 4 days of the hunt (11/10-13) and rerouting hikers onto the road (Rt. 23 to Rt. 519). This is due to the high density of hunters we allow in during this period. The park, north of Rt. 23, will be closed to all non hunters during this same period. Public use, including trails, can continue on those areas south of Rt. 23 since there is no hunting there on those days.

During the period of 11/17-20 all areas of the park will be open for all uses but hikers and other users will be informed they will be sharing the park with hunters. Since during this period hunter density declines, there have not been any conflicts by users in past years.

Hikers will be informed of these uses by trail head signs prior to those 2 periods. Please feel free to put this information in any of your publications and/or information phone numbers.

High Point will also take part in the state season for hunting black bears from 12/8-13. The park will be open to all other use during that time and hikers will be informed that they will be sharing the park with hunters at the trail heads. Only those areas of High Point south of Rt. 23 will be open for black bear hunting so hikers wanting to avoid this use can do so by hiking any trails north of Rt. 23.

Folks wanting more information on these seasons should call the park office at 973-875-4800.

John Keator

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