Hunting

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Wildlife Management Units (WMUs)

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Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) are the geographical units DEC uses to set hunting and trapping seasons in New York State. This map is similar to the online one on the DEC website, however I added random colors to make the different WMUs stand out better. Updated 9/19/17 with the Northern Southern Zone line, shown in red. You may need to zoom in to see the Northern-Southern Line clearly. Updated 1/24/21 with Town, County lines along with DEC Lands shown on a Topographic Map. You can switch to alternative layers in the right hand corner. Data Source: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8302.html

Muzzeloading 101

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I've never owned or shot a muzzleloader, never got my tag. But I know a lot of real old timers and conservationist types love the whole muzzleloading scene after regular rifle season gets done.

I haven’t hunted in two years now 🦌 

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I haven’t hunted in two years now 🦌 

For a while I got my hunting license every year and headed out to the field in search of small game. It’s kind of tough to do regularly as I live in the city and nearby public lands are a ways away and many of them have a lot of hunting pressure. I hate sitting out on a ridge and peering down onto another ridge and seeing another hunter with his or her gun. Before and after deer season, it’s not so bad, but still obnoxious.

I know the big treasure is a big buck or a turkey in their respective seasons. But I have no place to hang or quarter a deer where I live plus my freezer is pretty small in my apartment. And what to do with the guts or entrails? I don’t have trash service and I would hate to put good organic material like that in the landfill.

I’d be better if I spent more time in the field. Podcasts and videos are great but they could only teach you so much. I probably would benefit from using a guide service. But it’s kind of hard not being a landowner and living in the city. Sure I don’t mind nights in the woods this time of year but even thru don’t happen all that often. Maybe when I own my own land.

Cultivated Crops, Percentage of Landmass by WMU

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"Areas used for the production of annual crops, such as corn, soybeans, vegetables, tobacco, and cotton, and also perennial woody crops such as orchards and vineyards. Crop vegetation accounts for greater than 20% of total vegetation. This class also includes all land being actively tilled."

Cultivated Crops, Percentage of Landmass by State