In many ways it’s rather sad that the most realistic small game hunting in our area has been reduced to primarily for grey squirrel, cottontail rabbit (although the best rabbit habitats are spotty and often near roadways), and wild turkey. As many senior readers probably recall, October was once a month when area hunters sought pheasant, grouse, woodcock and rabbit, but that was decades ago, before the birth of the mammoth NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in 1972.
Of course change is inevitable in nearly everything, given sufficient time and changing demographics and public attitudes. However, it’s noteworthy – at least to me – that government usually plays a major role in the changes that occur, and the DEC has certainly been no exception.
Whereas the predecessor of the DEC, the NYS Conservation Department, was primarily a fish and game agency, its demise reflected a changing attitude by the State as well as public demographics as more people left the rural areas to reside in or near urban areas. Increasingly fewer residents hunted or trapped, and increasingly fewer understood or cared how wildlife management worked and why it was necessary. The focus rapidly turned to total environmental issues and concerns and less on fish and game, their management and habitat conservation and development thereof.
These, combined with major changes in agricultural techniques and the steady replacement of active farmlands and wetland habitat by abandonment or with either residential or commercial development, gradually transformed and changed what was once excellent wildlife habitat for many popular species while new, less compatible habitat replaced it. This pretty much sounded the death toll for many low-growth wildlife species, many of which were game species. Habitat more conducive to attracting and supporting deer, wild turkey, coyote, and of late, bear emerged. And suburban-adaptive species such as deer, skunk, raccoon and even coyote increasingly became the norm.
With several hunting seasons opening on October 1 – grouse, cottontail rabbit, coyote and turkey – the one that will probably attract the most hunters is turkey, and with good reason … they’re the most plentiful gamebird we have available now. Yes, you might find an area or two that harbors a halfway decent number of grouse, but each year those coverts are becoming harder to find as the ideal habitat for the birds matures beyond their liking and needs.
Where cottontails used to be found in abundance near hedgerows and edge growth areas on operating farms, now much of that habitat has matured and grown and few rabbits will be found there. Conversely, fringe areas near developments and along roadways continue to offer the best cottontail habitat, but hunting there is impractical or illegal and dangerous for rabbit hounds that might be struck by vehicles on the roadways.
So, with all this in mind, here’s about what small game hunters can expect this fall.
Grey Squirrel – Very abundant this fall. A wet late spring and summer provided abundant moisture for the bulk of food producing trees, shrubs and corn fields. Season Oct. 1 – Feb. 28; Daily Limit 6.
Ruffed Grouse – Look for birds in fringe cover near evergreens, but the growth, be it poplar, thornapple or wild apple trees, can’t be too high or too open as the grouse seek habitat that offers food and also security from raptors. Season Oct. 1 – Feb. 28; Daily Limit 4.
Cottontail Rabbit – Judging from all the deceased rabbits we see on roadways, you might think they’re everywhere. But they aren’t. The majority inhabit the dense cover along roadways, commercial and residential development edges, railroad trackbeds, or river and large stream watershed bank perimeters. You may find some in dense growth areas that have been logged off a few years ago. Season Oct. 1 – Feb. 28; Daily Limit 6.
Woodcock – Hunters may encounter these earth worm-eating migartory gamebirds in moist soil areas, especially near poplar, alder, apple and willow stands. Once the fall migration begins, scout for their chalk-like droppings. Season Oct. 6 – Nov..4; Daily Limit 3.
Wild Turkey – Very abundant, but the size of this year’s poults was impacted by the wet and cool May nesting conditions. Hens that produced poults prior to the less-than-ideal nesting weather will have normal size poults with them. However, those that nested later or were forced to re-nest will be accompanied by much smaller poults. Look for flocks wherever food supplies such as grain and fallen mast is abundant. Season: Oct. 1 – Nov. 20; Daily Limit 2 either sex.
Coyote – Only a few hunters specifically hunt for these large predator/scavengers because they are rather difficult to hunt and their pelt prices bring meager money when sold. The majority are taken incidentally while seeking other game species. Using a predator call – either mouth-blown or electronic – is the primary method. Hunters with specialty coyote hounds is another activity, but usually not practiced until after the deer season closes and snow cover arrives. Season: Oct. 1 – Mar. 28; Daily Limit None.
Raccoon – Once a very popular nighttime activity, raccoon hunting has decreased in recent years as fur prices have plummeted. Still, some hunters brave the nighttime woods just for the joy of listening to their hounds as they pursue a hot raccoon track. Season: Oct. 25 – Feb. 15; Daily Limit None.
Fox – As with coyote and raccoon, only a few hunters target either the red or grey fox when hunting. Predator calling early and late in the day is the best method. Oct. 25 – Feb. 15; Daily Limit None.