Hunting Allowed in “1C” Suffolk County – Town to Change Weapons Law Not Hunting Law

Social media and other media outlets who are covering this story about “allowing” deer hunting in Huntington have the issue wrong according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC ) and the current laws. Many residents from Asharoken and Eaton’s Neck packed Huntington Town Hall at the August board meeting over the concern about the over population of deer in their areas. The many health issues that are caused by deer ticks were a big issue for the residents. See all about the diseases here http://www.cdc.gov/ticks/diseases/ . Many talked about Babesiosis, Lyme and heart issues.

It’s known as “1C” if you buy a license to hunt big game in NY State and that means you can hunt Deer and or Bear.  Region 1C, which is Suffolk County, only allows Bow Hunting from Oct 1^st through January 31^st, with a special Firearms Permit season (Shot gun only) between Jan 3rd and Jan 31^st  2016 (this has been the same for years). Hunting has always been allowed in SUFFOLK COUNTY. Huntington is in Suffolk County.

Under the town code 109 it states you cannot fire a weapon.  So if you are on private land and have a NY State Big Game license and you are following the regulations under that rules e.g. 500 feet (150 Feet for Bow) from a house/school/road etc… then you can hunt according to New York State.  The town says that you cannot fire a weapon in the town.

Who is going to issue you a Ticket/Fine etc.?

Not NY State DEC because they say you are all good in 1C-Suffolk County.

So Public Safety of the Town of Huntington would have to somehow:

• 1st Know that you fired a bow?
• 2^nd be able to come on your property which they cannot.
• 3^rd Issue you a ticket.

This change in the Town Code is not about Hunting it is about firing a weapon.  You already have a right with a Big Game License to Hunt in Suffolk per the State.

By the time Code enforcement gets the call and can get to Eatons Neck the deer would be gutted and quartered.  Ok now what? Lloyd Harbor has already lifted there code that was similar to Huntington’s.  Let it be clear that this has nothing to do with town property just private property.

Below are the stated rules from NY State DEC website

Discharge of Firearms, Crossbows and Bows http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/28182.html

For information on where various legal implements may be used in the state, see Rifle, Shotgun, Crossbow and Bow Areas.

It is illegal to discharge a firearm, longbow or crossbow:

• so that the load or arrow passes over any part of a public highway,
• within 500 feet (for a firearm), 250 feet (for a crossbow) or 150 feet (for a longbow) of any school, playground, or an occupied factory or church,
• within 500 feet (for a firearm), 250 feet (for a crossbow) or 150 feet (for a longbow) of a dwelling, farm building or structure in occupation or use unless you own it, lease it, are an immediate member of the family, an employee, or have the owner’s consent.
• You may hunt waterfowl with a firearm or longbow, over water, within 500 feet of a dwelling or public structure as long as neither are within 500 feet (for a firearm) or 150 feet (for a longbow) in the direction you are shooting. You may not hunt waterfowl with a crossbow.

Public Highway – means any road maintained by a state, county or town. A private road is one maintained by a person or corporation.