6 NYCRR Chapter1, Part 2, Section 2.

20 6 NYCRR | Chapter I | Disclaimer | Legend

Section 2.20 This regulation became effective 08/31/76 and was last amended
07/26/2000.
This web page was last updated 08/09/2000. Please refer to the Disclaimer and
Legend links above. For more information about this posting, contact: The
Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources

SECTION 2.20
Hunting small game mammals; opossum, weasel, skunk, black, gray and fox
squirrels, raccoon, cottontail rabbit, varying hare, European hare, bobcat, red
fox, gray fox and coyote
(Statutory authority for 6 NYCRR Chapter 1 Part 2: Environmental Conservation
Law, §§3-0301, 11-0303, 11-0307, 11-0903, 11-0905, 11-0909, 11-0917, 11-1005,
11-1007, 11-1103)
Subdivision.
2.20 (a) Open seasons for hunting small game mammals
2.20 (b) Shooting hours.
2.20 (c) Tagging of bobcat and coyote.
2.20 (d) Bag limits.
2.20 (e) Falconry.
2.20 (f) Possession of live animals.
2.20 (g) Possession of dead animals or their parts.
2.20 (h) Exceptions
2.20 (i) General provisions

(a) Open seasons for hunting small game mammals. The species listed below may be
hunted or taken only in those open seasons and Wildlife Management Units (as
described in section 4.1 of this Title) shown below.
(1) Raccoon, red fox, gray fox, opossum and weasel
Open seasonWildlife Management Units
November 1 to February 251A, 1C and 2A
October 25 to February 15All other WMUs
(2) Coyote.
Open SeasonWildlife Management Units
Closed1A, 1C and 2A
October 1 through the last Sunday in MarchAll other WMUs

(3) Bobcat
Open SeasonWildlife Management Units
October 25 to February 153A, 3C, 3F, 3G, 3H, 3J, 3K, 3M, 3N, 3P, 4B, 4C,
4G, 4H, 4J, 4K, 4L, 4M, 4P, 4R, 4S, 4T, 4U, 4W, 4X, 4Y, 4Z, 5A, 5C, 5F,
5G, 5H, 5J, 5N, 5P, 6A, 6C, 6F, 6G, 6H and 6J
October 25 to December 106N
ClosedAll other WMUs

(4) Skunk.
(i) Hunters may hunt skunk in the same areas and dates described for skunk
trapping in Section 6.2 of this Title.
(5) Black, gray and fox squirrel.
Open SeasonWildlife Management Units
November 1st through the last day of February1A, 1C and 2A
September 1st through the last day of FebruaryRemainder of the state.

(6) Cottontail rabbit

Open SeasonWildlife Management Units
November 1st through the last day of February1A, 1C and 2A
October 1st through the third Sunday in March5A, 5C, 5F, 5G, 5H, 5J, 6A,
6C, 6F, 6G, 6H, 6J, 6K and 6N
October 1st through the last day of February3A, 3C, 3F, 3G, 3H, 3J, 3K,
3M, 3N, 3P, 3R, 3S, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4F, 4G, 4H, 4J, 4K, 4L, 4M, 4N, 4O, 4P,
4R, 4S, 4T, 4U, 4W, 4X, 4Y, 4Z, 5K, 5N, 5P, 5R, 6P, 6R, 6S, 7A, 7F, 7H,
7J, 7M, 7R 7S, 8A, 8C, 8F, 8G, 8H, 8J, 8K, 8M, 8N, 8P, 8R, 8S, 8T, 8W, 8X,
8Y, 9A, 9C, 9F, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9M, 9N, 9P, 9R, 9S, 9T, 9W, 9X and 9Y

(7) Varying hare.

Open SeasonWildlife Management Units
October 1st through the 3rd Sunday in March5A, 5C, 5F, 5G, 5H, 5J, 6A, 6C,
6F, 6G, 6H, 6J, 6K and 6N
January 1 through January 318M, 8N, 8P, 8R, 8S, 8T, 8W, 8X, 8Y, 9G, 9H,
9J, 9K, 9M, 9N, 9P, 9R, 9S, 9T, 9W, 9X and 9Y
The day after the Southern Zone regular deer season through the last day
in February3A, 3C, 3F, 3G, 3H, 3J, 3K, 3M, 3N, 3P, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4F, 4G, 4H,
4J, 4K, 4L, 4M, 4N, 4O, 4P, 4R, 4S, 4T, 4U, 4W, 4X, 4Y, 4Z, 5K, 5N, 5P,
5R, 6P, 6R, 6S, 7A, 7F, 7H, 7J, 7M, 7R and 7S
ClosedAll other WMUs

(8) Eurpoean hare

Open SeasonWildlife Management Units
Any time of yearAll Wildlife Management Units

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(b) Shooting hours. No person shall hunt or take opossum, weasel, black, gray or
fox squirrel, raccoon, cottontail rabbit, varying hare, European hare, bobcat,
red fox, gray fox or coyote except from sunrise to sunset; provided, however,
that after sunrise on the opening day of each respective season, bobcat,
raccoon, skunk, red fox, gray fox, opossum and coyote may be taken at any time
of day or night.

(c) Tagging of bobcat and coyote.

 (1) A person taking a bobcat or coyote must comply with the regulations
pertaining to the tagging and sealing of these species given in section 6.3 of
this Title.
(2) To legally possess or transport the unskinned carcass or unprocessed pelt
of a bobcat or coyote which was taken outside New York State, a person must
comply with section 6.3 of this Title.
(d) Bag limits.
(1) Black, gray and fox squirrels. No person shall take in any one day more
than six squirrels in the aggregate.
(2) Raccoon, opossum and weasel. A person may take raccoon, opossum and weasel
in any number.
(3) Cottontail rabbit. No person shall take in any one day more than six
cottontail rabbits.
(4) Varying hare. No person may take in any one day more than:
(i) six varying hare in Wildlife Management Unit 5A, 5C, 5F, 5G, 5H, 5J, 6A,
6C, 6F, 6G, 6H, 6J, 6K and 6N as described in section 4.1 of this Title;
(ii) two varying hare in Wildlife Management Units 3A, 3C, 3F, 3G, 3H, 3J,
3K, 3M, 3N, 3P, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4F, 4G, 4H, 4J, 4K, 4L, 4M, 4N, 4O, 4P, 4R, 4S,
4T, 4U, 4W, 4X, 4Y, 4Z, 5R, 6P, 6R, 6S, 7A, 7F, 7H, 7J, 7M, 7R, 7S, 8M, 8N,
8P, 8R, 8S, 8T, 8W, 8X, 8Y, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9M, 9N, 9R, 9S, 9T, 9W, 9X and
9Y as described in section 4.1 of this Title.
(5) European hare. A person may take European hare in any number.
(6) Bobcat. A person may take bobcat in any number.
(7) Red fox, gray fox and coyote. A person may take red fox, gray fox and
coyote in any number.
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(e) Falconry.
(1) Black, gray and fox squirrels, cottontail rabbit, varying hare and
European hare may be taken from October 1st through March 31st in any area
open to hunting these species by the use of raptors pursuant to the provisions
of Part 173 of this Title.
(f) Possession of live animals.
(1) No person shall possess any live black, gray or fox squirrel, raccoon,
cottontail rabbit, varying hare, European hare, bobcat, red fox, gray fox,
skunk, coyote, opossum or weasel other than pursuant to applicable provisions
of the Environmental Conservation Law and rules and regulations adopted
pursuant thereto.
(2) No person shall transport, sell or otherwise transfer any live black, gray
or fox squirrel, raccoon, cottontail rabbit, varying hare, European hare,
bobcat, red fox, gray fox, skunk, coyote, opossum or weasel which they have
legally taken unless the person purchasing or receiving such live black, gray
or fox squirrel, raccoon, cottontail rabbit, varying hare, European hare,
bobcat, red fox, gray fox, skunk, coyote, opossum or weasel possesses a valid
special license issued by the department permitting such possession.
(g) Possession of dead animals or their parts. The carcasses, flesh, head, hide,
feet, fur or parts thereof of fox, raccoon, skunk, opossum and weasel legally
taken may be possessed, transported and bought and sold without restriction.
(h) Exceptions. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the taking of
black, gray or fox squirrel, raccoon, cottontail rabbit, varying hare, European
hare, bobcat, red fox, gray fox, skunk, coyote, opossum or weasel taken pursuant
to the provisions of section 11-0523 or 11-1103 of the Environmental
Conservation Law.

(i) General provisions. The general provisions of the Environmental Conservation

Law shall be applicable to black, gray and fox squirrels, raccoon, cottontail
rabbit, varying hare, European hare, bobcat, red fox, gray fox, coyote, skunk,
opossum and weasel taken pursuant to this section.
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