Hunting Rules and Regulations

All hunters are expected to follow all Cornell University Lands Hunting Program Rules and Regulations, and to conduct themselves in a safe and ethical manner. Hunters that meet these criteria will remain eligible for annual renewals.

In addition to these general Cornell University Deer Hunting Program Rules and Regulations, all hunting activities must be conducted in accordance with the conditions stated on the approved permit and for program and hunting zone specific rules and regulations.

Permits and Licenses

• A Cornell University issued permit is required to legally hunt on University-owned lands. Hunters must possess a valid NYS DEC big game license before applying for a Cornell University Hunting Permit.
• The Cornell University Hunting Permit is specific to the hunter, and may not be used by or assigned to any other individual. The permit must be presented upon demand to any Cornell official or Law Enforcement officer. The University reserves the right to revoke this permit at any time.
• Application period will be open approximately 30 days prior to earliest season in Tompkins County until mid-November. Applications will not be accepted after application period has closed.
• To apply, hunters must agree to a Cornell University Police criminal background check.
• Hunters shall comply with all state and local laws and ordinances governing hunting activities.

Access

• Note that many archery sites remain open to the public during hunting season, but firearm sites are closed to the public during respective firearm seasons. Please be aware of hiking trails, do not hunt within 30 yards of trails, and be courteous to other users.
• Hunters must visibly wear their Cornell hunting program identification tag (supplied with permit) on their person, and display their parking permit in their vehicle dashboard at all times while hunting.
• Use of vehicles on university-owned lands is prohibited. Hunters must hike into and out of all hunting areas from designated parking areas. Hunters who possess a NYS DEC Non-Ambulatory Hunter Permit should refer to the Deer Management System website for exceptions.
• To keep on good terms with our neighbors, do not enter a neighbor’s property to track deer without their permission.
• Hunters are required to wear 250 square inches of solid or patterned blaze orange or fluorescent pink hat and/or vest at all times while deer hunting during firearms seasons in areas where firearms are permitted. Archery only areas are exempt from this rule.

Hunting Activities

• Only white-tailed deer may be hunted.
• With the exception of M2, rifle hunting is allowed in all hunting zones where firearms are permitted.
• It is the hunter’s responsibility to know the hunting seasons and legal hunting implements for New York State and for each Cornell Deer Management Program site. Firearm use is prohibited in bow and crossbow management zones.
• New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation’s Early Antlerless season will be restricted to archery equipment only on all university-owned lands.
• A hunter may be accompanied by no more than one non-hunter (e.g., spouse, child, friend, etc.). The non-hunter 1) must stay with the hunter at all times, 2) may not carry a weapon, and 3) may not trade roles with the hunter while in the field. The hunter agrees to take full responsibility for a child, to keep the child within sight and reach, and to directly supervise the child at all times.
• Tree stands and ground blinds are allowed. All tree stands and ground blinds must be legibly marked with owner’s first and last name and phone number at eye level. Any tree stand or ground blind that pierces the bark on a tree is PROHIBITED. No permanent tree stands or screw-in tree steps may be used. Cornell is not responsible for stolen tree stands or ground blinds. Small tree limbs (< 1” dia.) may be trimmed to set up the tree stand or ground blind, but not for clearing shooting lanes. Only commercial ground blinds may be used. To preserve Cornell lands, hunters may not collect and use surrounding wood, brush, or vegetation to further blend in their commercial blind. Hunters may install temporary tree stands and ground blinds two weeks before archery season and must remove them no later than one week following the conclusion of the hunting season. To cover the cost of removing stands that do not comply with these regulations, hunters will reimburse Cornell Botanic Gardens $75.
• Hunters must make reservations through the Deer Management System to make reservations and hunt. Reservations must be removed if hunters are not able to hunt on the reserved day. Repeated failure to remove unused reservations will result in the hunting permit being revoked.
• Hunting and harvest activity must be reported within 3 days of hunting using the Deer Management System website. You will not be able to make additional reservations until reporting activity is completed. Completing hunting activity and harvest reports for unfilled/non-hunted reservations is also required.
• All participants are expected to initiate proactive communications with the University deer management program administrator should problems arise in the course of their activities by contacting cudeerhunting [at] cornell.edu (cudeerhunting[at]cornell[dot]edu).
• If you harvest an antlered deer, you will be required to harvest an antlerless deer within two years to maintain eligibility in the program for future years.
• No fires, camping, or littering.
• Use of drugs and alcohol will not be tolerated.

Failure to comply with any of the above rules will result in a warning or immediate termination of hunting privileges. Blatant disregard for Deer Hunting Rules and Regulations will result in permanent loss of hunting privileges on Cornell University lands. Permitted hunters release, indemnify, and hold harmless Cornell University, its trustees, officers, agents, and employees from any and all liabilities, personal injuries (including death), property damage, claims, costs or expenses of any nature whatsoever (including reasonable attorney’s fees) arising out of or in any way related to my use (or my minor child’s use) of University lands. It is also agreed to, that the hunter will reimburse the University for any costs, including attorney fees, which it may incur in connection with any action arising from his hunting activities on the university property.

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News and Updates

• New Early Antlerless Season: The New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) has created a new Early Antlerless Deer Season in mid-September. The season spans nine consecutive days beginning the 2nd Saturday of September. The season is limited to antlerless deer only using DMP or DMFA tags. IMPORTANT – only archery and crossbow equipment is permitted on university-owned lands during the early antlerless season. Sites will remain open to the public as is standard for regular archery season.

• Deer Management Permit (DMP): DMP application and issuance process was modified to increase DMP availability and increase antlerless harvest in our region. The new regulations create a second pathway for DMP issuance that allows hunters to apply for up to four DMPs, two in WMUs with limited DMPs and two in WMUs with unlimited DMPs. DEC has also added 19 WMUs (3M, 3P, 3R, 6P, 7F, 7H, 7J, 7R, 8A, 8F, 8G, 8H, 8J, 8N, 8R, 8S, 9A, 9F, and 9G) to the list of WMUs with unlimited DMPs, which includes all WMUs in Cornell’s program (7R, 7J, 7H). All hunters who apply for DMPs in WMUs with unlimited DMPs will receive them. Additionally, DMPs that are used to harvest antlerless deer in the WMUs with unlimited DMPs will be replaced with a Bonus DMP upon submitting a harvest report to DEC, allowing hunters to continue harvesting antlerless deer. Used and reported Bonus DMPs will also be replaced with additional Bonus DMPs.

• NYS DEC Earn-a-2nd-Buck (EA2B) system established: Under the new EA2B system, all hunters will receive a first Antlered Deer Tag which can be used during any season (with appropriate privileges), except the September antlerless deer season. Hunters who harvest and report an antlerless deer using a valid tag (DMP, Bow/Muzzleloader Anterless Deer Tag, etc.) will be eligible to receive a second Antlered Deer Tag, which can also be used during any season (with appropriate privileges), except the September antlerless deer season.  Note that filled DMFA tags do not qualify for obtaining a second EA2B tag. 

• Expanded Ellis Hollow Wetlands Site: Thanks to the generous donation of the Dewey-Yaws, 53 acres of fields, young forest, and wetlands along Cascadilla Creek were added to our Ellis Hollow Wetlands Natural Area. This area includes the Conwell Tract and a previously inaccessible tract known as the Travis Wildflower Preserve. All three areas south of Cascadilla Creek are now in our deer management program.  Access to the site will remain limited due to access restrictions and numerous adjoining homes and neighbors. To request access, contact cudeerhunting [at] cornell.edu (cudeerhunting[at]cornell[dot]edu). The site description and maps will be updated as well as boundary markers added by the beginning of the deer management season.

Important Instructions:  

• On-line Deer Management System: We are now using our Deer Management System (DMS) for: application, reservations, and reporting. Approximately 2-3 weeks after completing the permit application and passing the test, you will be notified of your approval for the Cornell Deer Management Program via email. You then will be required to create an online account for our Deer Management System to print out your permit, maps, manage all hunting reservations, and report hunting and harvest activity. Hunters must make reservations for specifics sites and days through the Deer Management System to hunt. Reservations must also be removed if hunters are not able to hunt on the reserved day. Repeated failure to remove unused reservations will result in the hunting permit being revoked.
• Extended hunting hours: NYS DEC now allows harvest of deer 30 min. before sunup and 30 min. after sunset.
• Rifles: Rifles will again be allowed at all firearm hunting sites, except for those limited to muzzleloaders and during the Early Antlerless Season. 
• Arnot Hunting Program: The deer hunting program for Arnot Forest is being managed separately. For information and to apply to that program, please visit their Arnot Forest website.
• Small Game Hunting: Small game hunting is not allowed under your Cornell Deer Management Program Permit. In order to request a small game permit and locate areas that are open to small game hunting on University property, please visit the Arnot Forest website.
• Other Special Seasons: Cornell Botanic Gardens is NOT participating in this year’s youth firearm hunt.  Youth firearm hunting during this season is prohibited. Similarly, no hunting is allowed in our program during the holiday hunt (December 26-January 1).
• Crossbows: It is legal to hunt with crossbows in New York State during legal archery seasons. 
• Setback Distances: Discharge restrictions for archery and crossbow equipment were legally changed in 2014. Archery discharge restriction is now 150′ from an inhabited dwelling; Crossbow discharge restriction is 250′. Shotgun, muzzleloader, and rifle distances remain unchanged at 500′.  It is the hunter’s obligation to know the setback restrictions and locations of neighboring residences.The geo-coded map available on the DMS reservation site can utilize your phone’s GPS signal to let you know when you’ve entered or exited given sites and setbacks.

More information available on our Resources for Approved Hunters page.