CHIPMUNKS

[adrian]

anyone know if you can shoot them anytime or if they are protected.i didnt see them in my regulations book.need this info for new york state.thanks guys

[airiscool]

adrian,

Like Red Squirrels, Chipmunks are not protected in NY, happy hunting.

Paul.

[JimH]

Good to know. When I camp in the Adirondacks the munks a brazen. They'll raid your camp while your sitting there watching them. One year we took to trapping them the old fashion way with a cardboard box and a stick on a string. Got two of them that way in a half hour. This summer will be different.

[longislandhunter]

Actually..... chipmunks are not listed  as  "unprotected species"  by the D.E.C.     I copied this directly from the D.E.C. regulations....

Protected Wildlife

In New York State, nearly all species of wildlife are protected. Most species, including endangered species, songbirds, hawks and owls are fully protected and may not be taken. The few unprotected species include porcupine, red squirrel, woodchuck, English sparrow, starling, rock pigeon, and monk parakeet. Unprotected species may be taken at any time without limit. A hunting license is required to hunt unprotected wildlife with a bow or firearm.

Jeff

[Wade.S]

Adrian, make sure you however know just what you are shooting at. In Oregon we can shoot chipmunks as well but we can not shoot golden mantles. Golden mantles look very much like a chipmunk

[airiscool]

More NY "State of confusion" !  

"...........nearly all ..........."

I think that's a major part of that sentance.

A number of years ago, during a Hunter safety course, in a discussion of protected game and what game is good for young Hunters to start out learning to hunt, the Hunter Safety Instructor mentioned Red Squirrels and Chipmunks. Red Squirrels always get mentioned in the State's info, but I've never seen Chipmunks listed either as protected, or not.

About that time I called the local DEC office with a  question if there were any limitations on the type of firearms that are legal for hunting Woodchucks. During the conversation I  was told that as far as game and seasons, if it's not  listed, then it's implied that it's not protected. Since Chipmunks are not listed, even in a group name such as many birds are covered with a group name like  "song birds", then they are not protected. And Munks are not on any list as "endangered" so they don't automatically fall into that catigory.

This may be a case like a year ago with hunting with AG's. Some DEC say yes, some say no.

I guess an e-mail to Albany for clearification is in order.

 I've always  figured Munks have all the  protection they need just with their small size and speed !!!!

Paul

[longislandhunter]

I agree with you Paul,,, NY has a bad habit of wording their regulations very poorly, even the quote that I copied directly from the DEC Regs is vague and unclear in that it says....     "the few unprotected species include"  and then it goes on to list some animals...  but the key word in that line is    "include"  .  That word to me would seem to indicate that there are more animals that aren't listed otherwise why didn't they use the word   "are"  instead.  Using the word "are" would very clearly and definitively indicate that the animals they list are the only animals that are not protected.    

You may be right Paul, perhaps munks are "unprotected".  Your suggestion to call the DEC in your area is probably the best route to take.  I was actually thinking about this post last night and I thought of something......  the list of "unprotected" species doesn't include field mice either....... does that mean field mice are "protected"   Somehow I don't believe that field mice would be protected and that I could get in trouble for shooting mice and rats.    

I don't know,,,, NY is just so screwed up.... I don't understand why they can't articulate their laws and regulations in  simple, clear, easy to understand wording....    Ya just gotta love NY     LOL

As for me and munks.......  they love to invade my boat, which is stored in my yard for the winter.  They make these huge balled up nests in the cabin of the boat, they poop all over the place and generally make a heck of a mess each year.  Needless to say any munk that shows himself in my yard is fair game  

Jeff

[airiscool]

Jeff,
As you say, mice and rats are not mentioned and I think it's safe to assume by all the mouse and rat traps openly for sale in every hardware store, Supermarket, Home and Garden, Lowes, Home Depot, etc, that they are not protected. Same with Chipmunks, like Rats and Mice, there is no mention of them in anything I can find in the DEC regs or info.

Goes along with what the local DEC person said to me, if it's not mentioned (either by name, or in a group) it's not protected. Notice they don't say that all "fur bearers" are protected because they are not.

The only exception I know of animals that are not listed, but are protected by law are "domesticated animals", Cats and Dogs, but that's civil, not hunting laws.

And then, if the Munks are trashing your boat .....all I can say is ...  just don't put any holes below the water line !!!  

Paul.

[bump991]

Open season in WI,there always chewing on something they shouldn't be.There on the get rid of list.