ALBANY, New York (WWNY) – The state says the 2025 hunting season was the safest on record.
The Department of Environmental Conservation says nearly 600,000 New Yorkers go hunting every year, and that in 2025, there were 7 hunting-related shooting incidents.
Five of the shootings were self-inflicted, and two involved more than one person. One incident involved an unlicensed person illegally hunting.
No shooting deaths occurred.
The DEC also notes that falls from tree stands pose a danger for hunters. In 2025, there were nine falls resulting in one death.
Hunters can prevent severe injuries or death due to falls from tree stands or elevated platforms by wearing and properly using a fall-arrest system. A FAS keeps a hunter attached to the tree from the time they leave the ground until they get back down.
