New York’s environmental police have had a busy few months — from catching illegal deer hunters to pulling undersized fish from hidden car compartments.
The state’s Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) responded to nearly 19,000 complaints in just the first half of this year. That led to more than 9,400 tickets and arrests, according to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Their work targets everything from poaching and pollution to wildlife trafficking and illegal fishing.
Cracking down on fishing violations
Officers patrolled Long Island, Orange County, and beyond in October, checking for fishing compliance — and found plenty of problems.
In one case, they boarded commercial boats and found 135 untagged striped bass being sold illegally. Another officer discovered 14 tautog, or blackfish, stashed under car seats and stuffed into plastic bags. Twelve of them were too small to keep.
One angler near Robert Moses State Park tried to walk off with nine illegal blackfish in a backpack, ignoring orders to stop. He was caught in a parking lot and ticketed.
Officers also issued citations for catching fish out of season, keeping too many, and failing to follow New York’s size rules. In Orange County, they ticketed two people for keeping 13 undersized largemouth bass — all between seven and ten inches.
Deer hunting violations and youth education
Opening day of bow season in Suffolk County brought trouble, too. ECOs found three hunters using baited blinds, which is illegal. They were escorted out of the woods and ticketed.
But not all hunting news was bad.
In Seneca County, ECOs helped guide 27 young hunters at the 11th Annual Finger Lakes Regional Youth Deer Hunt. After safety training and a pre-hunt dinner, 25 of them successfully harvested deer on a 4,000-acre property turned ecological park.
The DEC also hosted a hunter safety course in Schoharie County. Officers walked 13 students through common violations and best practices. All passed the course, making them eligible for their first hunting license.
Connecting with future officers
ECOs hit the road last month to recruit the next generation of environmental protectors.
They visited career fairs at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan and St. Joseph’s University in Suffolk County. Officers explained the role ECOs play in protecting natural resources — and encouraged students to apply. There’s no maximum age to join, but applicants must be at least 21.
The DEC is looking for motivated, self-directed people to help enforce environmental law across the state.
Fish surveys, Halloween fun, and community events
Not every outing involved violations.
On Oct. 21, officers helped run a fish survey in Central Park. Alongside DEC Fisheries staff and the Central Park Conservancy, they caught, measured, and released more than 600 fish — including bass and sunfish — to track the park’s ecosystem health.
Elsewhere, ECOs took part in a duck boat show on Long Island, shared hunting tips with waterfowlers, and joined a “Trunk-or-Treat” Halloween event in Cobleskill. One officer turned her patrol vehicle into a mock hunting camp for local kids.
Want to report an environmental violation?
You can call the DEC’s 24-hour tip line at 1-844-DEC-ECOS or email for non-urgent issues.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].