Recreational Activities

RCNY tit. 15, ch. 16, subch. B

in effect

15 RCNY § 16-07 Fishing.

§ 16-07 Fishing. (a) Fishing Activities. Fishing is allowed consistent with NYSDEC regulations. A valid NYSDEC fishing license is required. (b) Designation. Areas that allow Fishing will be designated by NYCDEP on sign postings, the NYCDEP website, and on NYCDEP maps. (c) Season. Access for Fishing is allowed during applicable New York State fishing seasons as established in NYSDEC fishing regulations, as amended, except as otherwise restricted by these Rules or by NYCDEP postings or notices. (d) Allowable Species. Fishing is allowed for any species allowed under New York State law, during and in accordance with all available NYSDEC fishing seasons and City Property designations unless otherwise posted by NYCDEP. (e) Means. Angling is the only permissible means of Fishing on City Property, except that pursuant to and in conformance with NYSDEC regulations, (i) tip-ups may be used for ice fishing, and (ii) bow and arrow may be used for carp fishing. Anglers must be in immediate attendance when their lines are in the water. (f) Bait and Bait Disposal. The use of terrestrial bait such as worms and crickets is allowed. Live aquatic bait, which may include but is not limited to, alewives, shiners, leeches, and crawfish, may be used for Fishing unless such bait has been taken from waters infested with zebra and/or Quagga mussels or other invasive species, including, but not limited to: Lake Champlain, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, the Finger Lakes, the Erie Canal, the Niagara River, the Mohawk River, the St. Lawrence River, the Susquehanna River and the Hudson River. A complete list of Zebra and Quagga mussel-infested waters may be found at: http://nas.er.usgs.gov/mollusks/zebramussel/. Neither bait nor the water from aquatic bait containers shall be disposed of on City Property. NYCDEP, at its sole discretion, may prohibit the use of specified bait. Any such prohibitions shall be indicated by NYCDEP on sign postings, on the NYCDEP website, and on NYCDEP maps. Use of bait must also be consistent with all applicable provisions of New York State law and NYSDEC regulations, as amended, including those regarding the use and transport of certified baitfish. (g) Fishing Equipment. Fishing equipment must comply with the following: (1) Waterproof waders must be used when entering Reservoirs or Controlled Lakes for the purposes of Fishing. Due to the potential threat of invasive species being transferred from waders into the NYC Water Supply, NYCDEP reserves the right to restrict the use of certain types of waders and/or prohibit use on City Property. A list of waders and/or boots prohibited for use, if and when determined, shall be posted on the NYCDEP website. As an alternative to prohibition of certain waders, NYCDEP may require waders be cleaned as per NYCDEP guidelines, if and when such guidelines are developed. (2) Temporary, portable, fabric fishing shelters and windbreaks may be used for ice fishing on City Property. Shelters must contain the occupant's name, telephone number and Access Permit number. Wood or metal shelters are not permitted. (3) Ice fishing equipment, including fabric fishing and shelters and windbreaks, must remain within view of the equipment owner and must be removed from City Property by the occupant when not in use or at the end of each day, whichever is sooner. (4) Use of float tubes or inflatable waders is prohibited in Reservoirs or Controlled Lakes. (5) Motorized fishing equipment is prohibited on City Property, including but not limited to gasoline or propane-powered motors or ice augers except as allowed in 15 RCNY § 16-07(g)(6). (6) Electric ice augers with rechargeable batteries contained within the auger housing or hand-held power drills to power ice augers may be used. Small 12-volt sealed batteries may be used for portable fish finders. No automotive-type batteries are allowed on City Property. (7) Propane bottles to heat portable heating units or ice augers are not allowed for use on Reservoirs or Controlled Lakes. (h) Fish Entrails. Fish entrails may not be deposited on City Property that is in or within 100 feet of a Reservoir, Controlled Lake, pond, Watercourse, public access point, or public road. (i) Shoreline Fishing. Shoreline Fishing is allowed at Access Permit Areas, Public Access Areas, and certain Day Use Areas as indicated by NYCDEP on sign postings, on the NYCDEP website, and on NYCDEP maps. (j) Fishing from Bridges. Fishing from vehicular bridges located on City Property is not permitted except where designated by NYCDEP and as indicated by NYCDEP on sign postings, on the NYCDEP website, and on NYCDEP maps. (k) Ice Fishing. Ice Fishing is allowed, in conformance with NYSDEC regulations, only on the Amawalk, Bog Brook, Boyds Corner, Cross River, Diverting, East Branch, Muscoot, Titicus, West Branch, Croton Falls and Middle Branch Reservoirs, on Lake Gilead and Lake Gleneida and on ponds located in Access Permit Areas and Public Access Areas as indicated by NYCDEP on sign postings, on the NYCDEP website, and on NYCDEP maps. Ice fishing is prohibited in all other Reservoirs for safety and operational reasons. (Added City Record 5/31/2019, eff. 6/30/2019)

15 RCNY § 16-08 Hunting.

§ 16-08 Hunting. (a) Hunting Activities. Hunting is allowed consistent with applicable NYSDEC regulations. (b) Designation. Areas that allow Hunting will be designated by NYCDEP on sign postings, the NYCDEP website, and on NYCDEP maps. NYCDEP may designate specific Hunting activities or restrictions (e.g. no rifle use, bow Hunting-only), or implement special Hunting programs (deer culls) on Recreational Areas that allow Hunting. (c) Season. Access for Hunting is allowed during applicable New York State Hunting seasons, except as otherwise restricted by these Rules or by NYCDEP postings or notices. (d) Allowable Species. Hunters may hunt for any species allowed under New York State law, during and in accordance with all available NYSDEC Hunting seasons and City Property designations unless otherwise posted by NYCDEP on its website. Waterfowl Hunting is not allowed in, over, or within 500 feet of Reservoirs or Controlled Lakes. (e) Game Pursuit. Hunters should respect the rights of owners of neighboring properties and not trespass on private lands. If an animal wounded by a hunter travels onto neighboring property, the hunter should obtain the property owner's permission in accordance with applicable law to enter the property for retrieval. If an animal wounded by a hunter travels onto City Property that is not open for Hunting, the hunter must obtain permission to enter the area from NYCDEP Police before entering by calling (888) 426-7433. (f) Hunter Behavior. Hunters must abide by the principles of the NYSDEC hunter education training program and conduct themselves in a safe and courteous manner in relation to other hunters and recreational users, NYCDEP employees and representatives, neighboring land owners and community members. Failure to do so may result in the loss of individual Hunting opportunities, Recreational Area closures, and loss of Access Permit. (g) Game Cleaning Practices. Hunters are encouraged to remove all game entrails from City Property and to use gloves while cleaning harvested game in order to hinder the spread of disease and possible water contamination. Entrails must not be deposited in or within one hundred (100) feet of any Reservoir, lake, pond, Watercourse, public access point, public road, or private property. (h) Tree Stands, Hunting Blinds and Trail Cameras. Temporary tree stands, Hunting blinds and trail cameras may be used during Big Game Hunting seasons in Public Access Areas and Access Permit Areas provided that they do not cause damage to trees. The following conditions apply: (1) The use of screws, nails or foot pegs in trees on City Property is prohibited. (2) Tree stands, Hunting blinds and trail cameras may be placed on City Property up to two weeks prior to the opening of the archery deer Hunting season. (3) Hunters may leave tree stands, Hunting blinds and trail cameras on City Property at their own risk on a first-come, first-served basis during Big Game Hunting seasons. (4) Any tree stand, Hunting blind or trail camera on City Property must be clearly and legibly labeled with the user's name, Access Permit number (if applicable) and telephone number. (5) Tree stands, Hunting blinds and trail cameras must be removed from City Property by midnight of the last day of the Big Game Hunting season. (6) Tree stands, Hunting blinds and trail cameras unlabeled or left on City Property after Big Game Hunting season are subject to confiscation and disposal by NYCDEP pursuant to 15 RCNY § 16-12(e). (i) Shooting Lanes. Hunters may cut limbs not greater than two inches in diameter and not further than twenty-five yards from a tree stand with a hand tool for purposes of clearing shooting lanes. The use of chainsaws is prohibited. Any vegetation removed for shooting lanes must be cut flush with the vegetation's main stem. All vegetation cut must be scattered and not stacked to a height greater than 2 feet off of the ground. (j) Use of Dogs. Dogs may be used for Hunting Small Game species in compliance with NYSDEC regulations. Dogs must be under the control of their handler at all times. Dog training activities are allowed on Public Access Areas consistent with NYSDEC regulations. Dogs must not be used for tracking injured deer or bear without express permission from NYCDEP Police as provided for in 15 RCNY § 16-12(j). Any tracking of injured deer or bear permitted by NYCDEP must comply with NYSDEC conditions for tracking injured deer or bear with dogs. (k) Discharge of Firearms. Firearms may not be discharged over or into the waters of any Reservoir or Controlled Lake. (l) Back Tags. Back Tags must be displayed while Hunting on City Property as required by NYSDEC. (Added City Record 5/31/2019, eff. 6/30/2019)

15 RCNY § 16-09 Hiking.

§ 16-09 Hiking. (a) Hiking Activities. Hiking activities permitted are: foot travel including Hiking, walking, running, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, bird watching, nature observation, and photography. (b) Designation. Areas that allow Hiking will be designated by NYCDEP on sign postings, the NYCDEP website, and on NYCDEP maps. (c) Season. Access for Hiking is year-round except as otherwise restricted by these Rules or by NYCDEP postings or notices. (Added City Record 5/31/2019, eff. 6/30/2019)

Source: City of New York, Charter, Administrative Code and Rules (American Legal Publishing XML export, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/newyorkcity/latest/NYCrules/0-0-0-119308Fetched: 10/24/2026