October 2025 News #29

Hunting Season Safety & Exciting Updates from the NYS Horse Council

This week, Lindsay shares some exciting news—she’s stepped into the role of Regional Vice President for the Finger Lakes with the New York State Horse Council. That means our equestrian community now has another strong voice advocating for safe trails, fair access, and horse-friendly policies in Monroe, Wayne, Ontario, Livingston, Seneca, Yates, and Steuben counties.

In this episode, we cover:

• 🎉 What this new role means for riders in our region
• 🦌 Key hunting season dates for the Southern Zone (October 1st through January 1st)
• 🐴 Which trails are hunting-free zones (like Monroe County Parks) vs. areas where you may encounter hunters (like the Genesee Valley Greenway)
• 🎃 Top safety tips for trail riding during hunting season:
  • Wear blaze orange or pink
  • Clip a bell to your tack
  • Stick to marked trails
  • Avoid dawn/dusk riding
  • Ride with a buddy when possible

Lindsay also announces a call for support: the Finger Lakes Region of NYS Horse Council is seeking a Regional Director. This volunteer position is perfect for someone passionate about horses who wants to:

• Attend occasional DEC or town meetings
• Monitor local issues affecting horse owners
• Share updates with riders in their county
• Strengthen our equestrian voice across the region

👉 If you’re interested (or know someone who would be a great fit), please reach out!

Resources & Links

• Full DEC Hunting Season Details (2025–26): NYS DEC Hunting Seasons
  
  
• Learn more about the New York State Horse Council
  
  

Stay Connected

🐴 Follow Rochester Trail Riders for updates, safety reminders, and equestrian community news.
📲 Share your fall riding adventures with us on social media using #RochesterTrailRiders.

Contact

• Facebook: Rochester Trail Riders
  (message the page)
• Email: [e-mail]

Rochester Trail Riders
https://www.rochestertrailriders.com

Episode Transcript

Lindsay (00:05):
Hey everybody, it's Lindsay from the Rochester Trail
Riders, and I wanna start withsome exciting news.
I have recently stepped into therole as the regional Vice
president for the Finger Lakeswithin the New York State Horse
Council.
So what's this mean for youriders?
It means that our equestriancommunity now has another voice
advocating for safe trails.

(00:27):
Fair access and equine friendlypolicies at Monroe, Wayne,
Ontario Livingston, SenecaYates, and Steuben Counties.
My job is to represent you,whether it's raising awareness,
promoting safe trail use, oreven lobbying when decisions are
being made that impact horsesand riders in our region.

(00:49):
Right now one of the mostimportant topics is Dun Dun
hunting season, which is aboutto begin, and here are the key
start dates for the SouthernZone that covers our counties.
Bow season starts in October andruns right through November.
That's October 1st of November14th, and then takes a little

(01:12):
break, starts again in December8th to the 16th, and again from
the 26th until January 1st.
Youth Firearms weekend isOctober 11th through the 13th.
Regular firearm season beginsNovember 15th and continues to
December 7th.
Muzzle loader overlaps inDecember, running from December

(01:33):
8th, the 16th, and again fromthe 26th to the first in
January, so starting October1st.
Hunters are gonna be activeacross our region.
All the way through to NewYear's Day, and here's what that
means for us riders.
Monroe County Parks are huntingfree zones.

(01:53):
It makes them safe for trailriding options this fall.
But trails like the GeneseeValley Greenway, now those cross
private lands and your mayencounter some hunters there.
Either way, keep you and yourhorse safe this season with
these few tips.
Wear blaze orange or hot pink soyou stand out in the woods.

(02:14):
Clip a bell onto your tack soyou can be heard before you're
seen.
Stick to marked trails and avoidriding at dawn or dusk and ride
in groups when possible becausevisibility increases with
numbers.
Now one more piece of news.
As I step into the role of vp,I'm also looking for a regional

(02:37):
director.
They're gonna help support me inthe New York State Horse
Council.
Now, ideally, this person wouldcome from somewhere deep based,
deeper into the Finger Lakes,who can occasionally attend a
DEC or town meeting where thehorse use trail accesses might
come up.
The duties of regional directorare straightforward button port.

(03:02):
You'd help me keep track oflocal issues in your county,
share updates about events orproposals that could impact the
equine industry.
Bring that forward to the needsand concerns of riders in your
community.
It's about making sure ourvoices are heard and our needs
are met, whether it's on thetrail, in planning meetings, or

(03:24):
in conversations with otherequestrian groups.
Now, if this sounds like a rolefor you or you know, somebody
who would be a good fit.
Please reach out.
Having the extra support in theregion helps keep us riders
informed and prepared andrepresented.

(03:45):
Now, I'm also gonna drop a linkfor the DEC hunting season dates
just to keep you guys safe andlet's work together to keep our
trails open, safe and horsefriendly.
Until next time.
Happy trails.