>Hunters Can Plan Outings for the 2005-06 Deer Season
>
> New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)
> Acting Commissioner Denise M. Sheehan today announced the adoption of a
> number of proposed changes to the southern zone deer hunting season for 2005.
>
> After several months of evaluating the input received from the
> public, DEC's modifications to the deer hunting season structure represent
> a number of changes that will enhance youth hunting opportunities, expand
> existing seasons, and create new and unique opportunities to learn about
> additional deer management tools,Commissioner Sheehan said. These changes
> reflect the changing needs of deer management and deer hunters.
>
> The most prominent change is moving the opening day of the
> southern zone regular deer season from a Monday to a Saturday. This change
> provides opening day hunting opportunities for young hunters and others who
> are unable to take time off from work during the week. DEC hopes this
> opportunity will be actively embraced by young hunters. Similarly, a
> switch to a standard Saturday opening day for the early archery season
> accomplishes similar benefits for bowhunters. Extending the late archery
> and muzzleloader seasons that occurs after the regular season to nine days
> in length affords consistency to the late deer hunting opportunities.
>
> A pilot program to expand the age structure of the buck
> population will be implemented in two Wildlife Management Units (WMUs)
> located primarily in Ulster County. The pilot antler restriction program is
> the result of a strong level of local support from sportsmens groups. This
> new harvest strategy will require that bucks taken in WMUs 3C and 3J to
> have at least three antler points on a side to be legal. Similar voluntary
> alternative harvest programs have been implemented in various locations
> throughout New York State, but success has been hindered by their voluntary
> nature. Similar mandatory programs exist in other states where they have
> been successful and are well received by sportsmen and women. Young
> hunters, under the age of 17, would be exempt from the three point
> requirement.
>
> An earlier proposal to establish a new early, special,
> antlerless-only muzzleloader season in the Southern Zone was met with
> considerable opposition. The proposal was intended to enhance and diversify
> antlerless deer harvests, which are a key component of New Yorks deer
> management program. Deer numbers have declined throughout much of the
> Southern Zone as a result of a number of factors, including two successive
> harsh winters. Accordingly, this proposal will be deferred until deer
> numbers recover and the season could have more value as an additional
> management tool.
>
> In response to lower deer harvests throughout a large portion
> of the state in 2004, DEC wildlife biologists have reduced the number of
> deer management permits (DMP) in many areas. Approximately 320,000 DMPs
> will be available this fall, representing a decline of about 40 percent
> from the 2004 levels. This change reflects the lower deer numbers
> throughout most of the Southern Zone.
>
> A minor change to the Northern Zone will change WMUs 6A, 6G, and
> 6H to allow the taking of deer of either sex during the special
> muzzleloader seasons. Previously, only antlerless deer had been legal
> during the special muzzleloader seasons.
>
> Since hunting season dates for some other game are aligned
> with deer hunting seasons, some modifications of these seasons have also
> been adopted. The regular open seasons for black bear hunting will be
> advanced in the Catskills to the Monday following the opening weekend for
> firearms deer hunting: bear opens November 21 this fall. The Allegany
> region bear hunting season will commence one week after the opening of the
> deer hunting season. The fall turkey and pheasant hunting seasons in some
> areas of western New York will be adjusted to also open on a Saturday and
> close on the Friday before the regular season opener in order to maintain
> the same number of days of hunting for these species.
>
> Specific Deer Season Changes the Southern Zone for 2005:
>
> Early Archery Season - First Saturday in October after Columbus
> Day to the day before the Regular Season (35 days).
>
> For 2005: October 15 through November 18;
>
> Regular Season - Third Saturday in November for 23 days.
>
> For 2005: November 19 - December 11 (includes four
> weekends);
>
> Late Archery and Muzzleloader Seasons - First day after the close
> of the regular season running for nine days.
>
> For 2005: December 12 - December 20 (Any leftover tags are valid);
>
> Antler Restriction Pilot Study - WMUs 3C and 3J (all
> seasons). Limits harvest of antlered deer to those with at least three
> antler points on one side.
>
> Smaller antlered bucks cannot be taken. Hunters under the age of 17 are
> exempt and may take a buck with an antler or antlers measuring more than
> three inches in length; and
>
> Black Bear Regular Seasons
>
> Catskill Range: November 21 - December 12
> Allegany Range: November 26 - December 12
>
> Additional information on upcoming hunting seasons will be
> posted on the Department website at www.dec.state.ny.us as it becomes
> available.
>
>


Wondering what everyone else thinks about the changes? I'm not sure what I think about them yet. I liked having fewer people in the woods on opening day - This first Saturday of the season is always a shooting gallery where I hunt - I pretty much only had a hand full of people to deal with in the woods for that 1st week.
Antler restrictions = ongoing debate - small 8 point or monster 5 pointer -