I was at the meeting in Cuba, NY this evening. A lot was discussed, but I will try to keep it brief:
1.) Overwhelming consensus with just about everyone not favoring early MZ season. My personal opinion is since 99% people are against it, why are we worry about it? It appears no one will hunt it anyhow. One good point a speaker made was the the DEC admitted it would disrupt the deer for the archery hunters. That is why they were going to have it only last a week, so that the deer would have a chance to settle down before regular season.
2.) A big issue was the DMP (aka Doe permits) would be dramatically reduced next year to boost the deer herd. A DEC spokesman said that 1/2 to 2/3rds of the people who apply for a doe permit in Region 9 next year will be refused. I'm glad I will have preference as a landowner.
3.) DEC admitted that they've never released cougars and never introduced coyotes to NY State.
4.) Another issue was Saturday Opener. One person in the audience was pretty adamant against it because if would conflict with tradition, and the local economy. His take was that a lot of Ham and Turkey raffles held by Volunteer Firehalls would lose business. One big positive of a Saturday Opener was presented by a Cuba-Rushford teacher who was for it due to kids having the opportunity to hunt. Nowadays, kids can not afford to miss school for hunting. My thought was why not make the Monday Opener a holiday for all the schools in Region 9? Doesn't PA kids have off for the Opener?
5.) One speaker was pro QDM and AR. I am 100% against AR. I personally know some of these advocates of QDM and use to hunt with them. I remember these people kill several small bucks a year several years ago when I was lucky to be able to kill 1. I use to cherish any buck I was lucky to get. I remember these gamehogs killing several bucks while I would average 1 every 2 years. Now they are pro QDM??? Screw them! If I have the chance to kill a small buck, it will be harvested. They had their fun, let us have ours. Besides, QDM and AR has never been proven to help the deer herd.
6.) Everyone was for special youth hunts... where is that person on this board against it?
7.) The first speaker was a wildlife biologist. He was very good. I do know he was trying to organize a deer hunters forum for the DEC. I should've taken better notes.