jhoffman

>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 -

Phade

I am not a fan of antler restrictions unless voluntarily done.

I am also not a fan of the exemption of under 17 in those programs. It will only take the first semi-intelligent hunter to claim that the change constitutes discrimination based on age. I can see someone taking this to court and challengin it if it goes state-wide.

I understand the benefits of that rule, but at what point is fair to make that rule. First time hunters 17 and older are screwed under this situation. It is one of those doors that should not be opened at all, or everyone should have to suffer it. Because, it will always make someone feel like they got screwed.

Dig the Saturday opener, it grew on me.

So-so on the season changes as far as archery to shotgun, but I won't complain about that.

Wish the back end was kicked out to at least 10-14 days.

thesource

How about the huge reduction in doe permits?

DEC wasn't kidding when they said they wanted the herd to grow.

MDManiac

Well after shooting as many as they did, most probably still with fawns, whatdya expect?

thesource

Hey, I'm with you. I just about wore out my keyboard emailing the DEC after last season to cut the tags in Region 8.

Phade

And you'll still be suprised to know that reg 8 will have the least amount of deductions in the sz.

I believe we only had one or two counties and zones that had higher than anticipated harvests. More counties and zones were below anticipated harvest numbers. Especially where I am up in Northern Livingston.

I have spoke with Reg 8 officials, and lead biologists in Albany who have stated that in some counties, reductions will almost be negligible. I believe southern areas in reg 8 and parts of Monroe County will have noticeable reductions, but that may be it.

State wide, the percentage will be high.

johnl

does anyone know if they are going to allow rifles in the southern zone ? I've got mixed feelings about it myself but I am leaning more for against it

jpm8920

They already allow rifles in the southern zone. At least in the Catskills they do.

As for the Saturday opener, I'm not a fan. We used to go to our camp in the Catskills early Saturday, and spend the weekend getting ready. The anticipation was amazing. Now, everybody has to get out of work on Friday, run upstate (2 1/2 hour drive), try to get some stuff prepared, and then jump in bed so we won't be totally exhausted for the morning. Definitely not a fan of that change.

Phade

Remember not everyone has the 2.5 hour drive, and all that.

Some of us walk out our back yards.

It's another of those rules where someone will always feel like they got screwed. So, how do you feel?

jhoffman

Never thought about the drive time for the city guys that hunt around me maybe there wont be a ton of people in the woods opening day - I guess it depends if the people that come in to the hunting camps take that Friday off and drive down or if they just make an early morning of it and drive in opening morning - will probably have a few more locals out opening day than usuall though - guess it evens out - Regardless of when opening is I'm not far from my stand when I get out of bed so it doesn't affect me all that much -

I agree with Phade on the antler restriction regs. If they are going to implement the restrictions you've got to implement them across the board not for 17 and under one law and 18 and up another what's the point - so everyone that has a kid old enough to hunt and drops a small buck tags it with their kids tag - how many times do you see that happening in a season?