In CT, landowners can rifle hunt starting November 1st, whereas the rest of us gunners wait until the 3rd Wednesday. Prime of the rut...

Hasn't affected the deer or the bowhunting opportunities. I can understand the safety issue, but perhaps the DEC are thinking of mandating archers wear 400 sq inch of orange, or have an orange tag near their blind/tree?

With that said, I've already posted enough on the new NY turkey "youth" hunt", and how I feel about "special hunts" in general.

This one is beyond comprehension...this may actually increase deer herds, as the deer will be in "hide mode" during the "big" gun opener 8 days later...

Here in New Jersey we have a single day for youths to hunt deer & turkey(shotgun) as long as they have the right permits, licenses, and have past the hunters education class, they also must have a adult license hunter who doesn't have a firearm with them. Any sex or age deer are allowed, and this takes place during the NJ archery season. At first i was concered, but after a few years, it doesn't affect anything, matter of fact i see alot more deer on this day then any other day, the kids can't sit for long and they want to move, or they want to go home.

This is off the topic, but someone posted it was harder to kill a deer with a gun than a bow. I totally disagree with this. I use to bow hunt a lot. And I know of several other bowhunters. If you were to get an honest answer from a devoted bowhunter, he or she would say, with today's bow technology, killing a deer with a bow is simpler than with a gun. I know several bowhunters who take their vacation during bow season and seldom hunt during gun season because they say during gun season, the deer are too spooked. Anyone who has a little time can learn to accurately and consistently shoot a compound bow with sights with very little practice. I am a very good shot at up to 20 yards. Now, place me in a tree along a deer trail, before the deer are spooked, and I guarantee I can get a deer (a buck) within 3 hunts of 4 hours each on good deer habitat. You might say, why don't I bowhunt still? It's because I hate and afraid of tree stands. Bowhunting from a ground blind, that is more difficult than gun hunting. I agree. When I use to hunt from tree stands. Almost every hunt I had deer within bow range. Numerous times, I had deer sniff the tree I was in. Gun season, same tree, no deer.. period!

I THINK THE YOUTH DAY SHOULD YOUNGER WITH SUPERVISION. GET THEM INTERESTED

You may want to edit this.

I'll side with RWK also. Get the adults to give up a little bit on opening day and teach the kids then. Quit being so obsessed with their own success that they can't put in a little time to set the hook for their kids. I would rather sit with my son or daughter and share that great moment of their first deer with them. I can give up some of my time to be with with them on that moment. As far as CattNY's idea of bowhunting being easy, you either were lucky with a bow and got a deer quick, or you're so scared of treestands that you couldn't pry your hands off the tree long enough to draw a bow. The reason that people embrace bowhunting is to see deer move in "normal" conditions, and for more of a challenge. This being true, alot of guys do hunt out of blinds, and stillhunt with a bow. Some with great success. Its called adapting to conditions. Being a bowhunter doesn't mean your "arse" has to grow roots in the tree. Bowhunters that do these things find a whole different dimension to the hunt. I'll give you that technology has brought the bow a long way, but be real. If it was such a cake walk, you would be out there with a bow even if it meant hunting them eye to eye.

Believe it or not, I can be open minded. Before I started posting on this board, I hated ARs, now I am convinced they might be a good thing. As for the Deer Youth hunt. I would be in favor of not giving a youth hunt to 16 and 17 year olds, but let's lower the age for deer hunting and have a one day Youth deer hunt with firearm, Saturday before Opener, for 12-13 year olds with a licensed adult not carrying a firearm. I agree with Coyotedawgs on this.
As for me being a lucky bowhunter. I bowhunted when I was 16 all the way until my mid 30s. The only luck I had at bagging deer was when I hunted from tree stands. Even being strapped in, I don't like being up a tree with an arrow w/o anyone around to help if I fall. I admit, bowhunting from the ground is a big challenge. From a tree, I don't care how big of a buck you shoot from a tree, I'm not impressed. Tell me you got it from the ground with a longbow or recurve, then you are one of the best hunters around.

If you want the future of hunting to be bright, you gotta get kids interested in hunting first. Hunters gotta stay united, or the efforts are worthless.

I'm sorry.......I just don't consider 16-17 year olds that are allowed to hunt in the regular gun season already........kids.


You wanna get a kid interested in hunting?? Start WAY before he is 17 years old.

Lower the age and then give the kids a real Youth Hunt. I'd be willing to share the woods for a weekend with kids.

You have to get your kids out in the woods at a early age,and I'm not talking about hunting. Get the kids in the woods as early as possible and just walk and watch animals. Show them what it's all about long before it's time to hunt. If you get a 3-5 yr. old in the woods to scoutr with you and explain to them about nature when it's time to hunt they'll be interested and have the basic knowledge to succeed.