and what does having a few missspelled words have to do with that?

Like I said earlier I liked the way it is. But if they are going to give the muzzleloaders a week it's not that bad. I am sure if bowhunters complain enough about it being in the middle of their season they could just put it at the last week, the one before opening day so there wouldn't be any interruption. I'de like to hear the complaining then..

Well I'm off. Good Luck to all on opening day.

Here's an Idea, start bowhunting oct 1 and run it straight until Nov 10 then run firearms season until to Dec 5 then give muzzleloaders and late season archers until Dec. 20, see everyone is happy. Everyone has ample amount of time in the woods with their weapon of choice. This way bowhunters get early season to get on that patterened buck and Pre-rut to use all of the calls and horns and see signs of the rut, Then the shotgun hunters get what they all ways wanted to hunt the rut with a gun for a few weeks, then muzzleloaders and late archers get the post rut which can be even better than the rut itself, and get to use pre-rut and rut tactics, while hunting the food sources. I hope NY makes the right choice.

So do I - the current proposal is NOT it. Your would have fewer objections

Steve

personally I think they should go with the Sat opener and if the muzzle loaders want a week ( which I guess they deserve after all they do spend the money for an extra tag ) give them the week before shotgun this would make it a little less confusing

I just read through this, and I agree this is not the answer.

It should be simple.

Bow
MZ
Shotgun
Late MZ and Bow (if need be)

Alot of southern states have what I feel is the right way to go.
Simply:
Bow Oct 1-Nov 10 or so
MZ Nov 11-18 give or take (usually the time of the rut)
Gun until the first weekend in Jan closes. (although some do not allow hunting on Sunday, so that explains the longer timeframe)

This would allow for enough harvesting to control the population numbers. Even if a portion of the gun is limited to antlerless, it will have the desired effect.Virginia sometimes has a antlerless only week the weekend before the gun season closes so the final weekend returns to all goes down. This has worked well for them.

However, I really feel this new option is not the answer, and I am too mixed on the Saturday opener. But I do understand the DEC logic with Sat. and that part may work. Everything else can get flushed down the crapper IMO.

As you can see by the variances in the posts/suggestions, this issue is not going to be easy to solve. Everyone has their own agendas (myself included - however I hunt with all implements so I can say I am fairly "impartial"). If "we" can't come up with a unified solution, the proposed changes are going to go thru. My "simple" solution is:

1) start bow early or not - doesn't make much difference to me. As most bowhunters have stated here - those 2 weeks would be mostly unproductive and tend to be rather warm. Lets say it starts Oct. 1 (we can have some armed scouting)

2) start the gun season on the new proposed Saturday (a compromise for me, who likes the traditional monday and a bowhunter who will lose a good weekend) - this seems to be what the "majority" of hunters want so why not (eventhough it may overcrowd the woods on that weekend?)

3) gun season - the 29 days from the saturday opener - as is the case now, muzzleloaders can use their MLs in this season. additionally, allow MLers to use their ML tag during this season (I believe now they can only use their regular buck tag and/or doe permit)

4) late season(s) ML and/or bow - I personally don't care if there is a late bow. I would just assume give the MLers "their own" season late. let's make it a worthwhile season (say from end of gun for 3 weeks). this would allow the deer to "calm down" after gun season. it also allows the MLers a longer opportunity to utilize their implement that they did purchase a license for

To me, this seems rather simple and fair. Everybody gets a little something and nothing is really taken away from the bowhunters.

doughboysigep - great post! A compromise where everyone gains something and no group is a big loser.

Thanks
Steve

Having an agreed season is not a viable option to stop the changes from occuring. It can only be of use after the primary need.

In politics (which this undoubtedly is unfortunately), winning elvolves around organization and presentation ( in this case an organized effort AGAINST the proposed season changes).

There is no point whatsoever of agreeing on a season without being organized enough to stop the current proposed changes from passing.
It will require numbers that would be darn near impossible unless funding is offered to a central group that opposes the changes (lobbying essentially in one form or another). This would allow for advertising the issues and the reasoning behind it ie. making aware of the meetings the state has planned to hear feedback, etc.

I see this as highly impossible given the time frame they are looking to pass this by (in time for printing of the next season guidebooks). So, unless someone steps up bigtime, or a group jumps into the frying pan...get ready for this poor choice.

you had the answer - groups need to get involved. if everyones local hunting club, sportsmen's association, etc and all individuals were to send a simple email to the DEC/stat politicians, things could get done (that's how our system of govt works). if we could settle on some type of unified front (take my suggestions for instance - it is quite brilliant - lol ) then the powers at be would see that there is, not only opposition, but a viable solution. taking the approach that all is for naught and we can't change things, is defeatist and won't solve anything. imo