Outdoors: Regular deer and bear hunting season underway
The regular firearms season for deer and bear hunting in the Southern Zone began last Saturday. As usual, it is hard to gauge what kind of season lies ahead. The weather is becoming far more conducive for deer hunting; nighttime temps are predicted to go below freezing this week and daytime temps were to generally stay below 50 degrees.
The regular firearms season remains open until December 13, followed by the late bowhunting and muzzleloading season, which will run December 14-22. Hunters taking part in these special seasons must possess either bowhunting or muzzleloading privileges. Crossbows may be used through the regular gun season, as well as the late special seasons. You'll need muzzleloader privileges to use the crossbow during the late season.
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According to the Department of Environmental Conservation's wildlife biologists, deer and bear hunting play an important role in conservation efforts. The annual harvest is critical for adjusting populations to levels that are compatible with local habitats and land uses.
DEC estimates suggest that 85 percent of the state's 550,000 licensed big game hunters participate in the Southern Zone hunt, which makes it New York's most popular hunting season. Harvest during this season accounts for nearly 60 percent of the total statewide deer harvest and 30-60 percent of the statewide bear harvest.
Throughout a large portion of the Southern Zone, from Niagara and Erie counties, across the northern Finger Lakes and Central New York, into the Mohawk Valley, and in the further southeastern New York area, current deer populations are higher than desired. In these areas, DEC has made Deer Management Permits (tags for antlerless deer) widely available, and hunters should make every effort to fill their tags. That extra deer you harvest can be shared with family or friends or you could donate it a program such as Hunters Helping the Hungry. They will process it for free and donate it to a food program for the needy.
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"New York's deer and bear populations are great resources for the state, providing over 10 million pounds of quality, locally grown, organic meat to families across the state," said Acting Commissioner Basil Seggos.
Going back to the conservation effort and wildlife management, if you do harvest a deer or bear you are required to report your harvest within seven days. I hear hunters complaining that they don't have confidence in the DEC's capability to estimate harvest and determine how many Deer Management Permits should be issued to keep the herd at the best level. DEC biologists will have a tough time "getting it right" if hunters fail to properly report their harvest.
You can report your harvest via DEC's online game harvest reporting system webpage or by calling the toll-free automated reporting system at 1-866-GAME-RPT (1-866-426-3778).
Historically, only about 45 percent of hunters comply with the reporting requirements for deer and bear, so DEC has extended the hours of its call center to include Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. during the first two weekends of the Southern Zone Regular Season to assist hunters that have difficulty reporting their harvest via the automated reporting system.
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Hunters should consider passing up shots on young, small-antlered bucks. Most deer hunters say they would enjoy seeing more, older, larger bucks. As more and more hunters let yearling bucks pass by, the size of the average buck taken will increase. New York hunters are now taking more older bucks than ever before — more than half of all antlered bucks taken in 2014 were at least 2 years old, and the number of at least 3-year-old bucks taken in recent years is up about 30 percent compared to the early 2000s and up approximately 80 percent from the early 1990s.
The choices hunters make matter to the structure of the deer population. This year's 110-pound yearling spike or 4-point buck could become a 140-pound 6- or 8-point 2-year old. By the time that buck is 3-years old it could be an 8- or 10-point, 180-pounder. It just takes a little self-restraint.
Remember: safety first. Don't let the excitement of the hunt cause you to throw caution to the wind.
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Important Firearms Safety tips to remember include:
• Point your gun in a safe direction;
• Treat every gun as if it were loaded;
• Be sure of your target and beyond;
• Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot; and
• Remember to wear hunter orange.
For specific descriptions of regulations and open areas, hunters should refer to the 2015-2016 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide webpage available on DEC's website. Hunters are urged to review all regulations and safety tips contained in the guide.
Website: www.dec.ny.gov
Hunters Helping the Hungry Program: 845-635-3641 or 845-635-1606.
Bill Conners of the Federation of Fish and Game Clubs writes on outdoors issues in Players. He can be reached at conners@billconners.net