Just wondering if anyone has heard when they will let us know if they are going to change the 2005 hunting season. I know they want to start the Southern Zone Archery Season on October 1st, then have a early Muzzle loading season in Mid October, for a week (Doe Only) then start the Archery season up again, until gun season. Just wondering if anyone has heard any news lately. Thanks.

Have not heard anything official, but if the DEC puts in the proposed early ML season, they will be defying the overwhelming opinions offered by NYS hunters at the recent public meetings. One DEC official told our gourp (at one of the last meetings)that by far the meeting attendees were against an early ML season - even a majority of ML hunters were against it. We'll have to see what happens to know if offering our opinions, when the DEC asks for them, is worth the trouble.

Mike

As you may have already heard, the proposed rule changes to the 2005 season have been cut back. The Department of Environ-mental Conservation has solidified its proposed 2005 Southern Zone big game dates as follows:
Early Archery - Oct. 15 through Nov. 18 (Saturday opener) ; Regular Season - Nov. 19 through Dec. 11 (Saturday opener, includes four weekends); Late Archery and Muzzleloader seasons - Dec. 12 through Dec. 20.
The proposed early, antlerless-only muzzleloader season has been removed from the equation for the moment, and is not being considered for 2005. These proposed regulations were published in the State Register last Wednesday, April 6, and DEC is accepting public comments on them through May 23. You can send written comments by going to www.dec.state.ny.us on the web and then selecting "Proposed Environmental Regulations" from the left-hand column, or you can mail them to: Big Game Season Changes, NYSDEC, Bureau of Wildlife, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4754. More on this topic in next week's column.

It looks like we lost both the early Archery opener (1'st Saturday in October) and the early Southern Zone Muzzleloader (3'rd Saturday in October). We did get Saturday Southern Zone opening days. Write or contact the DEC if you support these changes. I know I'm going to lobby to get the 1'st Saturday in October instated for Southern Zone Archery opener.

Shotgun,

I don't think NY Hunters "lost" the Early Sat. opener for bow and the Early ML opener as much as the majority of sportsman indicated they didn't want them. This was a great step forward in the DEC's over all management phiosophy. The opinions of hunters were clearly stated in the DEC meeting held across the state and for a change the State listened to them. Basically there are a wide variety of hunting seasons in the state that take place on the same available lands and each one is entitled to a time period without the interference of the other. Deer hunters should be able to hunt without the interference of small game hunters with dogs running past their stands and visa-versa. And, the necessity of special seasons for special weapons is becoming more and more controversial. Focus on the game speicies being hunted should, and is, taking presidence over the individual hunting habits of sportsmen and women. A call for a single deer season with a choice of weapons is becoming the popular view. We as sportsmen need to curb the DEC away from the political plan of providing "recreational opportunities" dedicated to every sportsman's prefered hunting method and instead focus on game management to assure huntable populations for all. The State should give less concern to flexible opportunities for hunter success - ultimate success is the hunter's job - but instead focus on stewardship of the land and wildlife, with hunting an integral part of the overall management plan.


Mike

[/QUOTE]A call for a single deer season with a choice of weapons is becoming the popular view.

I agree alot with what you said Birdog, but I strongly disagree with your quote above! I am avaid Bow Hunter, and no way do I want to be in the woods the same time that some other hunter is hunting with a Gun! The whole idea of Bow Hunting is the peace and quiet of the woods.

rebbie,

What I wrote was simply my opinion and apparently that of a overwhelming number of NY sportsmen who attended the recent public meetings sponsored by the DEC. I understand your desire to hunt unmolested by other hunters, but is that not the desire of all hunters? The intent of one season for all is to establish a method for managing all hunters and deer on the avaiable land and separating small game hunters with dogs from big game hunters - a more logical separation it would seem to me. That some choose to hunt deer with a bow, some with a muzzle loader and some with a more traditional gun should have little bearing when they are allowed to hunt the same game animal. I have hunted with both gun and bow for many years. At times I bow hunt during the gun season, which is allowed by law but not the other way around, and on both public and private lands but I see no "true" disadvantage in any case. My success is primarily a factor of my preparation and skill level in a particular year. I have had my hunt disturbed by gun hunters, bow hunters, and even bird watchers for that matter - that's the breaks. Why should I have the advantage of less disturbed woods just because I hunt with a bow? At the same time why should I be allowed additional deer tags for the same area just because I hunt with a bow or muzzle loader? Not trying to start WWIII here, just asking some difficult questions that arise from the proposed, and oddly unsupported, DEC hunting regulations. If I have done my homework, it shouldn't matter what weapon I choose and it hasn't in my experience. Granted, bow hunting offers a greater challange, but that's why we should choose to do it, not because of more opportunities to take a deer through longer seasons of additional tags.

Mike