Thought I share my response to DEC regarding these just to gauge others opinions.
BTW the address to contact NYS DEC about this is:
[email protected]
Here goes:
Just thought I'd add my 2 cents worth of opinion on the proposed changes to the NYS deer season restructuring.
* A Special Youth Big Game Hunt. - I'm all for this, I don't have any children old enough to participate yet but will in a few more years. Any strategy that helps carry on the tradition is worth the effort. I'm sure some hunters will gripe about this but I feel this hunt should come well before the regular season. Kids need an opportunity to see game in the field and once the regular season kicks in it becomes much more difficult. It doesn't take many outings of seeing no game whatsoever to turn a modern kid back to their video games and lose a possible lifetime hunter.
* Consideration of pilot programs for Alternative Harvest Strategies such as antler restrictions and "Earn a Buck" on a pilot basis for selected WMUs - I don't have any comment on this proposal. I'd need to see some more detail on what exactly is proposed.
* Further extension of the late Archery and Muzzleloader seasons. - I'm all for this. I hunt exclusively with a flintlock and appreciate the special muzzleloader seasons and their generally rather low hunter turnout.
* Consideration of creating "primitive implement" (flintlock) opportunities. - I'm all for this as well. I've been hunting with a flintlock for 20+ years and it's rather distressing to see the scoped inlines taking over the seasons. My personal opinion on the matter is that they are "cheating" on the spirit if not the letter of the law. I don't feel the same about traditional caplocks, but would still welcome a flintlock only season, (to include matchlock, snaphaunce, wheelock, etc, say anything pre 1830). This opportunity would restore the "primitive" aspect I feel was originally intended for the muzzleloader season.
* Consideration for the use of crossbows for deer hunting. - No comment. I don't know enough about the weapons to have a stand for or against.
* Consideration of a trial either-sex early muzzleloader season in the portions of the Southern Zone after evaluating the results of the seasons and the impacts on other hunters, deer harvest and hunter satisfaction. - My only issue with this proposal is that if it falls during the same time frame as the Northern Zone early muzzleloader season I'll have to choose where I want to spend my vacation. I've been hunting deep in the Adirondacks for the entire early muzzleloader season for most of the last 20 years and would hate to have to pick between deer quantity (Southern Zone) and the aura of hunting the big woods (Northern Zone). The Northern Zone would undoubtedly win out for me and I suspect many others who have created a tradition of hunting that season.
* Consideration for including future changes to Northern Zone season structure and timing to achieve even greater consistency and parity with Southern Zone seasons. - I don't see any problem with the Northern Zone season structure as it is. The deer populations are low enough that shortening the season would most likely just lower the already abysmal harvest numbers. I live in the Southern Zone now but still do most of my hunting up north. If the seasons fell more in line I'd probably stop hunting the Southern Zone altogether. A late muzzleloader season in the Northern Zone would have the potential of offering up hunts when the deer have already begun yarding up for the winter, at least in those years when winter comes early to the north. Selfishly speaking I'd love the opportunity to hunt up north during mid-December but I don't think it's a particularly good idea for the deer herd.
This doesn't come from much of a deer harvester, I can count the number of deer I've shot in my life on one hand. From my point of view it's much more about the opportunity and the quality of the hunt as opposed to the quantity of deer available to bag. All that being said the more I can get out to hunt, particularly during special muzzleloader seasons, the happier I am. I intend to pass that enjoyment on to as many of my four children as I can.
Dick
