posted on January 11, 2010 10:17
NYB & NYMLA PROPOSE HUNTING SEASON CHANGES
The New York Bowhunters and New York Muzzleloaders Association are jointly floating a proposal which would radically change the N.Y. State hunting season structure. Everyone will benefit, except for vast majority of hunters who hunt the regular firearms hunting season.
The NYB is seeking an October 1 opener in the Southern Zone for the bowhunters, and they also want to run the bow outing late into the year. The plan will essentially “gut” the regular firearms season and move the majority of the hunting days into December.
The “kicker” is permanently opening the regular firearms season the Saturday before Thanksgiving. They have suggested this move in previous years. On the face of it, it seems OK. But, a study of this plan shows that in most years, the majority of hunting days would be in December!
That is not good! Especially for those who hunt the Southern Tier and Western New York. When the Great Lakes lake effect snow machine gets into high gear, tons of snow will cover deer country, not to mention the mighty cold weather that comes along with it. It would also have a significant negative impact on those counties east of Lake Ontario as well.
For instance, in 2013, the regular firearms season would open on 11/23 and close on 12/15; in 2014 it would open on 11/22 and close on 12/14; in 2015 it would open on 11/21 and close on 12/13; etc. We would be flirting with disaster as far as a good deer hunting season goes. Naturally, this would also impact the deer harvest numbers in a negative way, thereby disrupting deer management goals.
The proposal also suggests a five-day antlerless only “primitive” muzzleloader season on the last Monday prior to the beginning of the regular firearms season, ending on the Friday prior to the beginning of the regular firearms season.
Isn’t it odd … no mention of crossbows?
The good part of their proposal is that it would establish a youth hunt (14 & 15 year olds) for deer on the weekend prior to the beginning of the regular firearms season.
Hunters should keep an eye on this one. I see no problem with the October lst opener for bows, but making the Saturday prior to Thanksgiving the permanent opener for firearms season is a loser!
Crossbows Back in Albany Spotlight in January
Crossbow legislation will be back on the agenda in Albany when the state legislature begins a new session in January 2010. The same bills are in the hopper and several more legislators have voiced support for the Maziarz (Senate) and DelMonte (Assembly) bills. We have heard that some other bills will be introduced as well, but those two are the prime proposals. They simplify the process and would make the crossbow a legal hunting tool in New York State and leave the details, such as season setting, bag limits, rules and regulations, up to the professional wildlife managers at DEC.
There are only two states who do not allow hunting with crossbows, in the entire country…New York and Oregon! Some states only allow them for disabled hunters, or senior citizens, etc.
So, if you are interested in seeing the crossbow become a part of our hunting seasons, contact your local state legislators and let them know of your interest.
It is also important to contact the following key lawmakers in Albany:
Crossbow Information
For more information on crossbows, there is a great website that lists all kinds of information, but especially good is a thumbnail sketch of crossbow rules for every state. It is quite accurate, but crossbow laws/rules are changing so fast that if you are keying on a particular state, the info should be double checked. Each site has an e-mail address for their DNR as well as a phone number. The link is: http://www.huntersfriend.com.