Southern Zone deer hunt opens Saturday

All across the Southern Tier, hunters will set out in pursuit of the nation’s most popular big game animal.

This Saturday, Nov. 18, has been circled on the calendar for several months by thousands of local residents. It is the opening of Southern Zone big game season. The next day or two will find sportsmen lining up their clothing, checking their accessories and gear, and running to local sports shops for any items that they feel they need. All across the southern part of New York State hunters will set out in pursuit of the nation’s most popular big game animal -- the whitetail deer.

For a lot of people it is “The” deer season. Opening day is still

a big event for deer hunters, but it is a far cry from what it used to be. Due to the popularity of bowhunting in recent years a lot of the anticipation and excitement of opening day of regular firearms season is lost.

These days many hunters take to the woods on October 1with their stands, compound bows, etc. and enjoy several weeks of seeing and trying to bag a deer. And the total number of deer hunters has declined in recent years for a variety of reasons.

Unlike other season openers, which are mostly psychological, or a welcome beginning of good times to come, the opening days of southern zone deer season are directly related to success. Statistics show that 55 percent of the bucks taken are shot on the first two days of the season. Thus if you hunt later in the season, your odds of getting a buck are reduced, although there will still be bucks around. Remember, there will never be more bucks in the woods than there are on opening day.

Easier hunting conditions, the familiarity of hunting small woodlots or farms instead of bigger woods, and increased deer numbers all contribute to the immense popularity of southern zone hunting. Increased numbers of hunters afield also increase your chances of seeing deer since they often move deer from one area to another. Sixty percent of the state’s total deer harvest comes from the southern zone.

Everyone has their favorite areas and tactics, but one of the methods that will probably still pay off if there are other hunters in the area is to be sitting on watch about mid day. Many hunters get cold, restless, or head out to the truck or nearby diner for lunch. In the process they often move deer that they never see. Thus, a large number of deer are shot by hunters on watch between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

There are a lot of different opinions and favorite methods but if you are ever going to sit on watch much of the day, this should be the day. Hunters moving to and from their hunting spots, others in nearby areas still-hunting, or driving are likely to cause deer to be on the move most of the day. If you have a good spot in likely cover or a funnel area the odds are that you will make yourself comfortable and hope someone else moves a deer towards you.

Regardless of where you hunt, your number one concern should be safety. Be certain of your target and what is beyond it. Wear some blaze orange since statistics show that most accidents involve people who weren’t wearing orange.

Finally, be sure and be an ethical sportsman. In addition to safety, you should be sure of your shot for quick, clean kills. Follow up every shot, even an apparent miss. Remember that even a fatal shot may not show any apparent effects. Follow even a bloodless trail for at least 200 yards. It is the mark of a responsible sportsman to make sure that every possible wounded animal is found.

According to DEC biologists the deer population in region 7M has increased. The DEC issued additional DMPs 20 percent this year in hopes of keeping deer population at desired levels. Similar trends are seen in regions 7H and 7J but lack of public land and hunting access is a problem. As always, deer are like money – not evenly distributed.

Good luck to all hunters next week and in the remaining season, which ends December 10 in the southern zone. Even though you may not get one in the first few days, do not get discouraged. Although half of the bucks may be taken in the first couple days, less than 10 percent of the trophy bucks are taken then.

Be sure to let us know of any nice deer that you get or any interesting stories.

SHORT CASTS

Deer Hides Wanted: This weekend and the following two weeks should be a busy time with a lot of deer harvested locally. For the deer hunters who have been successful and are wondering what to do with the hide, Jim Ward of Oneida Trap Supply is again buying hides. Call Jim at 363-2913 for information and hours.

White Deer Tours Begin: White Deer Tours of the former Seneca Army Depot in Romulus, NY began Thursday, November 16, Seneca White Deer President Dennis Money announced recently. The world’s largest herd of white, whitetailed deer form the centerpiece of the tours, which will also feature military artifacts from decades as a major weapons storage facility. Reservations for the tours can be made online at www.senecawhitedeer.org.

The 90-minute, guided bus tours will feature food plots established to restore deer herd and stop at one of the earth- covered storage igloos that once stockpiled weapons of all sizes and descriptions. This is the first time in more than five years the former Depot has been open to the public. Tours will generally be conducted Thursday through Sunday, year round, not just for a limited number of weekends as they have in the past.

The 25-passenger tour buses will leave the John and Josephine Ingle Welcome Center on Route 96A, about 10 miles south of Geneva, NY, and travel through the heart of the storage area which features 519 earth- covered bunkers, more than 100 miles of roads, and remnants of the farms that preceded the Depot.

The central attraction for the tours is the famous white deer herd within the fences of the former Depot. The white deer found there are a natural variation of the white-tailed deer, which usually have brown coloring. The Seneca White Deer are leucitic, meaning they lack all pigmentation in the hair, but have the normal brown-colored eyes. This is a recessive gene, and they are not albinos. The Seneca White Deer interbreed freely with the brown deer in the former Depot and share the habitat equally.

About one quarter of the deer population now is white. The white deer on the former Depot are recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s largest herd of white, white-tailed deer.

Reservations for tours can be made online at senecawhitedeer.org. Full details on the tour schedule and pricing are on the Seneca White Deer, Inc. website. The Seneca Army Depot was built in 1941 by the Army in anticipation of World War II. It was a major weapons storage facility for nearly 60 years and closed in 2000. Seneca White Deer, Inc. is a non-profit, 501(c) 3 organization, run by an unpaid Board of Directors.