Southern Zone season opens with high hopes

Saturday is the opening of Southern Zone big game season.

This Saturday, Nov. 16, 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.

The weather forecast calls for cold weather and snow but that will not deter most hunters. In fact, many hunters who have access to larger tracts of land will welcome snow both for tracking as well as increased visibility of their quarry.

For many 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 Oct. 1 with their stands, compound bows, etc. and enjoy several weeks of seeing and trying to bag a deer. Also, 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 and density 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.

Because of the greater deer density and easier hunting conditions, the success rate of hunters is greater. Roughly 1-in-15 hunters in the Northern Zone gets a buck while the success rate in the Southern Zone is approximately 1-in-10. When you

factor in deer management permits, about 1-in-5 hunters will get a deer of some type.

Deer management permits allow hunters to take an antlerless deer in specific wildlife management areas. Their availability is determined by the DEC’s decision to stabilize the population at a desired level in each area. However, in those areas where does have been hunted regularly, taking a doe is not a certain, or easy thing.

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 hunter’s orange since statistics show that most accidents involve people who weren’t wearing orange.

Be sure and use caution if you are using a treestand.

Statistics show that most hunting accidents are from treestands and not firearms. Old wooden stands are not safe since nails rust, etc. causing unsafe conditions. With the snowy and icy conditions, the ladder or other steps are likely to be slippery so be sure to use your safety harness. Never climb up or downwith a loaded firearm.

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.

Good luck to all hunters next week and in the remaining season, which ends December 8 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

Rut In High Gear: In last week’s column we discussed the rut (breeding period) of deer and suggested that hunters should be afield last weekend. Reports of many hunters confirmed that deer were very active last weekend and all the signs of the rut were in high gear. This week the arctic cold blast has discouraged many except the hard-core hunters. However the opening of the Southern Zone season this coming Saturday should still see above average deer activity. I was also fortunate to see an excellent video made by local hunter Dave Herb on his cell phone. Dave was hunting in his tree stand near a scrape and saw an eight point buck approach. Dave immediately put down his bow and started filming. The buck went through all the actions that have been described, i.e. pawing at the scrape, urinating in it to leave his scent, and rubbing and nibbling at the “licking branch overhead.”

A doe in heat soon entered the area and soon the buck proceeded to breed the doe. Afterwards she visited the scrape and they bedded down nearby for awhile. When the doe decided to head to a nearby field to feed, the buck followed closely. All of this is like the rituals most hunters have read about and it was all filmed by a local hunter. Incidentally the video is a great one that was filmed from 15 yards away and has excellent visibility and clarity worthy of a professional. Great job Dave!

Crossbow Coalition News: Steve Zahurak, a spokesman for the NY Crossbow Coalition (NYCC), recently reminded sportsmen that there is much work to be done. The Crossbow Coalition membership is growing each year and is hard at work trying to gain necessary legislative support. They are not interested in debates with the anticrossbow advocates but instead are building a positive movement in outdoor sports and with more participants. They are focusing on the 3 Rs: Recruit (new hunters, especially youth females, and minorities), Retain (current hunters), and Reactivate (get former hunters to participate again – e.g. seniors or handicapped hunters).

Sportsmen are urged to join the Crossbow Coalition, print and mail or scan and email the positive letter on the website: www.nycrossbowcoalition. com . They should also contact Governor Cuomo, Speaker Heastie, and Steve Englebright, chair of the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee. Despite the misconceptions about crossbows there are many benefits to be gained for sportspeople, local businesses, equipment manufacturers, tourism, and state license and tax revenues. New York needs to join the majority of other states who have seen that the time for crossbow inclusion has arrived.

Inland Trout Fishing Regulations Changes: A sneak preview of the changes in inland trout fishing regulations has some people pleased, others disappointed, and most people wondering. The changes have not been officially released yet although some people have seen them and passed on the basic ideas. These would not take place until 2011. Essentially there will be less trout, but perhaps larger. DEC wants to encourage wild trout and plans on reducing stocking. They may stock larger trout but regulations will cut down the creel limit to three fish, and only two of them may be larger than 12 inches.