Deer season open in NY: What hunters are seeing, what DEC is planning to ensure safety
Short of simply flipping a coin, there isn’t much else to use to predict what the deer harvest is going to be like this season. One hunting party I know of (three members) saw more than a dozen deer during the opening day hunt on Saturday, but all three of them came out of the woods empty handed.
I watched another hunter manhandling an impressive doe that might have tipped the scales at 140-150 pounds on the hoof.
In years gone by I would hear a couple dozen shots during the first few days of firearms season. Not so these days. I did hear four or five shots Saturday, but nothing on Sunday.
Last week, I was told by one expert Dutchess County has been hammered by epizootic hemorrhagic disease. But even at that, there are areas here where deer seem to be plentiful, and others where you would believe there are no deer left on the landscape.
Outdoors: Big game hunting season to open: What to know, how to stay safe
Baiting while hunting: What to know about illegal practice
Outdoors: Deer Management Permits still available: Where, how to get them in NY
Any hunter who does manage to harvest a deer, and is feeling generous, feel free to call Hunters Helping the Hungry. At last report there was only one deer in the cooler waiting to be processed for the program. That is unfortunate. From now until right after the holiday season people are generous and the food pantries and hot meal programs have a good supply of food on hand. After the holiday season it will be difficult to meet demand. Hunters Helping the Hungry has donated enough meat for about 500,000 meals since the mid 90’s. The last couple of years have been tough; donations have bottomed out.
If you would like to donate a deer call 914-755-9667 or 845-635-1606 and someone will make arrangements for your donation.
DEC announces 'Operation Safe Harvest'
State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos announced Environmental Conservation Police Officers will be conducting something called 'Operation Safe Harvest' for the duration of the big game season. The operation is being billed as being part of a statewide initiative to ensure all hunters are following the state's hunting laws and safety guidelines.
I’m a little mystified by the announcement because it suggests ECO’s will pay particular attention to hunters in the state’s Southern Zone to make sure "hunters follow hunting laws and safety guidelines.” I am not aware of previous concerns about how hunters conduct themselves here in the Southern Zone as compared to those hunting in the Northern Zone.
It is routine for enforcement to be stepped up during the big game season, and in fact over the years, the sporting community has specifically requested stepped up patrols and enforcement. They’ve also been known to voice concerns during tight budget cycles when told the department might not be able provide additional patrols because of reduced resources.
Seggos also noted, as a part of the operation, ECOs are going to engage with new hunters. I’m not sure how they will know new hunters from the experienced ones, but it is not a bad idea. Many, if not most of the new hunters going afield since COVID came on the scene, completed their Hunter Training online. So far there is no indication those hunters are any less prepared than those who did it the old-fashioned way by attending an in-person class.
Since the deer and bear season opened in the Northern Zone on Oct. 22, ECOs have written nearly 150 tickets, including 50 misdemeanor charges. Now that the regular firearms season has arrived here in the Southern Zone I would expect that the number of tickets will go up, especially since there will be increased enforcement.
DEC is also reminding hunters they play a key role on in protecting New York deer from Chronic Wasting Disease. Chronic Wasting Disease continues to spread in other states, and hunter cooperation is key to preventing CWD introduction to New York. CWD is always fatal to deer. If introduced, it could spread rapidly and be practically impossible to eliminate once established. Hunters can help protect New York's deer herd from CWD by following these tips:
If hunting any type of deer, elk, moose, or caribou outside of New York, it must be deboned before bringing it back home. Because of CWD regulations, DEC will confiscate and destroy illegally imported carcasses and parts, including whole deer and deer heads, so don’t get caught because the carcass will be confiscated, trophy or not.
Deer urine-based lures or attractant scents should not be used because they could contain the prions that carry CWD.
If you butcher your own deer, dispose of carcass in a landfill.
If you see what you believe to be a sick deer, Report it to DEC.
The regular firearms season for deer and bear in the Southern Zone runs through Dec. 11, and includes participation from approximately 85% of New York's 550,000 licensed hunters.
For information and to review the regulations concerning CWD, visit the DEC's website. If you don’t have a Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide, you can also find that online at dec.ny.gov.
Bill Conners of the Federation of Fish and Game Clubs writes on outdoors issues. Email: conners@billconners.net.
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Deer season in NY: How it's going, what DEC has planned
