Rod, Gun and Game: Deer management begins to head in a set direction

Using a study conducted through Cornell University, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation provided a statewide sample of 4,000 adult big game license holders for 2009-10, based on the proportion of all license holders in each Wildlife Management Unit.

An additional random sample of 1,000 licensees was drawn from WMU’s where hunters had high odds of receiving their first Deer Management Permits, but low or no chance of receiving a second DMP. The total sample of 5,000 resulted in 4,791 deliverable questionnaires and 2,213 usable returns for a 46.2 percent response rate.

At the time of the Cornell survey, crossbows were not legal implements for hunting deer in New York state. A little more than one half of respondents thought that crossbows should be legalized.

About 43 percent of bow hunters and 39 percent of big game hunters who do not hunt with a bow responded that they definitely or probably would use one if crossbows were legalized. About half of the respondents thought they should be legalized for all hunters during any season in which bows currently are legal.

Only 19 percent thought that the use of crossbows should be limited to the regular firearms season. The vast majority of respondents also thought that crossbows should be legalized for senior or disabled hunters.

With crossbows and optical scope sights, there would probably be far fewer wounded deer and a far higher kill rate. Using a crossbow is not as skill-sensitive as drawing a bow, utilizing a peep sight and releasing an accurate arrow.

Despite that, I would predict we have more hunters using arrows and crossbows in 10 years than we do with firearms.

The one area the DEC does need to formally address is crossbow hunting safety. Veteran hunter and hunting safety Instructor Jack Bouquin said, “Some of the ways that a well-done Horton crossbow video illustrates climbing to a tree stand with a crossbow seems contrary to what we have always learned about tree stand safety.”

Bouquin advised that, when crossbows become legal, NYS should implement a special standard and separate mandatory training course similar to archery for all would-be crossbow users.

Deer management takes

five-year direction

When the DEC announced that it had adopted a five-year deer management plan late last year, much of the regular deer hunting public became suspect. The final plan, which has been revised based on public comment on a previously-released draft version, is now available on the DEC website at www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7211.html.

The DEC’s final deer management plan provides strategic direction during the next five years and brings a new range of deer management expectations that will be based on a program that is revised every five years.

According to DEC Commissioner Joe Martens, “The new scheme will help focus efforts where they can best meet the biological and social demands associated with deer. This plan emphasizes the importance of hunting for deer management and we are particularly excited to create new opportunities for young deer hunters.”



The plan describes six primary goals that encompass the current priorities for deer management and the issues addressed by the public: manage deer populations at levels that are appropriate for human and ecological concerns; promote and enhance deer hunting as an important recreational activity, tradition and population management tool in New York; reduce negative impacts caused by deer; foster public understanding and communication about deer ecology, deer management, economic aspects and recreational opportunities; manage deer to promote healthy and sustainable forests and enhance habitat conservation efforts to benefit deer and other species and ensure that the necessary resources are available to support sound management of white-tailed deer in New York.

The DEC said it intends to begin implementing strategies of the deer plan for 2012-2013. While many of the strategies will take several years to develop, the DEC expects to begin rule making to implement a number of hunting-related aspects of this plan now.

Outdoor calendar:

Feb. 18 and 19: Cattaraugus County Sportsmen’s Show, Seneca Allegany Casino events center, Salamanca, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.senecaalleganycasino.com.

Feb. 21: Junior Olympic Archery Development Program for youths 6 – 18 years old; open to the public, 6 – 10 p.m., West Falls Conservation Society, 55 Bridge St. Call 941-9393 for more information.

Feb. 22- 26: Buffalo Boat Show, Buffalo Bills Healthy Zone Fieldhouse, Orchard Park, see www.buffaloboating.com for more information.

Feb. 25: Gun Raffle, Southtowns Walleye Association, noon - 5 p.m. 5895 Southwestern Blvd., Hamburg. Ticket price includes food and refreshments. Call Chris Guenther for tickets at 827-8968.

Send news and information 10 days in advance to nugdor@yahoo.com.