In this episode of We Love Outdoors with Rich Davenport, your humble host is counting down the days to the Regular Big Game Season opener, happening Saturday, November 20. With the final days of archery and crossbow season at hand, now is the time to take care of any last minute gear replacement, or make final repairs to stands, etc., before the regular season opens.
The change in the opening day some 15 years ago in NY has had the unintended consequence of creating a rush rush rush scenario, as hunters don't have that last weekend of archery before the opening day Monday to do the things they must do now in a compressed fashion. Rushing is not the name of the big game hunting game, and now with the extended shooting hours, it behooves hunters to slow down and take even more time to assure proper target ID and safety of the shot. Remember to also practice good treestand safety, and use that fall arresting harness when climbing and in stand. Hunters are also reminded to wear that safety orange or pink!
DEC will be operating a checkstation on Route 16 in Region 9, just south of Holland, NY, during the opening weekend. Hunters are encouraged to stop and let biologists collect samples to help better inform to the health of deer in our area. Remember to properly tag and report that harvest within 7 days of the kill, as is required of all hunters to do. A new mobile app, HuntFishNY, is available for download and offers the easiest way to report right from your smart phone. This app replaced the old Pocket Ranger app, which ceased working after DEC moved to new license system last year.
DEC continues to promote "Let It Go, Watch It Grow," harvest restraint to allow bucks to get a little older before harvest. Some identification tips are provided by your humble host to help hunters better identify an adult deer from a young one, on hoof. Although every deer harvested is an awesome accomplishment, knowing the indicators of an adult doe or mature buck certainly helps better inform the hunter's decision to shoot or pass. DEC is also seeking waterfowl hunters cooperation on a diving and sea duck study on thiamine levels in Great Lakes basin birds. Visit the DEC website for more information how you can help! Thiamine, pr vitamin B1, is critical for successful reproduction, and with thiamine levels showing low in some fish, understanding if this is also a condition in waterfowl can help direct research efforts to find the cause and remedy.
Meanwhile, Missouri held its first ever black bear hunt, and PA has added some new public acreage to their portfolio of public lands open to hunters. Back in NY, local conservation clubs are really feeling the funding hurt caused by covid covid covid. Consider joining a club and help out, as these groups are critical for conservation's future.
With the passage of the infrastructure bill, the communist dash to the lifestyles of the Amish is on track, complete with full folly that the rest of the world is starting to doubt. But more concerns keep cropping up, especially with offshore wind, prompting BOEM to start soliciting hydrodynamic studies caused by wind factories. And later on tonight, CAWTILE will hold an informational meeting on wind turbines in Lake Erie at Southtowns Walleye Association on Southwestern Blvd at 6:30PM. Hope to see you all there!
