Last week’s column previewed the proposed changes in deer hunting regulations that were recently released by the DEC. If you had to summarize the prevalent reaction of most area hunters it would be “looks like bowhunters won.”

If the proposed changes are adopted by the DEC it will create a fixed Southern Zone (SZ) opener on October 1. Bowhunters will gain an additional 15 days of hunting in the SZ and an additional four weekends in most years.

Bowhunters in the Northern Zone (NZ) also gain an additional week or possibly two, although the week at the end of the regular season is of questionable value. The proposed change would push the openers of the muzzleloading and regular firearms season a week later to give bowhunters an extra week before the gun season. Any post season archery in the NZ is likely to be irrelevant due to cold weather and snow in mid-December.

Most people would think that bowhunters would be happy in getting these increased opportunities and changes that they have been lobbying for. But many bowhunters are upset at the Youth Hunt planned for Columbus Day weekend. Already New York Bowhunters, Inc. (NYB inc) has cranked up the propaganda machine and probably has its members racing for the phones and writing letters.

First let’s make several things clear. There are quite a few people who hunt with bow and arrow who have expressed legitimate concerns about safety, etc. NYB inc is an organization that represents its members well but not all bowhunters are members of NYB inc. And NYB inc has done many good things but they have often earned the enmity of other sporting groups in New York because of their short-sightedness in fighting for exclusive use of “their season.”

Essentially NYB inc does not want anyone else afield or in the woods during their nine weeks of excusive deer hunting, and that includes youth hunts or small game hunters. If you read the arguments by David Kosowski, legislative chair for NYB inc in last Sunday’s “Post Standard” you can see how shallow these were.

Neil Dougherty, the respected head of North Country Whitetails attacked this position in “Outdoor Life” last October in an article entitled “Don’t Let New York Bowhunters Inc. Eat Our Young.”

If anyone has reason to complain it would be the NZ firearms hunters. By pushing the season back to give the small number of NZ archers and additional week it means that regular hunters will have the end of the season in mid December.

Already much of the time there is very little hunter activity in the end of the season because of snow and cold weather. So in a typical year the NZ hunters will lose two weeks of actual hunting due to weather.

The DEC will establish mandatory antler restrictions in many parts of WMU 4 in southeastern New York. This has always been somewhat controversial but at least it will be implemented by wildlife professionals instead of some ill-informed legislators.

The DEC said that by letting yearling bucks go by, hunters should expect a decrease of 45% in the total buck harvest.

Proposed changes would allow the use of Deer Management Permits to be used by bow and muzzleloader hunters in those areas where issued. Bear seasons would be adjusted to be consistent with deer seasons.

You can check these details and some of the earlier opinions and statistics on the website www.dec.ny.gov/press81326

The web page to send comments was not operating as of the time this column was written. Written copies are also available and you can also comment by writing.

SHORT CASTS

FAO: Future Anglers Outreach (FAO), a program designed to get families outside by giving basic instructions to youngsters and their parents will be Sunday, April 29 at Marion Manor. FAO and its major partner, S.H.O.T.S. will provide all youngsters with a rod and reel to keep. There will be one mentor per family. Tackle, information pamphlets and refreshments will be provided 8 – 12. Volunteers are also needed to help as mentors or with the other tasks. For information or registration contact Ted Dobs at ted@fishny.com or 264-6624.

TURKEY HUNTING SEMINAR: Shawn Fox, owner of Fox Custom Calls and a veteran turkey hunter will conduct a seminar for hunters on Sunday beginning at 9 a.m. Location will be at “A Bite To Eat” Diner on Rte 69 in Camden. The program is free and hunters of all ages and experience are welcome.

CLAYTON TAKE A KID FISHING CONTEST: The 35th annual Take-A-Kid Fishing Contest will be held in Clayton-1000 Islands, NY on Sunday, June 3. The event is sponsored by the Clayton Fishing Guides Association, in cooperation with the Clayton Chamber of Commerce.

The names of 48 young anglers will be drawn and they will fish with members of the Clayton Fishing Guides Association on charter boats. The two young anglers catching the largest fish on each of the eight trips will win a top quality fishing rod & reel outfit.

Young anglers can enter the drawing by visiting: www.1000islands-clayton.com/fishing

Entry deadline is midnight April 16.

Postal entries should be submitted on a post card and include the youngster's name, complete mailing address, telephone number, date of birth, age, the name of the publication they saw the contest announcement in and the name of the outdoor writer who wrote the story. Address postal entries to Take-A-Kid Fishing Contest, 36418 Pelo Rd., Clayton, NY 13624. Mailed entries must be postmarked no later than April 16. Only one entry per person will be allowed. Duplicate entries will result in all entries for that person being discarded.

TROUT & SALMON EXPO: The popular Trout & Salmon Expo sponsored by the Mohawk Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited returns to New Hartford on April 21 from 10 am until 4 p.m.

There will be casting contests for kids, clinics in fly tying and casting, and seminars on Adirondack brook trout, Salmon River steelhead fishing, fishing Lake Ontario, West Canada Creek, and wildlife photography. There will be 50 vendors and displays ranging from Trout in the Classroom, wildlife artists, tackle manufacturers, and book displays, and several tackle and equipment manufacturers and more. The location is New Hartford Recreation Center on Mill St., just off Kellogg Road. For more information contact Ken Ziobro at: kziobro@verizon.net

L.O.O.: The Spring Issue of Lake Ontario Outdoors magazine is out and full of information from catching oversized brown trout on Lake Ontario to stream trout fishing to turkey hunting with a bow, or fly-tying. Pick up your free copy today at Hanifin Tires, Herb Philipsons, or Sweet Temptations Café in Oneida.

STEELHEAD: The mild weather of the past few weeks will bring an early end to the steelhead fishing as fish are spawning on the gravel areas of tributaries and starting to drop back to Lake Ontario. For the latest information on conditions and tips contact All Seasons Sports Shop in Pulaski at 298-6433.

THANKS: Thank you to everyone who attended the Community Forum at the Dispatch offices two weeks ago and thanks to David Johnson of the Sports Staff who arranged and facilitated things. It was fun sharing ideas with fellow fishermen and I hope that we helped some people. You can see the program online as well as send pictures of your interesting or big catches and comments at:

www.OneidaOutdoors.blogspot.com