Blogs > Oneida Outdoors

An online space for outdoorsmen from CNY and beyond. Tell us about the one you caught or the one that got away.

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Deer tales

It seemed like deer hunting season opened just yesterday and we are already looking at the final week. This year, both southern and northern zone seasons close on the same date, December 8. There have been a lot of deer seen by hunters but that does not always translate into deer harvested.
So far this season there has been the typical mix of interesting stories and trophy deer taken. Some of stories include people shooting deer and then wondering if it was the right deer. Both Ken Cronn and Terry Yardley shot what they thought were 6 point bucks but when they got to the deer they thought that it was a doe or spike. In each case the buck had one antler broken off or a pencil sized spike while the other antler with 3 points was buried in the leaves.
Joe Pomerleau had filled his buck tag and was looking to fill his deer management permit (doe tag). He was about to pull the trigger on a large doe when the deer turned its head and revealed that it was a spikehorn. The four inch spikes were concealed by six inch ears. Joe obviously let it pass and did take a doe later.
There was no mistaking the 10-point buck with heavy antlers and long tines that Loren Faulkner shot during the first week of southern zone season near Vernon Center. The big buck weighed over 200 pounds and took three people to load it in the back of the truck.
Jake Behan’s deer was not nearly as large but he was justifiably proud and satisfied that the trip from Brooklyn to hunt with family and friends was worth it. It was equally rewarding that the deer was recovered on neighboring property after getting permission to go onto the posted land to recover the carcass.
Later that day, two members of the same party, John and Rod, were discussing their misses and analyzing the angle and aiming of their shots. Dick Cooper listened to their discussion and offered the observation that if they would shoot at bigger bucks they wouldn’t be as likely to miss!
Randy Wilzak obviously had that idea in mind when he was hunting during opening weekend. He took a trophy sized 12-point buck while hunting near Durhamville.
Buzz Moschetti was hunting near his camp north of Glenmore and took a very nice 8-point buck there on Veterans Day. Other friends like Bill Batdorf and Bob Hamner also scored on 8-point bucks in the same area.
Yukon Tom VanPelt took a change of pace from his Adirondack hunting camp and hunted at a Tug Hill camp and got a nice 8-point buck there on Veteran’s Day. A week later both Ed and Gene Manley were hunting at VanPelt’s camp at Big Moose and each took 8-point bucks from the Adirondacks.
Meanwhile Ted Collins decided he wanted a change of pace and a different type of challenge. After successfully hunting with compound bows for several decades, Ted decided to go back to using a recurve bow. His patience and skill provided him with a dandy 8-pointer. When the southern zone opened Ted decided to hunt with a handgun since he had never gotten a deer that way. That resulted in getting his first deer, another 8-pointer, with his .357 magnum revolver. His nephews also were successful with one getting a 10-point, 174-pound buck, and the other getting one that tipped the scales at 198 pounds.
Good luck to all hunters and we hope to have lots more stories of success to share next weekend.
SHORT CASTS
Venison Donation: Any hunter interested in donating a deer, please call 866-862-DEER or visit the Venison Donation Coalition’s website (www.venisondaontion.org) to locate a processor near you. Remember, you must call ahead before dropping off any deer for donation.
You can also help by donating $1 or more. One dollar will feed four people. Financial donations are appreciated and tax deductible. For every dollar that is donated to the Venison Donation Coalition, $.90 is used towards processing the venison.
Financial donations can be made at your Town Clerk’s office or anywhere hunting and fishing licenses are sold. Just inform the D.E.C.A.L.S. licensing agent that you wish to make a donation to support the Venison Donation Program. All donations through D.E.C.A.L.S. are deposited directly into the Venison Donation Fund. Donate today! One deer or one dollar goes a long way to help curb hunger throughout New York State.
Phil Roe Deer Processing: Based on the number and size of the deer that Phil Roe has been processing so far this year, it has been a good hunting season.
Not only have there been a lot of deer turned in, many of them have been impressive in size and racks. Phil Roe has a state of the art facility on Randallsville Road in Hamilton and processes a lot of deer every fall. He is popular for his quality butchering service and also will custom cut, vacuum pack or smoke your venison. Call him at 824-1426 for more information.
Deer Hides: For the deer hunters who have been successful and like to process their own venison and are wondering what to do with the hide, Jim Ward of Oneida Trap Supply is again buying hides. Call Jim at 363-2913 for information and hours.
DMP Transfers: With the end of the regular season in sight a lot of hunters will not have filled their Deer Management Permits (“doe tag”). Many will probably not have the opportunity to go hunting this final week. A recent change in the hunting regulations allows hunters to transfer their unused permits to other licensed hunters.
However the hunter who receives and carries this permit must record the number on his or her own license. One of the plastic tags in our string of tags and permits has a space for recording the numbers of the DMPs that we receive from others. Once you have taken a deer on that permit you must fill it out and attach it to the carcass as you normally do. You must report the kill by calling 1-866-426-3778. See page 28 of the current Hunting Guide for instructions.
Remember Landowners: At any time of year, but especially now with the end of hunting season and the onset of the holiday season it is appropriate to remember the landowners who let you use their property with some gift. Some small gift will show your appreciation for them letting you hunt or fish on their property. It also helps mark you as a considerate and responsible sportsman and may go a long way towards getting permission to hunt or fish there again next year.
Shop Local: I sincerely hope that you are enjoying the holiday with friends and family and probably going hunting sometime this weekend. Forsake the chaos of “Black Friday” and shop locally. Personally, I believe that we should boycott the “big box stores” that ruin the holidays for their employees by making them work on Thanksgiving night or other family time.   
Shopping locally can mean patronizing the smaller, locally owned stores whether in this area or the marinas, etc. near your camp where you spend the summer. They are the ones who contribute to our community in many ways and deserve our support, now and throughout the year.
There are a lot of items, both large and small, that are made locally and in New York State and provide quality at reasonable prices. They range from lightweight carbon fiber canoes to snowshoes and fly rods. Smaller items include turkey calls, fishing lures, and backpacks. Check the websites or look for next week’s column for suggestions.
Think about gift certificates for marine services or guided charters and hunting trips. Edible items or cooking aids and spices are always popular. Use your imagination and help make it a good holiday season for everyone.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Preserve your deer hunt memories with better photos

We have often said that any deer is a trophy. Of course some are true trophies in every sense of the word. Today, it is easy to take photos to share the success with friends and family and better photos make even greater memories or are much better to share with others as well as preserve for later years.
Next week we will have our traditional column at Thanksgiving where we post tales and some photos of deer that have been taken by local residents this season. Hopefully we will have lots of success stories to share as well as some memorable photos to show our readers.
Photography is much easier these days with digital cameras or even smart phones capable of taking quality photos. And since they are easy to store and delete, there is no excuse for not taking lots of photos. After all, the moment like this does not come along every day. But there are some basic things to remember to help you take better photos.
The first thing to consider is composition and good taste. Most of the newspaper editors and many of the magazines are constantly reminding people to show good taste in their photos. This means they don’t want excessively bloody or gory photos. This is easily handled by positioning the deer and changing the position and angle of your photo.
Take some pre-moistened wipes or damp cloth and clean off any excess blood. Place the deer’s tongue back in the mouth or turn the head to show a different angle. This shows the deer in its best light and won’t detract from the beauty of the animal.
Showing the deer in the best possible condition shows respect for the creature and minimizes offending some of the viewers. Likewise, you should kneel beside the animal rather than astride it like you are riding a pony. Hold your bow or firearm in a safe position when you pose.
Hold the deer’s head high to get the best possible shot. Take lot of photos from different angles and positions to get a good view. Later select the ones that you think look best.
Be sure to fill the frame with the hunter and the deer by getting close or using the telephoto lens. The surroundings are of minimal importance, although a couple shots for an album to help you recall the area are good. Be sure to also get a couple close-ups showing the hunter and the neck and head area of the deer.
Try to take the shots in a natural area, ideally where the deer was shot. Of course we all hear the editors and writers complain and make a big deal of the photos of a deer taken in the back of a pickup truck. Yes, it’s true that photos taken in the woods, field or even your back yard are more aesthetically appealing. But it is also true that the editors probably haven’t gotten many deer or they would appreciate how much work it is to load and unload one into a truck, especially if you are alone.
So take those photos in the back of the truck, but whenever possible also take them in a more natural setting when you get a couple friends to help you unload and load the deer again. That way people focus on you and the deer, not the clutter and debris in the back of your pickup.
Consider the sun’s position. Ideally it should be over the shoulder of the photographer to avoid the subject being under-exposed or in a shadow.  Remove your hat or at least tip it way back to remove the shadows from your face. And be sure to smile! After all, it is a moment to be proud of.
Pay attention to details. Once you consider the position of the sun and try to get the deer into soft, diffused light rather than shadow check the background. Avoid telephone poles, trash cans or unsightly objects in your photo’s background. Do this by position of the deer and hunter, removing unsightly objects and moving in close with the camera. Make sure you don’t have trees, poles or other objects “growing out of the hunters’ head” in the photo.
If there is too much shadow, consider using some fill-in flash. Make sure the successful hunter is relaxed and happy looking. Take multiple shots to make sure the hunter is not squinting in at least some of them. If you have the clothing handy or are taking photos at home, have the hunter change shirts or put on a light jacket with some color in it to make a more appealing photo.
In addition to taking the shots from different positions or angles, also vary the elevation to get different perspectives. You may be surprised at the results. It is also the current rage to use the “rule of thirds” in photos by placing the subject in one corner or side of the photo. Supposedly this adds interest, however a lot of the award-winning photographers believe this fad is over-rated and counter-productive. Just cover your bases and take lots of photos with different composition. That is the beauty of digital photography.
Remember that the 4-point buck you took shot may have involved as much skill as the 10-point buck that somebody else got by being lucky. Maybe you won’t get that picture on the cover of “North American Whitetail” but the memories of it should be preserved in quality photos for many years to come.
SHORT CASTS
DMP Transfers: With the end of the regular season in sight, a lot of hunters will not have filled their Deer Management Permits (“doe tag”). Many will probably not have the opportunity to go hunting again. A recent change in the hunting regulations allows hunters to transfer their unused permits to other licensed hunters.
However the hunter who receives and carries this permit must record the number on his or her own license. One of the plastic tags in our string of tags and permits has a space for recording the numbers of the DMPs that we receive from others. Once you have taken a deer on that permit you must fill it out and attach it to the carcass as you normally do. You must report the kill by calling 1-866-426-3778. See page 28 of the current Hunting Guide for instructions.
Learn To Track Wildlife: Free wildlife tracking workshops will be held on Saturday, December 7 at the White Otter Club in Woodgate and on Sunday, December 8 at the BROEP’s Black River Forest Campus. The workshops will last from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. each day and are open to the public.
The Staying Connected Institute is hosting the workshops for interested members of the public to learn about wildlife tracking. These are free and the public is welcome. Anyone interested is encouraged to attend and no experience is necessary. Participants will receive expert training on how to interpret animal tracks and will include classroom instruction and a variety of indoor and outdoor experiences.
This will kick off a volunteer effort called “Wildpatch” where participants will later observe roadside tracks and signs for collecting data. But there is no commitment required for anyone wishing to attend that weekend. The event is hosted by the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Nature Conservancy and the Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust.
For information or registration contact 518-891-8872 or email lkarasin@wcs.org.
Deer Hides Wanted: This weekend and the following two weeks should be a busy time with a lot of deer harvested locally. For the deer hunters who have been successful and are wondering what to do with the hide, Jim Ward of Oneida Trap Supply is again buying hides. Call Jim at 363-2913 for information and hours.
Deer Stories: Next week we will have our traditional column on lucky local sportsmen and women who have gotten a deer this season. We have already featured some successful ladies and their deer. Share your success and any unusual stories by calling me at 363-3896 by next Tuesday.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Southern zone deer season opens Saturday

Hundreds of auto headlights will criss-cross the country roads of Madison, southern Oneida, Onondaga and Chenango counties in the pre-dawn darkness on Saturday morning. Sunrise will find orange-clad hunters sitting on stonewalls or in tree stands, hunched against the chilly air of dawn as they scan the fields and forests for sight of a deer. 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.
For a lot of 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.
Now many hunters take to the woods on October 1 with their stands, compound bows, etc. and enjoy several weeks of seeing and trying to bag a deer. And of course the total number of deer hunters has declined in recent years.
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.
The past few years the season has opened on Saturday instead of the traditional Monday opener. This is designed to make it easier for people, especially youngsters, to be able to hunt on the opening of the season.
Easier hunting conditions, the familiarity of hunting small woodlots or farms instead of bigger woods and increased deer numbers 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. And the availability of Deer Management Permits which allow hunters to take an antlerless deer in specific units means that approximately one in five hunters will be successful in taking a deer during the season. Sixty percent of the state’s total deer harvest comes from the southern zone.
There has been considerable discussion about the prospects and number of deer in various areas. Generally, there are increased numbers of deer in most areas, partially due to the easy winters in the southern tier the past few years. Many bowhunters, including my hunting partners Dick Cooper and Bob Washbon, have been seeing a lot of bucks in recent weeks.
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 midday. 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 it is probably true that 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.
This year the Venison Donation Coalition is again sponsoring free processing of any deer that you would like to donate to the food bank. You can also check the website www.VenisonDonation.com for a list of participating meat processors. You must call ahead for free processing of any deer you wish to donate.
Of course, regardless of where you hunt, your number one concern should be safety. Keep firm control of your gun at all times, do not carry it loaded unless you are actually hunting and only point at what you intend to shoot. Be certain of your target and what is beyond it. Wear some blaze orange since statistics show that most accidents involve people who weren’t wearing orange.
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 100 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. Remember to enjoy the experience, and don’t forget that any deer is a trophy. 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
Deer Hides Wanted: This weekend and the following two weeks should be a busy time with a lot of deer harvested locally. For the deer hunters who have been successful and are wondering what to do with the hide, Jim Ward of Oneida Trap Supply is again buying hides. Call Jim at 363-2913 for information and hours.
Phil Roe Deer Processing: Based on the number and size of the deer that Phil Roe has been processing so far this year, it should be a good hunting season. Phil Roe has a state of the art facility on Randallsville Road in Hamilton and processes a lot of deer every fall. He is popular for his quality butchering service and also will smoke or vacuum pack your venison. Call him at 824-1426 for more information.
Deer–Car Collisions: This is the time of year when deer hunting gets underway with the opening of the southern zone. But it is also the time when deer are in the news in another less popular way – deer and car collisions. There are close to 57,000 deer-car collisions in New York State annually and the majority of them occur in October and November. Not only is this a significant economic loss in automobile damage, it is a serious threat to human injury or even fatalities as the recent tragedy reminds us. However there are ways we can minimize this threat. Most deer travel in groups so when you see one, be alert for others that may follow. Many times the first may be aware of you while it crosses the road but the others rush to catch up and are more likely to dash heedlessly into the path of your car. If it appears that you are going to hit a deer, resist the urge to swerve. That could turn a potential property damage accident into a possible fatal rollover. Whenever possible drive with your lights on high beam. Be especially alert in areas where deer are frequently seen. The peak of the breeding season means that deer are often running heedlessly, including across the highways. All year long deer are most active just before and after sunset. And guess when our heaviest traffic, with most people coming home from work, occurs at this time of year? Yes, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that when these two peaks coincide there will be more accidents. Hopefully this year you will not be a statistic and any deer that you come in close contact with will be in the woods while hunting.
Game Bird Population Down: Many hunters have reported a disappointing season in the number of grouse or turkeys seen this fall. Grouse populations are typically in a seven-year cycle and most areas have been in the low part of the cycle for the past few years. Numbers of turkeys in the annual survey have been down for several years. One factor is undoubtedly the cold wet spring weather we have experienced the past few years. This typically means that many ground nesting birds will be unsuccessful in hatching their eggs, or that a high percentage of the chicks that do hatch will succumb to pneumonia or other disease. The increased numbers of predators such as coyotes, raccoons, or even fishers, take a large toll on ground nesting birds. This is compounded by cold damp weather since the scent is easier to detect or follow when there is lots of moisture in the air. Thus the predators find the nests easily and kill the hen or chase her and destroy the eggs.

Friday, November 8, 2013

Deer season heating up

Archery season for deer enters its second month and the northern zone firearms season has finished its second week. Although there have been some nice deer taken, the numbers are nothing special. But the sightings and the signs that the best is about to come has many hunters excited.
Most area bowhunters have seen quite a few deer, even though they haven’t taken a large number. Terry Yardley and Ken Cronn are two of my hunting partners who both took deer with 3 points on one antler and a spike on the other. Dick Cooper has passed up a number of smaller bucks but when he finally saw a bigger one that he wanted to shoot, some nearby does spotted him and spooked the entire group so “Coop” came up empty. As mentioned elsewhere in today’s column, Christina Cortes got her first deer with a bow. There are a few other stories of local hunters – both male and female – that we will be reporting in the next week or two.
During opening weekend in the northern zone two weeks ago, our gang had lots of excitement and action with Bill Batdorf getting a dandy 8 point buck. We saw 14 deer on opening day with a couple other deer getting away due to bad luck, including a misfire. The next day, with a few less hunters in the gang, we saw eight deer. However, last weekend it was a different story with only two sighted.
But Craig Dougherty of North Country Whitetails said it best in his weekly report when he said that this is a normal cycle and it indicates that the rut will be soon starting. In October, the bucks are keeping close to cover and coming to feed in the early dawn or just before dark. Thus, the majority of sightings are does, with bucks being seen in the half hour after sunrise or before sunset.
According to his reports and the observations of lots of area hunters, the bucks are becoming interested in the does, acting aggressively towards other bucks and making plenty of scrapes and rubs, etc. This shows that they are ready but the does are generally not receptive.
Since bucks do not usually move much during the day when the temperature is above 50 degrees and does aren’t receptive to the bucks yet, many hunters refer to this as the “pre-rut lull.” Hunters concentrate now on the funnels or ridges between areas where does feed in hopes of intercepting a buck in search of does in heat.
But this only means that the rut, or active breeding time will probably be a week away. Despite what some people may think, the rut has nothing to do with cold weather. It typically occurs within a week of Veterans Day every year.
And of course it does not mean that bucks will be running crazy with no caution or regard for hunters. It does mean that they will be more active and this is the time you should be in the woods at every opportunity. Don’t overthink the rut. Just get in a good funnel and be patient.
A few things that you should keep in mind are that deer will still be most active during the periods of low light. When a buck finds a doe in heat they will probably travel together but spend much of the mid-day in heavy cover. This is the time to hunt areas of fresh tracks and main trails. At other times a buck may use a different route in heavy cover but now they probably follow the trails in search of does in heat.
Don’t waste your time hunting over scrapes. Most of them are made during the night. But they do show you the line of travel of a buck and the areas he probably uses for bedding cover or feeding.
Don’t get stuck in your stand. Especially in pressured areas deer, learn of “danger above” and learn to scan the trees. Mature bucks are also aware of trail cams and learn to avoid them.
We try to “pattern deer” but at the same time deer may be “patterning us.” If we use the same stands, the same routes, etc. deer will become aware of scent or sight of hunters and tend to avoid the area.
The same is true of still hunters or those who drive or plush deer. Hunting the same area will pressure the deer to change locations. Using the same drives very frequently will cause deer to learn how to avoid the hunters or move to a different area.
Using a bleat call will attract curious does and often bucks will follow. A grunt call can bring a buck in closer into archery range or cause it to stop sometimes. But too many hunters over-use them or use them improperly. Using a grunt call too much or too loudly will scare some deer away.
Although hunting in the rain isn’t much fun, it can be productive. After all, the deer do not have the luxury of staying inside where it’s warm and dry. They are still out there and rainy days can be a good time for still hunting.
Enjoy your time afield and remember that any deer is a trophy. Let us know of your success and we will include these tales in some future columns.
SHORT CASTS
First archery deer: A hunter’s first deer is always special. It is even more so when that deer is a nice buck. For Christina Cortes of Munnsville, it was her first deer with a bow. She took the 8 point buck that weighed 143 pounds earlier this week near her home in Munnsville.
Deer hides wanted: For the deer hunters who have been successful and are wondering what to do with the hide, Jim Ward of Oneida Trap Supply is again buying hides. Call Jim at 363-2913 for information and hours.
DMPs Available: In the Deer Management Units where the DMPs (doe permits) issued did not meet the quotas there was a recent lottery among unsuccessful applicants. Those who were successful in this second chance received their DMP in the mail. This did not affect any preference points that were issued when the permits were originally unsuccessfully applied for. Many DMPs are still available in some units primarily in the western Finger Lakes (Region 8) and western NY (Region 9) regions. Some of the management units in Region 7 (Madison & Onondaga Counties) still have DMPs available. These are available for purchase daily at all licensing units. Clerks will be able to tell each day on their computer which units have permits available.
Project Feeder Watch: Cornell Lab of Ornithology is inviting people to join their project feeder watch this year. The current year is beginning this weekend and there is more information about the program at www.feederwatch.org or e-mailing cornellbirds@cornell.edu. Even if you do not join the feeder watch program, you may find it useful to look at the website for their listing of 100 common birds (not all of them are common in this area in winter). There is an illustration to help you identify birds, map of their winter range, listing of what each likes to eat and what type of feeder works best for their preference.
VNSP Events: Vernon National Shooting Preserve (VNSP) will hold a pistol permit class this Saturday, November 9 beginning at 9 a.m. It is open to the public. Call Art Coriale at 225-3245 to register. Saturday, December 14, is Beretta Demo Day. There will be a Beretta rep on hand and guns to shoot, etc. There will also be a “shoot” later that day. Call 982-7045 or 796-4587 for information on these and other events.