Chris Avena 's Entries

• 23 Jun 2011
  Hunters Object to Some Proposals in New York Deer Plan

  Wildlife officials are proposing a special hunting weekend for teenagers, an earlier start to the bow hunting season and a ban on killing young bucks in some regions under a new plan that will guide deer management in the state. ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Wildlife officials are proposing a special hunting weekend for teenagers, an earlier start to the bow hunting season and a ban on killing young bucks in some regions under a new plan that will guide deer management in the state for the next five years. The head of the Department of Environmental Conservation's Bureau of Wildlife, Gordon Batcheller, says the draft Deer Management Plan was written after his agency held 20 public meetings around the state and surveyed hunters for their opinions on proposals. "We've had a deer management program for decades,'' Batcheller said. "But this is the first time we've had a document explaining the deer management plan in a single document in a comprehensive way.'' There's a stable population of about a million white-tailed deer in New York state, Batcheller said. Last year, about 230,000 were killed by hunters and 60,000 to 80,000 were killed on highways, he said. "Deer have a large impact on the landscape and society,'' Batcheller said Thursday. "In areas where they're overabundant they have an adverse effect on the ecosystem. They can completely eliminate the reproduction of trees by eating all the young saplings in a forest plot.'' Hunting is the most effective way to manage the deer population, Batcheller said. But the number of hunters has been declining, and the average age of hunters has been rising. As one way to recruit more young people into deer hunting, the plan proposes setting aside a weekend in early October for 14- to 16-year-old hunters mentored by experienced adults. That plan has some detractors. Chuck Parker, a retiree from northern New York who hunts in the Tug Hill region, said the big game youth hunting license is a great idea but a special youth weekend is unnecessary and would cut into field time for small game and waterfowl hunters because landowners commonly deny them access during the deer season. Parker, who is first vice president of the New York State Conservation Council, also opposes the DEC's proposal to open the bow hunting season in the southern zone on Oct. 1 rather than the current opening in mid-October. "Generally, bow hunters already enjoy a high-quality hunting time to be in the woods,'' said Parker, who's from Mexico, in Oswego County. "Giving them additional time will only lessen the opportunity of success for those that hunt during the regular gun season.'' Most controversial is the proposed mandatory ban on shooting young, spike-antlered bucks in a region in southeastern New York. Batcheller said there's "a growing interest'' in antler restrictions among many deer hunters. "It's a new way of managing the deer herd to create a more balanced sex ratio by leaving more bucks on the landscape,'' he said. "Advocates believe that the natural behaviors of deer are more pronounced when the age and sex ratios are more balanced. It also makes for larger deer and better hunting.'' New York has imposed antler restrictions in one area on an experimental basis, and the plan calls for expanding that area to get a better picture of the impact. Parker opposes mandatory restrictions, saying they'll reduce the chance for success for hunters who have limited time to hunt. Five resolutions supporting antler restrictions were soundly defeated at the Conservation Council's annual convention, he said. "There is no solid biological data that proves that antler restrictions improve deer quality,'' Parker said. "I don't shoot spike horns, but that's my choice. Someone else who pays the same amount for a license, you're asking him to pass up a deer, when it's not proven that it will improve the quality of the herd.'' Steve Wowelko, president of the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, says he supports the idea of antler restriction, but he agrees with Parker that it should be voluntary. "As a sportsman, I'm always looking for ways to be more inclusive rather than exclusive,'' said Wowelko, of East Syracuse. "We need to bring more hunters in instead of limiting hunters' access to wildlife.'' Ray Gawlas, of Scotia, likes the idea of young people having an opportunity to hunt with a mentor before the regular gun season. "This was long overdue,'' he said. "New York state has been very negligent in providing opportunities to recruit younger hunters, particularly when there is an overabundance of deer in portions of the state.'' Public comments will be taken by the DEC through July 28. Batcheller said he hopes many people with a variety of interests look at the plan and comment. "It's certainly of interest to deer hunters, but it also talks about a lot of other things such as assessing deer impact on forests,'' he said. "We want to make sure deer are not permanently harming the forest ecosystem.''

  1182 Posted by Chris Avena
• By Chris Avena

  Hunters Object to Some Proposals in New York Deer Plan

  Wildlife officials are proposing a special hunting weekend for teenagers, an earlier start to the bow hunting season and a ban on killing young bucks in some regions under a new plan that will guide deer management in the state. ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Wildlife officials are proposing a special hunting weekend for teenagers, an earlier start to the bow hunting season and a ban on killing young bucks in some regions under a new plan that will guide deer management in the state for the next five years. The head of the Department of Environmental Conservation's Bureau of Wildlife, Gordon Batcheller, says the draft Deer Management Plan was written after his agency held 20 public meetings around the state and surveyed hunters for their opinions on proposals. "We've had a deer management program for decades,'' Batcheller said. "But this is the first time we've had a document explaining the deer management plan in a single document in a comprehensive way.'' There's a stable population of about a million white-tailed deer in New York state, Batcheller said. Last year, about 230,000 were killed by hunters and 60,000 to 80,000 were killed on highways, he said. "Deer have a large impact on the landscape and society,'' Batcheller said Thursday. "In areas where they're overabundant they have an adverse effect on the ecosystem. They can completely eliminate the reproduction of trees by eating all the young saplings in a forest plot.'' Hunting is the most effective way to manage the deer population, Batcheller said. But the number of hunters has been declining, and the average age of hunters has been rising. As one way to recruit more young people into deer hunting, the plan proposes setting aside a weekend in early October for 14- to 16-year-old hunters mentored by experienced adults. That plan has some detractors. Chuck Parker, a retiree from northern New York who hunts in the Tug Hill region, said the big game youth hunting license is a great idea but a special youth weekend is unnecessary and would cut into field time for small game and waterfowl hunters because landowners commonly deny them access during the deer season. Parker, who is first vice president of the New York State Conservation Council, also opposes the DEC's proposal to open the bow hunting season in the southern zone on Oct. 1 rather than the current opening in mid-October. "Generally, bow hunters already enjoy a high-quality hunting time to be in the woods,'' said Parker, who's from Mexico, in Oswego County. "Giving them additional time will only lessen the opportunity of success for those that hunt during the regular gun season.'' Most controversial is the proposed mandatory ban on shooting young, spike-antlered bucks in a region in southeastern New York. Batcheller said there's "a growing interest'' in antler restrictions among many deer hunters. "It's a new way of managing the deer herd to create a more balanced sex ratio by leaving more bucks on the landscape,'' he said. "Advocates believe that the natural behaviors of deer are more pronounced when the age and sex ratios are more balanced. It also makes for larger deer and better hunting.'' New York has imposed antler restrictions in one area on an experimental basis, and the plan calls for expanding that area to get a better picture of the impact. Parker opposes mandatory restrictions, saying they'll reduce the chance for success for hunters who have limited time to hunt. Five resolutions supporting antler restrictions were soundly defeated at the Conservation Council's annual convention, he said. "There is no solid biological data that proves that antler restrictions improve deer quality,'' Parker said. "I don't shoot spike horns, but that's my choice. Someone else who pays the same amount for a license, you're asking him to pass up a deer, when it's not proven that it will improve the quality of the herd.'' Steve Wowelko, president of the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, says he supports the idea of antler restriction, but he agrees with Parker that it should be voluntary. "As a sportsman, I'm always looking for ways to be more inclusive rather than exclusive,'' said Wowelko, of East Syracuse. "We need to bring more hunters in instead of limiting hunters' access to wildlife.'' Ray Gawlas, of Scotia, likes the idea of young people having an opportunity to hunt with a mentor before the regular gun season. "This was long overdue,'' he said. "New York state has been very negligent in providing opportunities to recruit younger hunters, particularly when there is an overabundance of deer in portions of the state.'' Public comments will be taken by the DEC through July 28. Batcheller said he hopes many people with a variety of interests look at the plan and comment. "It's certainly of interest to deer hunters, but it also talks about a lot of other things such as assessing deer impact on forests,'' he said. "We want to make sure deer are not permanently harming the forest ecosystem.''

  Jun 23, 2011 1182
• 22 Jun 2011
  Missouri Seeks to Learn Black Bear Population

  The state Department of Conservation has begun a two-year effort to determine how many black bears are living in Missouri following an increase in sightings in recent years. ST. LOUIS (AP) — The state Department of Conservation has begun a two-year effort to determine how many black bears are living in Missouri following an increase in sightings in recent years. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Thursday that biologists have been tracking the bears in 11 counties in far southern Missouri since last fall. The animals apparently are migrating to Missouri from Arkansas, which imported black bears from Minnesota four decades ago. Missouri's chief biologist, Jeff Beringer, uses doughnuts to bait large steel traps. When the bears go inside the traps, a grate slams shut. Sightings and anecdotal tales make it clear that the population is growing, he said, but nobody has any idea how many are out there. "It's like walking up to a two-acre pond and saying, 'How many bass are in there?''' Beringer said. "That's about where we are at estimating bears.'' So far, the crew has caught and released 49 bears, including five on Tuesday in Howell and Oregon counties, north of the Arkansas border. Thirty of them have been equipped with GPS collars, allowing the study group to track their travels and locate their dens. Beringer and his crew are counting the bears in far southern Missouri, where the hilly wooded Ozarks provide perfect bear habitat. Next year, the group will go to 12 southeastern counties, stretching north into Jefferson and Franklin counties. When a bear is found, it is sedated for about an hour so workers can attach the collars. The crew has been monitoring 25 traps daily. Beringer said the traps are set deep in the woods on ridgetops, the better to allow doughnut aroma to waft through the trees. Like most people, bears love doughnuts, Beringer said. "Bears go right for them,'' he said. "If you live on bugs and acorns, a doughnut is delicious.'' The project also has rigged 375 "hair snare'' locations throughout the study area. Fish-oil bait is ringed by barbed wire and when bears brush against them they leave bits of fur. A graduate student assistant from the University of Missouri at Columbia will pluck the samples for a DNA study. The bear project is a collaboration between the state, the University of Missouri and Mississippi State University. The scientists will estimate the bear population when they gather enough data. "Clearly, the population is on the increase,'' Beringer said. "We don't want them to be so abundant that they become a nuisance. The first thing is to get a handle on how many there are.'' Black bears almost always run away when they encounter people, unless a mother bear believes her cubs are in danger. There is no record of a black bear hurting anyone in the state. Conservation agents say people should not feed bears, or leave food around that bears can get because they will come back for more. When they start to expect handouts, they can become a nuisance. Beringer said Missouri may someday allow bear hunting, which it has prohibited for decades. Arkansas, with an estimated bear population of about 3,500, has allowed limited hunting since 1980. Population estimates nationwide run around 200,000 black bears, most of them in mountain states east and west.

  1311 Posted by Chris Avena
• By Chris Avena

  Missouri Seeks to Learn Black Bear Population

  The state Department of Conservation has begun a two-year effort to determine how many black bears are living in Missouri following an increase in sightings in recent years. ST. LOUIS (AP) — The state Department of Conservation has begun a two-year effort to determine how many black bears are living in Missouri following an increase in sightings in recent years. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Thursday that biologists have been tracking the bears in 11 counties in far southern Missouri since last fall. The animals apparently are migrating to Missouri from Arkansas, which imported black bears from Minnesota four decades ago. Missouri's chief biologist, Jeff Beringer, uses doughnuts to bait large steel traps. When the bears go inside the traps, a grate slams shut. Sightings and anecdotal tales make it clear that the population is growing, he said, but nobody has any idea how many are out there. "It's like walking up to a two-acre pond and saying, 'How many bass are in there?''' Beringer said. "That's about where we are at estimating bears.'' So far, the crew has caught and released 49 bears, including five on Tuesday in Howell and Oregon counties, north of the Arkansas border. Thirty of them have been equipped with GPS collars, allowing the study group to track their travels and locate their dens. Beringer and his crew are counting the bears in far southern Missouri, where the hilly wooded Ozarks provide perfect bear habitat. Next year, the group will go to 12 southeastern counties, stretching north into Jefferson and Franklin counties. When a bear is found, it is sedated for about an hour so workers can attach the collars. The crew has been monitoring 25 traps daily. Beringer said the traps are set deep in the woods on ridgetops, the better to allow doughnut aroma to waft through the trees. Like most people, bears love doughnuts, Beringer said. "Bears go right for them,'' he said. "If you live on bugs and acorns, a doughnut is delicious.'' The project also has rigged 375 "hair snare'' locations throughout the study area. Fish-oil bait is ringed by barbed wire and when bears brush against them they leave bits of fur. A graduate student assistant from the University of Missouri at Columbia will pluck the samples for a DNA study. The bear project is a collaboration between the state, the University of Missouri and Mississippi State University. The scientists will estimate the bear population when they gather enough data. "Clearly, the population is on the increase,'' Beringer said. "We don't want them to be so abundant that they become a nuisance. The first thing is to get a handle on how many there are.'' Black bears almost always run away when they encounter people, unless a mother bear believes her cubs are in danger. There is no record of a black bear hurting anyone in the state. Conservation agents say people should not feed bears, or leave food around that bears can get because they will come back for more. When they start to expect handouts, they can become a nuisance. Beringer said Missouri may someday allow bear hunting, which it has prohibited for decades. Arkansas, with an estimated bear population of about 3,500, has allowed limited hunting since 1980. Population estimates nationwide run around 200,000 black bears, most of them in mountain states east and west.

  Jun 22, 2011 1311
• 17 Jun 2011
  South Carolina Sees Record Number of Alligator Hunting Applicat

  South Carolina Sees Record Number of Alligator Hunting Applications South Carolina wildlife officials say they've received a record number of applications for alligator hunting licenses.   CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina wildlife officials say they've received a record number of applications for alligator hunting licenses. The Post and Courier of Charleston reported that the Natural Resources Department said more than 4,000 applications have been received so far. Wednesday is the deadline to pay $10 to apply for a license for this fall's season. Only 1,200 applications will be approved. The agency uses a computer program to select the winners, though the program gives a bonus to those who have applied unsuccessfully in the past. Those selected must pay $100 for the alligator hunting license. South Carolina's month-long alligator hunting season opens Sept. 10. Officials say more than 400 alligators are killed during the hunting season each year. Officials estimate South Carolina has more than 100,000 alligators

  812 Posted by Chris Avena
• By Chris Avena

  South Carolina Sees Record Number of Alligator Hunting Applicat

  South Carolina Sees Record Number of Alligator Hunting Applications South Carolina wildlife officials say they've received a record number of applications for alligator hunting licenses.   CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina wildlife officials say they've received a record number of applications for alligator hunting licenses. The Post and Courier of Charleston reported that the Natural Resources Department said more than 4,000 applications have been received so far. Wednesday is the deadline to pay $10 to apply for a license for this fall's season. Only 1,200 applications will be approved. The agency uses a computer program to select the winners, though the program gives a bonus to those who have applied unsuccessfully in the past. Those selected must pay $100 for the alligator hunting license. South Carolina's month-long alligator hunting season opens Sept. 10. Officials say more than 400 alligators are killed during the hunting season each year. Officials estimate South Carolina has more than 100,000 alligators

  Jun 17, 2011 812
• 17 Jun 2011
  State Lyme commission only lacks funds

  State Lyme commission only lacks funds By Cynthia Mccormick cmccormick@capecodonline.com June 13, 2011 The creation of the state's first Lyme disease commission is all but a done deal. A budget amendment proposing creation of a commission to study the tick-borne illness has passed both the House and Senate. The commission becomes official once Gov. Deval Patrick signs off on the state's fiscal 2012 budget, which legislators expect to take place by the end of the month. The new fiscal year begins July 1. The commission will bring together experts in medicine, wildlife management, public health, and insect control, as well as patients and advocates, to come up with ways to prevent and treat the disease. Local advocates for people with Lyme disease say the commission is a positive development in advancing understanding of the illness, which was controversial even before it was first recognized in 1975. "There's hundreds of people who are sick, getting sick," and cannot find physicians who will treat them, said John Kenneway, a fisherman in Chatham. The medical community agrees on very little when it comes to diagnosing and treating Lyme, which is named after a town in Connecticut where it first drew public notice.   Every issue debatable The debates start right away, from how many doses of doxycycline to use in early stages to which laboratories are best for testing blood for evidence of antibodies indicating presence of the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Physicians disagree on whether late-stage Lyme even exists, although sufferers say it's debilitating. Kenneway said if he had been treated properly when he became ill in 1986, his Lyme disease might have been controlled. Instead, he said, it's created havoc with his immune system and caused neurological problems, muscle pain and physical weakness, among other symptoms. In its early stages, Lyme is more of a flulike illness, sometimes accompanied by a bull's eye rash. Advocates say the suffering caused by the tick-borne disease is particularly acute on the Cape and Islands, which has the highest incidence of Lyme per capita in the state. In 2009, the last year for which the state has figures, there were 4,028 newly diagnosed cases in Massachusetts, including 255 cases in Barnstable, Nantucket and Dukes counties.   Legislator's advocacy It took the advocacy of state Rep. David Linsky, D-Natick, chairman of the House Committee on Post Audit and Oversight, whose son has Lyme, to make the commission a reality, Richard Sylver of East Dennis said. "That's what it takes — somebody who has the disease or knows somebody who has the disease, to get this thing going," Sylver said. He is a founder of the Brewster Lyme Disease Support Group. As part of its work, the Lyme disease commission aims to educate the medical community and remove barriers to treatment. Members of the new commission will include representatives from medical camps with opposing views of treatment and chronic care, as well as members of the Legislature and municipal health officials. Also included will be representatives of the state Department of Public Health, the state Division of Health Care Finance and Policy, the state Laboratory Institute and the state epidemiologist. Four other members will be patients or family members of patients and members of Lyme disease organizations from across the state. "The more feedback from patients and those involved in the issues of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, the better," said Joanne Creel, a Lyme sufferer and activist from Yarmouthport. She said she hopes the commission includes representation from the Cape and Islands, which has one of the oldest Lyme disease task forces in the state. The commission is expected to report back to the state Legislature next year. "I think it's a step forward, pending administrative support and some funding," said Brenda Boleyn of the Cape and Islands Lyme Disease Task Force.  

  1516 Posted by Chris Avena
• By Chris Avena

  State Lyme commission only lacks funds

  State Lyme commission only lacks funds By Cynthia Mccormick cmccormick@capecodonline.com June 13, 2011 The creation of the state's first Lyme disease commission is all but a done deal. A budget amendment proposing creation of a commission to study the tick-borne illness has passed both the House and Senate. The commission becomes official once Gov. Deval Patrick signs off on the state's fiscal 2012 budget, which legislators expect to take place by the end of the month. The new fiscal year begins July 1. The commission will bring together experts in medicine, wildlife management, public health, and insect control, as well as patients and advocates, to come up with ways to prevent and treat the disease. Local advocates for people with Lyme disease say the commission is a positive development in advancing understanding of the illness, which was controversial even before it was first recognized in 1975. "There's hundreds of people who are sick, getting sick," and cannot find physicians who will treat them, said John Kenneway, a fisherman in Chatham. The medical community agrees on very little when it comes to diagnosing and treating Lyme, which is named after a town in Connecticut where it first drew public notice.   Every issue debatable The debates start right away, from how many doses of doxycycline to use in early stages to which laboratories are best for testing blood for evidence of antibodies indicating presence of the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Physicians disagree on whether late-stage Lyme even exists, although sufferers say it's debilitating. Kenneway said if he had been treated properly when he became ill in 1986, his Lyme disease might have been controlled. Instead, he said, it's created havoc with his immune system and caused neurological problems, muscle pain and physical weakness, among other symptoms. In its early stages, Lyme is more of a flulike illness, sometimes accompanied by a bull's eye rash. Advocates say the suffering caused by the tick-borne disease is particularly acute on the Cape and Islands, which has the highest incidence of Lyme per capita in the state. In 2009, the last year for which the state has figures, there were 4,028 newly diagnosed cases in Massachusetts, including 255 cases in Barnstable, Nantucket and Dukes counties.   Legislator's advocacy It took the advocacy of state Rep. David Linsky, D-Natick, chairman of the House Committee on Post Audit and Oversight, whose son has Lyme, to make the commission a reality, Richard Sylver of East Dennis said. "That's what it takes — somebody who has the disease or knows somebody who has the disease, to get this thing going," Sylver said. He is a founder of the Brewster Lyme Disease Support Group. As part of its work, the Lyme disease commission aims to educate the medical community and remove barriers to treatment. Members of the new commission will include representatives from medical camps with opposing views of treatment and chronic care, as well as members of the Legislature and municipal health officials. Also included will be representatives of the state Department of Public Health, the state Division of Health Care Finance and Policy, the state Laboratory Institute and the state epidemiologist. Four other members will be patients or family members of patients and members of Lyme disease organizations from across the state. "The more feedback from patients and those involved in the issues of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, the better," said Joanne Creel, a Lyme sufferer and activist from Yarmouthport. She said she hopes the commission includes representation from the Cape and Islands, which has one of the oldest Lyme disease task forces in the state. The commission is expected to report back to the state Legislature next year. "I think it's a step forward, pending administrative support and some funding," said Brenda Boleyn of the Cape and Islands Lyme Disease Task Force.  

  Jun 17, 2011 1516
• 16 Jun 2011
  Commission Votes to Lift Michigan Deer Baiting Ban

  Michigan's wildlife policymakers on Thursday voted to end a ban on baiting and feeding of whitetail deer in most of the state's Lower Peninsula.   LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan's wildlife policymakers on Thursday voted to end a ban on baiting and feeding of whitetail deer in most of the state's Lower Peninsula. The 4-3 vote by the Natural Resources Commission means baiting will be legal again in most of the Lower Peninsula from Oct. 1 to Jan. 1. The exception is a northeast section where bovine tuberculosis remains a problem, including Alcona, Alpena, Iosco, Montmorency, Oscoda, and Presque Isle counties. Bait could be "scattered'' but not "piled'' and the amount of bait could not exceed two gallons at any one hunting site. The debate isn't over, however. The commission also voted to revisit the ban in three years, if not earlier. Baiting and feeding have been banned in the Lower Peninsula since August 2008, when a deer with chronic wasting disease was found at a captive breeding farm in Kent County. No other cases have been reported. That led some to push for ending the ban, which was instituted to prevent deer from spreading diseases to each other while eating highly concentrated piles of food left by hunters and others. The new plan also would allow people to feed deer for recreational viewing year-round except in the bovine TB zone. Policies that allow limited baiting and feeding in the Upper Peninsula remain in place. Hunters have long been divided over baiting. Some advocate it in part because they say it increases their chances of a successful hunt. Others consider baiting to be unethical and say it has encouraged deer to feed at night, when they cannot be hunted. Some commissioners noted Thursday that the ban has been difficult to enforce. "This is a very controversial and emotional issue,'' said John Madigan, a Natural Resources Commission member who voted in favor of lifting the ban.

  1514 Posted by Chris Avena
• By Chris Avena

  Commission Votes to Lift Michigan Deer Baiting Ban

  Michigan's wildlife policymakers on Thursday voted to end a ban on baiting and feeding of whitetail deer in most of the state's Lower Peninsula.   LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan's wildlife policymakers on Thursday voted to end a ban on baiting and feeding of whitetail deer in most of the state's Lower Peninsula. The 4-3 vote by the Natural Resources Commission means baiting will be legal again in most of the Lower Peninsula from Oct. 1 to Jan. 1. The exception is a northeast section where bovine tuberculosis remains a problem, including Alcona, Alpena, Iosco, Montmorency, Oscoda, and Presque Isle counties. Bait could be "scattered'' but not "piled'' and the amount of bait could not exceed two gallons at any one hunting site. The debate isn't over, however. The commission also voted to revisit the ban in three years, if not earlier. Baiting and feeding have been banned in the Lower Peninsula since August 2008, when a deer with chronic wasting disease was found at a captive breeding farm in Kent County. No other cases have been reported. That led some to push for ending the ban, which was instituted to prevent deer from spreading diseases to each other while eating highly concentrated piles of food left by hunters and others. The new plan also would allow people to feed deer for recreational viewing year-round except in the bovine TB zone. Policies that allow limited baiting and feeding in the Upper Peninsula remain in place. Hunters have long been divided over baiting. Some advocate it in part because they say it increases their chances of a successful hunt. Others consider baiting to be unethical and say it has encouraged deer to feed at night, when they cannot be hunted. Some commissioners noted Thursday that the ban has been difficult to enforce. "This is a very controversial and emotional issue,'' said John Madigan, a Natural Resources Commission member who voted in favor of lifting the ban.

  Jun 16, 2011 1514
• 14 Jun 2011
  Connecticut Officials Look to Encourage Fishing and Hunting

  Hunting and fishing are on a steady decline in Connecticut, and the state is attempting to reverse the trend.   WATERBURY, Conn. (AP) — Hunting and fishing are on a steady decline in Connecticut, and the state is attempting to reverse the trend. The question is whether the efforts, which include more programs for children and stocking city ponds with catfish, will counteract a dwindling interest and experience in the outdoors. "Younger people aren't gravitating toward outdoor activities the way they used to,'' said Dennis Schain, spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection. "Lifestyles have changed, and electronics are drawing young people away.'' Fewer hunting and fishing licenses issued by the DEP means less money to stock fish and conduct other programs. It also carries a broader concern, said Schain. Fresh and saltwater fishermen pump $300 million annually into Connecticut's economy, and hunters spend another $68 million, according to a 2006 study by the U.S. Department of Interior. Additionally, "as these numbers decline, there is less of a constituency for environmental stewardship,'' Schain said. The number of licenses has been dropping as far back as 1990, when 227,510 inland fishing licenses were issued, and then grew more precipitous after hunting and fishing license fees were increased in 2009. Those increases prompted a public outcry and rollback on the cost. In 2010, Connecticut residents bought 123,405 fishing licenses worth about $4.5 million. About 41,000 various hunting licenses were issued, less than half of the 91,000 sold in 1990. Hunting license sales recently brought in $2.5 million. A combination license for both costs $38 without "tags'' for bow, rifle or muzzleloader deer and turkey hunting seasons. A fishing license is $28. Several programs have been launched to lure more people outside. This year, the state will step up efforts to invite more outdoor activities through its six-year-old No Child Left Inside programs, including Connecticut Acquatic Resources Education, which relies on volunteer involvement in school and community activities to put fishing poles in children's hands and get them involved in activities like fish stocking. "We want young peoples' attention by putting a fishing pole in their hands and connecting with nature,'' said Peter Aarrestad, the director of the DEP's Inland Fisheries Division said. In Hamden, for example, fifth-graders were enlisted to help the DEP stock trout. "They just loved getting fish slime on their hands,'' Aarrestad said. "It makes it more likely that they will go back and fish.'' Since 2007, the state has stocked catfish in ponds within city limits, hoping to get more urban residents fishing. Statewide this year, 15,000 catfish were stocked, including at Great Brook Reservoir at Lakewood Park in Waterbury. "We are trying to make fishing available to everyone,'' Aarrestad said. "Catfish, which we have stocked since 2007, are easy and fun to catch, and good to eat.'' Aarrestad said he'd also like to see the state create a new fee structure that rolls back the $28 license fee for young people between the ages of 16, when they are first required to buy a license, and 21. Increases in fees in 1992, 2003 and 2009 resulted in far fewer licenses sold the following years. In 2009, 149,000 fishing licenses were sold. The following year, 123,405 were sold. "We blew it when the state doubled the hunting and fishing license fees,'' said James Fedorich of Torrington, president of the Northwestern Connecticut chapter of Trout Unlimited and a lifelong fisherman. "It was a mistake to increase the fees on a revenue source that was already declining.'' Broader sociological changes are also involved in what is a national trend, Aarrestad and Fedorich agreed. Parents are reluctant to allow their children to be unsupervised outdoors, and fewer parents spend time outside. That's sad for Fedorich, 69, who recalls growing up fishing the upper reaches of the Naugatuck River, and shooting for practice before hunting season at local ranges. "Everybody had a fishing pole, and after school we rode our bikes with them, or your dad took you fishing on Saturdays,'' Fedorich said. "Every town had a fishing derby.'' License money: Where it goes Revenue from hunting and fishing licenses goes into the state's General Fund. Under federal and state law, an allocation is returned to the state Department of Environmental Protection to fund fishing programs and staffing that is at least equal to the amount generated by license sales. Of the DEP's $145 million budget, it costs nearly $14.8 million to fund fisheries and wildlife programs. About $12 million comes from anglers and hunters, licenses and a federal excise tax on fishing and hunting equipment which comes back to the state. About $7 million is license revenue, said Bill Hyatt, bureau chief for the DEP's Bureau of Natural Resources. Not funded by the fees are periodic capital improvement needs related to stocking, such as the replacement of outdated oxygenation equipment on stocking trucks and improvements to two of the state's three hatcheries in Burlington and Kensington. "Those projects come out of the Bond Commission,'' said Dennis Schain, DEP spokesman. "We are well aware that these are difficult financial times. The staff here is committed to making the best possible fishing opportunities available to the anglers of this state with the resources available to us.''

  2805 Posted by Chris Avena
• By Chris Avena

  Connecticut Officials Look to Encourage Fishing and Hunting

  Hunting and fishing are on a steady decline in Connecticut, and the state is attempting to reverse the trend.   WATERBURY, Conn. (AP) — Hunting and fishing are on a steady decline in Connecticut, and the state is attempting to reverse the trend. The question is whether the efforts, which include more programs for children and stocking city ponds with catfish, will counteract a dwindling interest and experience in the outdoors. "Younger people aren't gravitating toward outdoor activities the way they used to,'' said Dennis Schain, spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection. "Lifestyles have changed, and electronics are drawing young people away.'' Fewer hunting and fishing licenses issued by the DEP means less money to stock fish and conduct other programs. It also carries a broader concern, said Schain. Fresh and saltwater fishermen pump $300 million annually into Connecticut's economy, and hunters spend another $68 million, according to a 2006 study by the U.S. Department of Interior. Additionally, "as these numbers decline, there is less of a constituency for environmental stewardship,'' Schain said. The number of licenses has been dropping as far back as 1990, when 227,510 inland fishing licenses were issued, and then grew more precipitous after hunting and fishing license fees were increased in 2009. Those increases prompted a public outcry and rollback on the cost. In 2010, Connecticut residents bought 123,405 fishing licenses worth about $4.5 million. About 41,000 various hunting licenses were issued, less than half of the 91,000 sold in 1990. Hunting license sales recently brought in $2.5 million. A combination license for both costs $38 without "tags'' for bow, rifle or muzzleloader deer and turkey hunting seasons. A fishing license is $28. Several programs have been launched to lure more people outside. This year, the state will step up efforts to invite more outdoor activities through its six-year-old No Child Left Inside programs, including Connecticut Acquatic Resources Education, which relies on volunteer involvement in school and community activities to put fishing poles in children's hands and get them involved in activities like fish stocking. "We want young peoples' attention by putting a fishing pole in their hands and connecting with nature,'' said Peter Aarrestad, the director of the DEP's Inland Fisheries Division said. In Hamden, for example, fifth-graders were enlisted to help the DEP stock trout. "They just loved getting fish slime on their hands,'' Aarrestad said. "It makes it more likely that they will go back and fish.'' Since 2007, the state has stocked catfish in ponds within city limits, hoping to get more urban residents fishing. Statewide this year, 15,000 catfish were stocked, including at Great Brook Reservoir at Lakewood Park in Waterbury. "We are trying to make fishing available to everyone,'' Aarrestad said. "Catfish, which we have stocked since 2007, are easy and fun to catch, and good to eat.'' Aarrestad said he'd also like to see the state create a new fee structure that rolls back the $28 license fee for young people between the ages of 16, when they are first required to buy a license, and 21. Increases in fees in 1992, 2003 and 2009 resulted in far fewer licenses sold the following years. In 2009, 149,000 fishing licenses were sold. The following year, 123,405 were sold. "We blew it when the state doubled the hunting and fishing license fees,'' said James Fedorich of Torrington, president of the Northwestern Connecticut chapter of Trout Unlimited and a lifelong fisherman. "It was a mistake to increase the fees on a revenue source that was already declining.'' Broader sociological changes are also involved in what is a national trend, Aarrestad and Fedorich agreed. Parents are reluctant to allow their children to be unsupervised outdoors, and fewer parents spend time outside. That's sad for Fedorich, 69, who recalls growing up fishing the upper reaches of the Naugatuck River, and shooting for practice before hunting season at local ranges. "Everybody had a fishing pole, and after school we rode our bikes with them, or your dad took you fishing on Saturdays,'' Fedorich said. "Every town had a fishing derby.'' License money: Where it goes Revenue from hunting and fishing licenses goes into the state's General Fund. Under federal and state law, an allocation is returned to the state Department of Environmental Protection to fund fishing programs and staffing that is at least equal to the amount generated by license sales. Of the DEP's $145 million budget, it costs nearly $14.8 million to fund fisheries and wildlife programs. About $12 million comes from anglers and hunters, licenses and a federal excise tax on fishing and hunting equipment which comes back to the state. About $7 million is license revenue, said Bill Hyatt, bureau chief for the DEP's Bureau of Natural Resources. Not funded by the fees are periodic capital improvement needs related to stocking, such as the replacement of outdated oxygenation equipment on stocking trucks and improvements to two of the state's three hatcheries in Burlington and Kensington. "Those projects come out of the Bond Commission,'' said Dennis Schain, DEP spokesman. "We are well aware that these are difficult financial times. The staff here is committed to making the best possible fishing opportunities available to the anglers of this state with the resources available to us.''

  Jun 14, 2011 2805
• 13 Jun 2011
  The Vanishing Art Of Stalking And Still-Hunting

  Get out of your stand and test your mettle against wary whitetails the old-fashioned way. by Jim Casada     Careful, deliberate movements are key when still-hunting. Stay low whenever possible.   In today’s world, the vast majority of deer hunting is done from elevated stands, which in reality might more accurately be described as “sits.” For the most part, stand hunting is a waiting game, although rattling, grunt calls and the use of various scent attractants do involve some active approaches on the part of the hunter. This kind of hunting was not always so ubiquitous; what were once common methods, namely still-hunting and stalking, have for the most part been abandoned. Yet in certain situations and geographical settings, these approaches might be the best ways to get within range of whitetails. The Skill Of Woodsmanship In one fashion or another, all traditional methods of deer hunting involve taking the action to deer as opposed to waiting for them to come to the hunter. Up until the last 40 years or so, it was how American hunters put venison on the table. Still- and stalk-hunting placed a premium on superior woodsmanship. I’ll flat-out guarantee that anyone who takes to the whitetail trail using still-hunting and stalking techniques will improve his woodscraft skills to a significant degree. The finest deer hunter I’ve ever known always hunted afoot. Joe Scarborough moved through the woods like a ghost. He was so quiet, so attuned to his surroundings, that his customary method involved shooting undisturbed deer in their beds. On top of that, he invariably shot them in the eye. Of course Joe had been a sniper who spent three tours of duty in Vietnam, and his woodsmanship was so outstanding that when walking through the woods in front of him, I constantly caught myself looking back to check whether he was still there. The man exemplified the concept that “silence is golden,” at least in a woodland setting. Most of us will never achieve similar levels of unobtrusive oneness with the world about us when hunting whitetails, but at least we can strive to do so. Ways To Stay Unseen In the course of a typical day Joe would cover a lot of ground in a measured, unhurried fashion. His was constant watchfulness, ever alert for an ear flick, a glimpse of a tail or the glint of sunlight off a tine. Similarly, there was always a lot more watching than there was walking, but even so, he could cover a lot of ground in the course of a full day. For Scarborough, as for any skilled hunter afoot, the quest takes on new, challenging dimensions once a deer is spotted. If the animal is within range and a clear shot is available when it is spotted, obviously all that is required is easing the gun into position and making an accurate shot. Otherwise, it’s time to stalk to within range. This might necessitate a belly crawl, a strategic retreat to take a roundabout route to a suitable site, or some other tactic. Whatever the choice, it’s an extended equivalent of a bowhunter picking a moment when he can make his draw unseen. Whether stalking, still-hunting or employing a combination of the two, one distinct advantage is the ability to hunt into prevailing winds. A fixed ladder stand or tripod offers no such opportunity to adjust to the vagaries of shifting or changing winds. When a front approaches, bringing winds from a different direction, stand hunters sometimes find themselves at the mercy of the deer’s first line of defense, its sense of smell.     You’ll need vegetation to cover your movements when you’re on a stalk. Keep your eyes on constant watch for the slightest hint of movement ahead.   How To Stalk Successfully Even if hunt from a fixed location, you can still incorporate some still-hunting techniques. Rather than walking hurriedly and heedlessly from a stand after a morning session, or while en route to a stand in the afternoon, take your time — lots of it — to cover the ground between your vehicle and your hunting station. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how productive this might prove to be, and it has additional advantages, including avoidance of getting “sweated up” and reducing the likelihood of spooking deer. While on the ground, be constantly alert for movement. Ease to the top of every hill and each turn in a trail or road with great caution. Use vegetation to cover your progress as much as possible, and in general allot some extra time get to and from stands. Never overlook taking a water route to deer. As is the case in many regions of the country, pressured deer near my southern home regularly seek refuge on islands in larger rivers, on elevated hideaways in flooded river basins or swamps, or in thickets bordering small streams flowing through remote regions. Often the only feasible way to reach deer in such habitat is to paddle to them using a canoe or johnboat. Hunters with sufficient gumption and a willingness to go the extra mile (or maybe several miles) can ease into an area without making much noise, leave their watercraft, and hunt afoot from that point. Then, too, a canoe or johnboat offers a much easier way to get a deer back to civilization than a long drag over rugged ground. Obviously there are times when turning to the traditional approaches to deer-hunting will be impossible. Yet in many situations the varied options offered by still-hunting or stalking can serve the hunter well. Thoughts On Safety Potential downsides to traditional approaches include safety considerations and the possibility of interfering with other hunters. Generally speaking, the techniques described here should be employed on private land, where you know you won’t encounter another hunter. However, for the really venturesome sportsman of the sort who gets back of beyond on a regular basis, doing this on really remote stretches of public land might be considered. In any case, wear plenty of hunter-orange attire and take care not to intrude where someone else might be hunting.

  1071 Posted by Chris Avena
• By Chris Avena

  The Vanishing Art Of Stalking And Still-Hunting

  Get out of your stand and test your mettle against wary whitetails the old-fashioned way. by Jim Casada     Careful, deliberate movements are key when still-hunting. Stay low whenever possible.   In today’s world, the vast majority of deer hunting is done from elevated stands, which in reality might more accurately be described as “sits.” For the most part, stand hunting is a waiting game, although rattling, grunt calls and the use of various scent attractants do involve some active approaches on the part of the hunter. This kind of hunting was not always so ubiquitous; what were once common methods, namely still-hunting and stalking, have for the most part been abandoned. Yet in certain situations and geographical settings, these approaches might be the best ways to get within range of whitetails. The Skill Of Woodsmanship In one fashion or another, all traditional methods of deer hunting involve taking the action to deer as opposed to waiting for them to come to the hunter. Up until the last 40 years or so, it was how American hunters put venison on the table. Still- and stalk-hunting placed a premium on superior woodsmanship. I’ll flat-out guarantee that anyone who takes to the whitetail trail using still-hunting and stalking techniques will improve his woodscraft skills to a significant degree. The finest deer hunter I’ve ever known always hunted afoot. Joe Scarborough moved through the woods like a ghost. He was so quiet, so attuned to his surroundings, that his customary method involved shooting undisturbed deer in their beds. On top of that, he invariably shot them in the eye. Of course Joe had been a sniper who spent three tours of duty in Vietnam, and his woodsmanship was so outstanding that when walking through the woods in front of him, I constantly caught myself looking back to check whether he was still there. The man exemplified the concept that “silence is golden,” at least in a woodland setting. Most of us will never achieve similar levels of unobtrusive oneness with the world about us when hunting whitetails, but at least we can strive to do so. Ways To Stay Unseen In the course of a typical day Joe would cover a lot of ground in a measured, unhurried fashion. His was constant watchfulness, ever alert for an ear flick, a glimpse of a tail or the glint of sunlight off a tine. Similarly, there was always a lot more watching than there was walking, but even so, he could cover a lot of ground in the course of a full day. For Scarborough, as for any skilled hunter afoot, the quest takes on new, challenging dimensions once a deer is spotted. If the animal is within range and a clear shot is available when it is spotted, obviously all that is required is easing the gun into position and making an accurate shot. Otherwise, it’s time to stalk to within range. This might necessitate a belly crawl, a strategic retreat to take a roundabout route to a suitable site, or some other tactic. Whatever the choice, it’s an extended equivalent of a bowhunter picking a moment when he can make his draw unseen. Whether stalking, still-hunting or employing a combination of the two, one distinct advantage is the ability to hunt into prevailing winds. A fixed ladder stand or tripod offers no such opportunity to adjust to the vagaries of shifting or changing winds. When a front approaches, bringing winds from a different direction, stand hunters sometimes find themselves at the mercy of the deer’s first line of defense, its sense of smell.     You’ll need vegetation to cover your movements when you’re on a stalk. Keep your eyes on constant watch for the slightest hint of movement ahead.   How To Stalk Successfully Even if hunt from a fixed location, you can still incorporate some still-hunting techniques. Rather than walking hurriedly and heedlessly from a stand after a morning session, or while en route to a stand in the afternoon, take your time — lots of it — to cover the ground between your vehicle and your hunting station. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how productive this might prove to be, and it has additional advantages, including avoidance of getting “sweated up” and reducing the likelihood of spooking deer. While on the ground, be constantly alert for movement. Ease to the top of every hill and each turn in a trail or road with great caution. Use vegetation to cover your progress as much as possible, and in general allot some extra time get to and from stands. Never overlook taking a water route to deer. As is the case in many regions of the country, pressured deer near my southern home regularly seek refuge on islands in larger rivers, on elevated hideaways in flooded river basins or swamps, or in thickets bordering small streams flowing through remote regions. Often the only feasible way to reach deer in such habitat is to paddle to them using a canoe or johnboat. Hunters with sufficient gumption and a willingness to go the extra mile (or maybe several miles) can ease into an area without making much noise, leave their watercraft, and hunt afoot from that point. Then, too, a canoe or johnboat offers a much easier way to get a deer back to civilization than a long drag over rugged ground. Obviously there are times when turning to the traditional approaches to deer-hunting will be impossible. Yet in many situations the varied options offered by still-hunting or stalking can serve the hunter well. Thoughts On Safety Potential downsides to traditional approaches include safety considerations and the possibility of interfering with other hunters. Generally speaking, the techniques described here should be employed on private land, where you know you won’t encounter another hunter. However, for the really venturesome sportsman of the sort who gets back of beyond on a regular basis, doing this on really remote stretches of public land might be considered. In any case, wear plenty of hunter-orange attire and take care not to intrude where someone else might be hunting.

  Jun 13, 2011 1071
• 13 Jun 2011
  Advanced Stand Hunting Strategies—Part 2

  The best bet of tagging bucks during the second rut lies in shifting our placement strategies to revolve around the hottest food source that the area holds. by Steve Bartylla Continued from Part 1 Hunting Strategies In the Deep South, the stand placement strategies really don’t change much after the first does come into estrus. Although the comparative lack of breeding intensity may result in funnels receiving a lessened amount of buck travel for a typical day of the rut, they’re often still good choices on the last day of season. The same holds true for catching bucks prowling family group bedding areas and scent checking food sources. All three locations are still good choices for stand sites. However, that’s not the case in the Upper Midwest or northern regions. In fact, for those of you that hunt areas where deer commonly yard up during winter, the best options for tagging a buck after the first rut will be found in the next chapter. Frankly, even those that hunt the lower areas of the northern regions and the Upper Midwest would be best served to spend the remaining days of season alternating between the tactics about to be described here and those in the post rut chapter. As you will find is the case with the post rut, the best bet of tagging bucks during the second rut lies in shifting our placement strategies to revolve around the hottest food source that the area holds, keying on the areas within the food source that yield the most concentrated feeding activity. Certainly, there are times when the bruiser will still check the family group bedding area, but, unless continued hunting pressure has soured him on daylight visits to the food source, that placement option no longer wins the risk and reward comparison. Simply put, in most settings, the odds of catching him at the food source are better and offer less of a risk of altering the deer’s patterns. That’s not to say that there isn’t a risk in hunting food sources. Even more so than earlier in the season, routes to and from the stand, being properly concealed and not getting winded are challenges. To make it worse, frozen ground and reduced living plant life each reduces the natural odors that help mask our own. Throw in the fact that the surviving deer have already made it through the brunt of the war and our prey is now not anywhere near as tolerant of our intrusions. Sure, in areas of limited options, it may take a lot to drive deer completely away from using a prime food source. However, the slightest trace of danger sends them dashing for cover faster than any phase before this. Where before the old doe may have eventually disregarded a flicker of movement or slight trace of odor after a brief investigation, now she will stare, test the wind, stomp, stare and repeat the process until, more often than not, she blows and flees for cover, only to spend the next 10 minutes snorting in the woods. It doesn’t take many of these world-alerting encounters to convince the local deer that coming out after dark isn’t a bad idea. All of this makes selecting stand sites that provide good routes, cover and placement for the wind of critical importance. After the first rut, far more than during any other phase of season, I will sacrifice a stand that offers superior placement for intercepting deer for one that provides higher odds of going undetected. Far too many late afternoons filled with snorting deer have taught me that lesson well. The saving grace to selecting stands that are slightly off from where we really would like to be is that deer seldom enter a food source and camp in one location. They tend to spread out, milling around as they feed. At the same time, the more mature bucks often feel compelled to pay a visit to each new doe that enters the food source. In doing so, they often cover much of the area, presenting shot opportunities that otherwise wouldn’t be there. Luckily, there are tactics that we can use to draw bucks to our stand. The combination of still being interested in breeding and far fewer receptive females makes bucks susceptible to estrus scents. Placing several doctored scent wicks around our stand, as well as laying a scent trail leading to it, can bring bucks into shooting range that otherwise may have remained feeding out of range. Decoys are yet another way of drawing them in. However, if surrounded by does, traditional decoys can do more harm than good. Given that does already have a hair trigger at this time, an up close look at a motionless decoy often sends them running. Using the decoy as a buck can help to avoid this. Because most does don’t want to be harassed, they commonly steer clear of bucks. On the other hand, the mature bucks typically like to introduce themselves to the new guy. It’s there own special way of letting them know that he’s the man and you best mind your place. When paired with both dominate buck and estrus urines, a buck decoy can bring results. However, because of the still burning urge to breed, a doe decoy and estrus urine combination works best. One way to avoid getting it busted by does is to set it in a less popular region of the food source. Hopefully, the buck’s urge to check every doe will bring him into shooting range. A better alternative is using the RoboCoy. Produced by Custom Robotic Wildlife in Mosinee, Wisconsin, it’s essentially a full body mount of a deer. Made with real deer hide covering a foam frame, it has built in robotics that allow for remote controlled movement of the head and tail. It’s the only decoy I’ve ever used that can consistently withstand close inspections from family groups and put them at ease, along with being a deadly draw for bucks. Conclusion By switching between using scents, decoys and relying on nothing but the placement of the stand, keying on food sources during the second rut can produce. The added advantage that this placement strategy yields is that it also has the ability to capitalize on bucks that don’t have any interest in does. Because the bucks still must recuperate from the rigors of the rut, they rely heavily on prime food sources. Hunting stand sites bordering food capitalizes on both of those possibilities.  

  1157 Posted by Chris Avena
• By Chris Avena

  Advanced Stand Hunting Strategies—Part 2

  The best bet of tagging bucks during the second rut lies in shifting our placement strategies to revolve around the hottest food source that the area holds. by Steve Bartylla Continued from Part 1 Hunting Strategies In the Deep South, the stand placement strategies really don’t change much after the first does come into estrus. Although the comparative lack of breeding intensity may result in funnels receiving a lessened amount of buck travel for a typical day of the rut, they’re often still good choices on the last day of season. The same holds true for catching bucks prowling family group bedding areas and scent checking food sources. All three locations are still good choices for stand sites. However, that’s not the case in the Upper Midwest or northern regions. In fact, for those of you that hunt areas where deer commonly yard up during winter, the best options for tagging a buck after the first rut will be found in the next chapter. Frankly, even those that hunt the lower areas of the northern regions and the Upper Midwest would be best served to spend the remaining days of season alternating between the tactics about to be described here and those in the post rut chapter. As you will find is the case with the post rut, the best bet of tagging bucks during the second rut lies in shifting our placement strategies to revolve around the hottest food source that the area holds, keying on the areas within the food source that yield the most concentrated feeding activity. Certainly, there are times when the bruiser will still check the family group bedding area, but, unless continued hunting pressure has soured him on daylight visits to the food source, that placement option no longer wins the risk and reward comparison. Simply put, in most settings, the odds of catching him at the food source are better and offer less of a risk of altering the deer’s patterns. That’s not to say that there isn’t a risk in hunting food sources. Even more so than earlier in the season, routes to and from the stand, being properly concealed and not getting winded are challenges. To make it worse, frozen ground and reduced living plant life each reduces the natural odors that help mask our own. Throw in the fact that the surviving deer have already made it through the brunt of the war and our prey is now not anywhere near as tolerant of our intrusions. Sure, in areas of limited options, it may take a lot to drive deer completely away from using a prime food source. However, the slightest trace of danger sends them dashing for cover faster than any phase before this. Where before the old doe may have eventually disregarded a flicker of movement or slight trace of odor after a brief investigation, now she will stare, test the wind, stomp, stare and repeat the process until, more often than not, she blows and flees for cover, only to spend the next 10 minutes snorting in the woods. It doesn’t take many of these world-alerting encounters to convince the local deer that coming out after dark isn’t a bad idea. All of this makes selecting stand sites that provide good routes, cover and placement for the wind of critical importance. After the first rut, far more than during any other phase of season, I will sacrifice a stand that offers superior placement for intercepting deer for one that provides higher odds of going undetected. Far too many late afternoons filled with snorting deer have taught me that lesson well. The saving grace to selecting stands that are slightly off from where we really would like to be is that deer seldom enter a food source and camp in one location. They tend to spread out, milling around as they feed. At the same time, the more mature bucks often feel compelled to pay a visit to each new doe that enters the food source. In doing so, they often cover much of the area, presenting shot opportunities that otherwise wouldn’t be there. Luckily, there are tactics that we can use to draw bucks to our stand. The combination of still being interested in breeding and far fewer receptive females makes bucks susceptible to estrus scents. Placing several doctored scent wicks around our stand, as well as laying a scent trail leading to it, can bring bucks into shooting range that otherwise may have remained feeding out of range. Decoys are yet another way of drawing them in. However, if surrounded by does, traditional decoys can do more harm than good. Given that does already have a hair trigger at this time, an up close look at a motionless decoy often sends them running. Using the decoy as a buck can help to avoid this. Because most does don’t want to be harassed, they commonly steer clear of bucks. On the other hand, the mature bucks typically like to introduce themselves to the new guy. It’s there own special way of letting them know that he’s the man and you best mind your place. When paired with both dominate buck and estrus urines, a buck decoy can bring results. However, because of the still burning urge to breed, a doe decoy and estrus urine combination works best. One way to avoid getting it busted by does is to set it in a less popular region of the food source. Hopefully, the buck’s urge to check every doe will bring him into shooting range. A better alternative is using the RoboCoy. Produced by Custom Robotic Wildlife in Mosinee, Wisconsin, it’s essentially a full body mount of a deer. Made with real deer hide covering a foam frame, it has built in robotics that allow for remote controlled movement of the head and tail. It’s the only decoy I’ve ever used that can consistently withstand close inspections from family groups and put them at ease, along with being a deadly draw for bucks. Conclusion By switching between using scents, decoys and relying on nothing but the placement of the stand, keying on food sources during the second rut can produce. The added advantage that this placement strategy yields is that it also has the ability to capitalize on bucks that don’t have any interest in does. Because the bucks still must recuperate from the rigors of the rut, they rely heavily on prime food sources. Hunting stand sites bordering food capitalizes on both of those possibilities.  

  Jun 13, 2011 1157
• 09 Jun 2011
  New York Wants to Allow Crossbows for Big Game Hunters

  New York officials have proposed allowing hunters to use crossbows for big game and eliminating a permit system for some physically disabled hunters to use special archery equipment.   AP—New York officials have proposed allowing hunters to use crossbows for big game and eliminating a permit system for some physically disabled hunters to use special archery equipment. Environmental Commissioner Joe Martens says crossbows are gaining popularity in the state and there's high demand for modified equipment for use by disabled hunters. Crossbows could be used to take deer and bear during regular big game seasons in places where shotguns or muzzleloaders are permitted and during all late muzzleloader seasons. They wouldn't be allowed during early bear or archery seasons or in any archery only wildlife management units. Hunters would have to complete a special training course before being allowed to use them. DEC will be accepting public comments on the proposal through July 11.

  1160 Posted by Chris Avena
• By Chris Avena

  New York Wants to Allow Crossbows for Big Game Hunters

  New York officials have proposed allowing hunters to use crossbows for big game and eliminating a permit system for some physically disabled hunters to use special archery equipment.   AP—New York officials have proposed allowing hunters to use crossbows for big game and eliminating a permit system for some physically disabled hunters to use special archery equipment. Environmental Commissioner Joe Martens says crossbows are gaining popularity in the state and there's high demand for modified equipment for use by disabled hunters. Crossbows could be used to take deer and bear during regular big game seasons in places where shotguns or muzzleloaders are permitted and during all late muzzleloader seasons. They wouldn't be allowed during early bear or archery seasons or in any archery only wildlife management units. Hunters would have to complete a special training course before being allowed to use them. DEC will be accepting public comments on the proposal through July 11.

  Jun 09, 2011 1160
• 06 Jun 2011
  Advanced Stand Hunting Strategies—Part 1

  The whitetail’s “second rut” and how to bowhunt it successfully. by Steve Bartylla   The second rut spurs another round of buck activity. Put the second rut to work for you.            In my younger days, I used to feel tremendous envy while reading stories about the second rut. Growing up in Northern Wisconsin, I believed this was a magical time saved only for those in the states that fell below my own. Truth be told, I was wrong. Unlike the southernmost states, where once the first does are bred some form rutting activity can be seen for months after, breeding is much more condensed in the north. Here, the timing of spring birth demands that the vast majority of does are impregnated in a fairly tight window of time. If she is bred to early her fawns may be born during the tail end of harsh weather conditions. If born while snow still covers the ground or in single digit temps, the odds of a fawn’s survival are drastically reduced. The same is true if the fawn is born late. In that case, it doesn’t have the time to grow as much before the hormones kick in that halt growth and inspire fat production. If the snow depths are significant that winter, not only is being small a handicap for travel, it results the fawn’s inability to reach as high to eat the buds on trees. The result is an animal that must expend more energy to travel, yet isn’t able to compete as well for nutrition. Obviously, that is a bad combination when straddling the line between life and death. Now, all of this must be combined with the fact that, over the course of a year, northern deer can’t intake the same potential amount of nutrition as the deer that live in areas that don’t have long-term snow cover. For example, a fawn born even in Illinois has a fighting chance of being able to feed on greens, acorns and the waste in farm fields until some point in January. In much of the northern herd’s range, not only are there vast areas void of any farming, but the much earlier average snow fall often buries any morsel of food on ground level, leaving less nutritious woody browse as their best choice. With the healthiest fawns making up most of the second rut in the Upper Midwest and point further north, the increased nutrition that occurs as we travel to the mid regions of the US allows a higher percentage of fawns the ability to come into estrus. Of course, in the parts of the deer’s southern range where droughts and poor soil conditions hamper the available level of nutrition a reduction in the percentage of fawns that come into estrus occurs, as well. Rather amazingly, even with all the hurdles facing the northern deer, some fawns typically do come into estrus each year. Even in the UP of Michigan, where excessive snowfall and frigid temps are the norm, an average of 5% of fawns come into estrus early in their first winter. The point is that, despite my youthful belief that the second rut didn’t exist in the northern regions, it does. It’s just far less noticeable than in areas that experience milder winters. Another factor that helps mask the North’s second rut is the drastic reduction in rutting buck activity. Much like fawns that try to survive their first winter, the bucks are also handicapped. Having burnt 25-30% body weight during the rigors of the rut, mature bucks must now contend with trying to survive winter. Because their fat reserves are depleted, they simply can no longer afford to invest their energies covering miles and miles of ground each day. If they did, chances are that it would cost them their lives. Instead, they’re primarily focused on conserving energy. Commonly, this involves in setting up reduced home ranges that are hinged upon the best remaining food source. Luckily for their chances of catching second rut breeding opportunities, the family groups are now concentrated around them, as well. Because of that, they can spend most of their day resting and still check a good number of fawns at the late afternoon food source. When one of the local girls enters womanhood, you can bet that the area’s bucks will be competing to win her favors. Of course, with freezing temps and snow cover remaining for even a week being rare in the southern regions, the deer residing there don’t face the same obstacles. In the South, adult does have the luxury of being able to successfully produce fawns born very early or late. Because of that range in birth dates, along with a host of other contributing factors, does are bred for a much longer window of time, blurring the lines between a first and second rut essentially into one elongated rut. To be continued—Put this knowledge to use in Part 2: Hunting Strategies   Courtesy Steve Bartylla.  

  1174 Posted by Chris Avena
• By Chris Avena

  Advanced Stand Hunting Strategies—Part 1

  The whitetail’s “second rut” and how to bowhunt it successfully. by Steve Bartylla   The second rut spurs another round of buck activity. Put the second rut to work for you.            In my younger days, I used to feel tremendous envy while reading stories about the second rut. Growing up in Northern Wisconsin, I believed this was a magical time saved only for those in the states that fell below my own. Truth be told, I was wrong. Unlike the southernmost states, where once the first does are bred some form rutting activity can be seen for months after, breeding is much more condensed in the north. Here, the timing of spring birth demands that the vast majority of does are impregnated in a fairly tight window of time. If she is bred to early her fawns may be born during the tail end of harsh weather conditions. If born while snow still covers the ground or in single digit temps, the odds of a fawn’s survival are drastically reduced. The same is true if the fawn is born late. In that case, it doesn’t have the time to grow as much before the hormones kick in that halt growth and inspire fat production. If the snow depths are significant that winter, not only is being small a handicap for travel, it results the fawn’s inability to reach as high to eat the buds on trees. The result is an animal that must expend more energy to travel, yet isn’t able to compete as well for nutrition. Obviously, that is a bad combination when straddling the line between life and death. Now, all of this must be combined with the fact that, over the course of a year, northern deer can’t intake the same potential amount of nutrition as the deer that live in areas that don’t have long-term snow cover. For example, a fawn born even in Illinois has a fighting chance of being able to feed on greens, acorns and the waste in farm fields until some point in January. In much of the northern herd’s range, not only are there vast areas void of any farming, but the much earlier average snow fall often buries any morsel of food on ground level, leaving less nutritious woody browse as their best choice. With the healthiest fawns making up most of the second rut in the Upper Midwest and point further north, the increased nutrition that occurs as we travel to the mid regions of the US allows a higher percentage of fawns the ability to come into estrus. Of course, in the parts of the deer’s southern range where droughts and poor soil conditions hamper the available level of nutrition a reduction in the percentage of fawns that come into estrus occurs, as well. Rather amazingly, even with all the hurdles facing the northern deer, some fawns typically do come into estrus each year. Even in the UP of Michigan, where excessive snowfall and frigid temps are the norm, an average of 5% of fawns come into estrus early in their first winter. The point is that, despite my youthful belief that the second rut didn’t exist in the northern regions, it does. It’s just far less noticeable than in areas that experience milder winters. Another factor that helps mask the North’s second rut is the drastic reduction in rutting buck activity. Much like fawns that try to survive their first winter, the bucks are also handicapped. Having burnt 25-30% body weight during the rigors of the rut, mature bucks must now contend with trying to survive winter. Because their fat reserves are depleted, they simply can no longer afford to invest their energies covering miles and miles of ground each day. If they did, chances are that it would cost them their lives. Instead, they’re primarily focused on conserving energy. Commonly, this involves in setting up reduced home ranges that are hinged upon the best remaining food source. Luckily for their chances of catching second rut breeding opportunities, the family groups are now concentrated around them, as well. Because of that, they can spend most of their day resting and still check a good number of fawns at the late afternoon food source. When one of the local girls enters womanhood, you can bet that the area’s bucks will be competing to win her favors. Of course, with freezing temps and snow cover remaining for even a week being rare in the southern regions, the deer residing there don’t face the same obstacles. In the South, adult does have the luxury of being able to successfully produce fawns born very early or late. Because of that range in birth dates, along with a host of other contributing factors, does are bred for a much longer window of time, blurring the lines between a first and second rut essentially into one elongated rut. To be continued—Put this knowledge to use in Part 2: Hunting Strategies   Courtesy Steve Bartylla.  

  Jun 06, 2011 1174