Looks like the Columbus Day Youth season is on!

[Doc]

Sure. Because it has worked just fine in other states. No bow hunters being shot out of trees, archery seasons not being ruined. In fact, I have yet to read or hear about all of these horror stories that everyone is worried about, going on in other states that have had these early youth hunts in place.

Also, the reasoning on why they put it at that time was to allow the kids into the woods when the chances of good weather and calm deer were better.

As far as the safety issues, that is a non-issue. Nobody likes to see firearms deer hunting in bowseason (with the possible exception of gun hunters....lol) but really with an estimated total of 8000 participants statewide, I have a hard time considering the whole affair as being of much significance from any standpoint, safety, effectiveness, or otherwise.

And we have already gone through the argument about good weather and again, if you think it is a good thing to fool kids into thinking that hunting is a warm-weather activity, then I respectfully have to disagree. And while it is nice that deer are calm, I think it is obvious and generally accepted among hunters that more deer are seen on the opening day of gun season than any other time of the year. The actual harvest numbers show that to be true also.

So again, Has anybody ever heard a good explanation why the DEC chose to stuff the youth season right into the bow season .... that makes any sense?

[steve863]

Yeah, I can see the smiling kid hunting deer during an early October weekend when the weather is nice. Wait until they turn 16 and they have to hunt during the regular season weather along with all the other issues ones contends with during a regular season. That will be the real test whether you've gotten these kids hooked on hunting or not. So in my opinion you should show them the reality of it all from the get go and not sugar coat things for them. Making up a youth season for them, which does not exactly mirror what the real season is like is just another attempt at fantasy land for kids. Like they don't have enough fantasy in their lives already. We might as well have them step away and not look when it comes time to gut and skin the animal while we are at it. Can't have them see such savagery now should we? Might as well sanitize it all from start to finish. LOL Like I said, the more I think about this the less I care for it. I will guarantee that it will recruit a handful of hunters at best.

[burmjohn]

But even if it recruits a handful, its better then nothing at all.

[G-Man]

Doc, bow seaon was only extended this year in southern zone, so this hunt would of happened weekend before bow, be happy they extended bow at all.... I would of been happy to see bow stay the same and youth hunt go on anyway. so using your logic Why would they stick bow season both sides of a youth gun season??

[Doc]

But even if it recruits a handful, its better then nothing at all.

Not if we are fooled into thinking we have done something significant. I'm not much of a believer in window-dressing. I firmly believe that it stifles real solutions.

[growalot]

I'm thinking with a hot stinking gut pile on a balmy 60 degree day and a bunch of big fat flies..OOhhh and bees buzzing around...the whole early season hunting experience...oooppps top it of with the stress the "mentor" will be having over the rush after shot work...Kids will not find the experience as fun as one may think

[steve863]

But even if it recruits a handful, its better then nothing at all.

I honestly believe we could get these same handful of recruits without the special season. If we have a kid who really wants to hunt, and an adult who really wants to mentor it will happen WITHOUT a youth season. If you have a kid and adult who are wishy-washy about it all, most likely NOTHING will come out of it. After all, we have to realize that any kid interested in hunting will most likely not be going out all on their own. Might have happened years ago, but not often these days. I do think there are kids out there who would want to hunt, but don't have adults around willing to take them. I really don't see things improving with this youth hunt. Not like a kid can pick up a phone and call a toll-free number to get hooked up with a mentor here. So those who have a mentor would get a chance to be introduced to hunting with or without a youth season, while those without a mentor are pretty much OUT of luck either way also.

[G-Man]

I have been contacted by single mothers, thru our jakes day(part of the nwtf) looking for someone to take their kid out to hunt. Being a mentor is tough work, many time you need to take the child to a hunting safety course first, then you have to be unselfish and give up your own hunting time to take the youth out. (yes during the regular season you could bring your gun along but you need to focus on the youth). I have made several friends being a mentor and its a joy to watch the youth grow up, I am fortunate to have been invited togame dinners, birthday parties, graduations, and a wedding from youths i've mentored. For many the ability to give up a hunting day/season to take a kid hunting will never happen, they cannot fathom giving "their" game to a youth. My own nephews are now almost old enough to hunt, their father my brother, hunts but not that often. I look forward to being able to step up and take them out, and have already been asked if they can bring a friend along who's family never hunted or cared to. Sitting thru another hunter safety class is just part of that, and kudos to those who are the instructors. Is it coddling? not real hunting? I feel it allows a better controlled atmosphere where youth not acustomed to gunshots close by or rude hunters, tresspassing, or heaven forbid a deer recovery confrontation will be greatly lessoned.

[Tinlodge]

DEC Announces Details for Columbus Day Weekend Youth Deer Hunt - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservawww.dec.ny.gov

The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has confirmed that junior hunters ages 14-15 will be able to hunt deer during a special youth firearms deer season over Columbus Day Weekend this year, October 6 through October 8, 2012.

[WNYBuckHunter]

As far as the safety issues, that is a non-issue. Nobody likes to see firearms deer hunting in bowseason (with the possible exception of gun hunters....lol) but really with an estimated total of 8000 participants statewide, I have a hard time considering the whole affair as being of much significance from any standpoint, safety, effectiveness, or otherwise.

And we have already gone through the argument about good weather and again, if you think it is a good thing to fool kids into thinking that hunting is a warm-weather activity, then I respectfully have to disagree. And while it is nice that deer are calm, I think it is obvious and generally accepted among hunters that more deer are seen on the opening day of gun season than any other time of the year. The actual harvest numbers show that to be true also.

So again, Has anybody ever heard a good explanation why the DEC chose to stuff the youth season right into the bow season .... that makes any sense?

Doc, weve gone round and round about this, it boils down to this. Just because YOU dont think the reasons are good or make sense, doenst mean that they dont ACTUALLY make sense. Again, the same template has and is working in other states.

[d-bone20917]

Doc, bow seaon was only extended this year in southern zone, so this hunt would of happened weekend before bow, be happy they extended bow at all.... I would of been happy to see bow stay the same and youth hunt go on anyway. so using your logic Why would they stick bow season both sides of a youth gun season??

So how about those of us in the NZ. It has always started October 1st. So those of us that only get to hunt on weekends will have to contend with Rifles the first weekend and Muzzleloaders the second and then roll right in to rifle season. My 6 year old will be hunting with me this year. I don't need to wait until she is 12. Besides, she is pretty kick ass with her pink longbow, so she will be bowhunting then anyway. Give us the same length bow season as the SZ and I wouldn't mind either.

[Tinlodge]

So how about those of us in the NZ. It has always started October 1st. So those of us that only get to hunt on weekends will have to contend with Rifles the first weekend and Muzzleloaders the second and then roll right in to rifle season. My 6 year old will be hunting with me this year. I don't need to wait until she is 12. Besides, she is pretty kick ass with her pink longbow, so she will be bowhunting then anyway. Give us the same length bow season as the SZ and I wouldn't mind either.

You'll be allowing a six year old to hunt illegally? In NYS? Seems like an awful big chance to loose your hunting rights...

[d-bone20917]

You'll be allowing a six year old to hunt illegally? In NYS? Seems like an awful big chance to loose your hunting rights...

I wasn't aware it was illegal to have a kid sit in a ground blind with you. Can you send me that section of the law?

[Tinlodge]

You'll be allowing a six year old to hunt illegally? In NYS? Seems like an awful big chance to loose your hunting rights...

your daughter will be going with you, but not carrying her pink longbow, then that's not hunting, thats teaching and being a mentor...sorry I misunderstood your wording

[d-bone20917]

your daughter will be going with you, but not carrying her pink longbow, then that's not hunting, thats teaching and being a mentor...sorry I misunderstood your wording

Yup. Poor choice of words on my part. She will be accompanying me while I hunt. And she's pretty excited too.

[mxsmitz201]

i know one thing.... ill be out everyday from October 1st on and i will be taking note of the number of shots heard, and the number of shots heard on the youth hunt weekend. if the states math is anywhere near correct at 8000 participants, i can expect little to no difference, which i am hoping for. if it sounds like opening day of gun ill be one pissed off bowhunter. and any shots that make me jump out of my skin im throwin blaze orange on and finding the source. knowing who owns the land, what land i have permission to hunt, who hunts who doesnt in a 1 mile radius around my property there is no way my lovely neighbors will take a youth out to shoot "their" deer, because thats the kind of people they are. it wouldnt surprise me one bit if they took the opportunity to use that weekend as cover for them to take deer illegally.

now before anyone jumps on my back.... ive met a few of my neighbors, who hunt, under my own treestand. they seem to be oblivious to the color yellow and completely illiterate, if i wasnt armed myself i would be very nervous in the woods by myself with them. 2 of them as "youth" while out small game hunting actually raised their rifles at my mother walking the block and chased her down and harrassed her on their four-wheelers. lucky for them the trooper who showed up was the ones friggin uncle and they got a slap on the wrist. so yea i have very shady unethical neighbors and the youth weekend to me just seems like a perfect opportunity for them to get away with an easy hunt.

[Tinlodge]

Yup. Poor choice of words on my part. She will be accompanying me while I hunt. And she's pretty excited too.

Have fun with her! nothing like creating that bond...

[WNYBuckHunter]

i know one thing.... ill be out everyday from October 1st on and i will be taking note of the number of shots heard, and the number of shots heard on the youth hunt weekend. if the states math is anywhere near correct at 8000 participants, i can expect little to no difference, which i am hoping for. if it sounds like opening day of gun ill be one pissed off bowhunter. and any shots that make me jump out of my skin im throwin blaze orange on and finding the source. knowing who owns the land, what land i have permission to hunt, who hunts who doesnt in a 1 mile radius around my property there is no way my lovely neighbors will take a youth out to shoot "their" deer, because thats the kind of people they are. it wouldnt surprise me one bit if they took the opportunity to use that weekend as cover for them to take deer illegally.

now before anyone jumps on my back.... ive met a few of my neighbors, who hunt, under my own treestand. they seem to be oblivious to the color yellow and completely illiterate, if i wasnt armed myself i would be very nervous in the woods by myself with them. 2 of them as "youth" while out small game hunting actually raised their rifles at my mother walking the block and chased her down and harrassed her on their four-wheelers. lucky for them the trooper who showed up was the ones friggin uncle and they got a slap on the wrist. so yea i have very shady unethical neighbors and the youth weekend to me just seems like a perfect opportunity for them to get away with an easy hunt.

Sounds like you live next door to grow...

[Culvercreek hunt club]

Sounds like you live next door to grow...

I was just goign to say that...too funny

[mike103]

i know one thing.... ill be out everyday from October 1st on and i will be taking note of the number of shots heard, and the number of shots heard on the youth hunt weekend. if the states math is anywhere near correct at 8000 participants, i can expect little to no difference, which i am hoping for. if it sounds like opening day of gun ill be one pissed off bowhunter. and any shots that make me jump out of my skin im throwin blaze orange on and finding the source. knowing who owns the land, what land i have permission to hunt, who hunts who doesnt in a 1 mile radius around my property there is no way my lovely neighbors will take a youth out to shoot "their" deer, because thats the kind of people they are. it wouldnt surprise me one bit if they took the opportunity to use that weekend as cover for them to take deer illegally.

now before anyone jumps on my back.... ive met a few of my neighbors, who hunt, under my own treestand. they seem to be oblivious to the color yellow and completely illiterate, if i wasnt armed myself i would be very nervous in the woods by myself with them. 2 of them as "youth" while out small game hunting actually raised their rifles at my mother walking the block and chased her down and harrassed her on their four-wheelers. lucky for them the trooper who showed up was the ones friggin uncle and they got a slap on the wrist. so yea i have very shady unethical neighbors and the youth weekend to me just seems like a perfect opportunity for them to get away with an easy hunt.

I understand having bad neighbors. Five of us own 250 acres in Eastern Delaware county next door to a notorious family of poachers.

They would use the youth season in a heart beat to cover their poaching. But they also use small game hunting, target pratice, turkey hunting and walking in the woods to cover their poaching so nothing new there.

Let's let the plan play out then critique it.

I will be taking out a friends son hunting that weeekend in Orange County. His dad has to work weekends and is only off during the week.

[Doewhacker]

What ever you do, don't turn in the lawbreakers to the proper authorities.

[NYBuckHunter27]

I think some guys are going to out and grab any 14-15 year old they know and take them or just their license and use it to fill a tag on a big buck. Deer are most vulenerable right now because of summer patterns. Sit in a field with a shotgun or rifle and it will be like shooting fish in a barrel. You will see some big bucks taken during that weekend, especaily if the weather cools down some. NYS wanted the money from this now (license sales) and will use it in the future to thier advantage(crossbow season), bowhunters better stay aware!

[mxsmitz201]

Sounds like you live next door to grow...

lol i know right. its a damn shame because i like to be friendly, which is the case with a few of my neighbors. we tell eachother what deer we see what bucks we have on camera. really helps to pattern deer and is a useful scouting tool.

[mike103]

What ever you do, don't turn in the lawbreakers to the proper authorities.

Why not?

[steve863]

Why not?

That was his way of telling you that you should have turned them in already.