Syracuse.com - It's prime time at the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge

[HuntingNY-News]

It's a great place for birders and hunters alike this time of year.

Mike Greenlar/The Post-Standard

Whether you’re a bird-watcher or a hunter, this month and the next is prime time at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge in Savannah.

“This is my favorite time of the year,” said Andrea Van Beusichem, visitor services manager for the refuge. “It’s all happening.”

Van Beusichem said the refuge is packed with migrating birds.

“The shore birds are around and tens of thousands of ducks and geese are coming in,” she said. “We’re also seeing more activity with the raptors – especially the bald eagles.”

Van Beusichem said the sandhill cranes also starting to group up before they migrate.

“Instead of one, you’re 10 or more at a time,” she said.

Gerry Smith, a board member for the Onondaga Audubon Society, confirmed that “now until freeze-up” is great time for birders to visit Montezuma.

“Things keep changing there on a daily to weekly basis. There’s a lot going in, and a lot going out. It’s not certain what you’re going to find there on any certain day,” he said.

Mike Greenlar/The Post-Standard

Meanwhile, the refuge, with its more than 9,100 acres, is also a great spot for waterfowl and deer hunting.

Van Beusichem said waterfowl hunters are allowed at the 1,100-acre Tschache Pool. The refuge has a special youth hunt scheduled Oct. 13 and will allow all hunters on opening day of the regular waterfowl season, beginning Oct. 27.

Hunters are required to take waterfowl identification course ahead of time and are required to bring their own, non-motorized boat (usually a canoe). Use of a hunting dog is highly recommended.

The refuge has a phone registration system (315-568-4136) for waterfowl hunters. Registrations to hunt will be taken 8 to 9:30 a.m. Oct. 20 for the regular season. There’s a $10 registration fee each day.

“We allow 20 registrations for spots each day, and up to two hunters on each spot,” she said. “Each day, hunters are expected to check in and show their hunting license, duck stamp and waterfowl ID course certificate.”

Van Beusichem said deer hunting is permitted on most of the refuge’s land, with the exception of a few closed-off areas. The archery season on the refuge opens Nov. 1, she said, and the firearms season coincides with the Southern Zone’s schedule (Nov. 17).

A maximum of 300 bowhunters are allowed on refuge grounds each day during that season, and no more than 150 a day during the firearms season. Hunters must get a “self-service permit” each day from the refuge’s check station on Route 89. There’s no fee.

Tree stands are allowed, but with restrictions.

“You can have a tree stand, but they can’t be permanent, and you can’t screw anything in — and they have to removed each day,” he said.

For further information on the refuge, call 568-5987.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog