It’s getting to be that time of year again.
The cold nights and almost frosty mornings we’ve experienced this past week have gotten me thinking about all the chores I need to do before the snow flies. Winterize the boat, check the heat tape on the pipes, take the screens down and put up the storm windows, the list goes on. The responsible thing to do would be to set aside the next few weekends and take care of the chores on the list, but early archery season opens up October 1 and there’s not much time left to get ready.
I guess the chores will have to wait.
If you’re anything like me, you had intended to make time this summer to scout the woods for deer sign and place trail cameras to see what was there. You were then going to choose better locations for your blinds or treestands based upon what the cameras revealed. Treestands were then going to be placed in the best locations, shooting lanes cleared and success guaranteed by your efforts.
Despite my best intentions, I wasn’t able to make the time to do all those things, so I’ll hunt what I know and make the best of it.
Even though October 1 is right around the corner, there is still time to improve our chances this season. Start by taking your bow out and shooting a dozen or so arrows every day. Don’t overdo it if you haven’t shot since last fall or you are new to bowhunting.
Keep your sessions short to begin with and add a few shots every day. You need time to get back in shape after a long layoff. You will quickly gain strength, confidence and accuracy this way. You will likely devote a great amount of your time this fall to the hunt. You owe it to yourself and most of all to the game you hunt to be the best shot you are capable of.
For those of you who will wait for the firearms season to open, it’s not too early to start practicing, especially if you intend to try new ammunition or a new rifle this year. Don’t assume that your sights or your scope are true based on last season’s results. Proficiency comes with practice so practice often.
Crossbows are now legal to use when hunting for those of you who may want to try something a little different. The governor signed legislation into law last spring making the crossbow a legal hunting implement for both big and small game with certain restrictions.
In a nutshell, this is what the new law means to deer hunters. Those of you who hunt in the northern zone may use a crossbow for the last 10 days of the early bow season, all of the regular season and all of the late muzzleloader season.
You need to possess a muzzle loading license to use the crossbow during the early and late special seasons and you will use your muzzle loading carcass tag if successful. During the regular season, your big game license is all you need and you will use your buck tag if you shoot a buck. You may also use the crossbow to fill DMP tags if you possess them.
Southern zone hunters can use crossbows the last 14 days of the early bow season, all of the regular season and all of the late muzzle loading season.
The same rules concerning licensing and tagging apply to both northern and southern zone.
You must be at least 14 years of age to hunt with a crossbow and you must possess a crossbow certificate of qualification that can be obtained online at the DEC website, or found in the 2014-15 hunting regulation guide.
Anyone who has taken the hunter safety course since April 1 and going forward will receive crossbow qualification training during the course. Crossbows can also be used to take bear and turkeys during the appropriate seasons. I suggest you visit the Department of Environmental Conservation website (www.dec.ny.gov) for the complete text of the regulations as there isn’t room in this column to include all the information you need to know.
Crossbows will help to introduce new hunters, especially youths and women, to the sport and will help to keep our most experienced hunters afield. They will allow sportsmen to hunt small properties where it would be inappropriate to use a firearm and may allow them access to acres whose owners may restrict the use of firearms. Despite the contentious history of crossbows in New York, I believe they will take their rightful place in the hunting community as an accepted tool and respected method of hunting.
Saratoga Rowing Association Invitational Bass Tournament
The fifth annual SRA invitational bass tournament was held Sunday, September 14 at Lee’s campground. In all, 27 teams vied for the top spot in this contest sponsored by the Saratoga Rowing Association.
Chris Chase of SRA is the person to thank for getting the organization involved and the funding that provides for the purse and the food afterwards. Leo Nosal and his crew fed the crowd and nobody left hungry. The tournament was run by Saratoga Tackle.
Taking first place and lunker was the team of Todd Brown and Paul Norton Jr. with 14.02 pounds anchored with a 5.64 pound largemouth bass. They took home $500 for the win and $225 for lunker.
Second place was Dave Munger and Scena Meader with 13.16 pounds winning $400.
Third place was Dan Brinsko and Jim Clyne with 10.88 pounds winning $300.
A total of seven places and $2,200 was paid out at the end of the day all courtesy of Chase and the folks at SRA. My thanks to SRA, Lee’s campground and all the participants in the tournament.
Tim Blodgett, owner of Saratoga Tackle & Archery, can be reached at (518) 584-3952. His store is located on Route 9P, Saratoga Lake next to the state boat launch. For further information, visit Saratogatackle.com or find Saratoga Tackle on Facebook.
