Chronic wasting disease is of serious concern for both biologists and sportsmen here in New York and elsewhere.
CWD is 100% fatal for deer and the only way discovered so far to mitigate it is to isolate whitetail populations where it is found. As we reported earlier, it was discovered in Pennsylvania’s free-ranging white-tailed deer in 2012 and continues to be a threat to deer and elk in the Commonwealth.
The firearms season for deer begins on Nov. 18 and needless to say, thousands of New York hunters will be afield. To be compliant with hunting regulations, hunters are reminded that they must wear a blaze orange or pink colored coat or vest with at least 250 square inches of coverage above the waist or a hat with more than 50% blaze orange or pink material.
Physical Education curricula throughout New York State have incorporated lifetime sports programs for a long time now. Sports like tennis, golf, and archery are now emphasized because these are the activities in which children can participate into adulthood and throughout their lives.
One of these programs, National Archery in the Schools, is an activity that doesn’t discriminate because of athletic skills, size, gender, or popularity. It is offered to students from 4th to 12 grade and emphasizes discipline, patience, and life lessons that prove valuable both in the classroom and throughout life.
As most hunters know when a deer appears, especially if it’s a big deer, there is an adrenalin rush that can make us do stupid things especially if we don’t have a highly practiced shooting routine. Call it what you will – buck fever or target panic – it happens to all of us only at different degrees.
Buck fever is the nervousness we all feel when faced with making an important shot. We get butterflies in our stomach, our hands might shake, our mouth becomes dry and it’s hard to keep the bow or gun steady. If you think it can’t happen to you then think again.
The fall turkey season opens throughout most of New York’s Southern Zone Oct. 21 and in my opinion, it should be a good one. Other than the first week in May the weather for the rest of that month was dry and relatively warm, at least here in the Southern Tier. By my unscientific observations, the number of successful broods I’ve seen throughout the summer indicates a good spring hatch and survival rate.
For years I didn’t own a rangefinder, instead relying on rocks, sticks, or even pieces of tissue paper as yardage markers. Now, without having to move from my stand, I can determine the exact distance to just about any object within shooting range.
While bowhunting, I can determine my aim point regardless of my height in the tree because my rangefinder allows me to verify that with ease. Most laser rangefinders are accurate to plus or minus one meter or yard. Leupold’s RX-Full Draw model can range from 600 to 800 yards and offers new signal processing techniques that promise accuracy to within a half-yard.
Chronic Wasting Disease hasn’t been seen in New York State since 2005 but it has the potential of changing deer hunting forever. This always fatal disease, for which there is no cure, threatens white-tailed deer, moose, and elk.
CWD was discovered in Oneida County 18 years ago, and thanks to an intensive and comprehensive testing and culling program, the DEC and NYS Department of Agriculture managed to eliminate it. CWD has been found in 29 states but, so far, New York is the only state to have eliminated it. However, that isn’t the case with our neighbor to the south.
Beech trees are long-lived denizens of forests throughout the eastern half of North America and many have succumbed to beech bark disease, but the recently discovered Beech Leaf Disease (BLD) appears to be an even bigger threat.
If the number of beech trees in New York as well as elsewhere declines significantly it could have far-reaching consequences, including significant changes to the composition of our northern hardwood forests and the loss of a valuable food source for wildlife. All species of beech trees can be affected by this disease, including those used for landscaping and along city streets.
It looks like the inmates are back running the asylum. As part of the SAFE Act implemented 10 years ago, anyone purchasing ammunition in New York had to undergo a background check, but that provision was put on hold in 2015 when Governor Cuomo’s administration deemed this provision wasn’t practicable.
Last year, Governor Kathy Hochul instructed the State Police to find a way to make it work.
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