I’ve lost track of the number of hunters I know who have bought a crossbow recently. With their approval for use during New York’s regular archery season, more hunters are embracing their use.
Their main appeal seems to be among gun hunters who want to hunt the early deer season but have never had the desire or inclination to own a compound.
Mike Raykovicz: Crossbow accessories can make a difference Read More »
The first time I saw him, I said he’d be the only one for me and, no, that’s not what my wife said the first time she met me.
Last September, like most other bow hunters I know, I placed six of my trail cameras in several promising hunting areas to monitor any potential deer that may have been there. One of these locations was an overgrown cow pasture sprawling over nearly 200 acres. The pasture had everything a deer could want, including several small streams, abundant cover, and mature oak and beech trees.
Mike Raykovicz: Going all in for one specific buck Read More »
When I was in high school back in the stone age, physical education (we called it gym) consisted of playing games, climbing ropes, or workouts on gymnastic equipment.
I worked in a high school for more than 30 years and found physical education classes now included an emphasis on developing lifelong physical skills such as tennis, golf, and, surprisingly to me, archery. As a colleague at the time told me, “We want to encourage a love of a sport that will last a lifetime. Football and baseball can only be played for so long before a person loses interest or can no longer participate.”
Mike Raykovicz: National Archery in the Schools Program stronger than ever Read More »
Here we are, heading for late November, and the firearms season has just begun throughout most of the state. With thousands of New York hunters searching for deer, it’s important to be reminded of, and share important safety precautions.
Legal shooting time is 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset but, in my experience, not everyone abides by this rule.
Mike Raykovicz: Thoughts on another New York firearms deer season Read More »
When the question arises as to how old a youngster should be to hunt big game, the answer varies by state. Here in New York, a 12-year-old can hunt deer provided they have completed a course in both Hunter Education and Bowhunter Education if they also want to hunt deer with a bow or crossbow.
The law stipulates that the youngster must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or youth mentor 21 years or older.
Commentary: How young is too young to hunt? Read More »
With expanded crossbow hunting opportunities in New York, many hunters will be making the switch. But there are some things the hunter needs to know to maintain and operate a crossbow safely.
Don’t do damage to your new crossbow; here’s how to maintain it Read More »
I don’t know how warm it was in your part of New York, but here in the Southern Tier, and as I suspect throughout most of the state, temperatures during the first week of October were well above normal.
Frankly, I was getting tired of my wife and friends saying “how beautiful” the weather was. Sure, clear, blue, cloudless skies with air temperatures in the low 80s made most people giddy with delight, but not me.
Now that crossbows have become legal hunting tools in New York, it’s expected that record numbers of hunters will be in the woods hunting deer this fall and, most will likely hunt from a tree stand.
However, before climbing any tree, it’s essential to follow the necessary steps to stay safe while hunting from any elevated platform. Proper tree stand measures are crucial to reducing or, ideally, eliminating accidents from falls, whether while climbing or while in the stand.
Mike Raykovicz: Tree stand safety reminders Read More »
The late Tom Yacovella, of Utica, N.Y., was a member of the New York State Outdoorsman Hall of Fame and a good friend of mine. When he and his wife, JoAnn, lived here in the Southern Tier, Yacovella and I often hunted turkeys together in both Pennsylvania and New York until he and his family moved to Utica.
Tom talked about taking a record brook trout. He eventually achieved this in 2009 when he successfully caught and landed a 5-pound, 4.5-ounce brook trout from Raquette Lake, in Hamilton County.
Mike Raykovicz: Take advantage of New York’s revamped Angler Achievement Awards Program Read More »
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