Crossbows have been a hot issue lately. The newly formed New York Crossbow Coalition (NYCC) has been garnering support for use of the crossbow during all seasons. As you may be aware, use of the crossbow here in the Southern Zone is currently during our regular deer hunting season and the special late muzzleloader season only. Indeed, by last season’s deer harvest of 491 statewide with the crossbow, it’s certainly not being used as a management tool. In actuality, its hardly being used at all. I mean, come on, you have a choice of taking your rifle or crossbow out deer hunting...what are you going to do?
The present law enacted in 2011 will sunset (expire) after the end of the 2012 seasons. This means that if no new crossbow legislation is passed, the crossbow will not be allowed to be used in any season in 2013 and beyond. The NYCC is working on legislation now to define the crossbow as a legal hunting implement so that DEC can regulate it in all seasons. Right now, you can't even use an crossbow to shoot carp while bowfishing. Keeping the crossbow out of any other season surely has no merit.
The man spearheading the effort to change the crossbow law to allow it during all seasons is Rich McDermott. Rich can be reached at (315) 882-1540 or email to: NYCrossbowCoalition@yahoogroups.com for more information. I might add, Rich is vice president of the Conservation Alliance of NY (CANY), and they are supportive of crossbow use in all seasons.
One last mention on crossbows here. I'd like to poll my readers and find out what you think about using crossbows in all seasons. Please drop me an email and let me know your feelings at george_franke@yahoo.com

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Last week I provided readers with information on the total deer take in NYS in 2011. Here is a breakdown by DEC DMU's and Townships in Chenango County:
Region 7M - 4,227 bucks harvested, 8,246 total deer harvested.
Region 7P - 1,136 bucks harvested, 1,942 total deer harvested.
Afton - bucks 121, total deer 171; Bainbridge - bucks 123, total deer 221; Columbus - bucks 104, total deer 185; Coventry - bucks 116, total deer 217; German - bucks 64, total deer 120; Greene - bucks 281, total deer 440; Guilford - bucks 196, total deer 332; Lincklaen - bucks 47, total deer 103; McDonough - bucks 151, total deer 279; New Berlin - bucks 100, total 180; North Norwich - bucks 59, total deer 89; Norwich - bucks 142, total deer 233; Norwich City - bucks 23, total deer 37; Otselic - bucks 109, total deer 216; Oxford - bucks 220, total deer 421; Pharsalia - bucks 94, total deer 195; Pitcher - bucks 95, total deer 187; Plymouth - bucks 137, total deer 232 Preston - bucks 117, total deer 226; Sherburne - bucks 149, total deer 306; Smithville - bucks 187, total deer 392; Smyrna - bucks 138, total deer 318.

These figures are directly from the DEC and from the call-in details provided by hunters under the mandatory deer check. While it’s hard to argue with the data, I am wondering who shot the 37 deer in the City of Norwich and where did they get them?
Those interested in the bear take for 2011, only one bear was reported taken with a rifle in Region 7M, and four bears were taken in Region 7P (two by bow, two by rifle).

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ON THE CALENDAR

March 23: Renowned authority on whitetail deer, Charles Alsheimer, will present “Whitetail: A Journey Through the Seasons” at 7 p.m. at the Main Street Baptist Church in Oneonta. Contact Bob Turrell (607) 432-2240 or Walt Kunkler (607) 988-2667 for details. Doors open at 6 p.m. This is a free event.