Hi Kyle & Steve, (& all) Thanks for letting us know about the unprecedented early gun season on deer which is planned to start during the Montezuma Muckrace in some of the best birding areas. I have never heard of this conflict before, so it seems like something new promoted by DEC. In my opinion it is a very bad idea.
I avoid being on public lands where deer hunting is permitted on opening day of gun season. The number of people with guns is not limited. They may be unfamiliar with the area. They may be inexperienced. Their enthusiasm may overwhelm their judgement. Deer will be particularly numerous, spooked, and running that day, which may provoke more shots and less care. Slugs for killing deer are also lethal to people, and unlike the less harmful fine shot used to shoot ducks and geese, those slugs can travel travel hundreds of yards. On public lands the shots are less likely to be from deer stands aimed downward a short distance and more likely to be from people on foot aimed more-or-less level and therefore traveling much farther. Howland Island seems like a particularly dangerous place. Sightlines along winding trails are poor. The trail system is complex, and it’s hard to know how far away the closest trail is in any direction. The terrain is rolling, so shots fired somewhat upward are more likely, which would send slugs farther. On Howland Island people are allowed to walk or bike the trails any day. During the Muckrace there are typically dozens of additional people birding on Howland Island, and driving is also allowed. Birders trying to hear owls or night migrants are there during the night. Birders may be there all night, or may arrive well before dawn and stay through the early morning when many birds are most active. There will likely be plenty of birders on the island and active at first light when eager hunters first open fire. These birders’ presence may additionally make deer nervous and apt to move. There will likely be plenty of birders on the island and active at first light when eager hunters first open fire. The timing of this “special season” - in the first half of September rather than the second half of November - means that trees will be fully leafed out, making visibility minimal, such that people who are quietly moving within gun range will not be able to see each other. In my opinion it was a dangerous decision by DEC to open a special early gun season for deer on Howland Island when the trees are leafed out and at a time when the public traditionally has been able to go out without fear of lethal gunfire. It was particularly dangerous to promote this activity when the DEC already knew that the Muckrace would be ongoing there when the shooting started. Since this promotion of premature shooting seems to be a DEC project, I thought at least the dikes around the Montezuma NWR’s Knox-Marsellus and Puddler Marshes would be safely available to birders. I am very disappointed that the Refuge is also welcoming people to fire guns there during the single 24-hour period when birders are trying to hold a fundraiser for conservation in the Montezuma Wetlands Complex. Can the DEC’s Howland Island, any other DEC lands in the Montezuma Wetlands Complex, and the Refuge’s Knox-Marsellus & Puddler Marshes be exempted from this special shooting season on the Saturday of the Muckrace? Please share these concerns with decision-makers at DEC & the Refuge. Thanks. - - Dave Nutter > On Sep 4, 2021, at 8:17 AM, gag...@twc.com wrote: > > Muckrace Participants, > > We’d like to make all Muckrace participants aware of an early gun season for > deer which will start on September 11th, during the Saturday portion of the > Muckrace. NYSDEC Wildlife Management Units in the Northern Complex fall > within the areas open for hunting as well as parts of the Montezuma NWR. Hunt > times will run from ½ hr before sunrise to ½ hr after sunset. > > WMU’s will include any that are normally open to hunting during the regular > deer season, including Howland Island. Howland Island will be open to birders > however and Muckrace participants will be able to open the gate to drive onto > the island. Please close and lock the gate behind you after entering/exiting. > On refuge property, Knox/Marcellus Marsh and Puddlers Marsh will be open to > hunting as well as birders while the Esker Brook Trail, South Spring Pool > Trail, the Wildlife Drive and Seneca Trail will be closed to hunting but are > open for birding. Any areas other than Knox/Marcellus & Puddlers Marsh which > are normally off limits to the public remain that way. > > Please be conscious of the fact that you will be sharing the space with > hunters during your Muckrace birding and the use of blaze orange > vests/hats/jackets is encouraged/recommended (new regulations require hunters > to wear blaze orange or pink). Signage has been posted alerting hunters that > there will be birders and other members of the public enjoying our public > lands that day as well. > > This year the Muckrace date had been set before this new hunting season was > approved and implemented. In future years we will work to plan the date of > the Muckrace so as not to have this overlap. However, hunting seasons such as > small game have coincided with the Muckrace in past years so please don’t let > this new season discourage you from participating. > > Thank you and we look forward to seeing you next Friday and Saturday for the > 24th annual Muckrace! > > Kyle Gage > (Acting) President FOTMWC > -- > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > Welcome and Basics > Rules and Information > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > Archives: > The Mail Archive > Surfbirds > BirdingOnThe.Net > Please submit your observations to eBird! > -- -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
