The DEC is flat wrong to have tossed this on the schedule with the Muckrace already planned. I sincerely hope they can be convinced it is a grave error to proceed with the additional hunt. Were I planning to participate in the Muckrace I would change that plan if the DEC doesn't yield on this. I know, OOB opinion.
On Sun, Sep 5, 2021, 12:30 PM Gary Kohlenberg <jg...@cornell.edu> wrote: > I agree with this opinion and would add that rifles are now allowed for > deer in almost all counties in New York. > > An argument could be made that this will increase or decrease safety for > others, but it certainly changes the lethal range for misses to 1000+ > yards. > > Gary > > On Sep 5, 2021, at 11:57 AM, Dave Nutter <nutter.d...@me.com> wrote: > > > 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 <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME> > Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES> > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > *Archives:* > The Mail Archive > <http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> > Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds> > BirdingOnThe.Net <http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html> > *Please submit your observations to eBird > <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>!* > -- > > -- > *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* > Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME> > Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES> > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > *Archives:* > The Mail Archive > <http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> > Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds> > BirdingOnThe.Net <http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html> > *Please submit your observations to eBird > <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>!* > -- > -- > *Cayugabirds-L List Info:* > Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME> > Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES> > Subscribe, Configuration and Leave > <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm> > *Archives:* > The Mail Archive > <http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html> > Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds> > BirdingOnThe.Net <http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html> > *Please submit your observations to eBird > <http://ebird.org/content/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/ --
