MORE RUT Dates To Look At

Been reading all the outdoor mags and thought I would post some additional "Best Days To Be In The Woods" info.

• November 2nd (Friday) / just past the full moon
• November 6th  / Transition from seeking to chasing phase
• November 10th / Dominant buck probably have already bred at least one done / rut in full swing, HIGH deer activity period
• November 19th / (GUN in southern tier of NYS opens on the 17th which is a Saturday) 19th is a MONDAY with a Mid Day moon rising / bucks still searching for does
• December 9th - secondary rut, follow the does, watch food sources

Again, my sage advice, HUNT any and every day you can from beginning of bow till the end of ML season. May you and yours have a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving and hope you get a BIG BUCK if that is your goal this year.

Dan

Posted below are excerpts from the DEC season dates for big game hunting in NYS.

Deer and Bear Hunting Seasons

See Future Big Game Season Dates to plan for future hunting seasons.
A summary of 2012-13 hunting seasons (PDF, 433 kB) is available to print or download.

Deer Hunting Seasons

See Rifle, Shotgun, and Bow Areas for where these implements are allowed during the regular deer seasons.

New Youth Firearms Deer Season over Columbus Day weekend in 2012.

Click image to purchase a license

2012 Deer Hunting Season Dates

Area	Bowhunting	Regular Season	Muzzleloading	Special Firearms Season
Northern Zone	Sept. 27 - Oct. 19 Dec. 3 - Dec. 9 (WMUs 5A, 5G, 5J, 6A, 6C, 6H, 6G only)	Oct. 20 - Dec. 2	Oct. 13 - Oct. 19 Dec. 3 - Dec. 9 (WMUs 5A, 5G, 5J, 6A, 6C, 6H, 6G only)
Southern Zone	Oct. 1 - Nov. 16 Dec. 10 - Dec. 18	Nov. 17 - Dec. 9	Dec. 10 - Dec. 18 (except WMUs 1C, 3S, 4J and 8C)
Westchester County (WMU 3S)	same as Regular Season	Oct. 1 - Dec. 31 (bowhunting only)
Suffolk County (WMU 1C)	same as Regular Season	Oct. 1 - Dec. 31 (bowhunting only)		Jan. 7 - Jan. 31, 2013 (Weekdays only; Special permit required)

Antler Restriction Program

An antler restriction is in place to reduce harvest of young bucks in a portion of the Catskills in southeastern New York. The antler restriction REQUIRES that bucks taken in the antler restriction units have at least one antler with 3 points (or more) which are at least one inch long. This restriction applies to the archery, regular and muzzleloading seasons. Hunters aged 12-16 years are exempt from this restriction. For more information see Antler Restrictions in New York.

Black Bear Hunting Seasons

Early Season bear hunters in the Northern Bear Hunting Area (Adirondacks) may use a bow (with appropriate bowhunting eligibility), muzzleloader, handgun, shotgun, rifle or crossbow. For legal implements in other bear seasons, please see Rifle, Shotgun, and Bow Areas.

2012 Bear Hunting Season Dates

Area	Early	Bowhunting	Regular	Muzzleloading
Northern (yellow shaded)	Sept. 15 - Oct. 12	Sept. 27 - Oct. 19	Oct. 20 - Dec. 2	Oct. 13 - Oct. 19
Southern (orange shaded)		Oct. 1 - Nov. 16 Dec. 10 - Dec. 18	Nov. 17 - Dec. 9	Dec. 10 - Dec. 18
Westchester County (lt. blue shaded)		Same as Regular Season	Oct. 1 - Dec. 31 (bowhunting only)

Become a NYS Black Bear Management Cooperator

1. First, report your bear harvest.
2. Second, submit a premolar tooth from the bear for DEC to determine the bear's age. and then,
3. You will receive a commemorative patch as a NYS Black Bear Management Cooperator.

See Black Bear Tooth Collection for instructions and more information about becoming a NYS Black Bear Management Cooperator.