We have so many deer here. Hunters take note. The evening fields are loaded with deer herds. The Southern Zone early archery season in New York has been open since Oct. 1 and hunters with arrows have done well so far. This Saturday, the Southern Zone early archery crossbow season will open. Elderly hunters and younger hunters alike, and other legally licensed hunters of many age groups (see DEC rules) may help further manage the deer population to alleviate the vehicular interference issues that are all too frequent here in Chautauqua County.

There is little argument that crossbows are highly effective and very accurate, especially for those with no time to practice and aging hunters who can no longer pull back a bow string but who still want to hunt. New York state has maintained multiple rules for crossbow use that include pull weight maximum (200 lbs.) and minimum (100 lbs.), width (17 inches minimum limb to limb) and length (not shorter than 24 inches). These physical parameters for crossbows, particularly the width requirement, were made long before state-of-the-art technology allowed the safe use of a crossbow with such physical size. In New York, it’s time to change the width and the maximum pull weight rules and get with the times.

Lighter and narrower crossbows are easier to handle for any age group, making them safer for climbing into a tree stand. I’m still trying to figure out why New York has not revised these decades-old regulation barriers. Legal crossbow rules here in New York are considered outdated in every other state of our country. I talked with three manufacturers about these rules, particularly width, and none of them can explain why crossbows here must be 17 inches wide or more.

In conversation with Kevin Casey of Centerpoint Archery, “the only truly legal New York state crossbow would be the Centerpoint AT400 (200 lbs. draw, over 17-inch tip to tip, under $350), and it does come with a detachable crank mechanism.”

Submitted Photo Crossbows that are New York compliant can be hard to find and extremely costly, but this Centerpoint AT400 (400 feet per second) is popular with first-time crossbow deer hunters and is highly affordable at under $350. It could help with our “too-many-deer” problem.

When I reviewed all the models of several manufacturers with safety, ease of handling (cocking) and cost (affordability) among primary concerns, I asked more about the Sinister 430 (under $800). It’s made by Centerpoint, but I was interested because it comes with an integrated silent crank mechanism. But guess what? It’s not New York compliant because it is only 14-1/4 inches wide, un-cocked.

“Designing a bow with all advanced features that NYS considers legal will never be competitive in the marketplace,” Casey added.

I found that out when I checked the pricing of competitor companies, where some of the New York-compliant bows are priced from $1,500-$3,000 and more. Ohio and Pennsylvania deer hunters enjoy the entire traditional archery season, with the option for anyone with a hunting license to use a crossbow with no physical size or maximum pull weight requirements.

New York has a particularly complicated and comprehensive regulatory framework designed to manage the health of our fish and wildlife populations, and it appears to many — at least to me, that the rules for crossbows should be revised for the interest of the majority stakeholders — the hunters. Why don’t hunters get a vote? Aging hunters with archery on their mind could hunt during warmer weather. These guys, like me, are growing older faster than they would like and want to use a crossbow because this hunting tool is deadly. Fewer wounded deer walking around.

In New York, very recently, reasonable accommodations were made via the Americans with Disabilities Act, allowing an unmodified crossbow use. This means that individuals with a certified physical disability that prevents them from holding a bow or operating a mechanical device attached to a legal longbow for drawing, holding and releasing the bow string can use a crossbow. While some feel that this type of documented accommodation can generate emotional distress for those already limited in their disability, the new allowance will benefit many in New York.

If you are wondering, I ordered the Sinister 430 (https://www.centerpointarchery.com/) with the silent internal cocking mechanism, but I can only use it everywhere except in New York. It’s OK, I hunt deer in Ohio, Alabama and Florida. So do many others, and New York will lose out on much-deserved hunter revenue because of the silly New York crossbow rules. The current regulations not only limit the hunting opportunities for New York residents but also drive revenue to nearby states. This is a significant issue that needs to be addressed.

Less than a week ago, waves of steelhead were swimming upstream in Chautauqua Creek. A little north, they were swimming 17 miles upstream all the way to the Springville dam in Cattaraugus Creek. Cattaraugus has enough water to support this recent period of limited rainfall and warming weather. So below the dam has become a hotspot. The fluctuating temperatures can affect the behavior of both deer and steelhead, making it a bit challenging to decide whether to go hunting or fishing. That’s your call.

If you want to try the steelhead fishing world, contact New York state guides Marty Klemann of Canadaway Creek Outfitters or Julie Szur, who is a certified Orvis-endorsed stream fishing educator for steelhead and trout. Both have Facebook pages. Call Klemann at 716-410-3720 or Szur at 716-481-6619.

Lastly, three reminders: Crossbow hunters need a New York state muzzleloading license to use a crossbow during the early archery season that starts Saturday; turkey hunters, the New York state fall wild turkey season in the Southern Zone ends on Friday; boaters, also on Friday, New York state requires mandatory personal floatation devices be worn by occupants in boats 21 feet long or less; this rule ends on May 1 each year.

Happy Halloween.

CALENDAR

Oct. 1 to Nov. 15: New York State Southern Zone early big game archery season.

Nov. 1: New York State Southern Zone fall turkey season ends.

Nov. 1: Leftover deer management permits go on sale, first-come, first-served at license issuing sites.

Nov. 1: New York State Personal Floatation Device Law is in effect for boats less than 21 feet. Ends May 1.

Nov. 2-15: New York State Southern Zone crossbow big game season open

Nov. 5: Fly Fishing and Fly-Tying Class, free, 7-8:30 p.m., with Alberto Rey, Costello Room, Rockefeller Arts Center, SUNY Fredonia. Info: email reya@fredonia.edu.

Nov. 16 to Dec. 8: New York State Southern Zone regular (firearm) big game season

Dec. 9-17 and Dec. 26 to Jan. 1: NYS Southern Zone late bowhunting season