Local Sports

Go vertical, go safe: New York’s archery season is here

There is something special about the first morning of deer season. The alarm goes off long before daylight. Coffee tastes a little better. The woods are dark and quiet, and for a few minutes you can hear every footstep, every branch snapping and every distant owl as you make your way to your favorite hunting spot.

For thousands of New York hunters, Thursday, Oct. 1, marks the opening of the Southern Zone early bowhunting season for deer and black bear. The 2026 early bow season runs through Friday, Nov. 20, ending with the regular Southern Zone firearms season beginning Saturday, Nov. 21. Big game hunting hours are from 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset.

There is another reason this year’s archery season is particularly interesting: New York hunters can use crossbows during the same seasons, in the same places and in the same manner as vertical bows, subject to the state’s licensing and education requirements. The change took effect in 2025 and was incorporated into the state’s regulations in 2026. That gives hunters another way to enjoy one of New York’s oldest outdoor traditions.

What a tradition it is.

DEC estimates that hunters harvested 227,032 deer statewide in 2025. Of those, 49,160 were taken during the bow season, and approximately 55% of those bow-season deer were taken with crossbows.

Here in Chautauqua County, hunters harvested an estimated 10,120 deer last year. That’s more than 10,000 deer that became part of the food chain, provided healthy protein for families and friends, and represented another year of hunters participating in wildlife management and conservation.

Every one of those harvested deer began with a hunter sitting somewhere in the woods. Maybe it was an old-fashioned ground stand. Maybe it was one of today’s increasingly popular pop-up ground blinds. Maybe it was a metal ladder stand tucked against a big oak.

Or maybe, like me, you prefer to go vertical. Up in the trees I’ve always been a fan of climbing tree stands.

There is something wonderfully simple about finding a good tree, attaching the climber and slowly working your way upward until the forest floor is well below you. Depending on

where you hunt, depending on the height of the tree cover bottom leaf layer -- that might be 10 feet or 30 feet up.

My Summit climber is my favorite hunting chair. The seat is comfortable, the surrounding frame creates something of a little cockpit, and once I’m settled in, I can sit, stand, stretch, move around and stay comfortable for hours -- almost invisible to the wildlife below.

Being comfortable matters. Why? Because hunting isn’t always about pulling a trigger or releasing an arrow. Sometimes it’s about sitting quietly for hours while the woods come alive around you. It’s watching squirrels chase each other through the leaves. It’s hearing chickadees calling. It’s seeing the first shafts of morning sunlight reach the forest floor.

Sometimes, if you’re lucky, it’s watching a deer step into that little opening you’ve been waiting for.

There is one thing about climbing trees that should never be treated casually: Safety. You must use that most important piece of hunting equipment. If you’re going vertical this fall, wear a full-body safety harness and stay connected to the tree from the ground until you’re safely back on the ground.

Not some of the way. Not when you get to your hunting height. The entire time. Today’s tree-stand safety systems make it possible to remain connected while climbing and descending. Use them.

Every fall, hunters across the country suffer serious injuries in tree-stand accidents. Some never make it home. Others survive with injuries that change the rest of their lives. There is nothing brave about taking that chance.

I hunt because I enjoy being outdoors. I hunt because I enjoy the challenge. I hunt because I enjoy putting wild, nutritious food on the table. And I hunt because I want to be around to do it again next year. I want to be here for my kids and my grandkids.

That’s why safety isn’t an afterthought. It’s part of the hunt. One trip up, one trip down. There is another little trick that makes an elevated hunt considerably easier: use a haul line.

Before climbing, attach a sturdy rope or haul line to your unloaded firearm, crossbow, bow or other hunting equipment. You can also use it to bring up your backpack, water, clothing layers and other gear. One trip. One lift.

One less reason to be reaching, stretching or trying to climb while carrying equipment. And remember: never climb with a loaded firearm or loaded crossbow. Get yourself safely situated first, then use the haul line to bring your equipment up. It’s a simple habit that can make a big difference.

The harvest matters, too. For those of us who hunt, the goal isn’t simply to put a deer on the ground. The goal is to make a responsible, ethical harvest.

That means knowing your target, knowing what is beyond it, taking a shot you’re confident you can make, recovering the animal and making full use of the meat.

There is something pretty satisfying about filling a freezer with venison that came from a deer you harvested yourself.

New York’s wild deer herd provides an important source of locally harvested food. More good news: According to the NYSDEC, chronic wasting disease has not been detected in New York’s wild deer population. That is another reason hunters should take wildlife health

seriously. Follow DEC guidance regarding CWD testing and carcass movement, report harvested deer as required and do your part to keep New York’s wild deer herd healthy.

A successful hunt is about more than antlers. It’s about food. It’s about conservation. It’s about spending time outdoors. It’s about participating responsibly in a tradition that connects generations of New Yorkers to the land.

So, as Oct. 1 approaches, check your equipment. Check your licenses and tags. Know the regulations for the Wildlife Management Unit where you hunt. Inspect your stand. Inspect your harness. Practice with your bow or crossbow.

Go hunting. Go outside. Go home.

Gotta love the outdoors.

CALENDAR

Sept. 30: 3-D Archery, Evans Rod & Gun Club, 4 p.m. start, $10 fee, 15 targets, free instruction 4-6 p.m.; Info: call Jerry Gorski, 716-698-3008.

Oct. 1: Opening Day for NYS Early Big Game Archery Season -- deer and bear.

Oct. 1: Opening Day for small game ruffed grouse and cottontail rabbit in the Southern Zone.

Oct. 6: Children in the Stream Youth Fly Fishing/4H Program, Fly tying/fly fishing classes, 7-8:30 p.m., free, Costello Room, Rockefeller Art Center at SUNY Fredonia, For info: email Alberto@albertorey.com.

Oct. 7: Fly Tying Class, 6-8 p.m., free, Falconer Rod & Gun Club, 329 Falconer St., Jamestown; info: 716-467-0782.