‘Tis The Season For Musky, Steelhead, Deer and Bear in Chautauqua County, NY
Category: article
Sep 23rd, 2019 by Keith Worrall 803
Modified Sep 23rd, 2019 at 7:04 PM
Musky, Steelhead, Deer and Bear the Season is Right in Chautauqua County, NY
*Big Game Early Archery Season Opens Oct. 1, ends Nov. 15, 2019
*Crossbow Season Opens Nov. 2, runs through Nov. 15
*Firearm Season (Shotgun, Handgun, Rifle, Crossbow, Bow) Opens Nov. 16, ends Dec. 8
*Muzzleloader & Late Archery Season Opens Dec. 9, ends Dec. 17
Sweet white oak acorns and beech nuts help to grow big healthy deer in Chautauqua County, NY. Joe Forma Photo
Chautauqua County is the land of big game hunting opportunities for CWD-free whitetail deer and abundant black bear. There were 9,944 whitetail deer harvested in Chautauqua County last year, including 4,334 adult bucks greater than 1.5 years old – about 4.1 to 5.0 bucks per square mile. Approximately 20 percent of the deer were harvested with a bow. Review of bowhunter logbooks show that hunters viewed 10 deer for every 10 hours of hunting. There were 28 black bear harvested, 11 during bow season and 17 with firearms.
Nature’s organic health food mix for big strong deer in Chautauqua County includes apple orchards, corn fields and vineyards. The rolling hills support forests of sweet white oak, beech and hickory to provide sweet acorns and high protein nut stock for deer. Plentiful wild berry bushes and grape fields provide sweet mealtime for increasing numbers of black bear. High, straight, hardwood trees offer safe support for your ground level tree-mount chair, a fixed ladder stand or a climbing tree stand. Please wear a full body harness if you are going vertical. Stay safe.
Chautauqua County is prime with public and private hunting land across more than 1,000 square miles of mostly undisturbed country land. Public access is free to hunt in our 14 State Forests that are specifically managed by the New York State Fish and Wildlife to provide free access to hunting, trapping, wildlife viewing and photography. Handicapped hunters have privileged access to 13,000 acres in eight of those 14 state forests here.
Add the aroma of fresh organic pancakes and hot maple syrup from local trees for breakfast before the hunt, you can understand the welcome feeling that hunters have who travel here from near and far. Big game hunting is very good in Chautauqua County. The deer and bear population is increasing, we need help from hunters in Chautauqua.
Hunters that repeatedly bag a deer with a bow, crossbow, firearm or muzzleloader are usually in the woods and in their stand about one-hour before sunrise. The hunting day ends at sunset, by law. The deer and bear are abundant here. With archery or firearms, be sure of your target and beyond. Be safe.
Please join us for the adventure and excitement of big game hunting in Chautauqua County, NY
Link to New York State hunting regulations: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/28182.html.
Link to Chautauqua County Forest Maps: http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/22556.html.