Record Year for Hunting Licenses
Record Year for Hunting Licenses
The pandemic of 2020 creates opportunities for new outdoorsmen across Cattaraugus County
PHOTO: Nate Ellis, of Onoville, NY, celebrated a successful opening day with the harvest of this 9-point buck in Great Valley
The leaves have dropped across Cattaraugus County and the first snow has fallen. All signs pointing to a rite of passage, handed down across generations, sending people marching across the fields, hills and valleys of our area.
The start of shotgun season for deer has officially opened in New York State, sending a record number of hunters into the woods. The COVID-19 pandemic has launched a surge of new licenses for the Department of Environmental Conservation.
Officer Jason Powers, a sixteen-year veteran of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation tells ellicottvilleNow that this year has had its pleasant surprises, despite the pandemic.
“As far as an uptick in criminal activity and/or injuries related to hunting, I haven’t seen that this year.“
Powers said it’s important that people follow the rules - this year more than ever. With so many new licenses issued, safety need to be at the forefront. “A lot of people got their certification online this year, so it’s got to be safety first. If we can get through a season with very minimal injury, we’re happy.”
As people head out into the wilds of Cattaraugus County, Officer Powers has some advice. “It’s easy to do (hunting safety procedures) when you’re sitting comfortable in your chair, but it’s a whole different situation when you’re sitting in a tree stand, and your adrenaline kicks in, your eyes start to water, you start breathing heavy, your heart pumps, to remember everything that you’ve learned.” Powers continues, “Too many accidents I’ve seen in the past where I know the individuals were given the proper hunting safety course, but because of the situation, they make mistakes because their adrenaline is pumping.“
And as for the anglers in our community, Powers has been pleasantly surprised at the large number of people visiting the local creeks and area streams. A pandemic has driven people to try something new. A different way to social distance, using Mother Nature. “It’s such a great thing to see and I hope that there’s positives that come out of this where maybe some people who wouldn’t experience the outdoors as much are finding out that they have new hobbies which I think would be great for everybody.“
If you’d like more information on the deer hunting season or fishing safety, rules and regulations, check out: www.dec.ny.gov
