By Jake Palmateer
If bow season is any indication, firearm hunters should see some nice deer, especially near farm fields, according to two Oneonta hunting supply retailers.
William Decker Jr. of Sportsman Adventures and Dave Cyzeski of West End Archery also said there may be fewer hunters out on opening day of regular deer season at sunrise Saturday.
Both shop owners reported strong sales of equipment for bow season, which ends Friday in this area.
But Decker, who also sells guns and equipment for regular deer season, said he hasn't seen the numbers of customers he would like to see in the lead-up to opening day of rifle and shotgun season.
One reason, Decker said, is that fees have gone up significantly for hunting and fishing licenses, and this may have prompted some people not to purchase them.
"They couldn't have chosen a worse year for a price hike," Decker said.
Another reason may be the scarcity of an essential tool for rifle hunting _ ammunition.
"I think our biggest drawback this year is going to be ammo," Decker said. "We used to be able to buy it by the case. Now we are getting it in two or three boxes at a time."
While some specialty hunting ammunition can't be found, what is available is more expensive than last year.
Otsego County may not be seeing the same number of out-of-town hunters for firearms season in previous years, Cyzeski said.
"There was a little bit of displeasure with the costs of licenses going up," said Cyzeski, whose store is geared to bow hunters.
But Cyzeski said there seems to be a growing interest in bow season, including among the out-of-towners.
"The sales end of things has really picked up for us," he said.
Bowhunters, who hit the field for several weeks before firearm season, have had a "pretty good take," Cyzeski said.
"We've had a number of nice bucks taken," he said.
A photograph of one of these, a 10-pointer from northwestern Otsego County, was posted on his store's countertop.
The bigger deer in the county are concentrated around active farmland, he said.
But unseasonably warm weather for much of November seems to have put a damper on the deer rut, which prevented some bowhunters, who typically need to be within 30 yards of their targets, from getting good shots, Cyzeski said.
The rut, or mating season, is a time when deer are more active and less wary. The rut usually winds down when the regular hunting season begins.
"The rut started late in our area," Decker said.
But Decker said he has seen heavy rutting activity beginning just in the past week.
"I've seen bucks chasing does like it is going out of style," Decker said. "It was like the flick of a switch."
Customers have captured some nice bucks on trail cameras, Decker said.
Trail cameras are left in place by hunters along areas that deer frequent and are programmed to take still photos or video when deer walk near them. They are used to pattern deer activity.
A return to cooler weather and possibly snow is expected after Thanksgiving, according to Accuweather.
Firearms season in this area runs until sunset Dec. 13. A late archery and muzzleloading season follows on Dec. 14 and runs until Dec. 22.
Bear season for much of the area also opens Saturday.
