subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite mapBuy a Classified
Mon, Nov 09 2009 
Breaking News:  Public hearing on gas drilling tonight in city  November 08, 2009 11:42 pm

Published: November 15, 2008 09:32 am    print this story  

A new era for teen hunters

Change in state law creates opportunity for those age 14, 15

By Tom Grace
Cooperstown Bureau

NEW BERLIN _ Before sunrise Saturday, Morgan Sohne of New Berlin will be in the woods with her father, Robert, standing silently, hoping to take a buck.

Only 15, Morgan, a sophomore at Unadilla Valley Central School, is able to hunt this year because Gov. David Paterson recently signed the ``junior hunter’’ law, allowing 14- and 15-year-olds to hunt with experienced adult partners.

Morgan has passed her hunter safety course. ``I got a 98 on my test,’’ she said.

She knows how to handle a firearm, has practiced shooting and said she’s thought a lot about Saturday, the opening day of the 2008 regular deerhunting season.

``I’ve wanted to do this since I was pretty young,’’ she said. ``My dad loves to hunt, and I wanted to go with him.’’

Last year, she accompanied her father on opening day and watched as he shot a 10-point buck in Edmeston.

This year, it’s her turn, she said.

John Stevens, 90, who owns Stevens Hardware Store in Oneonta, said the inclusion of young hunters is good for the sport and the youth.

``I’ve found that the ones who learn early, the ones who share time with an older hunter, grow up to be good hunters and people,’’ he said.

``There are a lot of 14-year-olds who are better in the woods than some of the 40-year-olds,’’ said Stevens, and hunter Ralph More of Goodyear Lake agreed with him.

It’s hard to predict how productive the three-week shotgun and rifle season will be, but the archery season, which opened Oct. 18 and closed Friday, was excellent, according to Joe Leonard, who owns the Farmers’ Place butcher shop in South Edmeston. ``We usually take in from 25 to 50 deer during bow season, but this year we’ve taken in 70,’’ he said.

The deer look healthy and hunters report seeing a lot of them, Leonard said: ``There’s tremendous excitement this year, and I think the economy has something to do with it.

``With so many things you can’t control in your life, people are looking for what they can control,’’ he continued. ``Around here, they’re making sure they have wood to burn, and they want to fill their freezers.’’

And hunters may do well, because after a series of mild winters, deer are abundant, he noted.

The sale of guns locally, a harbinger of hunter effort, if not success, also has been strong recently, according to Stevens. ``We’ve done very well this fall,’’ he said Thursday, while looking over the gun rack in his Oneonta store.

In 2005, the state changed the opening day for the annual shotgun-rifle season from Monday to Saturday. Leonard said the change helped many local enthusiasts, who don’t have to ask for a day off to hunt on the first, and usually best, day of the season.

However, hunters who travel here from downstate and other places feel differently, he said.

``To get here and set up before opening day, they have to take time off in two different work weeks, and that can be hard,’’ he said. ``They used to come in on a Saturday and stock up on bacon and lots of other supplies, because nothing’s too good for deer camp. But we’re not seeing as much of that.’’

Nonetheless, the 2008 deer season looks promising from a butcher’s perspective, Leonard said.

According to the state Department of Environmental Conservation, rifles and shotguns may be used in Madison County this year, and new areas are open for hunting black bear. For details, visit www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/ hunting.html.

For many years, rifles, which have a far longer range than shotguns, have been allowed in Delaware County, and their use was extended to Chenango and Delaware counties a couple of seasons ago.

Three years ago, chronic wasting disease was found in captive and some wild deer in the Oneida-Madison counties area. The DEC began a surveillance program and has tested more than 24,000 deer since then, without finding another case of the illness, which is fatal to deer.

print this story  

Photos


Morgan Sohne, 15, of New Berlin, takes aim with her 12-guage shotgun on Thursday. Photo by Tom Grace. None/ (Click for larger image)



autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Featured Jobs

NEED A JOB?
Visit one of several areas on our website for the latest job opportunities. Visit our Monster Jobs section where you ca...>MORE

Office Reception Position.
Office Reception Position. Experience Dealing with Public. Preferred Friendly Personalty is a Must. Should Have Basic C...>MORE

Medical-PARAMEDICAL EXAMINER/PHLEBOTOMIST-
Medical-PARAMEDICAL EXAMINER/PHLEBOTOMIST- Paramedical business seeking medically trained person to perform mobile insur...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Autos

LOOKING FOR A CAR OR TRUCK?
Then check out our Auto ConX section online where you find inventory from local card dealerships and beyond! Visit www....>MORE

Single stage snow blower & plow
Single stage snow blower & plow to fit John Deere 316,317,318 322,332. Asking $500 for snow blower & $200. for plow. 607...>MORE

New, Used, Dealer or Individual
If you have a new or used car that you want to sell, advertise here on our Premium Auto section of our website. Whether...>MORE

Selling your car?
If you are looking for another way to advertise that you are selling your new or used vehicle, call The Daily Star Class...>MORE

Scooter 4 wheel electric by Shoprider.
Scooter 4 wheel electric by Shoprider. Lg. Powerful, in perfect shape. Was $1,400 now $700. 286-7008...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Real Estate

2 bedroom, ground fl, laundry in bldg
2 bedroom, ground fl, laundry in bldg., country atmosphere pole barn parking $600 + util W. Oneonta 432-0870...>MORE

3 bedroom w/d lg. yard Milford School
3 bedroom w/d lg. yard Milford School. No pets/smoke. $800 + security & util. 607-286-9281...>MORE

MOVING TO THE AREA? LOOKING FOR A HOME?
Visit our online real estate section where we have partnered with Zillow.com to provide our readers with local real esta...>MORE

2 bedroom $500/mo. + utilities
2 bedroom $500/mo. + utilities, security.Milford School. 5 mi. to Onoenta 607-432-3757...>MORE

WILBER PARK APARTMENTS
WILBERPARKAPARTMENTS OFFERS CAREFREE,AFFORDABLE LIVING. Each apt offers wall to wallcarpeting,eat-in kitchens,large livi...>MORE

See all ads

thedailystar.com
Home
Local News
Local Sports
Obituaries
Weather
Community
Police Blotter
Lifestyles
Letters to the Editor
Editorials
Columns
Community News
Forums
Contests
AP Headlines
Street Talk
Special sections
Web Extras
Archive
Photos
Video
Births
Step Back in Time
Support Groups
What's Going On
Communtiy Calendar

Columnists
Emily Popek
Sam Pollak
Tanya Shalor
Tom Sears
Tom Grace
Lisa Miller
Cary Brunswick
Mark Simonson
My Turn
Additional Resources
Business Card Index
Real Estate Professionals
Stay Tuned - TV Guide
Social Networks
WUOW Radio
SUNY Oneonta Weather Cam
Breaking News Alerts

Market Place
Jobs
Cars
Classifieds
Free Coupons
Yellow Pages
Place an ad
Employment Opportunties
Cafe Press: The Daily Star Store
The Best Little Coupon Book
Text Alerts
Circulation
Subscriptions
Renew Subscription
Use EZ Pay
Vacation Stop
Delivery Feedback
Address Change
Weekly Star Locations

Services
Report a website issue
Contact Information
Advertise with us
Photo Reprints
Can't find an article
Full Page Reprint

Reader Submissions
Birth Announcement
Community Event Announcement
Wedding / Engagement Announcement
News Tip or Story Idea
Photos
Letter to the Editor
Closing, Delay or Cancellation






Partners
Prom dresses Fundraisers kids bedding
Concert Tickets Payday Loan Wireless broadband Cash Advance Car Rental Avis - Hertz - Europcar
Casinos Canda Online Gambling News Online Casino Place Your Link Here!
Geld

 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
Advertiser index