Bowhunting - What to do with the "offseason," Part I
Posted by Todd Koenig on Thursday, November 29, 2012 Under: Bow Hunting
As deer season draws to an end, many bowhunters are left with an empty
feeling and dreams of the following year's hunt. I wish next year would
be here as well and while it would be nice to fast-forward the off
season, it is not an option in the foreseeable future. Now is the time
to make those adjustments and perfect your performance. The worst thing
you can do is put your bow away. What you do right now, will build the
foundation for next year's hunting success.
During this five part series, I will highlight options that will keep you in shape and serve as motivational factors in and of themselves. An advantage you will notice immediately is that you will have retained your muscle memory and strength from shooting year round. Remember to keep your bow poundage within comfortable shooting limits as this will help prevent incorrect shooting form and actually build strength and endurance. By shooting regularly and with a comfortable draw weight, you can actually reduce the chances of injury. If you feel the need to crank up your bow a few pounds during the deer season, this year round shooting should give you a solid foundation without the worry of injuring yourself. I personally keep the settings on my bow (poundage) the same all year to eliminate any additional variables that may negatively affect my shooting performance.
Part I of this series will focus on continual hunting opportunities that you may find locally or that offer economical options if you are a traveling hunter. I will be considering $250 and under as an economical option for these nonresident hunts. I have included several locations from around the US that will give you a comparison to what is available here in Minnesota. Most of your quarry will be smaller than the vital area on your average deer. What exactly are we talking about? Small game, varmints, and predators. All of these critters will provide unique challenges to the bowhunter, whose main focus may have always been the whitetail. Scent control, shot placement, camouflage, estimating distances, animal awareness, stalking, and slow and steady draw of your bow will all be pushed to their limits hunting these animals.
While the focus of these five articles deals with archery and bowhunting, you may apply these tips to other hunting methods as well. You will, of course, have to check the local game laws, but I have included summaries of several states from around the US, starting with my home state of Minnesota. Depending on whether you are a resident or non-resident, your choice of weapon, and your location, there may be some differences in the laws, so please follow your individual state's fish and game laws. If in doubt, contact your local conservation officer and they should be more than happy to help you decipher the laws. I have used them several times and was happy I did. Not only did they help with legal advise, they also gave me some tips and locations to hunt.
What can you hunt? There is a wide range of small game, varmints, and predator hunting options available across the nation. Most have liberal limits, cheap license fees, and extended seasons which allow you to hunt well into the New Year. I have included some ideas and general regulations from Minnesota where I currently live and hunt. For comparison and fun, I have included 4 additional states. They are located clockwise (northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest) across the United States. I have included the deer seasons for these states to inform you when there may be a higher level of hunters in the woods. In addition, I have summarized each of the state's Fish and Game regulations for this current year 2012-2013 and included links to them. Please remember to always check the individual laws for the state and animals you plan on hunting.
Minnesota
Starting with my home state, there are plenty of options for the hunter
pursuing food, sport, or profit. Some options include: Rabbits and
Squirrels, which end February 28th, and Raccoon, Red Fox, Gray Fox,
Badger, and Opossum, which close March 15. Any unprotected animal
listed within the regulations has no closed season and may be hunted
year round. A couple of examples include coyote, skunk, common pigeon,
and several imported game birds. The first Crow season opens March 1st
and closes the last day of March. Don't forget to apply for the spring Turkey season. The deadline is the 11th of January and first season starts April 17th and the last season closes May 30th. Archers may use their bows during the first four time periods if drawn for a tag, or tags are available over the counter the last four time periods. All
of the above would offer challenges to the bowhunter in target
acquisition, camouflage techniques, and slow controlled draw. You could
make each hunt as challenging as you want with these variety of
choices. In Minnesota, the archery season for deer is the longest,
starting September 15th and ending December 31st. The "gun" seasons are
scattered throughout November.
A full description can be found on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website or you may pick one up anywhere licenses are sold. Being a resident definitely decreases the fees you will pay vs. traveling out of state, as shown in the regional highlights below!
License and price highlights:
Small Game $19
Spring Turkey $23 + $3 application
Northeast US: New York
As we head to the northeast I chose New York State as my next
destination. With similar climates, New York proved to be very
comparable to Minnesota in huntable prey options and seasons. The state
is divided into two zones, north and south. They have slightly
different seasons. I will be condensing them so if you choose to
hunt there you will have to refer to the hunting regulations for the
exact locations and dates. The bow season opens the end of September
and then closes in mid-October for the gun seasons. It reopens again
the beginning of December and stays open through the end of the year.
Furbearer hunting opens about the beginning of November and continues
until the mid/end of February, except for coyote whose season continues
until the end of March. Depending on the zone, the small game seasons
end in February or March.
New York has a well designed map and seasonal regulation summary for hunters that can be printed off for reference while hunting. It fits on one sheet of paper and is very concise. The links provide the full regulations, limits, and exact seasons and should be referenced anytime you plan a hunting trip. Included below is a snapshot of the archery prices, qualifications, and privileges that go along with the license.
License and price highlights:
Nonresident Small Game $85
The hunter must have a Hunter Education Certificate OR previous hunting license.
Nonresident Turkey Permit $50 -must have a hunting license as well
NYSDEC Fish, Wildlife & Marine Resources
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-4750
Phone: 518-402-8883
Southeast US: Georgia
Looking to the southeast, there are additional options that are not
available to us northern hunters, namely Armadillos, Alligators and
Feral Hogs. Armadillos as well as coyotes do not have a closed season,
meaning they can be hunted year round. While Feral Hogs are also
available to hunt year round, with no limit, they do require a license.
The regulations state that you should contact the regional Game
Management office near you for additional information. I have included
the state Game Management number 770-918-6400. Landowners and wildlife
biologists encourage their harvest as they cause immense damage to the
ecosystem. Squirrel season opens early and allows archers some early
practice with an August 15th opening. While all small game seasons end
February 28th they have varied start dates from mid October through
December. Gator season, September1st to October 7th, overlaps exactly
with the first archery season for deer. Statewide in Georgia, the
archery season is from September 8th until October 12th. The archery
season reopens again in January after the "gun" seasons, but late season
archery has a great range of dates, rules, and limits based on
individual counties so make sure you refer to the regulations.
Of the states I examined, Georgia regulations proved to be the most complex as they are regulated by counties. The guide does an excellent job of explaining the process, but it definitely is different from what I am used to.
License and price highlights:
Nonresident Alligator Hunting License (by quota only) $200
Nonresident Combo Hunting & Fishing license (small game) $100
Nonresident Combo Hunting & Fishing license (small game) 3-day $20
Nonresident Big Game license $195
Nonresident Big Game license 3-day $90
Southwest US: Arizona
Heading to the desert southwest, Arizona also offers the Minnesota
hunter a wide variety of unique bow hunting options. This state offers
the largest selection of animals, of the states I've reviewed, and the
longest seasons. There are two deer species available to hunters in
Arizona and their seasons start as early as August 24th and continue to
December 31st. The largest obstacle to hunting in this state is the
high non-resident fees that eliminate most of the economical options.
Many of the unique big game species have similar seasons to the deer in
Arizona. The total price for nonresidents start at $370 for deer and go
as high as $5600 for Buffalo. Cougar, Elk, Antelope, Bighorn Sheep,
and Bear tags fall in between these two numbers.
What's left? Turkey, Javelina, small game, or predators, but even these push the limits of what's affordable for out of state hunters at around $250. A Javelina license allows you to harvest two animals per license, which is a nice option. The spring archery hunt occurs during January and the regular gun hunt has seasons throughout February. The regular Turkey opens statewide April 26th and closes the 23rd of May. It does have three specific seasons within the general season so check the official guidelines for exact dates. The archery only Turkey Nonpermit-tag season occurs May 10 - May 23, 2013 within the regular Turkey season. Bows can be used throughout the regular season.
If you are interested in predator or small game and don't have much time to hunt, the 3-day license is the perfect option. If you have the opportunity to hunt longer, the general license would be the way to go. Coyotes and skunks as well as cottontail and jackrabbits offer the hunter year long options. All other fur-bearing predators have a season from August to March. If quail are your quarry there are varying start dates, but they all end in February.
If you are planning a trip to Arizona there are a great variety of hunting opportunities available. The main regulations allow hunters to collect the needed information for their trip. They also have season specific booklets as well and special draw booklets to supplement the main regulations. If you want a permit-tag these need to be applied for ahead of time and the deadline has already occurred (October 9th), however there are also nonpermit-tags available over the counter.
License and price highlights:
Nonresident General Hunting (includes small game) $151.25
Nonresident Three-Day Hunting (small game) – not valid for big game $61.25
Nonresident Turkey Hunt Permit-tag $77.75 must have a hunting license
Nonresident Archery Turkey Nonpermit-tag $70.25 must have a hunting license
Nonresident Javelina Hunt Permit-tag $105.00 must have a hunting license
Nonresident Archery Javelina Nonpermit-tag $97.50 must have a hunting license
Arizona Game and Fish Department
5000 W. Carefree Highway
Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000
Phone: 602-942-3000
Northwest US: Washington
I will be wrapping up my regional bow hunting summary with the state of Washington. Of the states examined, Washington is the only one that offers some big game options that fall within the economical perimeters already discussed. This includes both cougar and bear and both have seasons that fall outside of our archery deer seasons. Washington has three different deer species and their seasons start September 1st and run through December 15th.
If you choose one of the big game options you may add the small game license. This reduces your cost by $96.80 (nonresident) and allows you additional hunting opportunities. Washington is divided into Hunt areas and may have different laws based on the animals you choose to hunt. Cougar tags are available over the counter. No drawing is needed, however, prior to your hunt check to ensure the Hunt area is open. Each Hunt area has quotas and if the quota is met the area will be closed for the season. The Cougar season runs from September 1st until March 31st, or until the quota is met. If you choose to hunt Black Bear in the spring the application process is between January 2nd and midnight on February 28, 2013. If chosen, the Spring Black Bear hunt has two different seasons depending on the Hunt area. They are April 1st to June 15th or a slightly shorter season opening April 15th and May 31st.
Small game and predators have the same season opener as deer except most end the 15th of March, with the exception of Forest Grouse, which ends December 31st. The predators include only Bobcat, Fox, and Raccoon. The small game includes only Cottontail and Snowshoe Rabbits. Coyotes can be hunted year round, but you must have a small game license. The crow season is open from October through January.
If you choose to hunt Turkey, the spring season runs from April 15-May 31. You may take only Male turkeys or turkeys with visible beards.
Washington may be a destination if you want a chance at some big game species at an affordable price. Their regulations are also user friendly, available online, and allow extended hunting opportunities.
License and price highlights:
Nonresident Small Game $183.50
Nonresident Small Game Discount *** $96.80
Nonresident 3-Day Small Game $68.00
Nonresident Turkey Tag $44.50 must have a hunting license
Nonresident Bear License $222.00
Nonresident Bear W/discounted Small game license *** $318.80
Nonresident Cougar License $222.00
Nonresident Cougar W/discounted Small game license *** $318.80
Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
Natural Resources Building
1111 Washington St. SE
Olympia, WA 98501
Phone: 360-902-2200
When in doubt, always check directly with the state fish and wildlife regulations where you plan to hunt. Prior to your hunt check to see if there are any updates. Better yet, contact the local conservation officer. Have a list of questions ready for them or tell them what species you are hunting and where you plan to hunt. Ask if there are common mistakes you need to look out for to remain legal.
Whether you plan to stay in state or have an option to travel, hopefully I have given you some ideas and options. Being a hunter, especially a bowhunter, you must stay on top of your game. The more you practice the better prepared you will be. Extending your season by bowhunting big game, small game, nuisance animals, varmints, and predators can give you an economical option that will maintain or improve your form and muscle memory. It will also give you practice at a whole spectrum of hunting opportunities. Whatever species you choose, it will give you further practice in scent control, camouflage, and shot placement.
In Part II of this series, look for practice opportunities that can be completed day or night, in rain or snow, and wherever you live.
RecordingtheOutdoors.com - Todd Koenig
During this five part series, I will highlight options that will keep you in shape and serve as motivational factors in and of themselves. An advantage you will notice immediately is that you will have retained your muscle memory and strength from shooting year round. Remember to keep your bow poundage within comfortable shooting limits as this will help prevent incorrect shooting form and actually build strength and endurance. By shooting regularly and with a comfortable draw weight, you can actually reduce the chances of injury. If you feel the need to crank up your bow a few pounds during the deer season, this year round shooting should give you a solid foundation without the worry of injuring yourself. I personally keep the settings on my bow (poundage) the same all year to eliminate any additional variables that may negatively affect my shooting performance.
Part I of this series will focus on continual hunting opportunities that you may find locally or that offer economical options if you are a traveling hunter. I will be considering $250 and under as an economical option for these nonresident hunts. I have included several locations from around the US that will give you a comparison to what is available here in Minnesota. Most of your quarry will be smaller than the vital area on your average deer. What exactly are we talking about? Small game, varmints, and predators. All of these critters will provide unique challenges to the bowhunter, whose main focus may have always been the whitetail. Scent control, shot placement, camouflage, estimating distances, animal awareness, stalking, and slow and steady draw of your bow will all be pushed to their limits hunting these animals.
While the focus of these five articles deals with archery and bowhunting, you may apply these tips to other hunting methods as well. You will, of course, have to check the local game laws, but I have included summaries of several states from around the US, starting with my home state of Minnesota. Depending on whether you are a resident or non-resident, your choice of weapon, and your location, there may be some differences in the laws, so please follow your individual state's fish and game laws. If in doubt, contact your local conservation officer and they should be more than happy to help you decipher the laws. I have used them several times and was happy I did. Not only did they help with legal advise, they also gave me some tips and locations to hunt.
What can you hunt? There is a wide range of small game, varmints, and predator hunting options available across the nation. Most have liberal limits, cheap license fees, and extended seasons which allow you to hunt well into the New Year. I have included some ideas and general regulations from Minnesota where I currently live and hunt. For comparison and fun, I have included 4 additional states. They are located clockwise (northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest) across the United States. I have included the deer seasons for these states to inform you when there may be a higher level of hunters in the woods. In addition, I have summarized each of the state's Fish and Game regulations for this current year 2012-2013 and included links to them. Please remember to always check the individual laws for the state and animals you plan on hunting.
Minnesota
 |
| 2012-2013 MN Hunting and Trapping Regulations |
A full description can be found on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website or you may pick one up anywhere licenses are sold. Being a resident definitely decreases the fees you will pay vs. traveling out of state, as shown in the regional highlights below!
License and price highlights:
Small Game $19
Spring Turkey $23 + $3 application
 |
| MN DNR Website |
| MnDNR, Information Center | |
| 500 Lafayette Rd | |
| St. Paul, MN 55155 | |
| Phone: | 651-296-6157 |
| 888-646-6367 | |
Northeast US: New York
 |
| 2012-2013 NY Hunting and Trapping Guide |
New York has a well designed map and seasonal regulation summary for hunters that can be printed off for reference while hunting. It fits on one sheet of paper and is very concise. The links provide the full regulations, limits, and exact seasons and should be referenced anytime you plan a hunting trip. Included below is a snapshot of the archery prices, qualifications, and privileges that go along with the license.
License and price highlights:
Nonresident Small Game $85
The hunter must have a Hunter Education Certificate OR previous hunting license.
Nonresident Turkey Permit $50 -must have a hunting license as well
 |
| NY DEC Website |
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-4750
Phone: 518-402-8883
Southeast US: Georgia
 |
| 2012-2013 GA Hunting Seasons & Regulations Guide |
Of the states I examined, Georgia regulations proved to be the most complex as they are regulated by counties. The guide does an excellent job of explaining the process, but it definitely is different from what I am used to.
License and price highlights:
Nonresident Alligator Hunting License (by quota only) $200
Nonresident Combo Hunting & Fishing license (small game) $100
Nonresident Combo Hunting & Fishing license (small game) 3-day $20
Nonresident Big Game license $195
Nonresident Big Game license 3-day $90
 |
| GA DNR Website |
Wildlife Resources Division State Headquarters
2070 US Highway 278 SE
Social Circle, GA 30025
Social Circle, GA 30025
Phone: 770-918-6400
Southwest US: Arizona
 |
| 2012-2013 AZ Hunting and Trapping Regulations |
What's left? Turkey, Javelina, small game, or predators, but even these push the limits of what's affordable for out of state hunters at around $250. A Javelina license allows you to harvest two animals per license, which is a nice option. The spring archery hunt occurs during January and the regular gun hunt has seasons throughout February. The regular Turkey opens statewide April 26th and closes the 23rd of May. It does have three specific seasons within the general season so check the official guidelines for exact dates. The archery only Turkey Nonpermit-tag season occurs May 10 - May 23, 2013 within the regular Turkey season. Bows can be used throughout the regular season.
If you are interested in predator or small game and don't have much time to hunt, the 3-day license is the perfect option. If you have the opportunity to hunt longer, the general license would be the way to go. Coyotes and skunks as well as cottontail and jackrabbits offer the hunter year long options. All other fur-bearing predators have a season from August to March. If quail are your quarry there are varying start dates, but they all end in February.
If you are planning a trip to Arizona there are a great variety of hunting opportunities available. The main regulations allow hunters to collect the needed information for their trip. They also have season specific booklets as well and special draw booklets to supplement the main regulations. If you want a permit-tag these need to be applied for ahead of time and the deadline has already occurred (October 9th), however there are also nonpermit-tags available over the counter.
License and price highlights:
Nonresident General Hunting (includes small game) $151.25
Nonresident Three-Day Hunting (small game) – not valid for big game $61.25
Nonresident Turkey Hunt Permit-tag $77.75 must have a hunting license
Nonresident Archery Turkey Nonpermit-tag $70.25 must have a hunting license
Nonresident Javelina Hunt Permit-tag $105.00 must have a hunting license
Nonresident Archery Javelina Nonpermit-tag $97.50 must have a hunting license
 |
| AZ G&F Website |
5000 W. Carefree Highway
Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000
Phone: 602-942-3000
Northwest US: Washington
 |
| WA 2012 Big Game Hunting Seasons & Regulations |
I will be wrapping up my regional bow hunting summary with the state of Washington. Of the states examined, Washington is the only one that offers some big game options that fall within the economical perimeters already discussed. This includes both cougar and bear and both have seasons that fall outside of our archery deer seasons. Washington has three different deer species and their seasons start September 1st and run through December 15th.
If you choose one of the big game options you may add the small game license. This reduces your cost by $96.80 (nonresident) and allows you additional hunting opportunities. Washington is divided into Hunt areas and may have different laws based on the animals you choose to hunt. Cougar tags are available over the counter. No drawing is needed, however, prior to your hunt check to ensure the Hunt area is open. Each Hunt area has quotas and if the quota is met the area will be closed for the season. The Cougar season runs from September 1st until March 31st, or until the quota is met. If you choose to hunt Black Bear in the spring the application process is between January 2nd and midnight on February 28, 2013. If chosen, the Spring Black Bear hunt has two different seasons depending on the Hunt area. They are April 1st to June 15th or a slightly shorter season opening April 15th and May 31st.
Small game and predators have the same season opener as deer except most end the 15th of March, with the exception of Forest Grouse, which ends December 31st. The predators include only Bobcat, Fox, and Raccoon. The small game includes only Cottontail and Snowshoe Rabbits. Coyotes can be hunted year round, but you must have a small game license. The crow season is open from October through January.
If you choose to hunt Turkey, the spring season runs from April 15-May 31. You may take only Male turkeys or turkeys with visible beards.
Washington may be a destination if you want a chance at some big game species at an affordable price. Their regulations are also user friendly, available online, and allow extended hunting opportunities.
License and price highlights:
Nonresident Small Game $183.50
Nonresident Small Game Discount *** $96.80
Nonresident 3-Day Small Game $68.00
Nonresident Turkey Tag $44.50 must have a hunting license
Nonresident Bear License $222.00
Nonresident Bear W/discounted Small game license *** $318.80
Nonresident Cougar License $222.00
Nonresident Cougar W/discounted Small game license *** $318.80
 |
| WA F&W Website |
Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
Natural Resources Building
1111 Washington St. SE
Olympia, WA 98501
Phone: 360-902-2200
When in doubt, always check directly with the state fish and wildlife regulations where you plan to hunt. Prior to your hunt check to see if there are any updates. Better yet, contact the local conservation officer. Have a list of questions ready for them or tell them what species you are hunting and where you plan to hunt. Ask if there are common mistakes you need to look out for to remain legal.
Whether you plan to stay in state or have an option to travel, hopefully I have given you some ideas and options. Being a hunter, especially a bowhunter, you must stay on top of your game. The more you practice the better prepared you will be. Extending your season by bowhunting big game, small game, nuisance animals, varmints, and predators can give you an economical option that will maintain or improve your form and muscle memory. It will also give you practice at a whole spectrum of hunting opportunities. Whatever species you choose, it will give you further practice in scent control, camouflage, and shot placement.
In Part II of this series, look for practice opportunities that can be completed day or night, in rain or snow, and wherever you live.
RecordingtheOutdoors.com - Todd Koenig
In : Bow Hunting
Tags: minnesota bow hunting archery deer "new york" georgia arizona washington
I have always had a great love for the outdoors. In fact, I can’t remember a time that I wasn’t hunting, fishing, trapping, or exploring the wilderness. From an early age, I enjoyed bringing my camera along for the perfect wildlife shot and putting those photograph’s together into a story. Having a degree in Biology and teaching a variety of science classes, sharing my outdoor knowledge comes very naturally to me. With encouragement from my family and friends, I now plan to pursue my passion for the outdoors with you! I hope that you enjoy the experience as much as I do. I live in central Minnesota with my wife and two young daughters, and yellow lab. You can connect with me on my blog: http://www.recordingtheoutdoors.com/, Facebook: recordingtheoutdoors.com, and YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/recordingtheoutdoors
