This Lull People Speak Of

[DirtTime]

I was talking to a neighbor yesterday and the topic of hunting came up. He said how bummed he was that hunting season was over. I stated that hunting season if far from over and there's still plenty of game to hunt from pheasant to crows to predators. He just stared at me with a blank look for a few minutes then said the usual response "Deer season is over.". OK, that's true, deer season is over, but I get that same blank stare when I see or read someone saying hunting season is over once deer season is done.

 

In all reality, there isn't a lull on hunting in most of NYS (maybe downstate with all of it's crazy laws?). There are things you can hunt all year- raccoons, red squirrel's, porcupine, wood chucks, and even a few species of song birds can be hunted.

 

You're going to be dead a lot longer than you were alive so maybe instead of moping through "lulls" go hunt those other critters.

 

 

[grampy]

Now is the perfect time to scout for next seasons deer. Or to go shed hunting. Move a stand. Make a natural blind. Think about a food plot. Put some trigger time in on your favorite deer gun. Still lots of stuff to do with deer hunting. And no need to sit for hours.

[mowin]

As deer season gets close to wrapping up, I'm always ready for it to end.  A week or so after it ends, I start missing it.  Squirrel hunting helps, ice fishing helps, but no so much this yr with the lack of ice. I've been shed hunting a few times with zero success, but I'm outside where I want to be. 

[Big Paul]

It never ends! Habitat improvement, chainsaw work, food plot prep, pruning fruit trees, etc. I work harder now than during actual deer season. I love being out there now. Great time to scout.

[Moho81]

I need the ground to freeze up and not be mush so I can get the tractor in the woods and take care of a bunch of down trees. 

[G-man]

I wish season would be shorter with multiple opening days..  2 weeks of bow ..then  2 weeks off  then 2 weeks bow again.  Close for week  5 day gun season.  Then  close for 2 weeks  then a 10 day gun season. Close for week  the   reopen for late bow muzzleloader..    the anticipation of opening day woulnd fade nor burn out for days of sitting.  Bonus deer get chance to return to normal patterns vs  going into hiding for months.  Then  the lull wound be so bad. After opening day  its different world and burn out happens quick  for many.

[DirtTime]

I was more referring to actual hunting than preparing to hunt but I guess prep counts.

 

I suppose hearing people say they wish they could go hunt something when it's not deer season has started to make me wince more then it ever did before. If you want to go hunt something in the times when deer and turkey are off limits there's things to hunt.

 

I'm kicking myself for doing errands today instead of heading out for crows or another predator hunt. The only thing better than the smell of napalm in the morning is gun powder.

[GreenDrake]

There is plenty to do. My nephew and I spent the morning hunting crows…then hit the dairy and shot a bunch of pigeons heading to the corn bunkers. We spent the morning talking about the upcoming turkey season then summer pigeons over decoys. I have put deer season into perspective in that its the one season that I choose NOT to hunt other things but for some pheasant hunts. 

[ATbuckhunter]

Its never over for me. Theres scouting, bird hunting and dog training. Then I switch to fishing too. I try not to only focus on hunting and fishing so spring and summer is a great time for me to do other things I'm interested in too. 

[Belo]

I loved living down south when turkey opened late march. Made the gap between deer and turkey almost perfect. A good rest and time to catchup with stuff around the house, then back at it. I really wish NY would do an April opener. 

[2BuckBizCT]

If you have the time and desire, plenty of hunting opportunities this time of year- predators, birds, even big game in some other states.

[Buckmaster7600]

I’m with your neighbor,hunting season is over.  I have better stuff to do this time of year. I’ll be working my swaps to get all of may off and fishing until turkey starts. 

[The_Real_TCIII]

I enjoyed small game when my friend had his beagle. RIP Todd. I have fallen in love with winter fly fishing the past few years but I wont go in this weeks temps. February March and April truly are miserable months to live in WNY

[dbHunterNY]

I've hunted all kinds of different ways public and private. scouting right now is great for next season. there's way more to do for deer season that's new and exciting in the off season.

hell if they wants to hunt deer. some hunter is in a stand right now, with a bow, in Suffolk County. They knocked on 20+ doors and the 21st said all deer are a**holes eating their shrubs and they want them all gone. deer hunting is over because he/she's not willing to put in the work to keep hunting.

[phade]

19 hours ago, The_Real_TCIII said:

I enjoyed small game when my friend had his beagle. RIP Todd. I have fallen in love with winter fly fishing the past few years but I wont go in this weeks temps. February March and April truly are miserable months to live in WNY

I have to agree. I enjoy shed hunting and the occasional ice fishing trip but late winter early spring is lame here.

I get out to scout and what not but when I traveled more for work it always amazed me at how much goes on at that time of year. Have to take the bad with the good I guess.

I don’t have much interest in small game like I used to, mostly because I spend time doing other things and getting caught up on the home front. I figure I’ll pick that back up when I’m retired, like fly fishing. 

Edited January 31, 2023 by phade