Last Sunday's early archery opener was a washout for many North Country hunters.

I passed on hunting myself as I've never felt that bow hunting and rain are a good mix. Actually, I have only gotten out once so far with my bow and that will include this very weekend as I'll be in Lake Placid for the New York State Outdoor Writers Association's annual fall conference.

While I usually do some hunting at these outings, I'm planning to spend some time trout fishing in the St. Regis Canoe area, which will likely be my last fishing excursion before trout season closes Oct. 15.

I'll get back to bow hunting after the conference, but will also be changing my focus to my beloved black powder season which opens Oct. 17. More on that in a few weeks. However, I would like to mention that The New York State Muzzleloading Association's 18th Primitive Rendezvous takes place all of next week, Oct. 9 through 16. The location is Inlet near the west end of Moose River Plains. Their special visitors' day is Sunday, Oct. 11, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Check out their Web site at www.nysmla.org for more information.

With a new sporting-license year upon us, I'm hearing a lot of gripes about the license-fee increase. Included in the new package is a $10 fee for all hunters applying for an antlerless deer tag. The fee is required regardless of if you are lucky enough to draw the permit or not. About the only way to get around the fee is to purchase your lifetime hunting license, which also became more expensive Oct. 1.

According to DEC Region 5 wildlife biologist Ed Reed, the turnout for the state's deer meeting held a few weeks ago in Elizabethtown was pretty dismal. If you are not familiar with these meetings, they are an opportunity to express your input on future deer-management goals. This could be anything from season dates to antler restrictions or crossbow usage.

At similar meetings held in 2005, there was a proposal for an early muzzleloading season in the southern zone. It was obvious then that bow hunters and muzzleloading hunters, and especially the organizations who represent them, were divided.

But New York Bowhunters, Inc. and the New York State Muzzleloader Association have sat down at the table and put together a proposal that looks to be a win-win situation for many hunters.

The gem of this package is a special youth deer-hunting weekend for junior hunters ages 14 and 15 on the weekend prior to the rifle opener. The proposal calls for a 23-day rifle season to open on the Saturday prior to Thanksgiving, as opposed to the current opener on the third Saturday in November. The southern zone early archery season would open Oct. 1 and end on the Friday before rifle season. It also calls for a five-day antlerless-only primitive muzzleloading season to take place on the Monday through Friday between the youth hunt and the regular season.

Although I do little southern-zone hunting, I'm all for the youth season and if this was the only outcome of this proposal, it would still be a good thing. If southern-zone bow hunters want to hunt sooner, why not? The state actually proposed this in 2005. As for the southern-zone rifle opener? That too is fine by me as long as it remains on a Saturday.

I really like the primitive muzzleloading season idea and I would not balk if a similar proposal were made in the northern zone. While I have an in-line muzzleloader, I don't mind getting back to my percussion rifle roots.

What I like the most about all of this is that two groups of hunters got together, put their differences aside and came out with something that makes sense for those even beyond their special interests. I hope they listen to and consider each option in this package among all that I'm sure they'll be inundated with. I also hope more northern-zone hunters will come forth with some input.

If you are interested, there is another deer meeting in Region 5 planned for Oct. 8 in Ballston Spa in Saratoga County. You can also e-mail your comments to fwwildlf@gw.dec.state.ny.us or send them in writing to: Deer Management Program, NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4750.



Dan Ladd is the author of "Deer Hunting in the Adirondacks," outdoors editor for the Glens Falls Chronicle, columnist for Outdoors Magazine and contributor to New York Outdoor News. Contact him at www.adkhunter.com.