Most of you are probably very familiar with all the various small game seasons, since I’ve covered them in some detail in earlier columns, so now let’s take a few moments to review the upcoming big game seasons.

The northern zone muzzleloader season opens Saturday in most of the Adirondacks and Dec. 3 in the peripheral Adirondack area. The regular big game season opens in that zone Saturday, Oct. 20. The regular big game season in the southern and western zones opens Nov. 17. The late bow-hunting season in both those zones opens Dec. 10, as does the muzzleloader season.

These season changes are getting a bit complicated, so check your new 2012-2013 Hunting & Trapping Regulations Guide before making any plans. Also, don’t forget your new 2012-2013 sporting licenses are now valid. Change the backtag in your holder to the new one if you haven’t done so already and be certain you have your new licenses with you.

DEER SEASON PREDICTIONS

In a nutshell, the northern zone season is expected to be a good one, helped along by last winter’s mild weather and little if any winter mortality. Reduced mortality means higher winter survival, hence more deer.

Of course, the numbers will never be really high because so few areas have deer management permits to boost the season tally, but the Northern Zone season numbers will include the lake counties where deer populations are generally higher.

Most of Hamilton County is in Wildlife Management Unit 5H and the muzzleloader season in that WMU allows the taking of deer of either sex. That muzzleloader season opens Saturday, just a few days from today, and closes Oct. 19. Overall predictions for the northern zone take are up, a bit higher than last season, but still conservative.

BIG BUCKS UP HERE

As for real wall-hangers, the North Country never fails to produce some notable bucks. Every outdoors magazine article I’ve read over the past dozen years suggests hunting the North Country for a true wilderness hunting experience and a chance for a trophy buck. There may not be many but the one you get can definitely be a trophy.

It’s a case of survival of the fittest; generally any buck that has lived through several winters will be a trophy animal. I guess it all depends upon what you really want; a buck, any buck or a trophy critter. All the magazine articles do stress one thing, however; that a deer hunt in the North Country can be a strenuous, difficult matter and you had better be in shape.

Last season Hamilton County gave up 762 deer, 616 of them adult bucks. The Town of Long Lake led the county with a total take of 170 deer, including 126 bucks. The Town of Indian Lake was a close second with 159 deer, including 129 bucks. The Town of Wells was the only other township that experienced a triple-digit deer take last season, recording a total take of 123 deer, including 106 adult bucks.

MORE DMU PERMITS

The southern zone take should be a bit higher than last year, helped along by an increased number of deer management permits in most areas plus last year’s mild winter. Overall predictions: generally more deer but perhaps fewer bucks because of the added areas now in the Antler Restriction Program which now includes wildlife management units 3A, 3C, 3H, 3J, 3K, 4G, 4O,4P, 4R, 4S and 4W.

Bucks taken in those areas must have at least one antler with three or more points, including brow tines and main beam, and all points must be at least one inch long.

The western tier counties are expected to repeat their standing as real deer producers. Populations are high and deer management permits have increased, so look for even better numbers this season. This area of the state also has a reputation for producing the biggest mature bucks.

Of course, much depends upon the type of winter weather we get this time around and how much snow it brings, most notably in the North Country. Winters here can be brutal and much more severe than what the southern and western zones experience.