Take care with your deer carcass in warm weather

Opening Day of archery season for whitetails here on Long Island came and went Monday in quiet fashion. With temperatures still pushing into the 60s and 70s most days, deer aren't particularly active, ticks, yellow jackets and bugs are still a concern and, even when a hefty deer does fall, there is potential for the meat to spoil before it gets to the butcher.

That's not to say that early October isn't a good time to go hunting, just that it might not be a bad idea to stick with fishing for a little while longer if you enjoy both activities. For those who do choose to hunt, it is important to be aware of the potential pitfalls and take appropriate measures when heading out.

"It's absolutely vital when hunting in warm weather to get your deer into refrigeration as quickly as possible," said Bob Privitera at Wildlife Creations Taxidermy in Medford. "If you get a deer under these conditions, gut it, clean it out thoroughly and take it right to the butcher or taxidermist. If you hang it or wait to bring it in, even overnight, chances are the meat will begin to spoil. It needs to be refrigerated immediately once temperatures top 40 degrees."

If you can't get your deer to cold storage immediately, the next best option is to skin and quarter the animal, then pack it in a cooler full of ice.

As for the ticks, they have long been a problem for local outdoorsmen, but the number of Lone Star ticks, which many people mistakenly refer to as chiggers, have been particularly bad. (Visit cdc.gov/ticks for information about tick-related illnesses and ideas on how to keep the little pests at bay.)

"I picked them up while shooting photos at Connetquot Park," said Tim Smith, an outdoors photographer at skimmer.com, who recently suffered through a serious Lone Star infestation. "It wasn't pleasant."

Smith noticed a little itching around his ankles after visiting the park. By the next day, a serious rash and tiny bumps exploded across the lower half of his body, and the itching became unbearable. It was then he noticed the tiny ticks -- much smaller than the period at the end of this sentence. He took off all he could get with a Scotch Bright Pad, went to the doctor and got some medication.

"It's a week later," he said, "and I'm still itchy."

Fishing as warm as the weather

Local fishing has been as warm as the weather over the past week. Stripers continue to blitz for surfcasters on the north side at Montauk. Some linesider and bluefish action is also starting along the beaches between Moriches and Shinnecock, although it's still inconsistent.

Black sea bass remain the top bottom option along the South Shore, said captain Steve Kearney of the Point Lookout open boat Super Hawk. "We've got plenty of action on the wrecks, reefs and rock piles in 50- to 80-foot depths."

Long Island Sound anglers should find plenty of porgies, sea bass and blues in the mix, especially in the stretch from Eaton's Neck to Port Jefferson. Blackfish season opens Friday. Email: outdoortom@optonline.net