Doc

It is likely that such a move would really have no significant effect on turkey populations. Woodchucks hang out in wide open fields and present a fairly easy target of opportunity. Coons are something that you have to actually go after purposely if you are going to have much success, and they are primarily nocturnal. That means trapping, hounds, or something other than just riding the back roads on a nice summer afternoon has to purposely take place to get them. Fur prices are the only real motivator for hunting them, and prices are in the toilet. Also, remember that raccoons are only one of many nest raiders. Yes, long seasons on coons would very rarely maybe get one here and there. You would do as good purposely aiming for them with your car .... lol. The results on turkey populations would be negligible.

Here is the guy that will be piloting the DEC until Cuomo gets around to appointing another one of his buddies with another political pay-off. Marc Gerstman Bio: Marc Gerstman was appointed Executive Deputy Commissioner in August, 2011. He previously served at DEC from 1988 to 1994, as Deputy Commissioner and General Counsel, and from 1985 to 1988 as Deputy General Counsel and Director of Legal Affairs. From 1995 to 2011, Mr. Gerstman was in private legal practice, specializing in environmental, natural resource, land use, zoning, administrative and municipal law. He earned his juris doctorate from Brooklyn Law School and holds a bachelor’s degree from SUNY New Paltz. ---------------------------------------------------------- Looks like another lawyer. I'm sure he'll have some heavy priorities that involve fish & game management ..... lol.

So are there farms where horses are raised to be eaten, or are these all old family pets or race track rejects that happen to die of old age or something? Maybe when a horse gets old, they make a choice between the glue factory, dog food producers and gourmet restaurant food customers....lol.

It would be interesting to see just what percentage of all DEC personnel actually do engage in the activities that they are in charge of managing.

Another single fawn. I don't think I have seen twins in person or in pictures yet. Are you guys seeing any twins or triplets?

Well, they eat the same stuff as a cow. I suspect that if they were fed the diet of a beef cow, it really should be very similar. Why not?

No question that Ma Nature is a cruel one. This kind of death and even much worse is part of every day in the wild. However, I absolutely do sympathize with those that would like to have had the scene interrupted. I have to say that I am a pretty hardened old critter that has seen some pretty horrible crap, but I see no way that someone would watch that video without feeling some sympathy for the deer. I have to admit to feeling a lot of the same kind of discomfort (if that really is the right word) as I did when my Brother-in-law spined a doe once. We both went absolutely berserk trying to finish the animal as quickly as possible. A definite panic set in that one of these critters that we were trying to kill was enduring such terror and pain. I think it is quite natural to want to stop the suffering. Watching this video brought on the same feelings and desire to have someone do something. I have to admit to stopping the video before it was finished. It was that hard to look at. Of course, given the fact that the bear was in the midst of a killing frenzy, and that it most likely was illegal to fire a gun in that kind of residential area, the practical options were certainly limited to pretty much nothing.

What would I do? Given that shooting either would probably be illegal, you really have no options. That deer was likely a goner even if the bear was somehow driven away. I don't see anything that could be done in a practical and legal sense. There sure did seem to be a whole lot of suffering involved.......Something that perhaps some of these anti-hunters should witness who fantasize that without hunters, animals would simply pass quietly in their sleep as victims of old age. Pretty disturbing stuff.

So what is so temporary about it? We are into at least 2 or 3 years of these shortages, with no let-up in sight. As far as tooling, that is merely the cost of doing business and is viewed as any investment which apparently they get a damned good return on. It is simply another aspect to actually being in business. You have a demand, you expand to meet that demand. I don't get it. It's a lucrative business that is going unsatisfied. So what is the real story?

At last..... a practical use for all these yard ornaments that people keep around as pets and actually ride once or twice in 4 or 5 years.

Actually, checking out the color of my arm, I guess I would have to say that it is pretty much a light tan. Even in the winter time, I don't think I would really call it "white". The fact is that I haven't really ever seen anyone who was really white. And also, I do have a mole on my forearm that is very dark brown. I'm not sure how to factor that in there. At any rate, there is nothing in any of my skin color that I would call "white". So I guess I am a "non-white member". So with that established .... What was the question again???

So, can anyone explain why the ammo manufacturers are not responding as any business would. ..... Boost production to meet demand. Yes, I can understand why they might not instantly react to a spike that they believe to be merely a temporary blip in demand, but for crying out loud, this I now going on for a period of time that is now measured in years. Damn, just out of respect to their stockholders, they should be making hay while the sun shines. You have an expanding market ..... get out there and make money off of it. Why isn't that happening.

And who will be setting that as a pre-requisite?? ......Our friend Andy? I doubt it. More likely he will select an anti-gunner, animal rights activist.

What a great plot for a movie!

Actually, I am surprised that we don't have a pack of liberals here talking about the flag display simply being an exhibit of free speech. When I think of all the ridiculous items and images and acts that have been defended by the left purely on the basis of free-speech, (offense be damned) it seems that the defense of the confederate flag would be a natural for them if they are to maintain any credibility. Where is our dyed-in-the-wool leftists on all this?

We certainly have had quite a collection of DEC Commissioners in the last few years. Hard to see how any consistent policy can be maintained when they change commissioners everytime Cuomo owes somebody a favor. And so the DEC was being run by some Al Gore type .... eh? I'm sure that fish and game issues got a lot of attention and priority during his reign.

Yeah, I used the term "little" to indicate that if you really don't have to become full-time slave labor, you might want to re-evaluate how much that particular hunting parcel might be worth to you. It sounds like there may be some that might go a bit overboard in exploiting the situation......lol. Not all farmers or landowners are like that.

It's kind of a sore subject with me. I watched some prime hunting land totally destroyed with a maze of bike trails that makes it impossible to hunt a large area of what use to be very productive deer country. Splotches of paint dot the trees, (as if there was some way that somebody could get lost on those rutted, eroded trails). The ground is permanently marked with ruts and erosion as thoroughly as if it had been done with dirt bikes or ATVs. The trails so thoroughly canvass the area that throughout that whole area, you are never out of earshot, and view of the packs of mountain bikers hooting and hollering throughout the hill. It certainly has changed the nature and atmosphere of the hill and impacted the daytime patterns of the deer.

The question is, does this go farther than just finances? Does it indicate a change in attitude toward hunters, fishermen and trappers? .... perhaps a genuine dis-interest or worse. Is there an attitude of antagonism between hunters and the DEC that is starting to show here? I get the feeling that there is more than just a financial component to this action and all the attitude over recent years that has led to the destruction of this event.

It's true that PR activities are easy to axe out if the DEC truly is afflicted with short range vision. NYS doesn't seem to have that kind of problem with blowing millions on advertising the tourism industry. I suspect the "I Love New York" TV ads aren't exactly cheap. But when it comes to the DEC, I can't say that I have ever seen anything that could be mistaken for forward thinking and recognizing expenditures that could have huge returns in the future. Their move toward cutting off support for outdoor activities and the participants does not exactly indicate the recognition of the importance of having healthy numbers of hunters, fishermen and trappers as partners in their game management activities. But that's becoming old news. So it isn't really a question of how easy it is to sacrifice support and encouragement of sportsmen and women, but rather a question of the wisdom of sacrificing it. I really wonder if they can even see the value of supporting programs that grow these activities. A well organized and operated National Hunting and fishing day can pay off huge dividends in recruitment of future license buyers, if they really could see that far.

One word of caution about private land hunting permissions would be not to assume that because you did everything right and got permission that you now have exclusive access to pristine, unhunted land. Some of the most densely hunted property that I ever was on was private, but completely open to all (permission or not). It made state land look desolate and untouched. Make sure you have alternate choices in case things get a little crowded on that opening morning.

I should have put in rice.

In Ashsplash's case and probably for most new hunters who are running on their own, I would not recommend any on-line courses. When you are getting involved in hunting with no personally known hunters for guidance, the more face-to-face contact you can have with other hunters and the instructors, the better. The possibilities for meeting hunting partners or someone who owns hunting land that might offer an invite are things that will never happen with online courses. The object should be to interface with as many others as possible, not stay isolated. You cannot ask questions or get explanations from an on-line course.

Let's try a few suggestions: Local town halls usually have aerial maps with property lines defined. Locate the property and the landowner's name and address there and then pay the landowner a personal visit. Personal contacts only. Try to pick a time that will not be an imposition. Not at traditional mealtimes .... lol. Dress somewhat conservatively (no camo). Be very polite and present yourself as a responsible individual. Try to work out an introductory pitch ahead of time. Offer to donate bit of help around the farm if the landowner is a farmer More?????

I agree. Race has no relevancy to hunting, fishing, or trapping. And neither does that damned flag. We have no requirement or interest in anyone's ethnicity. What the hell kind of dumb question was that anyway?