Doc

After the winter we just got finished with, can it really be surprising if people are not seeing a whole lot of fawns. Yes the observation may be a bit premature yet, but I will not be super-surprised if the winter has taken a significant toll on this years crop of fawns. It all yet remains to be seen, but I think the results may make us all wonder about the frantic panicky plans that the DEC has formulated to rid us of all those nasty deer.

I think this last round of flooding sounded the death-knell for our garden. Plants do not grow well in standing water. Perhaps I might be able to salvage some squash simply because they were planted in hills. We'll see. Oh, and it looks like we will be blessed with a little more rain tomorrow and the next day. "How high's the water Mama? ..... Five feet high and rising." Old Johnny Cash may be dead, but his song sure isn't. Predictions? .... This is just an extension of last winter. It was quite simple to predict all this crap. More colder than normal weather with higher than normal precipitation. Yeah a little wrinkle here and there, but the bigger picture is just a seasonally modified version of last winter.

I went for quite a few years in a row, and even exhibited as a representative of Avon Bowmen for a few years. But lately even though some of the displays and activities were quite interesting, they began to get repetitive. Nothing ever changed, and even some of the old vendors and sportsmen's organizations began to slowly thin out such that many of the displays that I did look forward to simply stopped coming. On the last trip over, I questioned a lot of exhibitors and got the same story from each one. The costs were getting too high. And while I am sure that is the case, I also think that a lot of interest from rod & gun clubs and archery clubs and trappers organizations has been dwindling over the years. I remember back when I was involved, we spent a huge number of hours photographing and writing up presentations, and composing talks and seminar style of presentations. There was volumes of handouts and printed material that took a fair amount of dedication and effort from our club members. I can also say that almost all of the other exhibitors put in similar efforts that paid off with a NH&F day presentation that everyone wanted to see. I have not really seen any of that kind of enthusiasm in recent years and it surely shows in the participation and attendance. So, I am not sure just who is responsible, but I can say that it is a shared responsibility that runs all the way down to the individual sportsmen not giving a damn about putting on a good display that represents their individual interests. Some of that is driven from the top, and I have seen huge changes in the participation of DEC personnel, to the point where it begins to look like their part in it all was completely limited to supplying the land. And now they want to pull that last connection with sportsmen. It appears that they really would rather specialize in environmental and pollution concerns than having anything to do with hunters, fishermen and trappers. And so it appears that we no longer have them as spokespeople for the support and growth of our outdoor activities, and that they have absolutely no interest in seeing any of these things maintained or in a growth situation. With that hole in the sportsmen's PR purposely created, they have shown their complete disinterest in that whole end of their activities. Yes, there are still many DEC employees that see value in it, but as Lisenbee points out, the management level of the DEC has been populated by lawyers and others who could really care less about promoting outdoor activities. Instead of fixing it, they are simply going to walk away from it.

Gosh, I hate that term SCOTUS!! It always sounds like a male body part.

When I read the title of this thread, I thought it was some drug related jargon....lol. I know I have seen one of my Brother-in-laws all "potted up".

Any nuclear power plants in your area?

My question is how do you collect enough pre-orbital scent from the deer to have enough to market on a national basis. What do they do, walk up to a farm raised deer and pinch its face until the goo flies out of their glands? Seriously, am I the only one that wonders these things? ...... lol.

Yes, the good old camo discussion. I have heard all kinds of reports on people getting within touching distance while wearing solid blaze orange, and I have heard stories of people getting picked off at 80 yards while wearing a ghillie suit. It makes it difficult trying to figure out what to believe. I know camo manufacturers are getting rich trying to convince us that their camo makes you invisible to the deer. I don't know, but generally I let the quality of the garment, the style of the fabric, and the price tag determine what I purchase.

I understand the sentiment, but I have to say that doing a stint with good old Ben Dover in the jug is not very high on my wish list. My thought is that those involved in defying the law, are really ignoring the position they are putting themselves into. Either that or they have no clue as to the real-world ramifications of their act. Or they have developed some deluded Rambo image of themselves and have decided to take on the state government. Like I say, what people do is really up to them and has nothing to do with me, but I just thought I would put a little bit of realism into the discussion.

Hoarding is causing a whole lot of inconvenience and frustration for fellow shooters, but in a way I kind for understand it. Maybe I'm just angry because I didn't think of stocking up before all this shortage stuff started....lol. Those that are hoarding for profit and engaging in gouging fellow shooters should be ashamed of themselves. But those who are simply ensuring a supply that they will be personally using, are probably just those who thought far enough ahead to ensure that they could always feed their guns. Nothing wrong with that.

Yes, I think the death sentence should be carried out in the woods. There are other ways of piecing together who helped and what the escape process was. Chances are pretty good he wouldn't give up those details anyway even if he were taken alive. So, these creeps have cost us enough money. Put him down and save any further expenses.

The first place I would suggest that you go is to the web-site of the NYS Department of Conservation. They have a great page with all of the info on the legal requirements for starting hunting. http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/hunting.html On that page, you will find one of the key links to a preliminary activity that is a prerequisite for getting your hunting license ... The Hunter safety courses. These courses will not only teach safety, but will also bring you in direct contact with hunters, and also give plenty of info on means, methods and correct ways of pursuing what will likely turn out to be a lifelong passion. Welcome to the ranks of NYS hunters, and I hope all works out well for you.

I think the Safe Act has caught nationwide attention and has had a ripple effect on the psyche of most gun owners who see the successes of the leftist anti-gun nuts of NYS as a symbol of what can happen and perhaps are even seeing it as a harbinger of the state of affairs regarding future firearms regulations in their own state or area. The fact is that some of this hoarding and shortages extend northward beyond our country's borders. Sure, I think the election of a super-flaming liberal to head the country has made gun owners everywhere rightfully fear the worst. It sure doesn't make me feel super comfy having an avowed anti-gun head of state. But when you add that to the ridiculous affront to the 2nd Amendment that Cuomo and his gang of constitution burners perpetrated with this safe act, I have to say that gun owners should be feeling considerably uncomfortable these days. And for some people that discomfort results in a misguided urge to hoard as much ammo as possible.

Well yes, they probably thought it was appropriate to use a facility that partnered them with what they thought was an ally of sportsmen and women. I wonder what they think now. I wonder what we all should be thinking now. I guess we have gotten a little shot of reality.

I too left the corporate world, but it was only after I had amassed enough resources to finance my retirement .... lol. I can't bad-mouth the decades of drawing a significant paycheck from a corporate giant. It all provided the capital to live a very comfortable life while I was doing it, and a not-so-bad active retirement. Oh, it wasn't always a bed of roses, but for the most part, I enjoyed my career along the way and had a great time with a great bunch of people and some benefits that made life for my family a lot easier. I guess it all depends on what part of the corporate world you happen to get involved with and what your experiences there turned out to be.

So, what do you think? Are all these illegal weapons going to be on display in the homes? Will they be showing up at club shoots? Will their owners be openly hunting with them? Will they be openly used for target practice? If a cop or game warden actually catches someone with an illegal AW, will they enforce the law with an arrest? Would they ignore the violation? Or would it simply become a crap shoot that depended on the individual LEO and their frame of mind on that day? Are there now significant numbers of illegal AW owners that are eligible for felony arrest and conviction? Have these people put their entire gun collection at significant risk (as well as other unpleasantness of having a criminal record) because they are now performing a felony act? I'm curious whether it is as simple as just ignoring the law just for grins and giggles, or are there other unspoken significant drawbacks to risking felony convictions for a weapon that you are fearful of actually using? I don't know. I don't own one, but I am just curious about the casual attitudes toward committing a felony and whether anyone has even considered the consequences. It certainly does wind up to be quite a dilemma.

Sure I have done both kinds of vacations, and they both have there time and place. It all depends on which kind of vacation you are looking for this time. Some times I want the carnival, touristy type of atmosphere, and sometimes I am looking for peace and quiet with more of a nature theme. The Adirondacks offers both and everything in between, but you have to make up your mind which one your after.

I heard about the costs for the spaces going through the roof and could immediately see the results of fewer exhibits. It was almost like they were trying to kill it. And yes, the quality of the event did suffer. I have to wonder exactly what actual costs they incur by basically letting the Livingston County Federation of sportsmen do the heavy lifting in terms of organizing and running the event. There was a time when the DEC pretty much ran the whole thing, and it truly was an enthusiastically run DEC event with heavy DEC participation. That hasn't been the case in a long time. Today with concerns about hunter population, and their concerns about adequate hunter enthusiasm for doe harvests and out-of-control deer populations, one would think that promotion and education would be high on their goals. Especially with an event that is so heavily privately supported. I just find their whole attitude to be puzzling.

So, what's the bottom line? Is the future of the .22 caliber going to be limited only to the hoarders by ammo shortages? How far is this nonsense really going to go?

OK ..... Found it..... http://www.mpnnow.com/article/20150618/SPORTS/150619558/0/SEARCH

That has always been one of the most positive promotion of outdoor activities going. Thousands of people were annually introduced to hunting and fishing and trapping and other outdoor activities because of that event. It was one of the most powerful offsetting showcases of these activities and now it appears that the DEC is trying to destroy it. I wish I could find an internet link to Lisenbee's article. He went into a lot more depth about the change in attitudes of the DEC regarding hunters, fishermen, and trappers. Much as I have suspected, it appears that the composition and attitudes of the DEC has significantly shifted and its not in a direction that favors the sportsmen.

So is it true, as Canandaigua Daily Messenger outdoor columnists Len Lisenbee stated, that the Livingston County Federation of Sportsmen were notified last week that the DEC would no longer serve as host of the National Hunting and Fishing Day celebration? And that a permit allowing for all of the various activities would not be issued? Is the DEC getting out of the business of promoting hunting fishing and trapping? What exactly are they trying to tell us? Does this new attitude toward hunting, fishing and trapping extend beyond Region 8?

So, is this shortage problem getting any better or is this going to be the way it is from now on (or possibly even worse)? I mean, what's the point of buying the .22 rifles if you can't find ammo?

So are you camping or looking for motel accommodations? That may make a difference in where you want (have) to go. One year we went on a photography mission to get waterfalls pictures. We found a map book that showed all the waterfalls of significance. It may have been in that New York Atlas & Gazetteer or maybe it was an internet search. So we just drove around the high peaks area seeing some fantastic sights and getting some great pictures. We always timed it so that we were near a town at night for some dinner and a motel. We had a great time. Something you might want to consider if that sort of thing appeals to you.

That too is a blatant disregard for their neighbors. Whenever I go out to shoot my guns, I first call the neighbors to let them know, just so that the first shot doesn't startle them. If it ever happened that I was going to shoot for an extended time, I would be going to the gun club shooting range where that kind of noise disruption is customary and expected, for specifically the reason you have come up with. That kind of neighborhood disruption is really not that necessary. I will say that at least in the instance that you are describing, the safety aspect has been taken care of. With aerial fireworks neither the safety or the noise is of any concern to those shooting them off.