Doc

I was watching one of those game warden shows yesterday where they live-trapped a problem bear and then released it in a different area. They knew the real problem was the familiarity that the neighborhood bear had with humans and the fact that they were losing their natural cautiousness. So the trick was when the door to the cage was opened, they had a few department employees around, hollering, and a bunch of leashed dogs barking, and a guy with bean-bag rounds in a gun. The bear was ready to get the hell out of there before they even opened the door. As the bear bolted, he got a few swats from the bean bags, and after he got out a ways, the dogs were let loose and they pushed him right up the hill and started him off exactly where they wanted him to go. Apparently the dogs are well trained to come back when they are called. The whole experience was to make his association with humans, and suburbia and dogs as unpleasant as possible and something that he would always remember. However, they did mention that it doesn't always work perfectly and on a couple of occasions, they did have some bears that did a U-turn and came back after the workers. In those cases, the dogs put him back on course.

I suspect some of them will probably take up bowling or squirrel hunting or something ..... lol. Imagine what it would be like to be in an area of low deer population, with little or no chance at an antlerless permit, and then someone comes along and tells you that more than like the chances are pretty good that any buck that comes along will not be legal to shoot. That's kind of like telling someone that you are welcome to spend your money on a license, and go out and sit in the woods, but you can't take anything. Sounds like a real deal to me. I think I would likely find another pastime. A trip to the supermarket will be necessary if they want that freezer filled.

And the best way to eliminate that is to eliminate all special seasons and just have one season that includes all weapons. That's kind of where things are heading these days anyway. Special seasons are simply something to call a segment of the year, not so much a limitation of what weapons should be used. That went out the window decades ago.

Yup!

One of those rare times when I am speechless. She said it all!

The problem is that the "doe option" isn't available to everyone everywhere in NYS. There are WMUs that have no permits, and others where they are severely limited. See that's the problem. Everyone tends to only see what is going on in their backyard and try to dream up restrictions and regulations to spread all over the state.

I would have thought that the Florida Fish & Wildlife Service would already have what they need for handling such problem bears, up to and including live traps for re-locating problem bears. I suspect that this is just a publicity stunt trying to make it appear that the organization does really do something that is useful.

Maybe we should carry copies of the last paragraph of this article and hand them out when asked any of the "WHY" questions ..... lol.

I have no idea of who the guy is that wrote that rambling essay, or why I spent the time reading all of that. It was signed simply MJ, with no info on why his opinion is any more important or credible than any of ours. I will say that the AR lobby is a very dedicated, vocal, and determined group of hunters that have used every thing at their disposal to pressure the DEC to yield to their voice. Good idea? .... Bad idea? .... I have no real predictions. I do believe that passing AR and/or some of these other pop-fad management ideas will likely cost some unknown amount of our dwindling hunter base. That seems to be the current trend, to be regulating our numbers away. Hey, if that's what the majority of hunters want, I am getting a bit too old to be losing sleep over it. The future of hunting will be whatever it will be with or without my concern ..... lol.

Then throw down that crappy old crossbow and stay with modern rifles. The rifle is still the "most effective weapon available". You can't have it both ways. Those of us who take up the limitations of archery hunting do so with it in mind that we want the challenge of a limited weapon. That is the whole point to the "special" archery season. Bow season was initially established as a way of handicapping the hunter with a weapon that requires rigid technique and exceptional hunting skills that require the ability to operate in close proximity to the prey. Since the day of it's inception, people have been working diligently to destroy the intent behind the original season and slowly evolve it back toward some other version of "gun season". Almost all of that evolution has been done in the name of using "the most effective weapon available". If you are serious about that statement, then you must believe that the introduction of bow season was a real bad idea whether you are using a longbow, recurve, compound or crossbow.

I saw some windchill numbers on a map on TV that claimed some areas are going to have windchills down to -31 degrees. I believe them when they say that those kinds of numbers can freeze exposed skin. So unless you have some way of dressing that looks like something that explorers in Antarctica would wear, I would suggest staying inside. I hear the wind blowing out there already, so I am taking these warnings seriously.

I may have missed it, but has there been any county that has had a deer/rifle bill shot down once it was proposed? I know here in Ontario county we had a couple of false starts because of legislative screw-ups, but it was never in doubt that it would eventually go through. I think that as far as Genesee county has gotten things, kind of makes it a done-deal.

It probably depends on what it died of. Is there any kind of ID on the leg bands?

Where did it say anyone in law enforcement was involved? ....Did I miss something?

So, what happened to these guys? Anyone hear? Anyone arrested? .... If so were they charged? .... And if they were, what were they charged with? what was their plea? ..... What was the evidence? ..... Are they scheduled for court? We really don't know a whole hell of a lot about the incident or the case do we? For all we know, it may have been a case of intentional malicious destruction of personal property. Lol .... See I can guess and theorize right along with the best of them ....

Canadice Lake Canadice Lake Powder Mill Park hatchery Adirondacks I can't spell it ....lol. Letchworth Park

Has anybody taken the time to compare state senators and assemblymen who voted for the Safe Act to those to those that got the ax during this last election? I know the political make-up of both houses changed significantly, but I haven't gotten a chance to see just how it all shook out.

There ya go!!! Fishing, gardens, flowers, lakes, green stuff, and such ...... I'm starting to come out of it. I do remember way, way back when I had my old Bolens snowmobile. I did look at winter a lot differently. But the older I get the less tolerant of this stinking white stuff I get. I'd rather be fishing, camping, hiking, and gardening....lol.

Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but for me, "Cabin Fever" is starting to set in pretty bad right now. I am getting mighty damn tired of this parade of snow storms every few days. So I thought it might be time to put our minds in a better time and place for at least a few minutes. Hope you all enjoy. last but not least ... My back yard. I hope these have helped a few with the winter blahs. I would like to see some other "clearly summer" pictures if anyone has some.

I think that anyone who plans on moose hunting alone, had better count on eating the thing right where it drops. Even a small one is more than a single person can handle. Unless you can drive right to it and have some special equipment.

Reasons for reading these reports: All of the above plus it is just plain interesting to see just how much illegal activity that some people are caught at in your vicinity. Now if they would just apply some of the statistical hokus-pokus, and work up total "corrected" numbers that comes up with a guess at the real numbers of total game-crooks we have in our midst .... lol. Now that would be interesting. Meaningless, but interesting. It might be some shocking numbers.

The only thing I would caution against is getting caught up in that "cute little doggy" syndrome. These are not to be confused with "man's best friend". Baby critters of all kinds can find a very strong spot in your heart. Animal rights groups use that tactic all the time. Disney did pretty good with his understanding of our emotional soft-spots too when it comes to animals. I am thinking that game management requires a separation from that kind of emotionalism, when you are discussing management practices of animal population control.

Where did you find that report? I would like to read it.

We often misuse the term and apply it as a negative, when in fact it really is a very complimentary term. Elite- 1. (often used with a plural verb) the choice or best of anything considered collectively, as of a group or class of persons. 2. (used with a plural verb) persons of the highest class example: Only the elite were there. 3. a group of persons exercising the major share of authority or influence within a larger group. example: the power elite of a major political party. 4. representing the most choice or select; best example: an elite group of authors.

You could be right, but let's not bury the man before he is dead. He is attempting to make good on a campaign promise, right from day-one. That's something you rarely see from a politician these days. He clobbered an incumbent democrat by a substantial margin, so I say let him have at it and see if he can surprise everybody again. And if he needs support for his attempt, there is no reason not to supply it.