Doc

You know, we don't have a forum on religion, knitting, or flower propagation, so we do kind of try to keep things on theme here which is hunting fishing, trapping, and all things outdoors. Is that such an unusual thing for forums to insist that content have some general theme? Do people come here looking for political guidance in order to establish some kind of political ideology or party affiliation? Should they? Seriously ..... should they? I mean, really, I had a knee-jerk reaction when I first heard people complaining about what the political forum has become. But sitting back and thinking about it all, I guess I have to agree that forums are seldom opened up to every topic in the world and commonly they have some sort of core theme to their discussion content. And yes there are political aspects to outdoor issues. But even I have a hard time seeing the outdoor aspects to most of the recent posts on our style and quality of government. Those kinds of discussions are certainly legitimate topics for discussion someplace, but definitely not in a site that specializes in outdoor activities and issues. So maybe we do have an issue.

I think that is the answer. A license is proof that you qualify as a mentor. I guess you have to have some yardstick of qualifications when dealing with junior hunters. It may not be the best and most reliable proof of qualification, but it is better than nothing.

Don't you have bear season in Genesee County? I thought almost the whole state was opened up to some sort of season on bears now. Over here in my local piece of Ontario County, bears are as scarce as hen's teeth, and even here we have a season on them.

In the words of that famous American Rodney King, "Can't we all just get along?" The fact is that we have trolls wandering through the political forum in particular, constantly posting threads because they know full well that it will tread on the core values of other members and will start controversy in a personal way. It is not merely posting opinions, but it is "baiting" in the very best style of internet trolling. And those who complain loudest about civility and "getting along" are or have been the very worst offenders at one time or another. And now they stand here with a feigned deep sense of offense, pouting because they have reaped a bit of what they have sown. Also, I think it is the height of naiveté to think that incendiary issues that are engrained in hunting will not occasionally cause tempers to flair. And by the way, anyone standing there pretending that they have never engaged in that sort of thing themselves is being a bit disingenuous. Hunters are a passionate bunch of people with deeply engrained traditions and heritage, which doesn't always align well with each other. Most are not the sort of people that will back down when challenged. Anytime you have those conditions and then throw in a few trolls, you can expect the obvious to happen. And while a political forum is a natural for that kind of thing, it kind of stands to reason that when you poke at people's core beliefs, you might occasionally get bit, politics or otherwise. That is really quite natural and we all really know it despite how much we pretend to be bothered by it. But please do not stand here an feign victimization. It really is unbecoming, and nobody is really buying it.

Yep..... that's a danged long return on investment. So when you dig the roots, have you effectively killed that plant, or do you do something like in horse radishes where you replant part of the root? It seems to me that after centuries of digging them, the entire species would die out.

Hey ..... that rhymes!

Yuck!!! Seems like he is growing some extra roasts or steaks.

So, I have to wonder just what is the real benefit of Ginseng. Does it really have scientifically proven medicinal benefits. or is it just another old wives tale? One might think that if there were a legitimate need or use for the product, somebody would have domesticated it and turned it into a farming enterprise.

I do have a bit of an uneasy feeling about buying used archery equipment over the net sight-unseen. Hairline limb fracture from dry-firing, excessive cam lean from wear, screwed up cob-job attempts at repairs, all kinds of life-shortening abuse and lack of care can all be hidden prior to parting with your money without any way to obtain any sort of compensation or relief if you get stuck with one of these. I think I would rather buy from someone who has a reputation at stake and a reason for customer satisfaction. That certainly is no guarantee, but at least you have somebody you can go face-to-face with if there's a problem.

Scary stuff, isn't it?

Lol ..... I have actually steered out for bees when I'm on my mower. Also, it's not all that uncommon for me to stop the mower, get off and move a toad out of the way. No probably in the big scheme of things these acts don't make a damn bit of difference, but it's just the way I react to our beneficial critters.

Actually, this is not really all that bad an idea. There is some value to maintaining the primary theme of the site. It is useful and even necessary to have access to topics that relate to political aspects of hunting and outdoor issues, but we have seen how that can be abused and taken over by only a couple of members turning the whole thing into discussions of political ideology and party politics. I have to agree that that sort of thing has absolutely nothing to do with the outdoor theme of this site and probably should not be forcibly injected into this site the way it has been. Yes, in fact we do censor and limit content all the time. It is a natural part of any forum management. I would completely support a change that would limit political discussion to outdoor issues only, leaving the ideology and party politics to other sites that sort of thing as their theme.

There is information in the political forum that describes just who did and who didn't vote for the safe act. There is information where to find out who your legislators are and what district number you live in. There is info on how to get registered to vote. All of these things while under the general category of "politics", are also extremely important this year in terms of voting gun issues and other concerns of outdoor people. They are also essential when contacting your reps on hunting issues. Yes they are hunting subjects, gun subjects and political subjects that might not be available to members if we didn't have the political forum. The political forum was also very useful in keeping up with the Safe Act, and all the activity fighting the act. So in answer to the question asked in the title of this thread, the answer is "yes" on both counts, it is a hunting and political site and it serves the gun, bow, hunting, trapping, fishing, and other outdoor activities in an effort to keep our members in-the-know in terms of what the heck is going on around us and how our activities are impacted by the politics and political figures involved. I think that is essential to any outdoor site.

Frankly, I don't know who you know and what you know about requesting a site change, nor do I care. I'm telling you that if you are as upset as you sound, there is a procedure and a person to contact, to get the issue resolved (if in fact you are serious about getting the issue resolved). Nobody is saying you have broken any rules. I'm just suggesting some common sense positive action to scratch your itch. Seemed like a logical step to me. Certainly nothing to get all indignant about.

Yes, and then you have the people who don't want their "Most Recent" list clogged up with camping, or fishing, or ATVs, or the non-hunting sale forum, or you name it somebody doesn't like it. It's pretty damn arbitrary no matter how you do it unless you don't allow exceptions. But again, I say simply take your request to the guy that will have the final decision. This site is not a "majority rules" style of site management. We have a site owner, and I suggest that rather than clogging up the most recent post list with polls and such, simply run it by the one who will be making the decision. Make your arguments there.

Ha-ha, how many times has this thread clogged up the "Most Recent Topics" list. Sorry, but I understand the importance of the part of hunting that is political, and believe it is important not to hide it or run from it. As an aside, with all this attention to the "Recent Topics" list, it should be pointed out that unless you are on this site all day long, if you are limiting your reading here to only the 5 posts or so that happen to be up on that list when you sign in, you are likely missing out on most of the new discussions that took place since the last time you were here. Your decision of course, but personally I check out whatever forums I am interested in to see what new comments may have been added since I was last here.....not just the last 5 posts that were added.

The "recent topics" list complaint has not been the core of this thread. Up to this point the complaints have been about having a "politics" forum at all on a hunting site. I have merely pointed out that forum use is a member preference thing and there are plenty of forums on this site where hunting topics can be accessed. Choices to visit the political forum is a member decision. If it is the mechanics part of the site construction that you are complaining about, I would suggest that you contact the one (and only) person who can help you out on that issue. That would be the Owner of the sight, Burmjohn. Personally I wouldn't change that Recent Topics list at all. It is exactly what it says it is..... a compilation of the most recent posts on the entire site. But if you want to suggest going down the path of picking and choosing what forums deserve to be included, you know who you need to take that subject up with. My opinion on the change that you want to make (for what it is worth) is that we currently do not try to steer anyone toward or away from one forum or another by biasing the selection available in the "Recent Topics" list. I think it should stay that way.

A guy I used to work with used a propane torch. The only thing is that it is a surface attack rather than from the roots up as Round-up claims.

Yes, Bubba and I have had some pretty wild battles, but in this issue of working within the system with positive action, and doing what is necessary to help the system work, I'll be the first to give him all the credit in the world. I have heard enough whining and defeatism from some on here to last a lifetime, and to his credit, Bubba is having none of that. Keep up the good work Bubba and don't be worried about what the whiners have to say. We need more guys on our side that do more than just cry about what won't work and what can't be done, and how everyone should simply give up and accept whatever comes our way in terms of government ( or run to another state). Win, lose, or draw, at least you will know that you have done all that you could do and that it was 110% more than almost all gun owners are doing. You have my deep respect for your efforts.

Those little fawns are the dumbest things. Just little baby goats. But they'll get it all figured out.

This will be the magical year when it all pays off. I would imagine that since you are a member here, you probably will be looking at a NYS record. It takes a while for all that knowledge to be absorbed.

Ha-ha ... Almost makes it too easy ............ almost. I had the pleasure of dragging two does at once opening morning. Now there is a treat. Drag one deer a ways ... stop ... go back and drag the other one ... stop ... go back and get the gun and pack ... stop ... repeat over and over until home. I sure didn't miss my bruised shoulder from beating it into hamburger with that stupid Ithaca12 gauge. You know the timing couldn't have been better. I was just starting to get pump mis-feeds with the old beater. Of course I've had it since 1969...lol. I wonder just what the number of deer is that I've taken with that old-timer. I know its real big number.

I knew what you were saying. I guess I speak I-phone .... lol.

"Yo Mom! Come on out here where the grass is good. Why are you hiding back in there?"

No, I take that to be one very encouraging data point. Let's hope that it is followed by a lot more years with the same success. By the way, did I understand correctly that all these rifle laws come with a one-year trial period before they become actual permanent law? It seems as though I heard that with the Ontario County rifle law.