Doc

I know that property owner's liability laws were modified to relax some of the ridiculous claims that some people were making against homeowners. However, I am still a bit Leary about some of the more skillful lawyers who can make some pretty darn good cases out of nothing these days. I still consider that when guests are invited onto my land, there is still always a possibility of legal issues if something should happen.

If he can recall a detail like the fact that he was exactly eight feet over the property line, it tells me that the trespass was intentional and willful. Still, I have to say that it is probably the first time that I ever felt sorry for a trespasser.....lol. Just watching the video, I flinched pretty bad when the explosion went off. I can't imagine what it must have been like to be a few feet from it in the quiet conditions of the woods. What an ugly thing that would have been to come back to the area and find a dead body laying there where your "trespasser trap" resulted in a cardio death. I know how damned frustrating it can be to unsuccessfully defend your property from trespass, but people have got to be using their heads when dealing with such things. On the other hand, I have to admit that he probably will not be trespassing again for the rest of his life.....lol.

I will make a prediction that the DEC will make a valiant effort until they realize that it is getting them no where and then the season will open again for full-on warfare against the piggies. let's face it, if containing the spread of these things was a simple as sending out a few people to construct some traps, there wouldn't be any pig problem. I think there will be some initial successes, trailing off to none after a while and then it will become obvious that the "hunter army" is required. There may some additional motivations such as bounties offered, depending on the level of desperation. I have to say that this prediction is only a guess, and based on no particular expertise. But it all seems highly probable from what I have read about these critters.

It seems they survive and thrive in Siberia. Bitter cold weather is usual there .... right? I don't know, I think they are just a nomadic critter, and are probably just keeping one step ahead of everybody.

What's wrong with Fletchtite. I've always had pretty good luck with that and it's available at any major archery outlet.

Well, I guess I have had enough of this foolishness. Time for a serious, on topic, question. Has anyone heard of any local Astorino campaign headquarters being set up yet? It might be that the man needs a little help.

Well, it does show that the DEC does do some independent thinking and doesn't always play "follow the leader" with other states. I just hope it works for them (us) and doesn't leave them with egg on their face. It could come out very badly if they don't follow through and keep up an adequate effort.

I love the on-line system. I've never had a problem, and as a bonus, you can print off proof that you performed your legal obligation of reporting your harvest.

Well, actually I never knew anything about you years ago ... lol. And probably those that did listened briefly to your Henny Penny imitation constantly running around in circles, waving your arms frantically and declaring that the sky is falling. The problem with that behavior is that on the rare occasion that you might have something credibly worth saying, everyone has already tuned you out. It's the old "crying wolf syndrome". It gets especially weird when you get off into your militia mode. So, I have no idea what it is that you were saying "years ago", but I imagine it was about as incredible as some of the strange nonsense you have been spewing here, and likely it was quite properly being ignored. People respond to positive direction and hopeful leadership, and really don't have a lot of patience for the old "woe is me, the world is falling apart and there's nothing that can be done" party line. Frankly, I don't listen to people who's answer to everything is to run and hide, while trying to discourage all those that are interested in making real contributions to real solutions. I see nothing positive in any of that and would rather not get bogged down in the self-pity and negativity that never brings any real change. I think we have had more than enough of that already and we really don't have time for anymore of it.

Actually that is the embodiment of the attitude that got us where we are. So many people ready to throw in the towel and simply run from any kind of adversity. People running from the state, people running from the system, people running from any real responsible reaction to conditions that are unfavorable here. And then people who think they are some kind of heavy thinkers by discouraging those that are actively trying to fix things. These are the people who talk about standing and fighting and yet turn tail at any sign of problems. It really is hard to stomach that sort of arrogant hypocrisy.

Here's the problem. Many of these supposedly pointless arguments can wind up as legislation against the other groups. It is not always just a harmless outcome. I have watched the tension between gun hunters and bow hunters grow to the point where you start getting some people of rather militant mentality like Stubby. As primarily a bowhunter, I understand that we are in the minority in the hunting community, and when ever I hear these messages of hate, I do pay attention to those. There is nothing cast in stone relative to bow hunting.....no guarantees that the long seasons that we currently enjoy and the long list of bowhunting benefits will be forever. So when these kinds of issues start up, I do get concerned. But then that's just me.

Right thing or wrong thing, I don't believe they were given a lot of choice. And while they are the largest of the arms manufacturers, there are getting to be quite a few others that are forced into making the same decision.....all representing jobs and benefits for NYS people as well as the loss of tax revenues and contributions to the NYS economy. Lets put our wrath where it belongs, and that is not the gun manufacturers. I think Remington and others were perfectly happy where they were until the SAFE Act.

That is a position I would encourage you to forget. That is pretty much simply throwing a potential pro-gun vote away and really accomplishing nothing at all.

There is nothing a politician covets more than a vote. For years gun control was kept under control because candidates feared the wrath of the gun lobby. It's time to put that fear back in them. This election right after the SAFE Act can send one powerful focused message off into future elections. That message will be either "It is certain death to piss-off gun owners", or "The gun lobby is dead full-steam ahead with the gun control". We have people that are working to put the fear of God back into these guys, and we have others (here) that are working diligently to do Cuomo's work for him in discouraging voters from focusing on what has to be done to send the pro gun-rights message. Your reply leaves no doubt where you stand.

You sure have got that right! This election is the "last stand" of the gun owners in NYS. Really! Never have the gun owners been more motivated and focused than they are now to take their revenge on those that voted for the SAFE Act. If we fail to have substantial impact, the anti-gun machine will be further emboldened to finish us off. It is up to us to place the idea of "political suicide" in the minds of the anti-gun legislators. We can do it if we can maintain the focus. And Lord help us if we don't.

Colbert- Welcome to the People's Republic of New York. You will truly enjoy the north country. Unfortunately, I cannot help you out with your quest for hunting land. I have not had a whole lot of success with randomly requesting hunting permission. But I do encourage you to look into some rather abundant public land that is available throughout the state. I imagine there are some members from up in that corner of the state that will be suggesting some great areas, and may have some more encouraging and helpful comments on the art of gaining access to private property for hunting.

Looks like you did a great job in raising a couple of great kids .... Congratulations to you, your wife, and both girls.

What escapes a lot of people is the fact that many, perhaps even most, and maybe even the overwhelming majority of bowhunters are also gun hunters. It was a bowhunter (Fred Bear) that coined the phrase, "two-season hunter".

You know, that's a pretty good point. If the guy is so un-electable how on earth did he win elections in Westchester. The guy must have something. I just wish that he could get more exposure among all of the NYS voting population. What will get him big (positive) headlines? It should be starting now. I don't want another Republican candidate that two years after the election everybody is saying, "What was the name of that guy that ran against Cuomo in 2014?". We've had enough of those guys. His campaign committee has to get busy and innovative. I personally think Cuomo's popularity is over-blown and based on apathy. We should be able to beat a guy like him. He has made a lot more enemies than just gun owners. We've got to get those people energized as well. We may find ourselves alongside of some people that we normally would not want to associate with, but if we can use them, then we had better do so. Well yeah, that all sounds real good, but there still is that nagging question, "How?"

You aren't seriously blaming bow hunters for any significant changes in deer populations are you? I know you have some sort of weird vendetta against bowhunters and would like to blame all the world's problems on them, but try to be a little rational. The deer population is controlled through the antlerless permit system. And the primary tool for that system to work is the gun. So if you have a problem with changes in deer numbers, don't be pointing fingers at bowhunters.

Everything seems to lead to crossbows these days doesn't it? .... lol. But just to be clear, I have not or am not introducing the crossbow into this thread. My comments are regarding my perception of why some gun hunters seem to be bothered by bowhunters and why I believe there is a certain element of envy regarding those benefits that bowhunters have and a desire to have a piece of the action. And it is all just perception based on stubby's reply, and other comments that I have read and heard.

But then there really aren't a whole lot of birds that are known as being heavy thinkers .... lol. Do birds really "mistrust"? Sounds like a Disney scenario .... ha-ha-ha. Well anyway, the real message to pull from this thread is that when people run around in circles, waving their arms in the air, Constantly screaming and yelling and pretending that they are the only ones who really see "the truth", eventually men in white coats come along and put them in an appropriate place where they can be kept from harming themselves or others. Alarm sounders indeed... lol. The absolute arrogance of such a self image. More like raving lunatics who cry wolf so much that if they ever do have a useful lucid thought, no one will ever pay a whole lot of attention to them anymore.

If there is any credible concrete evidence of a "phase two Safe Act" being held until after the election, it needs to be published and distributed right now to further unite gun owners. This is not a time to keep such information "hush-hush". We need all the motivation for gun owners to vote that we can muster, before the election, not after.

I will be the first to say that archery is not for everyone. And I am not really in favor of trying to force someone into the sport that has no natural attraction to it. What many want is to have the benefits of bow hunting (season lengths, rut access, good weather, etc.) without having to use a bow. That is the true crux of the problem and the cause for conflict. That's not a justification, but simply an explanation.

It all hinges on whether or not we can achieve single issue unity among gun owners. There is power in a unified, impassioned, and focused minority. Participation rates among the general population of voters is notoriously low. That is a fact that makes minority voting blocks have extra power if they can get their ranks to the polls. Also remember that we are not the only ones who have an anti-Cuomo agenda. Don't throw in the towel yet. Work to get gun owners to the polls with the proper understanding of what is at stake. That's all we can do, but it may very well be enough. However time is getting short. It seems like a long way away, but 6 months is not a lot of time to convince the number of people that we have to convince.