Doc

First of all, I would ask for some form of written document that explains the disposition of this gun. Then, I would make it clear that you intended to go the "letter-to-the-editor" route just to make the situation public. You never know, that gun may all of a sudden be returned to you if he gets an idea that this is going to become public. That will certainly be the case if there is anything shady about the way he is handling the case. In the future, I would always see to it that you stay with the troopers.

So, how does it work? what is the fuel source? A bit off topic, but, what ever happened to those little fold-up sterno stoves with the canned fuel? Can you still buy that stuff somewhere?

I would think that all responsibilities would lie with the farmer. The safe and secure containment of his critters is (or at least should be) his concern. If he does not live up to his responsibilities as caretaker of his livestock ....... oh well. Whatever happens after that should be nobody's problem but his.

I am a bit concerned that if we keep pushing the various deer seasons (no matter what weapon is being used) deeper and deeper into the winter, there may be an awful lot of bucks shot for does simply because you are starting to get into the antler-drop timeframe.

Well, I guess inspite of all these laws, regulations, restrictions, and good intentions, the unthinkable was still able to happen ..... and did. It appears that we may have dodged the bullet ...... this time.

My ATV is the primary snow removal machine for our 1000' driveway, so it never really gets stored for any long periods of time. However, I wouldn't think that an ATV would be any different than either of my riding lawnmowers. With those, I just add some stabil fuel conditioner to the gas and pull the batteries and store them in the basement. I also keep a generous supply of mouse poison around the barn (year around).That can be a very important tip because not controlling the mouse population cost me a good garden tractor once when the mice decided to pack the cooling fins on the motor with fur/grass/etc. Because of the cowling, I was unaware that the engine was being cooked until it was too late.

Well, nobody is "sticking it to the farmer". When the deer got out, there was no way that he was going to capture him out of the wild and put him back in the pen ........ unless the deer comes when called by name ..... lol. So if someone is able to get and use the meat, I don't think that makes one bit of difference to the deer farmer. He already pemanently lost that deer. And of course as far as intentionally shooting escaped livestock, it would have to be proven that the tag was spotted before taking the shot, and maybe that wouldn't even be enough to prove that the law was broken. The records keeping organizations can disallow what ever they want (who cares), but as far as it being a legitimate target and a good source of some venison, I think it is. What's the option, let it die of old-age and rot in the woods? .... lol. That would be real useful.

I'm not sure that I would even if such a hunt were offered. I think it wouldn't be that big a deal for me since I am sort of a laid-back hunter that likes to do his own thing. I really have no desires to participate in a guided hunt unless it were for one of the big game animals out west somewhere. I certainly don't want to get involved with farm-raised deer, or fenced in animals, and I'm afraid that a hunt with one of these hunter-heroes would probably end up to be exactly that. In short, to converse with one of these guys would be ok, but I would pass on hunting with them.

Man ... They're ripping by pretty darn fast aren't they? Well, this past one was a dandy, and I hope the next one is another good one. At any rate, here's wishing you all a happy, safe and prosperpous new year.

Well anyway, aside from all that nonsense, if you really want to see a good movie, this is the one.

My needs for an all-around hunting knife includes its occasional use as a hatchet when required .....lol. That requires a bit of weight and an indestructible strength. The fact is that mine is usually used in that fashion more often than just a gutting knife.

Well, we made it through another one. I hope this next one is a great new year for you and the rest of the members here.

Jump over a few lakes to Canandaigua if you want to see geese. The place is taken over with them.

It would be one heck of a great idea if the DEC would organize these kinds of activities for state lands and supervise such volunteer work-partys. Perhaps working in concert with rod & gun clubs as club projects, some nifty habitat improvement projects could be worked on. Also well publicized projects of this nature to seek assistance from non-affiliated hunters maybe would work out pretty good if only they would try some of that. However, as it stands right now, if you go on state lands (public lands) to "create a brushpile, cut out invasive plants, selective cut or freed up heritage apple trees", you most likely would encounter a series of fines that would put a significant dent in your life savings.

Just a heads-up for movie fans. If you get a chance to see the movie "War Horse", I would highly recommend it. Our local theater seldom gets much of a crowd, but even into it's second week, the theater was almost filled. I really can't remember the last time i've seen the whole audience applauding after watching a movie, but that's what happened with this one. Obviously, I was not the only one that enjoyed it. Check it out ...... you won't be disappointed.

Actually the baiting law preceeds the discovery of CWD in NYS. However the no-feeding law was a direct result of the CWD concerns. I believe that's the way it all went down.

Ha.... Let's face it, all you need is a piece of property that is a hundred yard circle if it's the right 100 yard circle. Sure it all depends on the habitat and whether deer are using it or not. It basically allows for a few stand sights that will allow some days when you can hunt there instead of driving miles out of your way. And you might find that it is a natural funnel or some other feature that deer just want to go through. Who knows? The best way to find out is to hunt it. However in reality, by the time you take out the hay lot you really are talking about 3 acres which is scarcely larger than a good sized suburban yard. I don't know what contingencies are that makes possession a question, but actually, from a financial standpoint, it probably shouldn't be hunting access that decides whether the land satisfies the debt.

I think it's kind of funny when I see some guy struggling with a little toy knife. I tend to go with a "one knife does all" approach. I have yet to find a full-sized hunting knife to be any sort of unnecessary burden. And if it's built with an indestructible design ...... so much the better.

I think that when we start looking for logic and reasoning behind laws, we are often heading for a whole lot of frustration. There really doesn't have to be any universally accepted reasons for a law to become a law. Many of the laws haven't even been read by those that vote on them, never mind any meaningful debate before they are passed. Yes there are similarities between all the things that you have mentioned, but don't be looking for any sensible reasons why some are legal and others are not. There very well may not be any official reason at all. Baiting was made illegal, the details of what constitutes baiting most likely grew afterward in a not too logical fashion ...... so what else is new? My take on it all is just accept the law as written (since that is the code that hunters are forced to abide by). Otherwise, begin a campaign to change it. That's your two choices.

Easy to understand ..... not always so easy to believe ..... lol. Actually, the numbers would be very good if they were a bit more diligent in enforcing the law that requires reporting.

I have an old military issue knife that a lot of people have remarked is a bit on the huge side ....... lol. However, that old monster (about a 6" blade) does everything and is totally indestructible. I have used it for everything from cleaning squirrels to hacking limbs when clearing shooting lanes. It has some of the best steel for putting on, and holding, a razor sharp edge and even after some rather abusive use, it still stays sharp. The only change that I had to make was that I had to grind down the extra cutting edge on the back side to avoid cutting myself when gutting deer.

I'm about to pull the last camera tomorrow. I keep getting jillions of pictures of the same doe and fawn over and over.

Is it possible that the phone reporting system was different than the computer reporting system?

Twice I have had deer go out of their way to run into my car. Both cases, I was stopped and had been stopped for a bit, and both cases they inflicted significant damage on the car. Who knows what goes through the mind of one of these out of control deer. The only thing that I am fairly sure of is that it is not suicide ...... lol. I'm sure that deer had no idea just how big a step that was turning out to be.

Lol ...... Apparently some are interpreting some of these reactions as being a hunter throwing himself across the body of the animal, sobbing and looking to the heavens and asking forgiveness for the evil deed we just have done. Yeah, I guess if I had that reaction, my hunting days would end right there...... . But I kind of doubt that that is anywhere near the emotional reaction that anybody has described in this thread. I like others here have periodically felt that little twinge of compassion or sympathy or whatever you want to call it. It really was not a traumatic, depressing, feeling, but rather just a passing, momentary recognition that I had just ended a life of an animal that I have quite a bit of respect for. It's no biggie, and hardly threatens my future of hunting.