Doc

That's quite a tree stand!

LOL .... If I had to survive on what I hunt, we would be losing weight real fast.

As long as I can see them, I can set up defensively against them.....lol. Not a problem.

One additional safety feature of blaze orange that seldom gets mentioned or never shows up in these studies is the fact that very often it alerts hunters to the fact that they are posted too close. I cannot say how many times I have spotted somebody (or a piece of somebody) that moved in on me in a proximity that I considered far too close. It may not have bothered him to be that close to me, but I am thankful for the blaze orange that he wore that told me to get the heck out of there. Actually, my general rule is "if I can see him, he's too close" even if I can see only a piece of him. Someone in full camo might not (probably wouldn't) have caught my attention in those cases, but even a tiny piece of that B/O instantly catches my attention. Another thing that is assisted by B/O is that it helps me spot incoming still hunters. As soon as I see someone coming in, I forget about deer and focus on what that guy is doing. I may even take the opportunity to get on the far side of a tree and watch him like a hawk. That may seem a bit extreme, but I do practice defensive hunting as best as I can ..... all the time. I think the years that I have spent on some fairly popular state land has taught me to never assume that other hunters are responsible hunters.

I think it might surprise a lot of non or anti food-plotters as to just how much enjoyment that hunters get out of playing the farmer thing. Years ago, I spent some time as a part-time farmer, and for those who visualize this sort of thing as grueling work that is some kind of torture, I think you would be surprised at just how satisfying, relaxing, and down-right fun that sort of thing can be. So don't feel sorry for the food-plotters and how much time, money, and sweat they put into their plots. I don't doubt for a minute that they are having a ball even if their plots never attract one deer.

And I know the suburbanites like to puff out their chests and point to the plushness of their schools and all the luxuries that their tax money supplies. But the fact is that they are still cranking out a heavy percent of idiots and all they have bought with their excessive amounts of tax money is institutions of babysitting until their offspring reaches an age where they can off-load them on the rest of society. wow, that's bitter ....... sorry ....... lol.

The wife and I eat at least one. I do have some people that have a bit of a hardship case that can gladly take any extra deer that I think we will have a problem eating. I must admit that a nicely marbled angus steak or roast is much preferred any day inspite of the supposed health hazards of that kind of meat. So I have no problems with years when the take is only one. That does not mean that I don't want that one deer (buck or doe). On the other hand, I know a lot of people who will eat as many deer as they can legally get. I guess everybody has their own tastes, and in some cases - needs.

We have a couple of gas wells in our area that I have seen, and when they have been in for a lot of years, the site is really quite small and simple. A few short standing pipes and small tank-looking things, and usually a small de-forested area. In fact I'm not sure the sights were forested when they bought it. Of course these are the old style traditionally drilled wells. I have no idea what today's version might look like. Perhaps with the increased volumes and higher productions, the sites might be bigger and more complex. I don't know.

Our graduating class was very close to 50 students. No there was no splitting that class in two or anything so the teachers could handle things, or so we would get some sort of a "better education". But we did turn out a few doctors, lawyers, engineers, and teachers, and were never deprived of anything of any real educational value. Interestingly enough, classes today (at the same school) are graduating only a slightly higher class size, but we have more than twice as many teachers. Further we now support a whole other school (an elementary school) that wasn't there when I went there. And of course there is more than twice the administrative personel, and more buses, and more bus runs (an early bus and a late bus). And of course they have other absolutely necessary items like a swimming pool, tennis courts and nothing but the best sports fields. And of course our gymnasium/auditorium has given way to separate facilities. Ah, but it was all worth it with the superior education they are now providing ..... right? WRONG!!!! Graduating percentages have gone down. Percentages of students going on to college have declined (even with today's improved financial resources). We have students who can't spell, have difficulty reading and can't handle fundamental math. And, according to some of the state studies, our school has been evaluated as being in the upper third in terms of quality of education in the area. Things have gone terribly wrong and we don't seem to know how to fix it. Meanwhile, some foriegn countries that used to be considered "third world" are now taking over the engineering and manufacturing activities of U.S. corporations. We had better figure out how to "fix it" pretty soon or we will be becoming the third world country. Is there ignorance in America? You bet ..... the best ignorance that money can buy.

We're seeing some heavy duty evolution in human attitudes and lifestyles. Some of it is happening so fast that it might be better termed a revolution. I don't care for a lot of it, but then my time of having a say in many of those things is coming to a close. And hunting has not been left out of that evolution (or revolution). It is all rapidly changing and shrinking at the same time. This kind of thing is not new. I remember times when just about every farm-kid ran a trapline and today trapping is just a shadow of its former self. It's actually an activity that is outright scorned by an overwhelming majority of the society. There is no reason to believe that the same social forces won't have the same effects on hunting. Eventually we have to get used to the idea that many good things pass out of favor eventually. All I can really do is to just be thankful for what I have experienced and let the future take care of itself. So when we are looking for the significant "threats" to hunting today, it is probably useful to recognize that the most formidable threat is one that we are really powerless to stop. You can't stop social evolution.

Well, now that you are a landowner, and the possibility of having to make choices that involve hydro-fracking is probably heading your way, it probably is a good time to be reading up on the pros and cons. You might want to contact these people and have them send you some of their material that supposedly backs up their suggestions that you join. That might be a good beginning source of info regarding their half of the issue. Most likely they will send info without requiring membership. There are some pretty heavy issues at work here that could impact family health and land values and the environment. And the other side of the coin is the fact that we are sitting on a sizeable volume of relatively clean burning and U.S. owned fuel. Also, there is the possibility of some value potentially coming your way that has to be factored into any decisions you will have to make on this issue. ................Have fun!

Well first of all, don't be mixing me in with those that have been trying to figure how many tags we are getting. I haven't even begun to delve into that one yet. So I am consistant in not making any assumptions on this issue. I can only go by what the current situations are and what is written in the plan. I will leave all the wishful thinking to those of you who need that sort of thing to justify your argument.

So what is this "pseudorabies" that they are talking about in the NY versions of feral hogs? I hope that doesn't cause pseudo attacks ..... lol. That's all we need is to be heading out to a stand armed just with a bow and have one of those 300-400 pound tuskers drooling and frothing and heading for us. Man, you could make a heck of a movie out of that thought.... . I noticed that they talked about "three cases of feral swine aggression toward humans in New York, two against hunters and one involving someone working with domestic pigs". Now isn't that a pleasant thought.

That diagram that they have in that article is kind of interesting, They show the gas bearing shale layer and the actual fracturing to be happening at 3000 -5000 feet down and the aquifer being only 500 to 1000 feet deep. Assuming all this is kind of accurate, there is no fracturing that should be happening at the aquifer level or any where's near it. So there may not actually be any danger from the fracking itself. Of course there still is the dangers of surface toxic spills because of that lethal soup that they seem to need to pull off this process, but that is a lot more manageable than what I had envisioned as the whole underground being shattered. Naturally all that involves the accuracy of that diagram, but I did read somewhere a pro-fracking proponent making that same argument that the fracking is no where near the aquifer. It's a pretty complex issue, and there doesn't seem to be one side that has anymore credibility than the other. That sort of situation for me generally has me erring on the side of safety. So it behooves the pro-fracking people to sell their process in a lot more convincing way than they have so far. They need to get some credibility since history has often demonstrated that any time there is a huge financial benefit to any corporation, they need to be judged guilty until proven innocent.

So don't be looking to the courts for any recourse.

Sounds like a local county level activist group. What was the gist of their letter?

You've got that right! And that's why I keep on writing. If nothing else, I get the satisfaction of letting them know that somebody out here is paying attention.....lol.

Is that right that bullet weight alone can establish a "best balance of trajectory, energy, and performance"? I would have thought that such optimum specs would be some kind of combination of bullet weight, powder/powder volumes, and even primers. Or am I mis-understanding something here.

Unfortunately, the devil is in the details, and so is my pro or con opinion on the general acceptance of any of the major bullets of their planned changes. I can't just make up assumptions and then say that everything will come out right. Naturally, I will be drafting letters of opinion to send to the DEC and legislators with any concerns that I have. However, I know from such past efforts not to expect miracles .

Unfortunately, I find myself starting to slide into that reality. I'm trying to fight it, but lets face it, I don't really have that many years of hunting left in me. So little of all this has a personal impact on what hunting days I have left. But the future is getting quite clear. I won't make any predictions as to how many generations before it all disappears or heads into insignificance. But even while staring that scenario of hunting decline right in the face, I still have this desire to see outdoor activities last well after me, and for me to be thought well of for having invested so much of my life in hunting, fishing, and trapping and all the other peripheral activities outdoors, So it does bother me to see it all heading down the drain. However, you are absolutely correct. The time will eventually come that the people of future generations are going to take on the destiny and direction of hunting. I just wish I could see some small sign that that is actually going to happen.

If all seasons go to the DMP system, they would have to change the dates to allow early season hunters (Bow) to get their DMPs in time for opening day. Why wouldnt they change the dates? And just where did you read that bit of information? I'd have to agree, they would need to make it earlier, it would only make sense. And the 2nd leftover deal should be moved up as well. Ok then, I'll ask you the same question: where did you read that bit of info? frankly, I can only base my opinions on what I see written. If it's not in current law or stated in that 5 year plan, then it doesn't exist. I'm not going to get into the game of wishful thinking or hoping that maybe for the first time the DEC might begin to engage in logical thinking.

If all seasons go to the DMP system, they would have to change the dates to allow early season hunters (Bow) to get their DMPs in time for opening day. Why wouldnt they change the dates? And just where did you read that bit of information?

Apparently it has skipped the attention of a lot of us, but the major factor in the decline of hunting is a social and cultural shift that is turning toward technological trinkets and urbanization and away from activities and interests of natural pursuits. There continues to be a change in the societal view of consumptive activities such as hunting, fishing and trapping. Much more interest is invested in the latest cool electronic gadget or game or other items that you can sit on the couch and have entertain you. It's not just a little change either, but rather an accelerating one. People are not interested in what they now view as low-brow, uncouth activities that require the exertion and discomfort of mucking around out in the wild. Changing all that involves a lot more than hunter attitudes or dragging kids out in the woods for a special weekend hunt. We are talking about a cultural change that involves a complete indoctrination of our youth. And that at a time when even the adults are opting for this techno-religion. Hiking, camping, and other things that focus on nature and the historical traditions of self reliance must again be emphasized before hunting, fishing and trapping will again gain acceptance and growth. Now that's not a nice little one-liner solution like we are so fond of, but it is the only thing that will truly turn things around. Of course all of this really amounts to just another way of saying that the popularity of hunting will continue to slide because none of it has the support of parents and requires much more parental lifestyle change than they are willing to undergo. It's too bad, but the demise of outdoor activities is just another evolutionary change. At the very least we must prepare for the face of hunting to change significantly until one day we will no longer recognize it as what we once did. The best we can do is to stall the end as much as possible, and keep trying to avoid having the activity bastardized to the point where even we chose to abandon it.

Seems logical to me. But that isn't in the 5-year plan. Maybe that's because it's too logical..... ;D

It doesn't matter. There is a certain rejection rate assumed when the lottery is set up (otherwise it wouldn't be a lottery would it?). So there are some percentage of hunters that will get rejected simply because it is a lottery system. In fact, hunting in 8N which is always "high" in terms of chances to be drawn, I have had several years when I did not get selected, and I also know others who have had the same thing happen. It was just the nature of a lottery. And then there was the traditional permit "give-away" after the lottery finally closes. And by the way, there were a lot of WMUs that had that "over-rejection" thing going. For bowhunters without the either/or tag, most of their season would be spent without the ability to take a doe even though there were really plenty of permits that the DEC wanted taken. As far as changing the closing date for the lottery, that probably won't be happening.