Doc

There's no way I can claim to be an activist on gun and hunting issues. However, as a bare minimum of commitment to gun ownership and hunting, I do maintain membership in some of the leading organizations. I may not always agree with the leadership of these organizations, but 100% agreement is not really a requirement. What is a requirement in my mind is that I am counted somewhere on somebody's membership roles, and offer my name as a supporter of hunting and gun ownership. That support to the NRA by myself and the other members, I believe, is the sole reason that we enjoy the gun freedoms that we have today. My membership and my few dollars of membership fees have been the only force that has turned back the Kennedys, Boxers, Fienstiens, Bradys, Schumers and all the others who are equally organized and financed and dedicated to burying the 2nd Amendment and all other gun ownership rights. Yes, we can let others do the heavy lifting for us and reap the benefits of their money, time and activities. But my small level of support is all they have ever asked and it really is a fairly painless thing to do. I have never been pressured to get involved in anything other than my membership. It seems to me that if I really believe in these rights, that's the least I can do. I just wouldn't feel right doing any less.

Well, I read somewhere that "people get the kind of government they deserve". That applies to NYS more than any place I can think of. If you don't vote, or continue to vote for those that have the best ideas and programs of handouts, then you probably deserve a NYS style government. It's too bad the rest of us have to get caught up in that crap. But then if we weren't dragged along, who would actually pay for all the give-aways

I for one will take a big buck and be darned happy about it. Is that "elitism"? ..... Only if you go from that to trying to force that on other hunters or only when you begin to dictate what standards others have to adopt in order to be a proper hunter. Yeah, I guess that sort of thing smacks of elitism a bit. My enjoyment of taking a nice buck doesn't mean that I am ready to strap every hunter with all kinds of regulations just so I can do that. I don't really see so many "trophy hunter bashers" as I see a growing discontent with those that think that success has to be measured in inches and that all the rest of the hunting world has to change to satisfy that numerical evaluation of hunting satisfaction.

With so many threads being about AR or being turned into AR threads, it's likely that members are getting to the saturation point with the subject. It gets tiresome when you have to make the same points on a dozen different threads that have basically the same subject.

That is totally amazing!!!! As I understand it, turkeys have absolutely no problem distinguishing blaze orange. And their eyesight in general is superior. That makes me think there is a vast difference between being able to "see" blaze orange vs. being able to interpret that as something to fear.

Well then try reading the quotes that you posted for crying out loud. What the heck is the matter with you? Don't you understand what it means when a guy says he, "supports voluntary antler restriction programs but does not see a critical biological need or compelling management advantage to mandate antler restrictions”? The only twisting going on is when you try to turn that into meaning some form of DEC support for state AR.

I would have no problem with such a law.

Just out of curiosity, why would you be looking forward to it? Are you a snowmobiler or a skier or something?

On picture number 4, the antler on the left has a little tiny knob on the end of one of the tines. I have a 9-point with that sort of deformity on the end of two tines, and I have seen it on other racks. It's almost like something was constricting the growth of the tine at that point. Anybody know what causes that? Doc

Looks like you are doing ok. Boy, does that bring back memories. Those prices aren't terrible ...... they could be better, but they're not bad. I never could understand the market preference for gray fox over red fox, but it has always been that way. And why the coyote prices are so low compared to fox is a mystery. The public has strange tastes. At any rate, it looks like you are having a great season and are having a great time carrying on a fine tradition. Doc

Actually, he is saying that AR can be part of management, but falls far short of saying that there is really any value in doing so. In fact, to the contrary, he doesn't see any "need" or "advantage" to AR as anything but a voluntary activity. That is far from DEC support of AR as I see it. This all sounds like my original statement: "The wording just didn't sound like it was anything that they were interested in pursuing". And I think Hurst is being quite plain about that. Of course, time will tell, but most of what I have been seeing is that the DEC is not in the AR corner and if it is expanded, it will have to be legislatively forced over their best judgement.

What are lesser canadians? Is that a subspecies?

New York Outdoor News ...... and I think the quote was pretty close to: We see no biological need to pursue AR. I'm sure many here have seen the quote as it has been referred to by other members.

Bubba- That's a pretty accurate description of where I see hunting heading and why. It's not a pretty picture. But the competitiveness, harvest at any cost and the success measured only in inches apparently is the way most hunters seem to want to see hunting go. I guess that's why those baited, box-blind, Texas hunts are such popular TV programs.

So how's the trapping season going so far? Haven't read much here from you guys. Are you guys piling up the fur? What sets are working? How are the prices holding up? What's hot ..... what's not? Doc

Some of the fields around Canandaigua are black with geese. I've never seen them like that before. Aren't those things supposed to be going south or something? Also, where are all the guys that are supposed to be hunting them? It's amazing that all these goose dinners are getting away with these massive public displays in the corn fields without somebody setting up shop and trying to get a bunch of them. These things are even starting to get my attention a little bit ..... lol. Doc

I think I would be very surprised if the DEC would back any arbitrary, broad-brush application of AR across the state. Of course, I have been surprised before .... lol. I say that based on comments published in the media by Jeremy Hurst on the subject of AR (more than once). The wording just didn't sound like it was anything that they were interested in pursuing. The fact is that I haven't seen anything that would make me believe they are interested in expanding AR even in selected WMUs. I really don't think they are buying into it. At least that's what they are saying publicly. Doc

So how many deer do they have on that car? I think I count 6. I would have said 5, but I see an antler right next to the R.H. guy sitting on the running board.

No doubt about it. Knowledge of survival tactics and woodsmanship are important things that all too few hunters possess. But don't downplay the importance of that phone that you carry. It is true that technology may fail you when you need it most, but it is still one more powerful tools to keep in your collection of survival equipment. There are things that can happen out there in the woods where your ability to assist yourself may be limited or non-existant because injuries or serious health situations. Your cell-phone may serve as your last and only item of survival. If you are so unfortunate as to need that phone for emergency assistance, let's hope that is one of the times when it works . Doc

Those Texas shooting gallery hunts are real interesting aren't they? Generally if I don't change the channel real quick, I can expect to doze off from boredom. Sometimes I check out the edges of the picture to see if I can spot the feeder. It's not exactly quality hunting programming.

It's a shot where the bullet/slug is heading for the heart via the poop-chute.....lol. This guy made that shot almost perfect, and all the bleeding was internal, and almost no meat lost at all (That's a pretty rare result for that kind of shot). It's one of those shots that guys get tempted into when "jump-shooting" deer. Not much excuse for that kind of shot, but some guys just don't care. thats crazy Doc... cant believe the guy just left without any real tracking. I'll never actually figure out what was going through this guy's head, but there is just one example of how some guys have little interest in following up on a deer that doesn't fall right down in sight after the shot. It's a shame, but it happens.

So now it's obvious what I have been doing wrong. I haven't been wearing my tie. Well, next year we'll fix that! Doc

I went ice fishing one year when I was a teenager. We used tip-ups and were fishing for pickerel. The first time the action was crazy. We had periods of time where we were just running from one tip-up to another. It was tough to keep up. That was a great time and I had a ball. The next three times out (which by the way were also the last 3 times I ever went ice fishing), were super-slow and in fact two of the three days we caught nothing. So to simply say it was boring is an under-statement. Doc

Excellent advice!

I sure don't. I don't practice with moving targets. I'm also aware that the speed of running deer varies, and with the target not only moving from side to side at a fast rate, but also bouncing up and down at the same time. It's not like shooting the ducks at the shooting gallery of a carnival. I have never felt secure in taking a running shot at deer. How the heck would I ever concentrate on that exact spot on the kill-zone and have any confidence at all that I would actually hit it? I won't say that I could never do it, but it certainly would have a lot larger element of luck than I like to count on. So I simply take that Dirty Harry advice to heart. You know ..... "A man's gotta know his limitations" ..... lol. Doc