Doc

By the way, speaking of effectiveness, you might want to take note of the fact that the legislation as passed did indeed get changed to exclude crossbows from the bowhunting seasons. You don't suppose that that happened just by accident do you? I don't care how small the organization is, they are the only ones who have the lobbying mechanism in place. They are the ones who fight for all the goodies that you so eagerly take advantage of. Go back and review that list of NYB accomplishments that I posted. How many of those did you write letters about? How much of ANY of that can you individually take credit for? Yes, by golly those people did speak for you and all bowhunters, and through a forum that actually has some meaning and effect, (not some individual lone e-mail). And yes you and all the NYS bowhunters have been very quick to take advantage of those things that they spoke up for on your behalf. Doc

So what's the story ...... Did everybody have a 50# Bear Kodiak recurve? I had one of those too, and it seems as though everytime I hear anybody talking about recurves, that's the one that they mention they had (or have). I finally spotted a fairly bad split in my upper limb and had to toss mine. I thought I was going to cry. I never had a bow that I had gotten so completely attached to. Doc

I can't think of a worse fate than being an active outdoors person who winds up bound to a wheelchair because of a fall. Stop for a minute and try to imagine such a thing. Then try to imagine that such a fate could have been prevented. How would that feel? Doc

Is there any agency in NY (or any other state for that matter)that breaks down hunting accidents by weapon. That is, how many occur using a shotgun (per capita), how many with a rifle ..... a bow ...... a muzzleloader ..... etc.? I have looked as best as I can on the internet and haven't found anything that tries to do that kind of analysis. Back when the debate was going on here in Ontario County, I wanted to see if there was any way that a little science and fact could be entered into the debate, but it seems that everyone relies on theories and emotional guessing games. It's too bad, it seems that that sort of info could be gathered so when these issues come up somebody could really point to actual numbers and statistics for a change. Doc

It would be interesting to see if someone could invent some sort of opposing stabilzer to offset the torqing of the bow quiver. Doc

I really don't understand the science behind a serrated blade. What exactly are they trying to accomplish? Doc

On the seventh one, I got smart and started using separate bullseyes. I can't afford that kind of destruction. Doc

I was referring to your comment on the numbers of bowhunters that are actual members of NYB and why that is supposed to indicate that they have to right to say that they represent NYS bowhunters ..... Specifically the line that says,"The biggest complaint I have with NYB is their claim to represent ALL bowhunters in NY while they maintain a membership of what, 2 or 3 thousand? Thats not even a drop in the bucket, so how can they make those claims, or should I say, why shouldnt they be called out on it?" As I have indicated, the NRA does this with gun owners all the time, and rightfully so. If you have other nits with them such as a crossbow support requirement that is something other than the point you made about the numbers. Frankly I think there is always something that people can use as an excuse not to become organized. I have heard that kind of nonsense used against the NRA. a single issue of disagreement comes up and they are ready to dump the whole organization. That's a pretty tough standard for any organization to measure up against. There is plenty about the NRA that I could find fault with and stomp my feet and dump my whole membership. That would be stupid, but I could do it ....... but I don't. I fully understand that the little petty beef here and there that I may have on some comparatively insignificant issues is not worth dumping an organized approach to all of the things that I really have in common in terms of safeguarding those things that I hold important. One thing I have noticed is that nobody has addressed the reply that I posted that detailed the accomplishments and activities of the NYB. I know it is a bit inconvenient and doesn't fit in well with the "single issue" objection to the NYB, but it really should kind of put things into perspective for those that would take a single issue and use that as a rallying cry against the whole organization. It might serve you well to go back and review that list and see how your crossbow issue stands up against all that the NYB has done. Doc

Actually it looks like a pretty darn good head if they took those stupid serrations off. I am a big believer in a cut-on-contact head. I also like the idea of bleeder blades. It also looks pretty darn strong. Doc

I have to take my quiver off when I am on stand. It just doesn't shoot the same with it on. In fact I get an awful lot of torque when the loaded quiver is attached to the bow. i have tried other styles of quivers such as hip quivers and was never satisfied with the ability to keep the arrows secured when going through the brush. So I always keep coming back to bow quivers. But unfortunately it does have to come off to make a shot. Doc

What percent of the total gun owners across the U.S. belong to the NRA? Do we try to discredit the NRA because the overwhelming majority of gun owners are merely wallflowers who prefer to reap the benefits of the NRA influence without the committment of membership? Pretty much most of us don't. I'm not sure why we think we should apply a different standard to bowhunting organizations. You're darned right the NYB speaks for bowhunters just as much as the NRA speaks for gun owners and until some other organization comes along who is willing to stand up for bowhunters rights and issues, I will continue to recognize them as the voice of the NYS bowhunter. Yes we have those that take some kind of weird pride in standing outside looking in and think that the issues of bowhunters are better served by each of us going off in our own separate directions, totally unorganized. To them I say you have some other groups that like that kind of thinking and it plays well with their agenda. Doc

That would be a great idea.

You say MOST????? ...... lol. Doc

Heck no. There's no limit on donations. If somebody wants to donate a few million dollars, that's great I'm sure the PGC will figure out a way to spend it.

That's funny! It's not for everybody. I seldom make a complete day of it. I do try to keep it all in perspective and not get too fanatical. Doc

I haven't had any problem understanding exactly what you are talking about in any of your posts ...... So don't worry about it. Take a look at a lot of othe posts including mine and you will see that there is nobody here that doesn't make mistakes.....lol. Doc

I support AR for those that want to practice it. Actually, I have been hunting under self-imposed AR for quite a few years now without actually making a big thing of it. I'm lucky to hunt in an area where I can be a bit picky and not go too many years in a row without getting a buck. Unlike some WMUs, we always have a lot of party permits so having a supply of venison is never an issue. I can't imagine any scenario where I would ever be a part of anything that would force my standards onto those that don't have the options that I do. What the heck.....I don't even want to do that to anyone who does have the options that I do ...... lol. It's not a real big thing with me. Doc

But you have to admit, that old 80 yard walk-up was a lot of fun. I sometimes really miss my old NFAA competitions. Doc

I think it is called a Tru-ball Hunter. Like my old Mathews bow, this thing is getting some age on it too. I've shot thousands of arrows with it without any kind of failure. Now I've probably gone and done it. I started off with some clunky old Allen release and soon graduated up to a Barner years ago. I shot a Fletchmatic release with a wrist-strap and a string release for years (probably close to 15 years). They had an absolutely dead on reliable mechanism (a rotating over center link) that was (and still is) fool-proof. But when I went to a "D" loop on my string, I needed a solid jaw style of release and I couldn't use the string anymore. It broke my heart, but I was talked into the d-loop, and actually looking back it didn't turn out so bad. Doc

Bill, you've got me by almost 2 years but I guess I still qualify for the geezer group. I have a Mathews MQ-32 that is getting quite a bit of age on it now but still shoots great and kills deer. The draw weight has been bouncing around between 60# and 55# depending on what is aching at the time ....lol. Arrows are easton Autumn orange XX75 of about 1980 vintage or some such date. Maybe they even go back to the late 70's I'm not sure. I also occasionally use some old gamegetters too for target practice. I've got a wall full of recurves and compounds that I don't shoot anymore. I've got one old pro-line that is set at about 75 pounds. That was for a moose hunt that I went on years ago. I haven't pulled that critter back in years. Doc

Actually, when ever you ask about broadheads, you will get a jillion different recommendations. And just about all of them are valid. I have read all kinds of articles on broadhead design over the years and the whole science is way more complex than any hunter really wants to deal with. But to make a long story short, broadhead efficiencies involve the angles formed by the length and width of the blade. After all broadheads are simply wedges that stretch, cut and part hide, meat and occasionally bone, The shallower the cutting angles the more efficient the cutting (wedging) action. Whenever a wedge is used, it is not efficient to have lumps and bumps (serrations) along the way. Does that mean that serrated blades will bounce off a deer? ...... hardly. Chances are that the actual difference between a straight edge and a serrated edge will not make the difference between making a kill or not. But the point is that there is no benefit to the serrations either. As wicked and nasty as they might look, there is no scientific principle that says that there is any advantage to penetration. And of course penetration is the name of the game. Doc

Why can't you use treestands in Suffolk County? I don't understand. Doc

If NYS intends to maintain any credibility in the lifetime license program, they had better not start tacking on fees and stamps and any other kinds of flim-flam do-dads trying to rip us off for more. There can be no legitimate excuse for doing that, and that would amount to outright deceit, lying and theft. I'm getting mighty tired of sportsmen being considered a easy soft touch just because NYS can't seem to manage money. This kind of unlimited ripping off of sportsmen and women amounts to an attack against hunters and fishermen which is no less effective than if it were done by the animal rights crowd. And while all this stuff is going on, non-sportsmen are getting increased benefits and use of DEC services and resources FOR FREE. Every year, more and more DEC resources are siphoned off to non-sporting activities and facilities and we are left to pay for it. Yes, we are a soft touch, but somebody better quickly become aware that there is a limit as to how many times they can keep reaching into our pockets and how deep. And everytime they blow their budget, I keep hearing, "Oh that's ok, we can afford to pay more". Well, I hate to say it, but I can't and won't and I believe I'm not alone on that. If they aren't smart enough to put that Lifetime License money to work in the market and simply blow it all as it comes in the door, there is absolutely no reason why I or any other sportsmen should be pulling more money out of our pocket for their stupidity. If there are people who have so much excess money that they want to donate to the DEC ...... by all means feel free to do so, but don't be indicating that the rest of us be strapped with anymore funding of government waste and mismanagement. Doc

Or you can do like I did ........ have your wife run the line for you during the week. She used to do the hill for the dry-land trapping during the week and I would do the swamp when I got home.I could do the swamp at night aftyer work because I used exclusively drowning sets there. Wow, that was a lot of years ago. Probably couldn't find a wife that would do that anymore ..... lol. she's a good woman!!!! Doc