Skillet

Good point Dave. Maybe it would shut some people up though. Of course, then they would want to put AR's on your 1 buck. Why don't we make it so you can't shoot any buck unless it's zebra striped, has a unicorn horn, and wears pink bunny slippers. But wait, how long should the horn be? 28"? 32"? Size 8 or 10 slippers? Vertical or horizontal stripes? I'm sick of this crap.

One buck rule would be nice. Said it before, I'll say it again, repercussions be damned: I will shoot what I need to in order to fill the freezer, regardless of who says I can't because of rack size, period.

ADK, this is a tired issue & a tired thread. I am a "true" hunter, I'm sure you are as well. I respect your opinion, but respectfully disagree as well. In the end, we are all hunters. As a group, we will survive or perish based on how we treat each other. Let's put this to bed.

I smoke, but not in the stand. I thought about getting one of those electronic ones, supposedly they don't stink.

A bun in the oven is worth two in the bush.

It works that way in 8C, the archery only unit around Rochester. I used to hunt there.

Way to go! You were way outnumbered. Congratulations.

I think they slip into a parallel dimension.

What a monster.

I am fully aware that we are a dying breed. Please explain to me how AR's will have a positive impact on recruiting new hunters. Yet another restriction for them to deal with, not to mention teaching them to have the wrong priorities. Many new hunters (young and old) get discouraged with lack of success and give up easily, why put another barrier in the way of their success? When ANY hunter quits, it decreases the probability of those under their influence taking up our sport. So the few hunters who quit don't matter to you? What about their children? Their grandchildren? Their friends? It adds up. I think maybe you like having the woods all to yourself. I trust the DEC as far as I can throw them. Blah blah blah, It all adds up to $$$$ for them.

You get a crack at him with your ML?

Whatever. This issue will never be agreed upon. Dad, if I was mistaken about your post, then I apologize. I agree with you on the "Earn a Buck" program, keeping deer herds in check is the only reason that our sport is still allowed to exist. Mandatory AR has nothing to do with this, and strays from the reasons we SHOULD be hunting in the first place. It's about NYS wanting to gain more of a rep as a "Big Buck State" and bringing in more money, period. Like it or not, trophy hunting gives the antis legitimate ammo against us. ADK, I'm just as passionate as you are. You should care if people start to drop out of the sport, if you don't, you are really short sighted. If I can't play my way, I'm taking my ball and going home

Easy there Dad, careful who you call an outlaw. Please tell me how big buck hunting makes one a "Big Boy Hunter" Enlighten me, for I am but a simple truck driver, with no grasp of such complex issues.

My buddy cancelled on me I will try to get out on Friday. Paula, I have a spot on Reed Rd, not far from you.

And before it even starts, I'm not going to get in a pissing match with the pro - AR guys on here. I know how you feel, and if that's how you want to hunt, that's ok with me. Just don't try to force it on the rest of us, no matter how much you try to enlighten me, I won't see it your way.

Thought this was just an "experiment" and "we have no plans to mandate AR statewide" Just like gun control, you give them an inch and they run with it. Now the opinions of some are going to be forced on all of us. I'll quit buying a deer license and go to small game only, not going to pay those jerks to ruin our sport.

Wherever they are, I won't be hunting there.

Congratulations. An old doe is as smart as any buck. Nice job.

Finally getting out after squirrels again tomorrow. Looking forward to it. Hopefully they will be pretty active since it's been so mild outside. Taking the .22. I usually find a lot of late season squirrels near pines. Anybody else gonna get after them this winter?

The course is nothing, but find one, and get signed up early. They don't offer too many each year.

Do you bowhunt? Maybe you'd have better luck, and more fun during archery.

Sucks for them. Guess we aren't the only ones who get in trouble over women.

Welcome, good luck with ML.

Zemmer, nice dog! I've only killed 2, both were killing our chickens or geese in the barnyard, in broad daylight.

I was taught to ask, no matter what. Just seems like the respectful thing to do.