13BVET

Let's see if I've got this right. More development equals less taxes??? WRONG. Each time a new house is built, the value of the other properties in that neighborhood goes up. While that seems like a great thing, the taxes also go up, because the property values go up. Also, when these new developments are built, are the services cost free? i.e. maintaining the roads, etc. The Town Of Fishkill is a prime example of what's wrong with this theory. Supervisor Joan Pagones let Toll Brothers run rampant with development. So, they put in all kinds of condo's, and all kinds of mcmansions. This was supposed to help the towns tax base. Wrong. It literally wiped the towns finances right out. You see, the town had the same brilliant idea. The problem with that idea, was that the costs of maintaing these new roads, etc., ultimately outweighed the revenue taken in. It was, and still is, a disaster. The residents (including my father in law), just got a 53% increase on their taxes. Works really well, huh?

Which is why it's virtually impossible to control the damned things in certain areas of the state. Development has had a huge impact on the grouse here, though. It has literally wiped them right out. Their prime habitat sits under mcmansions. You couldn't find a grouse around here if you looked through hells creation. I haven't seen one in over, I believe, 12 years now. That's a damned shame.

Also, these developments have raised the taxes so high, that farms are pretty much non existent in Dutchess County. At one time, there were over 500 farms. Today, there are actually fewer than 50. Nothing wrong with that though, huh? Developers are the hunters worst enemy-plain and simple. Even the DEC admits on their website that development is one of the biggest threats to hunting. It doesn't take a lot of thinking to figure that out. I'm just rambling on in this post!

My mother is Iriquois, not that that has anything to do with this conversation. But, then again, I've noticed that you have a cocky answer for eveything. I'm not impressed. If you don't know what you're talking about-which you obviously don't pertaining to down here, then why do you assume that things are done to keep taxes under control? So, tell me-how do these developers who are building $700,000 homes keep taxes under control? It doesn't. In fact, it raises everyones taxes. Since the need for more services goes up, so does the tax rate-to staggering proportions. By the way-I don't know where you live, but our "towns" range in populations of anywhere from 25,000, to over 40,000, within miles of each other. Crime rates are through the roof, and murders are becoming commonplace. The city of Poughkeepsie has a staggering crime rate per capita. How many people do you have living in your community?

It doesn't matter if their 500', for that matter. These idiots will still complain. The point is, the world shouldn't have to alter their lives just to appease you. A lot of these clubs are "grandfathered" in, but, because of the excessive development, the taxes have gone through the roof. This has forced some clubs to have to sell some land to keep up with the taxes. The problem here, is that the politicians have their heads so far up the developers a$$e$, that they can't see daylight. They also cater to "outsiders" more than the local base. The outsiders have more money.

Wow. This whole thing reminds me of Dutchess County-especially Southern Dutchess, where development has wiped everything out. Anyone who used to hunt Southern Dutchess knows what I'm talking about. Here, we have had tons of people from down below, who wanted to build their "dream home" in the "country". Well-guess what-that "country" has been wiped out. What used to be beautiful rural areas, are now overwhelming developments of $700,000 & up homes. Hunting is virtually impossible, because you can't get 500' from all these damned developments. That is why, at one time, I supported the 150' rule for bow. With this development, of course, came all the anti hunters. So, even if you could manage to get 500' away, there was a high chance the cops would be called on you. This has also had a huge impact on a lot of the gun clubs that have been here for ages. These houses, in a hell of a lot of instances, were built within 500' of the clubs. Naturally, when people shoot, the neighbors complain. Should the clubs just uproot themselves, or stop shooting because these jackasses built within 500' of a club that was there for almost 100 years? The locals, who had hunted-a lot of them gave up. A lot of them, including myself, are also sick and tired of having to change where I hunt, how I hunt, and every damned thing else, because some friggin idiot moves up here that wants that $700,000 dream home. I've lost 16 places to hunt, because of these "dream home" builders. I don't have, and, quite frankly, can't afford to travel to that 1 million acres, that is over 250 miles from me. There are far more deer here to begin with-just no way to hunt them anymore. Thanks to the over development of this area!

Quite frankly, it sucks. This is, by far, the worst season I've had in the last 15 years. I've seen all of one deer during 6 sits in gun, and I saw all of 2 during bow. It's horrible. Having said that, there are tons of them in peoples yards, naturally!

Okay-just double checked-my bad. WW2 would have been Camillus, N.Y. Vietnam was Camillus, New York. Good thing I double check these things!

Been going through my stuff, and found what is apparently a WW 2 Kabar made in Camillus, New York (this is on the blade). Just checked out ebay-apparently they have some value. This pic is exactly what mine looks like. For the life of me, I can't figure out where I got the knife from!

Thanks, jjb4900. Just curious on that.

The weird thing is, that that knife on the site has writing-mine has what looks like a hand holding 3 arrows.

Thanks, danc0320. I'll check it out.

I actually found this knife lying on a rock while out hunting years ago. Certainly shows wear. Anyone know anything about this particular Bowie?

If you had kept yourself in compliance of the laws at all times, how did you manage to get letters threatening registration suspension??? Also, it's already been proven, in court on Monday, by the Public Defender, that I was completely within the law. This is not the first time. I got a ticket in the Village Of Fishkill years ago, claiming I was driving a car I wasn't. In fact, 2 people got a ticket for driving the same car! I had to go to court for a year, before somebody finally realized that it was impossible for 2 people to be driving the same car at the same time. A YEAR! Don't tell me that it doesn't happen. Or, shall I get the records on it, and post it online? I'm also going to try to get the records on this fiasco, and post it here. As a matter of fact, I DO have proof right here that verifies it. All I have to do, is take pictures. This initially started, because the insurance company we had at the time, cancelled us prematurely. We had paid for two months up front, and, for some reason, got cancelled after one month, with them claiming we didn't pay for the second month. I don't fault the officer for this. We were originally suspended-the suspension was rescinded after the insurance company admitted they made a mistake to the DMV. By then, the damage was done. When I presented the insurance cards to the officer, he wrote me a ticket for no insurance anyhow. He gave me no benefit of the doubt. This is why my car got impounded. When I got pulled over, I had Progressive, and it was 100% valid. He also gave me a ticket for not updating my change of address with the DMV. Wrong again-the DMV sent me a letter of renewal right to my address, and, as verified by the Public Defender, my drivers abstract verifies it. These were all proven in court on Monday. Nonetheless, the prosecutor wants me to plead guilty to something. Why should I??? When the Public Defender pointed out, through documentation, that I was wronged, the prosecutors only reaction was that she didn't have those files. Whose fault is that??? So, now, I am scheduled for a trial on the 19th of December, to prove what's already been proven-that I did nothing wrong. Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? I should not have to prove my innocence. It's their job to prove I'm guilty. Apparently, that was thrown out the window. By the way, years ago, the cop had to be there when you went to court. Today, they don't. If you ask me, that's a crock. I'm actually going to post my proof on here later on. When I do, I want an apology from those who automatically considered me to be guilty.

Bubba-I delivered overnight with my own vehicle. Once I lost my vehicle-naturally-I was screwed.

Okay-I definitely strayed off course on this one. I was talking about the cops-not DEC. Outside of that one incident, I haven't had any issues with the ECO's.

Not everyone is bending the law, as you perceive. The fact of the matter is, there are plenty of cops who bend the law. I used to do overnight delivery, and it's amazing what you see then. Constant speeding in cop cars-just to stop at the Dunkin Donuts, or to get on to the center divider, ironically, to catch someone else speeding. I used to hunt with one cop, and fish with another. They pulled no punches about what some cops do wrong.

The effect of this fiasco for me? $700 to get my car out of impoundment. Lost my job. Whatever little finances I had are decimated. Yep-works great! The question is-who watches them?

Do you have any clue how many "wrongful tickets" I've seen brought up in the court I've been going to? There was a disabled woman in court today, who got a ticket for "expired handicap parking placard". The problem is, that the damned thing didn't expire for another month. That's just one instance. If I were to take an estimate, I would have to say that around 3% of the tickets that were issued by the police in this particular jurisdiction, were completely wrong. I know only too well. I got a ticket for no insurance, even though I had insurance. I got a ticket for probably the biggest BS thing of all-Not updating change of address to the DMV. Of course, my driving abstract shows differently. No matter-we'll try to get him for something! Nope-nothing wrong there. The question I've got, is are the officers who issued these bogus tickets held responsible?

Who said the cops get the surcharges? If I recall, it was referenced to the "sobs in Albany". We had a little saying in the Army-it was called "Attention To Detail."

Well, let's see now-where to begin. Still going to court for this bs on the car. Went today, the Public Defender proved I had been totally legal-citing all the evidence she had in her file-nonetheless, I have to go to trial to prove my innocence. Apparently, innocent until proven guilty, went out the window. Now, it's guilty until proven innocent. I remember some years ago, when I was hunting on East Mountain in Philipstown. I had this one ECO check me 4 days in a row for my license. I was absolutely legit. On the 5th day, he was up there again, except he had this rookie ECO with him. I was coming out of one section of woods, crossing a dirt road to get to the other section. Once again, I get asked for my license. This time, it was by the new ECO. He told me to put my gun on the car, and show him my license. I said that I would not put the gun on the car, until I unloaded it. This fool kept at it, until I had to comply. When I finally did put the gun on the car (he literally would NOT let me unload it), he told me he could give me a ticket for that. I responded that he told me to do it. The more experienced ECO pulled him aside, and reminded him that he did instruct me to put the gun on the car that way, and told him that giving me a ticket for it would not be such a good idea. The point is, some of them are real pieces of garbage. I respect people when they respect me. And, I do NOT support the police state mentality that seems to be so prevalent today.

No. They get "surcharges" instead.

Places to hunt are few and far between in Dutchess County these days. I grew up here, and hate what it has become. Years ago, hunting spots abounded. Today, they are pretty pathetic overall. It's pretty much hunting in "hole in the wall" spots, with children being heard, dogs, chainsaws, leaf blowers, traffic, and, quite frankly, people who moved up here, calling the cops everytime you shoot at something. I've hunted for over 32 years, and I just don't have the interest, and drive that I used to have for it. The days of old, where there weren't damned mcmansions all over the place, was a great time. Today, it sucks. State land down here, is poorly managed by the DEC, and, for the most part, are dead zones. Taconic Hereford is a prime example. When was the last time the land was properly managed there? Another thing that burns my ass about down here, is the fact that the DEC just let the grouse population die out. That would never happen in the Adirondacks! But, simply put, the DEC doesn't care one bit about hunting opportunities down here, and that's a fact.

Dead again in 3G today. This sucks! Just about done with this deer hunting crap.

I know the .25's and up certainly. Also, there are definitely .22 air rifles that can exceed 75 yards. PCP's are quite capable of hitting 75 yards with ease. My 20 gauge air shotgun, which I had custom built, was quite capable of 75 yards with a 396 grain dangerous game slug. I actually took a tom with it years ago-in a state where it was legal, of course. This is a pic of me with the tom, and my 20 gauge air shotgun.