SteveMcD

I have no problem with the Youth Hunt in the middle of Archery Season. I have no probelm with a shared Primitive muzzleloader season in the Archery Season. Yeah I know... "but we lose a pristine season in the woods". (If that's what you're after go join a Zen Monastery). It's hunting season, and small game and waterfowl season is also in full swing, the guns are already going off. The shared Primitive season in the Northern Zone doesn't seem to hurt anyone. Regarding the "quality" of the hunt. This is about recruitment and retention, bow hunters, particularly New York Bow Hunters Inc which now has less than 2,000 members state wide, that's less than 1% of all bowhunters in New York ( gee I wonder why). Need to understand that ALL sportsman and public are entitled to enjoy the outdoors and it's resources like anyone else. And they should not have to accept FROSTBITE to do it. We have a younger base and an older base of hunters that cannot pull back a bow, what's wrong with the Crossbow. Technologically, they have no advantage over today's Compound. I have been a Sportsman Education Instructor for a very long time, I think whether a child is 12 years of age or 14, is a moot point. It depands on the maturity of the child. And there are some 12 year olds that have more maturity than some 15 year olds. But I agree with the early hunt especially on public land, whereby the traditional opening day of gun season may be a bit unnerving or overwhelming to a 12 year old. They also deserve a fair shot and the same "pristine" and "unpressured" conditions as the Bow hunters do, rather than dealing with Blaze Orange behind every tree. They need to be taught and concentrate on hunting and learning, and not zigzagging thrugh the woods trying to find a tree that does not have blaze orange leaning against it. For the older folk that cannot deal with the extreme cold an early primitive season seems like an ideal answer. Anything that helps the youngsters and allows the older hunters to stay in the woods, I'm all for it. For the record I hunt Longbow only during all the seasons. I tend to agree, maybe we should have a General Hunting license and just hunt with what you want. Some states like Georgia do this already. It's not my woods or resources. It's our woods and resources. And as they say, when it comes to conservation, we are only borrowing from the next generation anyway.

Ford.. very sorry for your loss. Doc.. I am like you in a way. I had to come to terms with my addiction to quit. I think what helped me quit was the overwhelming guilt I felt, for trashing my lungs. So I turned myself around and stay as healthy as I can. But the Anti Ad's are like rubbing salt into an old wound. On the other hand.. in the 50's and 60's as a teenager,, who didn't smoke! It was a rite of passage. Heck we even had "Student Smoking Lounge" in High School! LOL!

I think the Ad's are a bit much. And as many psychologists would tell. The Ad's don't do a darn bit of good.In fact, the more grotesque they are, the more likely the smoker is to block it out in denial. Now I find the ad's distrubing. Rubbing salt into a wound. I was a 28 year smoker up to two packs a day. Then when the doctor came into the room and said to me, we have to put you to sleep so we can get a hose down your throat, no can no longer breathe on your own for a while. I knew then I would never smoke again. That was 14 years ago, and I have not had a cigarette since. But the ad's still bother me.

Wish I could, but I am away next weekend for a Class Reunion. Have a great time everyone!

It's called April Fool's Day for a reason! My birthday's on the 15th so planning a long weekend to get out. Got 4 dozen newly tied flies ready to go!

I was a member for several years. Their Field Testing Program is barely above being a scam. They have good book libraries though. And the magazine is a decent read. If you're looking for an additional magazine or source for books join them. Anything else is suspect.

That's good shooting! The question is.. did you shoot the Robin Hood because you intended too? Most "Robin Hood's" are coincidental AND expensive! For the record, Byron Ferguson did do it, on "Sharpshooters" on the History Channel.

That was great! Thanks for sharing! Congratulations!

I got to sit on the fence on this one. Is under 500 feet doable and safe - yes. But on the other end having a deer run out across a neighbor's lawn with an arrow sticking out of it, is not the hunting image I want the non-hunting public to see.

Based upon DEC Fish Biologist study that I read. Flooding although obviously must have some effect. Most fish are able to ride out floods behind boulders, underwater obstructions, underneath creek and river banks. I believe the damage to the stream beds in relation to spawning is a whole other story.

The Esopus may not be what it use to be, but then again.. What Is? I still fish it, mostily well below the 5 Arches Bridges and usually between the tressle and the chimney hole. I have fished this creek my entire adult life and taught my son's to flyfish here. Old habits die hard and memories never die. I will always return here, even if it is just a customary habit.

I think that is a good idea too! Most know me as a Longbow Only hunter. But the Crossbow is about recruitment and retention in the hunting community. It is a Legal wildlife management tool and should be recognized like any other.

SORRY - DATE CORRECTION!!! SOME REASON I CCOULD NOT EDIT MY OWN POST! Monday, April 2, 2012 - 7 PM to 10 PM Wednesday, April 4, 2012 - 7 PM to 10 PM Friday, April 6, 2012 - 7 PM to 10 PM Saturday, April 7, 2012 - 8 AM to Noon

Basic Gun Hunter Education Course - April 2,4,6 & 7th Hunter Education Course (Gun #H1213003) Dates & Tines: Monday, April 4, 2012 - 7 PM to 10 PM Wednesday, April 6, 2012 - 7 PM to 10 PM Friday, April 6, 2012 - 7 PM to 10 PM Saturday, April 7, 2012 - 8 AM to Noon Where: Neighbor's Gun Club 36 Burger Road Rhinebeck, New York 12571 ** PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED - CLASS SIZE LIMITED TO 20 ** ALL FOUR CLASSES MUST BE ATTENDED - NO MAKE UPS Contact: Steve McDonald 845-401-1911

Footed Shafts usually refer to the front business end of the arrow, Footing provides more durability, but also provides greater FOC percentage, which attributes to better accuracy and penetration.

N.Y.S. Conservation Council Action Alert Save 224 Heartwood Forest Land (Champion) Camps Save historical use of easement lands and sporting traditions Good afternoon: On September 30, 2011 four environmental groups, Protect the Adirondacks, the Sierra Club, Adirondack Wild and Atlantic States Legal Foundation directed a letter to N.Y.S. Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman and N.Y.S. State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli asking them to halt the N.Y.S. Conservation Departments plan to allow 224 Camps to remain on Heartwood Forest Land (former Champion Lands) in St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties. These requests have been made even though the land owner and the D.E.C. have approved the plan and the A.P.A. has issued permits. The camps in question have been used by sportsmen and women and their families for well over 50 years with no discernable negative environmental impact. The plan does not change the historical use of the area, nor the plan for the public at large to use these lands; these camps provide a lifeblood to small businesses in our local communities as families enjoy nature, snowmobile, ATV, view nature and hunt, fish and Trap. The action by these environronmental groups comes after many years of efforts by the sporting community, the D.E.C. and our elected officials to develop a plan to accomodate the historical use of these lands. It is recognized the sporting community and their families have been good stewards of these lands and contribute significantly to conservation efforts in N.Y.S. All groups supporting and involved in the traditions of hunting, fishing, trapping, enjoying the outdoors as families snowmobiling and A.T.V.ing must step to the plate on this one. We must speak with one voice and draw a very deep line in the sand!! Please forward to everyone who has a stake in this and please weigh in! Walt Paul Howard Cushing Access and Land Use Specialist President To send a comment to key Elected Officials 1. Highlight the letter below starting with the date and ending before the solid black line across the page. Then click edit then copy. February 14, 2012 Dear Governor Cuomo, Elected Officials, Government Leaders and Interested Parties: Please Support the N.Y.S. Department of Environmental Conservation's plan to allow two-hundred and twenty-four (224) camps on the Heartland Forest Lands Fund Easement (former Champion Lands) to remain. Continue historical uses of easement lands and the important traditions associated with them. Briefing: Environmental groups are challenging the D.E.C.'s plan to save two-hundred and twenty-four camps on the Heartwood Forest Lands Fund Easement. The land owner supports the plan and the D.E.C.'s plan allows historical uses of the lands to continue along with important Adirondack traditions. The Adirondack Park agency has issued the necessary permits. The camps in question have been used by sportsmen and women and their families in many cases for well over 50 years with no discernable negative environmental impact. The plan does not change the historical use of these lands and supports small businesses in our local communities as families enjoy nature, snowmobile, ATV, hike, snowshoe, cross country ski and hunt, fish and trap. The traditional sporting community and their families have been good stewards of these lands and pay their way! Please support historical uses of our easement lands! Sincerely yours, Name: Address: ________________________________________________________________ 2. Click the link below on the far left to open an email message. When the email opens be sure all recipients are listed. Add your state elected officials, town officials, county elected officials etc. [email protected];[email protected];[email protected];griffo@nysena te.gov;[email protected];[email protected];russel [email protected];[email protected];[email protected]. ny.us 3. In the subject box type: Save the Heartwood Forestland (Champion) Camps 4. Move your cursor to the text box and go to edit then paste to place the comment in the email. Feel free to modify comments as you see fit . 5. Fill in your name and address, title, etc. at the bottom of the e-mail. 6. Hit send and your comment will be sent to Elected Officials. 7. To send a hard copy open the attachment type in name and address and print. ________________________________________________________________________ To send a comment to D.E.C. Commissioner Martens: 1. Click the link below. http://www.dec.ny.gov/about/407.html 2. In the subject line type: Save Heartwood Forestland Camps 3. Move curser to the comment box and hit paste 4. Add your name and address, etc. 5. Send comment. _____________________________________________________________________ To send a comment to Governor Andrew Cuomo: 1. Click the link below. <http://www.governor.ny.gov/contact/GovernorContactForm.php > http://www.governor.ny.gov/contact/GovernorContactForm.php 2. Move to the form and complete 3. In the subject box type: Save Heartwood Forestland Camps. 4. Scroll down in the Topic Box and click other. 5. Move the cursor to the comment section and hit paste. 6. Hit send and your comment will go to Governor Cuomo. ___________________________________________________________________ To send a paper copy of the letter 1. Open attached word document 2. Add appropriate address and greeting 3. Print 4. Sign and add your address. Links to: Senate member addresses are: http://www.scribd.com/fullscreen/77139235 Assembly member addresses are: <http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/ > http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/ If you need assistance or have questions, please let me know. Thank-you for weighing in on this very important issue. Walt Paul Access and Land Use Specialist For more information and updates visit us at <http://www.nyscc.com/ > www.nyscc.com. The New York State Conservation Council is the oldest Conservation organization in N.Y.S. The mission of the Council is to conserve, protect, restore and perpetuate forests, wildlife and scenic and recreational areas.

Anyone know of the good or "better" access points for hunting Grouse at Cherry Ridge State Forest in Delaware County?

Yup. Set up just within the woodline so they don't see you and place a decoy about 30 yards out in the field and start calling. Decoys work great in fields and open areas. .

Did you OPEN the PDF File and look at the Plan? http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/bobcatmgmtplan.pdf

Copied from a Local Site - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It has been brought to my attention that the anti's are taking strong opposition to the New DEC Bobcat Management Plan. This new management plan can be found at http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/9360.html IT IS EXTREMELY CRITICAL THAT ALL TRAPPERS FORWARD POSITIVE COMMENTS to the NYSDEC on this new plan prior to February 19, 2012. I have heard that right now, the anti comments outweigh the positive comments by as much as 30 to 1 ! A lot of hard work has gone into this new plan that will greatly expand bobcat harvest opportunities across much of NY State where no open season presently exists. This plan also provides for a much longer harvesting season for bobcats in most of NY where there has been a previous season that formerly closed on December 10. Under the new plan, harvesting may continue until February 15th in many of those WMUs. If you view the new management plan at the above web address, you will find an address where comments can be mailed and a link to click on to provide comment by email. This is the email address: [email protected] Put "bobcat plan" on the subject line. PLEASE take a few minutes to write a simple note of appreciation in support of the new management plan. PLEASE take the time to respond now, before February 19th, so we do not lose this opportunity to harvest bobcats in so many new areas of Western and Southern NY. Anti's from NY, other states, and even other countries are against this positive step forward by our DEC Biologists. They are sending their negative comments daily in an effort to stop this new plan. A simple statement of support is all that is necessary from NY's trappers and hunters. You only need to write something like "I have viewed the new Bobcat Management Plan for New York State and am in favor of the plan's proposals for increased opportunities for harvesting bobcats in New York. Thank you.". Your support by way of positive comments to the DEC is essential to the implementation of this plan. Feel free to contact me if you need more information. Thank you ! John Rockwood, President New York State Trappers Association Phone: 315-415-4946 Email: [email protected]

I am biting my tongue and holding back on how I really feel about this. Didn't need a major study to know that the Esopus is no longer the fabled stream it use to be. And it has been in ongoing lasting deterioration over a long period of time. I have been a die hard flyfisher on the Esopus for the past 30 years. And it is not even a shadow of it's former self. Prior to the January Thaw Winter Flood of 1995. Prior to that time all of the fish caught averaged 10-12 -13 inches, after that time it was pretty dead for a couple of years, then started to come back in 1998-99 with a lot of "native" fingerling 5-6 inch rainbows. By then of course the local industry changed and choose to support the local "tube" hatcheries and Kayakers, so no one cared about the water flow coming out of the portal, in fact they wanted it for the Kayakers and tubers. Although, we all knew it was further detrimental to the trout. The Esopus with that and the increased releases from the Schoharie have turned the bottom of the creek into red mud, which cannot support the once vibrant wild rainbow trout population. Over the past two years I have had just as many encounters with DEC Cornell Surveyers as I had with Trout. Such a shame.. The DEC had the power to due a lot more and did almost nothing. As far as a trout fishery other than the put and take stockies - it is a dead fishery..

As the 16th Century writer John Dunne wrote: "Any man's death diminishes me because I am part of mankind". I agree, she did it to herself, her addicition, her demons, sorry for that. She was a phenomenal singer and will be greatly missed. We all live in a glass house I refuse to pass judgement, I just pray she does rest in peace.

I was wrong about the "originally" part. But the fact is the Israeli military liked it enough to adopt it as a machine gun cartridge. The 35 REM is a very accurate cartridge.

I've had my 35 Marlin for almost 40 years, back when a deer rifle could be bought for $100 or less! The 35 Rem is an excellent cartridge great for deer and bear and a bit more umpfh than a 30-30. I have taken my 35 to the range and put one bullet into another at 100 yards with no problem at all. The 35 REM. originally started out as an Israeli military cartridge. On the other end the 35 Whelen was Colonel Whelen's answer to wanting a cartridge that provided more than the 30-06. It is a superior cartridge to the 06, but does not have the versatility of the 06. Like most "wildcats" with the 35 Whelen you be better off reloading your own.

Well.. I use to go.... but nowadays I find $12 just to get in and buy something a little hard to swallow. It's not like the vendors are giving out any big price breaks either.