mike rossi

Yeah right. They welcome them with open arms and embrace them.

Here is the songbird disambiguation we published: http://nydovehunting.weebly.com/comparative-anatomy-of-vocal-apparatus-syrinx---songbird-vs-non-songbird.html

Not songbirds. They do not have a syrinx characterisitic of a song bird, and they do not learn song from other birds. They will nest almost year round if they can, common pigeons, close relative will indeed nest year round no matter how cold. In NY you usually start to hear them cooing a lot during the month of February, that would be consistent to what the atlas says (egss march to september).

The Mourning Dove Call-count Survey (CCS) was developed to provide an annual index of abundance specifically for mourning doves..... Birds, even doves, call more in the warm months. The CCS is another survey, and we reported on it as well. You might find it interesting that Texas has the highest harvest of doves, several million each year. The results of the CCS between Texas and NY are similar, with a range of 10 to 20 birds heard or seen along each survey route. Refer to figure 3 and figure 7. Here is our report on the CCS: http://nydovehunting.weebly.com/8203the-abundance-of-mourning-doves-in-new-york-is-comparable-to-many-other-states.html

What he is saying, is that the number of doves recorded in NY during the CBC is higher than the number of pheasant recorded where they harvest about 200,000 a year. The intent here is not to be a polemicist. We report the facts. Facts are almost always defined by measurements and numbers. The 3 interactive maps we created allow you to click on each star which indicates a survey location and read how many doves were observed at that location and the rate of doves seen per hour. Another thing interesting in these maps, is unlike the table (which also is included) when the entire state is viewed in map form you can see just how widely distributed mourning doves are in NY during the time of the Christmas Bird Count. Then, by clicking on each individual star, you can read the count and the count per hour. Some of the stars are close together and to view the data you need to zoom out on the map and then click the star you are interested in. Another attribute of the maps is that the stars are color coded, each color representing the level of abundance of mourning doves. Instead of undermining our efforts, perhaps play around with this tool we developed.

Hosted by Finger Lakes and Western New York Waterfowl Hunters Sunday, February 7 at 10 AM - 1 PM DEC Region 8 Office - 6274 Avon-Lima Rd. (Rtes. 5 and 20) Avon, NY 14414-9516 Please join us for discussions regarding 2015-16 waterfowl season results, a report from DEC Staff with bird banding information, tripod nesting updates, and other items. This is a great opportunity for new members to get involved and network. Also a chance to have your voice be heard and join the team , if you are not already a member, before season setting task force sets key dates for the 2016-17 season. Note: No RSVP required but If you can respond that would be appreciated so we can estimate headcount. We look forward to meeting with everyone.

Yup, supposed to be region 8

Central NY Chapter of Pheasants Forever Banquet To hold a spot reserve by January 28! Date: February 4, 2016 Time: 5:50 PM Donations start at $35 check or credit card accepted Location: Genesee Grand Hotel, Syracuse To make a reservation and pay: Call Dee Dee 315 882 5643

2016 Game Dinner Thursday January 28 5:30 PM American legion of Mount Kisco $60 Donation Info: David Kuritzky Phone 914-471-0792

Ruffed Grouse Society 4th Annual Mid-Hudson Valley Chapter Conservation & Sportsman Banquet Saturday, February 27at 5:30 PM Best Western Plus Kingston Hotel And Conference Center 503 Washington Ave, Kingston, New York 12401 Ruffed Grouse Society Mid-Hudson Chapter Social Hour begins at 5:30 and dinner at 7:00pm. Silent Auction, Live Auction, and Raffle tickets. Donations Welcomed! For more information please contact Rick Affuso.

Hosted by Finger Lakes and Western New York Waterfowl Hunters Sunday, February 7 at 10 AM - 1 PM DEC Region 9 Office - 6274 Avon-Lima Rd. (Rtes. 5 and 20) Avon, NY 14414-9516 Please join us for discussions regarding 2015-16 waterfowl season results, a report from DEC Staff with bird banding information, tripod nesting updates, and other items. This is a great opportunity for new members to get involved and network. Also a chance to have your voice be heard and join the team , if you are not already a member, before season setting task force sets key dates for the 2016-17 season. Note: No RSVP required but If you can respond that would be appreciated so we can estimate headcount. We look forward to meeting with everyone.

http://www.hcn.org/articles/carp-lady-linda-beck-malheur-standoff-could-set-back-conservation-by-three-years

Something else of interest, this is not me nor or any of the above dogs for sale mine: Anyone need your puppy started or your young dog worked more I have a 8 acre pen I can work them in $150 — Greenfield Center, New York $50 a month

Male beagle 7 yrs old $500 — Upstate ny I have a male beagle ukc reg I bought him to hunt hare he is a real good hare dog just working a lot don't have time to hunt him pm for more info 2 year old blue tick beagle $300 — P.A. Blue is a good gun dog.Had a lot of rabbits shot to him.Reason for sale cutting back on dogs. wo 2.5 year old females $300 — Bulger, Pennsylvania I have two grade female litter mates they are collar broke and will not run junk just to slow for my pack

Note links to 3 reports at the end of this article. Each report contains an interactive map of New York State. Click on each star to read how many mourning doves per hour were observed at that location during the Christmas Bird Count. The table below the map shows the same data. http://nydovehunting.weebly.com/mourning-dove-abundance-and-distribution-across-new-york-state.html

The immediate thing that comes to mind is obtaining permission to hunt. Pigeons are sometimes encountered some distance from grain silos, barns, and feed lots. However, why is scouting for the less abundant pigeons, in those locations, different from scouting for mourning doves? It is not, except maybe pigeons don't blend in as well and are more visible when flying. Many kids will obtain permission to shoot pigeons right out of the silos, barns, and around stockyards. But these are usually kids who the landowner knows and trusts. Since there is a kid with a shotgun in every section block, there isn't a great need of hunters to cull pigeons, and if a landowner was in dire straights he owns guns himself. Shooting pigeons near farm structures and livestock is productive and a good way to obtain meat, sometimes one hunter entering barns or silos (from the ground or climbing the ladder) to flush them. However this common way of hunting pigeons is not comparable to hunting mourning doves. With that understanding, it is clear mourning dove hunting would increase hunting opportunity. Pigeon hunting has been legal for some time and is an option, however, mourning dove hunting would add another option.

Then write letters in support of this new hunting opportunity in Dutchess County: http://www.fws.gov/northeast/refuges/planning/lpp/greatthicketLPP.html Include in your letter, that you support the proposed refuge; and hunting is declared a priority public use of National Wildlife Refuges under the Refuge Improvement Act, therefore sustainable hunting should be allowed within the proposed refuge. If the hunting community does not weigh in on this matter, the refuge may not be created, or it may be created but prohibit hunting despite the Refuge Improvement Act. So stop wishing and write your letters, there is a deadline so do it while it is on your mind!

I think at this stage we should not be discussing hypothetical scenarios, and we should be letter writing in support of this proposal. But I should correct my earlier post. With the new England cottontail being indicated as a target species, there might be a restriction against hunting hares and cottontails. That might irate some hunters who run beagles, but it shouldn't. The NEC has a good chance of recovery to populations that will sustain hunting. As the NEC recovers, other subspecies of cottontails, as well as hares and other small game will increase in abundance as well. Local trappers who currently have a monopoly of the area might be put off by the prospect of drawing for a permit every season. However, most of the trapping by permit areas I know about don't issue the quota of permits year after year. Often, its only one trapper. Although part of this refuge is in Dutchess County, this proposal is for a refuge to be called "The Great Thicket" which will span six states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, as well as New York. Submit Public Comments by March 4, 2016. First read the Draft Plan and make your comments relevant to that draft. Mention in your comments that: Hunting is a Priority Public use of National Wildlife Refuges, and that sustainable hunting practices should be allowed within the proposed refuge.

There is indeed mention of hunting in the link. Read it more closely and follow the links. The instances when refuges are closed to hunting are either because they are biologically sensitive or lobbying. This is not a biologically sensitive area, but lobbying against hunting is a sure thing. Keep these generalizations about National Wildlife Refuges in mind: The majority of NWRs do allow hunting. A large part of the National Refuge System has been, and still is, acquired with duck stamp funds. The FWS recognizes hunting as a legitimate, priority public use of NWRs. The FWS lists six priority public uses of National Wildlife Refuges: 1. Hunting 2. Fishing 3. Bird Watching / wildlife watching 4. Research 5. Nature Interpretation / education, which means guided tours to learn about wildlife and ecology 6. Wildlife Photography The FWS also defines "legitimate uses" and "illegitimate uses". Legitimate uses are not necessarily priority public uses, but are still sometimes allowed on a case by case bases, some examples are sharecropping, grazing, logging, and trapping.

This is not going to happen over night.... The Region 3 forum will not get buried, but this thread will - the longer it is up top the better chances more people will act. Never the less, the post is of interest to people who live or hunt in region 3. This acquisition is also going to benefit small game hunters in particular, explaining why I also put it here. This acquisition will also benefit people who hunt north, south and west of Dutchess county, because it will provide habitat for migratory game birds such as mourning doves, woodcock, snipe, rails, ducks and geese. Any time land acquisition by the federal government is proposed, there is opposition. This purchase would take place without state money - so its a good deal. Never the less some will naysay..... Either people with ambitions to develop the land for real estate or extraction industry (gas, oil, coal, etc)... Or by locals who already are using it as public land or do not want out of town people on it.... Even if it is acquired, if hunters do not speak up, there will be motion to not allow hunting. Generally, hunting is allowed on federal national wildlife refuges, with a few exceptions. I am not aware of the FWS not allowing hunting on this potential refuge. However, as usual, if antis speak against it and hunters remain silent, there will be little other than a controlled deer hunt and maybe not even that..... Or, there will be no controlled deer hunt until the herd gets so large the FWS says screw the antis, but that will be it a controlled deer hunt... So get your letters in....

Land acquisition proposal which will be managed in a way which will encourage good game populations. Public comment (letters!) is needed for this to happen, or happen without getting watered down, follow the links: http://www.fws.gov/news/ShowNews.cfm?ID=5ADDF227-9597-C7C7-43B1FCF22605691B

Land acquisition proposal which will be managed in a way which will encourage good game populations. Public comment is needed for this to happen, or happen without getting watered down, follow the links: http://www.fws.gov/news/ShowNews.cfm?ID=5ADDF227-9597-C7C7-43B1FCF22605691B

Source: http://www.backcountryhunters.org/index.php/backcountry/current-news/1020-sportsmen-call-for-patience-law-and-order-on-public-lands-in-oregon Sportsmen Call for Patience, Law and Order on Public Lands in Oregon Mule deer malhuerMISSOULA, Mont. - The sportsmen's group Backcountry Hunters & Anglers urged cool, patient heads to prevail in the extremists' occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, valuable public lands fish and wildlife habitat located in Oregon. "National wildlife refuges like Malheur are a treasure shared by all Americans," stated BHA President and CEO Land Tawney. "The actions being perpetrated by extremists in Oregon are the misguided actions of a fringe element - and should be condemned by sportsmen and all citizens in the strongest terms." Oregon sportsmen were quick to decry the extremists' actions. "As sportsmen and conservationists, we urge the occupiers to end this fool's errand," said Brian Jennings, BHA's Oregon outreach coordinator, "and we urge the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to keep their employees safe, be patient and thoroughly enforce the law." The loosely organized group of extremists initiated an occupation of the headquarters of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, near Burns, Oregon, over the weekend. They are led by out-of-state radicals including Ammon Bundy, son of anti-government extremist Cliven Bundy of Nevada "The Malheur National Wildlife Refuge is a popular hunting area for waterfowl and upland gamebirds," stated Tawney. "It is one unit in a system of millions of acres of public lands on which American families depend for access to and opportunity in the great outdoors. Tawney concluded: "In 2015, thousands of hunters and anglers gathered at state capitols across the West with a single, unified message: Keep public lands in public hands. This will remain our rallying cry in 2016. BHA remains dedicated to protecting those lands from abuse and keeping them in the hands of their owners, the American people."

Synopsis of The Annual “Joint Budget Hearing – Environmental Conservation.” Every year, state agencies such as the DEC have a hearing regarding how much money they need for the upcoming year’s operations. The DEC, is actually the Environmental Conservation Department, hence Joint Budget Hearing – Environmental Conservation. Other state agencies also have their own Joint Budget Hearings, but Environmental Conservation indicates the DEC. This year the DEC’s hearing is Thursday, January 28, 2016, from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. The location is: Hearing Room B, 2nd Floor, at the state house in Albany of course. The hearing will also stream live as a video and also be available as an archived video at least for some time. The word “Joint” refers to the presence of both the state senate and state assembly. However, it is not the entire senate and assembly; it is the Senate Finance Committee and the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, or at least their chairs, who at this time are Senator John DeFrancisco and Assemblyman Herman Farrell. The Senate and Assembly Environmental Conservation Committees do not necessarily participate in this hearing, as this is a matter of funding. Besides the DEC testifying on its own behalf, the public can also make suggestions about funding the DEC. Perhaps a dozen persons who represent a variety of diverse organizations will testify. In 2015, even Susan McDonough, a former state trooper (16 year veteran), who now is the NYS Humane Association Chair of the Committee on Animal Cruelty issues had testified. Although the record of McDonough’s testimony addresses the Agriculture Markets Department, an agency that might have been relevant to her testimony, apparently McDonough got lost and ended up in the Environmental Conservation Hearing were she asked for tens of thousands of dollars to be used to train police officers and dog control officers about animal cruelty. McDonough asserted that animal cruelty is a “bridge crime” and testified that serial killers often have a history of animal cruelty and indicated Jeffrey Dalmer and the Boston Strangler are examples of this. If YOU want to testify here is how you go about it. You call Jessica Jeune (518-455-3573) at least two days before the hearing. The DEC is scheduled on Thursday, January 28, 2016. Therefore you must call Jeune no later than Tuesday, January 26. Your testimony must be limited to ten minutes and you must bring 50 copies of your testimony with you.

Thanks - will make the corrections at some point. Need to adapt some of the reused material to be NYC specific as well. As we gain traffic and Facebook subscriptions we will improve the site and add content to match the traffic. Little sense in going hog-wild right now. We don't expect this initiative to have much impact inside of ten years, same as our other initiatives. No rush, its a long-term effort.