mike rossi

Well, believe it or not, talking spooks phez, including state stocked phez. Besides that, I don't need my dogs multi-tasking. When they hear my voice they pay attention, as they should, I don't want them preoccupied with me chattering. When other hunters talk loud or excessively, they are a distraction to the dogs as well. However, my biggest annoyance is not other pheasant hunters, its those target shooters. The OP is not all wrong, I agree with him to a point. But, this is where the agreement ends - if I am going to set up for waterfowl in a pheasant stocking area, I expect interference. Deer hunting is not the holly grail and anyone who sets up in a PS area, including deer hunters, needs to be realistic. I would also argue that the deer hunter has far more public places to go than anyone else. You should familiarize yourself with the area you will be hunting as well, there is no excuse for not knowing it was a stocking area. Bigger issues than a blown hunt can happen if you don't know your area. Being fair, I have felt embarrassed by a few pheasant hunters over the years. Embarrassed or annoyed. One time, I was set up for waterfowl, so as I already said, I expected to be inconvenienced. On this occasion a group walked right through my decoys which were set on land.... That is a tad stupid I would say.... True story. While phez hunting I have seen a few guys get greedy too - they hunt like they drive in the southern tier and downstate. Most memorable example was another occasion I was duck hunting. Being in camo, I step out of the cover so an oncoming phez hunter can see me to prevent him from shooting in my direction should he flush a bird. What does this guy do? He apparently was greedy and thought I was phez hunting, because he walks faster and cuts in front of me. I was standing in waist deep water in waders, and now, so was he minus waders.... Also a true story.

I found the first two posts (buried), oh well, added three more post/repliesanyway. Don't let the anti hunters dictate the DEC Facebook page, get on there!

LOL, looks like we told them off so they deleted their comment taking ours with it. No problem, will just repost our link, then only us or the dec can delete it.....

From the DEC Facebook page: we replied as The Bird Hunting Society. Please read our response and help us tell the antis how it is. For those that do not follow the DEC on Facebook, please start, the hunting community is outnumbered on the DEC page. Please don't be rude, just read the article we refered to, take one or two talking points from it for use in your own comment. Please like our two replies and our pages. Thank you! https://www.facebook.com/NYSDEC/photos/a.10150117710380956.294616.65102420955/10153749772060956/?type=3&theater

That is NOT true. It may be true regarding private stockings by individuals, clubs, and commercial shooting preserves, but state pheasant programs are done right. Unless you are following the stocking truck, state released birds behave very much like our native ruffed grouse. If you make a lot of noise you might filter feed on some by-catch, but you are losing out. The fact that some released pheasant sometimes are easy, makes many people think they all are. Those are the guys that make one pass in light cover and go home. They remember a few easy encounters and if that doesn't happen they figure there are no birds around. Another type may try a little harder, but because they are noisy and not alert, many birds run and/or flush without ever being seen. A few hunts like, that combined with conversations with the earlier type, and they too become convinced there are no birds around.

It makes me cringe when people put guns down or lean them on trees or something, especially when dogs are around.

Another thing, dont post the link to the print out petition, those are to bring to shows and rod and gun meetings, etc... There is an online petition, here is the link: http://nydovehunting.weebly.com/petition.html

Another thing, are you Bill too? Papa Bear's name is Bill.

Thanks! If you have a lot of hunters on your FB page, indeed that helps. If it is going to draw attention to antis, no it does not help. Please sign it and see who else you can get to sign on. If everyone gets 10 people...... They need to be active NY licensed hunters though, not nonresidents, non hunters, including non hunting family members.

Bill, do me a favor, take some petition blanks down there and see if you can sign a few people on, print them out from here: http://nydovehunting.weebly.com/printouts.html

nyrkba, did you go to this any of the years?

Did anyone go to this, ever?

Manitoba might join two other Providences, Puerto Rico, and 41 US states (including Hawaii) in 2016: http://nydovehunting.weebly.com/manitoba-considering-a-mourning-dove-season.html

Thanks all, we are reaching out to all the leads you provided!

Thank you. When I looked up Ed Noonan, I see he recently published an article about the effort to reinstate dove hunting in NY. However, I am not a paid subscriber to the newspaper and cannot access the entire article. I was wondering if you had the article, I believe it was on October 8?

Its not easier to dial in your scope with sight in targets? You can take this link to the clerk at staples and print out sight in targets and the other targets for a few pennies each, or cheaper if you buy bulk. Or just print them at home. http://nydovehunting.weebly.com/free-targets.html

Ray, You are indeed one of the top supporters of NY Dove Hunting. The post you had responded to was a narrative about a habitat project that was blocked by local residents. To the extent of my knowledge, the organizations you mentioned do not get involved with habitat conservation.(If I am wrong, then please list correct me). The primary habitat conservation organizations, with local chapters in many areas, are as previously mentioned, DU, PF, QF, RGS, plus The Nature Conservancy. Also to the extent of my knowledge, in addition to not having any habitat biologists and heavy equipment, the organizations you listed do not have a track record of advocating for habitat. (If I am wrong, then please list correct me). The FWMB and the CFAB does indeed have regional units. However, I don't know why you are stressing that, so I think I am missing the point you are trying to make. . The FWMB and CFAB members are appointed by politicians, plus a handful of ex-officico members from the DEC and the Legislature. These are citizen boards, mandated by law, they are not "clubs" or "organizations". Much the same as the citizen deer task force. The function of the FWMB is to develop hunting and fishing access, mostly on private lands. They do not function in a habitat capacity. CFAB , the conservation advisory board, by its name appears to function in directing how the conservation fund is spent. However, in practice, it seems they function more as accountants. If that is true, they do not function in a habitat capacity either. Local sportsmen, in addition to advocating for habitat projects, can also generate funds for habitat and they can provide volunteer labor for habitat in two ways: 1. Local sportsmen can engage an established habitat conservation organization or even start a new chapter. 2. In addition, "a group of guys" with no affiliation to any organization can enter into an "adopt a natural resource agreement" with the DEC and help drive a local habitat project. For more info or to get involved: Each of the habitat conservation organizations pre -mentioned has a website. The regional biologist for the RGS is actually a member of this forum. The DEC's Adopt a Natural Resource program is outlined on their website.

Ray, The NYSRPA along with CANY and many individuals did an excellent job mobilizing people and collecting donations to hire an attorney to sue the DEC Commissioner and Governor Patterson when they attempted to shut down Reynolds State Pheasant Farm. However, Habitat conservation organizations, such as the RGS, DU, PF, and QF have the expertise and equipment needed to do habitat projects. They also know how to partner with the DEC on habitat projects and what funding grants can be leveraged. A lot of people do not take realize that these organizations have about the same annual budget as a state wildlife agency - but operate much more independently of politics - which straps the dec, at least in how their money is spent and there is no debate about what the money is spent on. When we complained about a 30 year old habitat plan that was being hijacked, nobody was interested. We were told how it had been "discussed" for 30 years and never was going to happen. We got it started within 1 year of becoming involved, and completed within 3 or 4 years. Did we get credit for it? NO. Do we seek credit - no that is not what it is about nor is it the message I an trying to relay. And, on a personal level, the enhancements allowed me to take many muskrats, ducks, geese. We pushed with the dec, and also initiated an adopt a natural resource agreement with the dec, but we didnt even need to provide the volunteer resources, because everything came together all of a sudden.... After the KO, there was a bunch of Uncle Joes who joined the fight....... If people want to fool themselves, let them, up until the point it confuses the next cohort or generation about how things get really done and why sometimes they do not.....

There was a Model Forest project proposed for there 12 or so years ago which a small number of local residents successfully stopped - and because a small number of local small game numbers did not help the dec push back..... You as an individual or small group work with the dec office in that region, even enter an adopt a natural resource agreement and manage the ephemeral habitat.... Or you can talk with the ruffed grouse society and/or start a local rgs chapter..... The dog walkers should be held to the same restrictions as hunting dog training. No dogs off leash during the bird breeding season (April 15 to August 15)....... pets will find bird nests also but this would be unenforceable. In my opinion, they are indeed subject to these same laws, and in other states this is vigorously and successfully enforced. I believe you really cant have your dog off lease legally on public land anywhere in the United States unless engaged in legal hunting or(hunting) dog training. I wouldn't discuss that with anyone out there though, as a matter of fact, I personally do not give anyone more than a nod and maybe hello out in the field - if they think I am in violation they can call the cops..... If you enter an adopt a natural resource agreement with the dec; or get active with the rgs, or start a rgs chapter - you will be amazed at how policy plays out. Hope you do so....

I was wondering about when the shooting ranges get crowded or used more?

We have been sending regular emails for some time. There are a lot of problems with that, one of which is only a few dozen messages can be sent at one time. We designed a newsletter to be palatable to a broader audience with short messages. And these can be sent in bulk. Here is a link to our first one published two days ago: http://us11.campaign-archive2.com/?u=8116d31e9eac14600f1871d1e&id=72977b0745

We want to drop off our sighing in targets at shooting facilities around the time most hunters are sighting in for deer season. When is that? Also, if you want to print off targets, you can from our website. We did the best we can to design the targets so that a minimum of ink is used when printing, so the cost per target is as cheap as we could get it. (If you use an ink printer). Taking one target to a print shop like staples and running them off is sometimes even cheaper. Lazer printers are another matter. The reason we are doing this is to draw people to our website and our web address is on the targets. Here is the direct link to print targets: http://nydovehunting.weebly.com/free-targets.html

I am compiling a list of gun ranges, hunting organizations, and local newspaper outdoor columnists that are located or cover the following counties:Jefferson, ST. Lawrence

I am compiling a list of gun ranges, hunting organizations, and local newspaper outdoor columnists that are located or cover the following counties: Franklin, Essex, Saratoga.

I am compiling a list of gun ranges, hunting organizations, and local newspaper outdoor columnists that are located or cover the following counties: Otsego, Delaware, Greene, Albany, Schenectady.