mike rossi

Political Observations and Speculations: Jim Tedisco is a republican assemblyman who has sponsored Animal Advocacy Day in Albany for the past 6 years. (Not the same as Humane Lobby Day). Tedisco is also credited with Buster’s Law because he sponsored the bill and fought to get it passed into law. He is considered to be partner to animal protection groups and works closely with them. Nothing in his platform or voting record indicates he is an opponent of hunting. As a matter of fact, he has a 92% approval rating by SCOPE and a 70% approval rating by the NRA. And, he is a republican. However, on a video of Animal Advocacy Day 2016; he briefly discussed an incident which several teenage boys drove around Albany County and took out 11 porcupines with a baseball bat. The boys however did not break any laws, except hunting without a license, and the Sheriff is skeptical that charge would be upheld and therefore undecided if charges will be filed. What is notable is that in discussing this matter, Tedisco indicated that it was wrong to kill porcupines, raccoons, skunks and opossums and that “God doesn’t make junk” and all animals are put on earth by God for a purpose and (sic) not to be subject to cruelty. Still, we are not ready to label Tedisco an anti-hunter. However, we want to point a few things out. Tedisco has sponsored a bill which has passed the senate 3 times, but has been rejected by the assembly each time. In 2016, 16 democrats on the codes committee voted against his bill. The bill nicknamed the Kirby and Quigley Bill makes killing pets during the commission of a burglary a felony. Sounds like a no brainer or covered in an existing law, but it is not. If you shoot someone’s dog you will be charged with a felony, unless you do it while you are breaking into their house. Yes, it’s true; just ask the owners of two golden doodles named Kirby and Quigley. Tedisco to his credit got wind of this and has been trying to create a new law that if you kill a pet while burglarizing someone’s home it is not a freebee. So, democrats by conventional wisdom are the bleeding heart animal lovers. Why are they blocking Assemblymen Tedisco’s bill? It’s a good bill – we signed Tedisco’s petition to pass it as a matter of fact. Tedisco is ultra conservative. He shot voted against every gay rights bill that was introduced. The only “openly gay” member of the assembly is one the 16 democrats on the codes committee that voted against the Kirby and Quigley Bill. Two others are black people who may be upset about how incidents of black males getting shot or brutalized by police are viewed by some people. Or, it could be any number of other conservative stances he took and they want to pay him back or play politics. We do not need lawmakers who operate this way, no matter what party they belong to. We learned two wrongs do not make a right when we were 4 years old. And if such pressure tactics are the only way to get items through, then they should be working to fix it. And what about the high rating from SCOPE and the NRA? As indicated we have not (yet) labeled Tedisco an anti-hunter. But is it possible gun rights organizations might endorse candidates with a strong pro-second amendment record, but who do not support hunting? We believe that may indeed be the case sometimes. For this reason, we urge hunters to look beyond the ratings of the NRA, SCOPE, and other gun-rights organizations when making voting decisions. To Sign Assemblyman Tedisco’s online Petition to Pass the Kirby and Quigley Bill use this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1NadgAn2uFuFqDta0zcFzRqhF0vv3gFbvYRgS_ESpCys/viewform To see the video filmed June 7, 2016 during Animal Advocacy Day, including Denise Krohn’s story about the murder of her two dogs and burglary of her house, use this link: Tedisco also wants to leave the assembly and be elected to the state senate in November 2016, where he feels he can have a greater impact. The link to his senate campaign website is: http://www.jimtedisco.com/

I was reading the comments to an article by Brian Shapiro, who is the State Director of the Humane Society of the United Stares New York State. The article was an urge in a western NY newspaper to reject the cable restraint bill. Cable restraints are a form of trap similar to a snare. The Legislature did indeed reject the bill last week and the HSUS- New York State is thanking its members for showing up at Humane Lobby Day and undertaking other lobbying against the bill. They also are celebrating that they blocked it last year to. Those of you who pay attention to my posts or follow NY Dove Hunting are aware we have been stressing the importance of news editorials. Along the way we got flack and continue to, by people who claim letters by antis do not do anything and also that letters from hunters do not work either. We also stressed the importance of refuting letters with an anti hunting point of view. So, this Allen guy, he takes the time to comment, but he doesn't bother to dispute Brian Shapiro. Instead he writes this: Scott Allen • 5 months ago I think it's funny that no matter what the topic, you can be assured that there will be arguments on here after letters are posted. Do people actually believe that our elected officials are monitoring these comments? Well Scotty lad, I will answer you on this site: Yes we believe elected officials indeed monitor these sort of editorials. Not only do we believe it, we know it for a fact..... And, editorials impact their decisions too... That is why Shapiro writes all over the state...

When I posted this I was not familiar with the 11 porcupines that were killed. I found an article about it, which also includes an interview of the sheriff. Here is the link to that article: http://www.syracuse.com/state/index.ssf/2016/05/8_upstate_ny_boys_who_beat_porcupines_to_death_cant_be_charged_sheriff_says.html

If you search the literature you will discover that the smaller the lead particle, the easier it enters the bloodstream. And that there is no safe level of blood lead. It accumulates in many tissues, but also in bone were it mimics calcium. When women get pregnant calcium and lead is leached from the bones and enters the bloodstream of the fetus and later into the milk, Fetus and infants have a much lower level of tolerance for lead. An adult can have low levels of blood lead but still have health problems linked to lead exposure when he was a fetus or infant. Also, the story about lead naturally occurring in the environment is irrelevant. So is radon and a lot of harmful stuff.

This video gives you a sense for the animal advocate movers and shakers in Albany and how legislation flows.

Now its time to contact the Governor and ask him to sign the Ducks Unlimited Legislation into law! (Assembly Bill A08595A and Senate Bill S06267A ) The Ducks Unlimited License Plate Bill Passed Both Houses! Now it is time to contact the Governor ask him to sign it into law! Governor Cuomo by email: https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form Contact us by phone: 1-518-474-8390 Office hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm Contact us by mail: The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo Governor of New York State NYS State Capitol Building Albany, NY 12224 By email: https://www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form

I was a horrible cook, It was not until I got married that I learned to cook at all, even though my wife insists on cooking. How long you let the meat rest after cooking, how you slice the meat, these dozens of factors in cooking. I can hardly eat domestic grocery meats they are too tasteless. A member on here, you know -Jim is the expert on cooking though, not me. However, I dont think this discussion should evolve to cooking. You are seriously invested in bird hunting and your bird dog - and there are people who want to take your opportunity to hunt with your dog away from you, and some of them are hunters, including hunters on this site. And people on this site pretending to be hunters as well. One of the tactics they use is to regurgitate or quote old (130 years on) poetic statements, either verbatim or with an original twist - but the message is always the same and reflect a stilted Robert Frost-styled expression, for example: I am a a hunter (yeah right) but who thou no longer hunts those tiny birds so a scant a of meat and bitter of flavor.... Thou only shoot them today with my camera.... As thou enjoy es watching them dance across the moonlight . thou est ... Crap like that. We are compiling a report on these statements, when and by who they were first made, and tracking them all the way to people reciting them today. The report will be on our website(s) like everything else we debunk. We already are finishing a similar report - about common newspaper themes that attack bird hunting. When it is done I will post it as a pdf so people can download it to their computers. When you read these, It will be obvious we know what these people are going to say before they say it.

There you go again with poetry that is 130 years old. Who do you think you are fooling? You recited this about grouse, now woodcock, Go ahead about rails, doves, bobwhite and snipe, all copy cat statements of outdated believes

Its over your head ...

Very well put together infomercial by Curmudgeon and company through the Delaware Otsego Chapter of the Audubon Society. It is always enjoyable to see and hear the names behind the voices on internet forums and social media, although this is not the first time we seen the face of Curmudgeon (Tom Salo). I posted this in the general talk section, because, this forum does not have a conservation section, and although this would indeed fit under the deer hunting section, I am a realist.... A legislative ban on Pb ammo will be difficult and I do not lobby or advocate for such a ban. However, in my personal dealings with new hunters, I indeed promote that they voluntarily chose an alternative to Pb ammunition. https://youtu.be/qffN1D3B0j8

Yup, that is why you need to call .....

It is early for us to start distributing our political endorsements and report cards, but I thought I would provide a preview of our political strategy. As with our other strategies, this will require help from as many people as possible. Inform us of candidates seeking to run for the Legislature; and help us get the word out about who the good guys and bad guys are when the time approaches. So far, we only received two replies (Link 1). In addition to the replies, we note the names of candidates who fail to reply. (Link 2). Stay tuned and check back as we add data to these links as we receive replies. Link 1: http://nydovehunting.weebly.com/candidate-responses-received.html Link 2: http://nydovehunting.weebly.com/candidate-responses-or-lack-thereof.html

If doctors put your brain in a songbird it would fly backwards.

You are mischaracterizing my entire statement. First of all, I realize you have more than 2 brain cells knocking around in your skull. But you dont pay attention very well. I asked you to double check what I wrote. I was not taking any pot shots and do not feel you were trying to one up me. I would be pleased to work with you, We cant pay you, we hardly get enough donations to cover a small advertising campaign. I will tell you this, you can learn from me as I from you. If you dont think so, well thanks anyway. If you are willing to help us out, we are on the web, It would be awesome to here from you.

It is an election year. More bills get passed during an election year, but fewer new bills get introduced according to one source. As we track the Legislature we have learned the last few weeks in May and June every year they push through a ton of bills, as if they want to get their cleaning done before break. This also might be why they have their lobby days for different groups in March and April, perhaps they see who shows up and which bills they are most concerned with. A lot of the humane bills, as well as hunting bills get passed in June. The mute swan bill was in June one year. So, based on what I observed, they get work done the last few weeks - either stuff they have been working on all session and have not been able to agree on, or other stuff they seemingly don't care about and just want to get it off their desks. The more I do this the more I realize how little I know. However, I also realize the big talkers dont know squat either. Stay tuned.

Few remaining hunters from NJ know what an Atlantic brant or a Northern bobwhite is, but these two birds are iconic NJ game species. "No a brant isn’t some kind of duck, it’s a kind of goose for starts"…. The Northern bobwhite is reputed to be a NJ Pine Barrens bird, probably more because the pine barrens resembles sections of the southeast that were once the quail belt, than what reflects reality. (Today, the healthiest bobwhite populations are in the Midwest, as is the case with most game birds). In reality the bobwhite was formally widespread and abundant in NJ found well north of the Pine Barrens. Never the less, the Pine Barrens was put under permanent protection and is NJ’s largest intact wild space, therefore it is the best bet for restoring bobwhite populations. The Pine Barrens is a fire dependent system. The trees and plants that comprise the Barrens require burning. And Mother Nature made them so they catch fire easily. Misinformed persons are not aware that the frequent fires in the NJ PB are natural events. These natural fires, plus prescribed burns for habitat enhancements, maintain the NJ PB, thus the bobwhite habitat. While it is true that there are not as many open areas and regeneration is needed, natural fires are a built in habitat maintenance system. The similar habitat types and the ability to get wild birds from Georgia is key. So the Pine barrens it is, but where are the hunters? Not too many years ago the NJ Division of Wildlife and Fisheries proposed a “deal” with a few aging bird hunters and some whippersnapper deer hunters who probably cant tell a quail from an English setter or spell either one. The deal was, place a moratorium on bobwhite hunting for the good of the declining population and we will see about a mourning dove season to replace the lost opportunity. At the time, NJ classified the mourning dove as a protected bird. Since then mourning doves were indeed reclassified as a game bird by NJ, but no dove hunting season yet several years later. Not even discussion about it. So what is going on with bobwhites? Audubon New Jersey is funding and facilitating bobwhite recovery in Jersey, and hunters are out of the picture. When and if bobwhites recover, will the bird watchers stake a claim to the bobwhite as “their” bird and oppose reinstating a hunting season? Our guess is yes indeed and they will have a lot of fodder, including “ the hunters had no interest in the reintroduction/recovery effort, contributed no money towards it, they wiped the birds out once ( not true but it works), and now they want to hunt these tiny birds that contain little meat for target practice”. And, there will be even fewer bird hunters when this happens, Not only that, those existing bird hunters have will have no experience with bobwhites or tradition of hunting them. Audubon NJ’s own video might actually be helpful in showing these hunters the sporting qualities of bobwhites and reminding Audubon about how self-sufficient bobwhite are. Notice the “biologist” or “field technician” or “volunteer’s” lack of reaction time when coveys of bobwhites are released out of a box, much less flushed afield. Do you think they imagine the difficulty of trying to hit them with a shotgun? Either do we. Fact is bobwhites, like other game such as ring-necked pheasant and mourning doves are extremely challenging to hunt. So tough, the real reason people stopped hunting them, is just as much because society (including hunters) has become soft, as much as it is declining habitat and bird abundance. At least in the case of pheasant and bobwhite, because there are more doves then before and habitat is not an issue. Never the less we will hear a lot of tough talk, especially on the internet, were being anonymous is the rule rather than the exception. Others who don’t think they are so tough will paraphrase and quote outdoor writers, naturalists, hunters, and biologists who if alive today would be over 125 years old. The wisdom of 125 years ago And the science, does not apply today. We wonder if these pontificators know when they quote something about the few last woodcock, bobwhite, rails, snipe or grouse that they are regurgitating statements made 130 years ago? Yes Like Rachel Carson of the Silent Spring fame, John Jay Audubon, George Bird Evans, Aldo Leopold, Corey Ford, and a dozen others who are still very often quoted today, would be well over a century old if they were still alive. You have all heard dozens of these quotes - and dozens more of variations to make it sound like it is some type of original brilliance of the speaker or writer. The narrative goes something like this: “I used to hunt those tiny birds, so scant of meat, but today, as I mature and am wiser, take pleasure in watching them feed/display/sing/etc.….” “I used to hunt these minute birds when I was a younger lad, but today I am concerned about the decline of them to extinction so I no longer shoot, except with my camera”….. The Robert Frost – style outdoor writing / speaking, and today internet blogging or posting isn’t all. The NJ deception about “trading” bobwhites for mourning doves is also duplicated with the same “deals” concerning rails, snipe, and woodcock. It goes something like this – “ there are so few people that hunt snipes and rails close the season and replace it with a dove season”. It should be obvious, trading doesn't make any sense, but apparently not to everyone. People are not hunting as much. Bird watching is growing. New wildlife biologists are not hunters. When the last of the bird hunters are gone, who is going to care? That is the goal our friends…. As they say, if its old, white, and grey it has an expiration date… Watch the video. If you don’t realize the sporting qualities of bobwhites after watching this, it might be time to adjust your medication.

Rebel Darling, you are welcome to make any corrections to the following draft of the following article: NY Moose Legislation gives insight to Mourning Dove Matter – Making Hunting Happen. This moose legislation might be a favorable precedent to future dove bills. It is encouraging that the moose bill has progressed, although it has not yet passed. The senate passed a moose bill recently, but it still needs to clear the assembly and the governor. In the past, both the assembly and the senate have hesitated with dove bills. What the impetus for a moose season is, I don't know (less than 400 bulls in the state, of which there might be less than 100 are mature bulls, nobody wants to shoot cows and yearling bulls so the additional hunting opportunity is minor. The current moose legislation met the same fate as previous dove bills. It was introduced and then referred to the Environmental Conservation Committees on January 27, 2015. In June 2016 the bill passed in the senate but remained in committee in the Assembly as of June 16, 2016. However, bills expire in 2 years and the Legislature breaks on June 16, 2016 until the new session on January 11, 2017. That leaves 16 days in January 2017, from the 11th until the 27th to pass the assembly version of the bill. However, the bill can be reintroduced any time after Nov. 15, this year, when pre-filing for the 2017-18 Legislative Session begins. Thus, regarding the dove initiative, nothing new has been learned from the moose legislation, except that prior failures cannot be 100% attributed to the species, i.e. the same thing happened with the moose bill as previous dove bills. We are not in any way suggesting that there is not pervasive opposition to mourning dove hunting, because such certainly is one of the challenges. Rather we are stressing the importance of individual, grassroots lobbying of the Legislature to make hunting happen. The first key to instating dove hunting is to sign our petition and get others to sign as well. The second key; is to cooperate with the periodic online surveys and form letters NY Dove Hunting distributes. The third key is to is to learn the facts about mourning doves and dove hunting and take the initiative to independently develop a rapport with as many of the 212 members of the Legislature you can and advocate for dove hunting. Contrary to popular belief, you should contact the entire Legislature, not just those who represent your voting district or favored political party. As a matter of fact, it is more important to establish a dialogue with Legislators who are generally not familiar with hunting or does not have many hunters in their districts. The issue has been raised about who sponsors a bill, specifically when a sponsor is from the minority party. In the case of the moose bill, the assembly sponsor was Dipeitro, a minority republican in the assembly. First, Deipreo recently was able to sign over one of his other pro-hunting bills to a cooperative democrat – because that democrat has heard from hunters and she wanted the bill! If hunters inside her district ( and perhaps outside) were not engaged and/or avoided contacting her because of her party affiliation, passing the bill would not have been an option. A republican can pass a bill to a democrat and vice versa – but that is unlikely to happen if hunters are not talking to legislators – ALL OF THEM. Another factor is Independent Democrats, such as Dave Valesky. The NY state senate, despite popular belief, does not have a republican majority. What gives the republicans control of the senate is several members who are Independent Democrats which tilts the balance of power. Targeting ID as sponsors might be wiser than seeking republican sponsors. By visiting our website you can obtain information about the dove matter. The website is updated often, and in addition we keep our constituents apprised through a monthly online newsletter and several social media channels. Remember to think: Make Hunting Happen!

You are describing several political realities - however it would be productive if you would provide suggestions about how the hunting community can impact the Legislature on bills like this. With a focused response from sportsmen, hunting legislation can be moved favorably. Even difficult bills have succeeded when there is an effort and commitment. I dont only mean a different sponsor than Depietro, that is only one aspect. Even with this sponsor, things can fly. Hunters need to understand the influence of grassroots lobbying. Your take on this would be appreciated by me and others!

Here is what the assembly website says below. Introduced on January 27, 2015 and held in committee on May 10 2016. Bill is NOT dead. it has not been voted out and it is less than 1.5 old so it has not expired either. Lawmakers break June 15 or so, and do not return until February. So, it looks like it will expire, unless they work over break which they sometimes do. The bill can be reintroduced in the assembly next February if it does expire. Technically the bill is not dead yet... Carl Heastie and Steve Englebright are who need to be contacted to progress the bill at this point. Doing so would not be wise though until the majority of the assembly is on board with the proposal - because there is no sense it pushing for a vote if it is going to be voted out. A03742 Actions: BILL NO A03742A 01/27/2015 referred to environmental conservation 06/02/2015 amend (t) and recommit to environmental conservation 06/02/2015 print number 3742a 01/06/2016 referred to environmental conservation 05/10/2016 held for consideration in environmental conservation

Are you sure about that? How does it die in the assembly, you mean in the assembly encon committee? That would mean the bill is 2 years old, I do not believe it is that old. Either that or it would mean they voted against it in committee or the floor. I dont believe any of that happened. Please explain what you are talking about. Tracking this legislation has been difficult - I think there have been several bills and revisions. The info I posted was from the senate sponsor, and he sent it out yesterday - this said the assembly needs to move on it, so I believe what I posted is accurate. I am interested in the progress of this legislation. This moose legislation might be a favorable precedent to future dove bills. It is encouraging that the moose bill has progressed, although it has not yet passed. The senate passed a moose bill recently, but it still needs to clear the assembly and the governor. In the past, both the assembly and the senate have hesitated with dove bills. What the impetus for a moose season is, I don't know ( less than 400 bulls in the state, of which less than 100 are mature bulls, nobody wants to shoot cows and yearling bulls so the additional hunting opportunity is minor. But its good news for the dove initiative.

There was also some stipulation regarding shooting hours that appeared to overlook existing hunting hours for turkey hunting, waterfowl, and special waterfowl seasons - sept geese and snow goose conservation order. But they did pass it in the senate only, here is a news article from the bill sponsor in the senate: Legislation Would Include Moose as Part of Big Game Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R-C-I, Elma) announces the Senate has passed a bill (S-93A) that would allow the hunting of moose in New York State. The legislation would amend current environmental conservation law to regulate the taking of moose in the same manner as deer hunting. “This legislation will allow the state to better manage the moose population and provide new opportunities for hunters in New York and neighboring states,” Gallivan said. “It will be up to the Department of Environmental Conservation to establish rules and regulations for the taking of moose.” The legislation authorizes the DEC to establish a licensing process and determine an appropriate hunting season. The department would also set limits and licensing fees. DEC biologists have estimated New York’s moose population to be about 800, with most of them found in the Adirondack region. The Senate passed the bill last year, but it was not voted on in the Assembly. The legislation will be sent to the Assembly again for consideration.

Jim - that might have been different legislation that already passed a few months ago, but I am not sure. If you read up on this bill, it has not passed anything, it has not been voted on and is in committee. The bold type indicates amendments to existing law they want. Pretty much where something reads deer - to add the word moose. The most interesting part of this legislation to me, and hopefully to you, is 12/ 11-0923, the section pertaining to hunting dogs. The amendments do little more than add the word moose next to deer, but that is not my point. My point is, that our politico pays attention to the regulations/laws pertaining to training hunting dogs when it relates to deer and moose or "big game"; but not otherwise. In essence they pay attention to deer and moose but not you and me and others.A person of normal curiosity would look at those dog training laws and develop some questions. We have almost 212 legislators that (in theory) are looking over the this legislation. If this is not proof positive the bird hunting community in NY needs to get politically engaged, I don't know what is. A lawmaker wont have "time" to address these matters with you , me or others, but when it has some relevance to big game matters they make some tweaks. Maybe someday when the legislature amends hunting dog training laws it will be to conserve wildlife or facilitate stakeholders that train hunting dogs, wouldn't that be novel?

Field trial washouts often become the best gun dogs. Besides, unless the previous owner trained and hunted everyday, five years old is relatively young to put a dog in with other dogs who have hunted daily. If the dog was (truly) 8 pounds overweight, I doubt he was hunted every day. If he puts rabbits in the frying pan is all that counts. If he wins trials all you get is a ribbon or trophy or a small purse, and maybe a title. Can't eat trophies.

I think they may have been confronted with other issues regarding sterilizing does. The gestation period is 190 to 210 days - about half of the year they may not want to kill the fetuses. Or after birth of fawns, they will be nursing them for 4 to 6 months or longer. I am not sure if sterilizing does impacts milk production. Not much of a window if all that are concerns. All that on top of the discussed drawbacks of sterilizing bucks. It is apparent these people are serious about sparing animal lives - they are willing to endure the impacts of deer longer than necessary and fund what can be loosely characterized as expensive experiments with a very small probability of a favorable outcome.