mike rossi

Listen to what the guy above said about the two time periods called the "golden hour". Beside that - what you are describing is trying to get off a shot opportunistically - hard to do and not as satisfying as making a good plan come together. With that kind of plan - you wont be staring at game while processing information about houses or safety zones... Better to just carry your bow cased to and from your waiting location and dont worry about the game you jump.

The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies on September 25 released draft text of legislation funding the Department of the Interior, including the Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Forest Service (USFS), and various independent and related agencies for the Fiscal Year 2013 (FY13). In total, the bill includes $29.7 billion in funding – an increase of $500 million from FY12. The proposal in the House committee on Appropriations earlier this year was for $28 billion. The Senate bill funds most wildlife-related programs at or slightly above the level requested by the President, which, for most programs, is at or slightly above the level for FY12. The legislation would fund USFWS at $1.41 billion, down $60 million from FY12, but not as steep a drop as the President’s FY13 proposal of $1.35 billion, or the House budget proposal which cuts funding by 21.5 percent to $1.16 billion. The legislation calls for a 2.6 percent increase to endangered species programs, while the House bill offered a 23.8 percent cut. The Senate bill increases funding for the National Wildlife Refuge System by $3.8 million, while the House bill would decrease it by $48 million (9 percent). Funding would remain approximately level for the North American Wetlands Conservation Act ($34.6 million), and State and Tribal Wildlife Grants ($61.3 million). The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) would see a 1.7 percent cut under the Senate bill, but wildlife management programs would be funded at $47 million, an increase of $10 million on current funding levels. The president’s request for a similar increase to the BLM’s threatened and endangered species programs was not included; those funds remained level at $22 million. Under the Senate bill, the US Geological Survey (USGS) would receive an increase of $16 million to $1.08 billion, $18 million less than the President’s request and $116 more than the house proposal. The Senate would increase the USGS ecosystems research budget 6% to $171 million, the president requested a 10% increase, and the house proposed a 24% cut to $132.5 million. Under the Senate bill the USGS Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units would receive the President’s requested increase of $165,000 for a total of $22.9 million. USGS Climate Science Centers which received $25.5 million in FY12 would receive an additional $160,000 under the Senate legislation or $790,000 less under the house bill. The Senate bill would provide $2.6 billion for the National Park Service, about the same as current funding levels and on par with the administration’s request. It also includes $378 million for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, a 17 percent increase over current funding. The House proposal would cut it by nearly 80 percent. The bill also includes a measure to create the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, and amendments from John Tester (D-Montana) to designate new wilderness areas and set minimum quotas for restoration logging. Click here for the table from the Senate proposal. Sources: E&E Publishing (Greenwire, June 28, 2012, September 25, 2012), US Senate Committee on Appropriations, US House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations

Do regular police have any jurisdiction in environmental conservation law? Who got there first and was it on a WMA?Bird watching, along with hunting, is one of the six "priority public uses" of Pitman - Robertson funded lands." It is ethical to let the first to arrive have the spot and stay far enough away from them not to interfere, whether it is another hunter or a bird watcher. The birders and other hunters as well as fisherman, should recipriocate, but sadly some of them do not. Sometimes even though I am set up for hours before someone else arrives, I just pull the decoys and move rather than argue with a jack ass...

Same thing if you are baiting or in the zone of influence of baiting - you do not have to know the area you are hunting is baited or that 2,000 feet away or some undefined distance somebody has been feeding waterfowl - you are in violation. Sure, why not - I think it is possible that airspace laws may apply - either over your home or over public land prohibiting motorized recreation. Did you know if your pellets, bullet, or arrow enters posted land that can be considered tresspassing if someone wants to push the issue? However there is no question that this guy lifted several hundred migratory birds so he is in violation. It still wouldnt be acceptable, but if he flew along the opposite shoreline it would not have been as bad. However - he flew along a shore loaded with birds and then turned around and then purposely headed over a wetland holding many more birds - then he left in the direction he came from. At a bare minimum this guy was ignorant.

If he was harrassing migratory birds it doesnt matter one bit if it was intentional to the USFWS Agents... Now how the NY State DEC police treat hunter harrasment IDK, but I called them too at 1-800-tipp dec... They also cannot hunt that same day or aid other hunters on the ground.... It may even violated trespass over private land and motorized recreation prohibition on public lands because of airspace laws...

Maybe he is a poacher -it is also illegal to hunt the same day you fly. Hell, the guy was harrassing someones livestock - I wouldnt put ANYTHING past a person who would do that!

I spoke to the USFWS and was informed that this, as I suspected, may also be a violation of the MBTA as well as the AHA. It is being investigated by Agent Bak and his phone number is 518-431-4341. I was also encouraged to report any hearsae info (ie. Something another hunter tells you he saw). It was also confirmed that video is most helpful. Look for registration numbers as well, although we didnt see any at 30 yards. Note: MBTA violations do not require that a person is aware of what he is doing or if it was unintentional for it to be a punishable crime.

Yeah - I saw it. It was reported to the DEC and I have a call in to the FWS. Not sure if it was deliberate but it was still illegal because it was harrassing waterfowl. Also anti-hunting groups are known to use ultra lights to harrass hunters, its all over youtube and many law agencies are aware of it. If other hunters are seeing the same thing then this needs to be reported. I would call the FWS and the DEC.

Mule deer?

You did say that and this article resonates with what you said and makes some other good points. The big concern among the USFWS and state agencies such as the NY DEC, is that the loss of hunters is a loss of conservation funding. So reducing license fees would have to be calculated carefully. I dont think most hunters are aware that there already has been discussions among wildlife agencies about the need to derive conservation funding from non hunters in the future.

Our best bet is to introduce adults to hunting August 21, 2012 I RAN MY FIRST youth duck hunt in 2000. Our Manitoba event was the first organized youth duck hunt in Canada. I was excited then about getting youth outdoors, and I'm still pumped up about it. My best trophies are still first duck pictures. When I started down the youth hunt path, I wasn't thinking too hard about the outcomes. A youth hunt felt good — and it was good. It provided as much reward to me as I was giving to my little hunting buddies. More than a decade later, I'm taking a harder look at our own youth hunt programs and asking deeper questions. "Take a kid hunting; Take a kid fishing." If the subject wasn't so important, you might make the case that these slogans are almost cliché nowadays. Sure, we should all endeavor to take a kid hunting. But when you take a child afield, do they, in fact, end up hunting for the long term? When we started our youth hunting program at Delta Waterfowl, we were talking a lot about the need to tap into new kinds of groups of kids within circles like 4H or on youth sports teams to get "new" kids into hunting. Ten years of experience has shown our thinking was mostly off-base. Successfully mentoring youth can be a tricky business, as it turns out. To take a child who is brand new to hunting out in the marsh, you need the approval of the parents. Getting permission can be a mean feat, and no wonder. Would you let a stranger take your kid anywhere, let alone afield with a firearm? Moreover, even if you do get a newbie child afield, who will take the youngster out several more times that fall and in subsequent years to ensure the kid has a fighting chance to remain a hunter after the glow of the first hunt wears off? To create more than a one-time experience for a child, it's critical that you identify the ongoing source of mentorship right up front. If you can't provide it yourself and there is nobody else to take the child hunting on an ongoing basis, there's a pretty good chance it's one-and-done. And hey, that's all right, too. The child, and you, will be better off for the experience. We've found the best chance of creating a new young hunter is to look for kids closely related to you, or who have a parent or other mentor in the family. You can easily get the social license to take the child out, and you have identified a source of ongoing mentorship. Quality of the mentoring relationship is the key, not quantity. Consider that if we all create two new hunters in our lifetimes, we'll be more than holding our own in numbers. So look close to home first — I bet all of you have a nephew or niece who would love to go hunting. And if you really want to start a fire that will keep burning, take an adult hunting. We have a nearly 50 percent success rate creating new hunters when we introduce adults. They have their own transportation, money to buy the required licenses and gear and less liability issues than kids. It's like stocking a 10-pound trout or planting a full-grown tree. If you want to really get strategic with your mentoring, take a woman. If she picks up waterfowling, it's nearly a slam dunk that her kids will hunt, too. I'll be taking kids hunting till I die. I believe it's one of the things I was put on earth to do. But now, I'll be taking my nephews first and looking for a full-grown tree or two to put in the ground, too. Create two new hunters and put two ducks back for each one we shoot: That's our mission if we choose to accept it. It's far from impossible. Rob Olson is president of Delta Waterfowl

Interested in skulls as well?

I see you shot a sharptail grouse but I cant tell if those are deer or proghorns out in the grain field?

　 Keep your eyes out for ultra light aircraft especially over WMAs or other public land open to hunting. Use your video cameras. Call the FEDs! USFWS Law Enforcement Phone number is 413-253-8274. If this was not an isolated incident, it may signal that anti hunters are violating the federal airborne hunting act and NY hunter harrasment law. Airborne Hunting Act (16 U.S.C. 742j-1). Section 13 of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 is commonly referred to as the Airborne Hunting Act, or Shooting From Aircraft Act, and prohibits taking or harassing wildlife from aircraft, except when protecting wildlife, livestock, and human health or safety, as authorized by a Federal- or State-issued license or permit.

IDK - I am not a member of C-G or the NYSCC. However, I wouldnt expect any changes (positive or negative) on the way things have historically been run...

The Columbia-Greene Sportsman Association banquet wasn’t the only memorable event that occurred this past weekend. Three other newsworthy occurrences took place, including the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s announcement that the youth deer hunt will take place over the Columbus Day weekend in both the Northern and Southern Zones as planned; former Greene County Federation of Sportsmen President Walt Bennett and his wife Joan received the New York State Conservation Council’s Lifetime Achievement Award; and a change of leadership within the NYSCC as members voted to replace long-time president Howard Cushing with first vice president Charles Parker during the group’s 79th annual meeting in Utica. Always controversial, Cushing has had a love-hate relationship for more than 15 years with the grass roots membership, its officers and board of directors, and that includes the two years he stepped aside for Harold Palmer, who was hand picked for the position by Cushing and then-legislative vice president Wally John. “The voting members of the council have finally sent the necessary message that a change in leadership has been long overdue and the results reflect it. I personally am totally satisfied with the result, and I am confident that our new president — utilizing the experience and talent of his fellow officers and the council’s board of directors — will do a fine job,” said Fred Neff, who earlier this year was removed by Cushing as chair of the council’s habitat/access committee. On the other hand, NYSCC Region 1 (Long Island) Director Charles Bevilacqua has taken a wait-and-see position, in as much as he wants to see what kind of effort Parker will put in and how effective he will be. “Regardless of what anyone thought of Howie (Cushing), no one worked harder. He put in a tremendous effort, and spent a lot of time with lawmakers,” Bevilacqua said. “Granted, a lot of members, especially new members, left the council because of the stand Howie took on certain issues, but he is an intelligent guy and politically astute, and was never afraid to butt heads with the DEC or state legislators,” Bevilacqua continued. Bennett, who has locked horns with Cushing on more than one occasion, echoed Bevilacqua’s remarks, stating further that had it not been for Cushing, we never would have had a council. “He took the job when nobody else wanted it, and because of it, the council is still in existence,” Bennett said. “He may have alienated a lot of people, but he took on a job nobody else would and for that he deserves credit,” said Bennett, adding that it was time for new blood and hopefully the change is for the best. Meanwhile, when I asked Columbia-Greene Sportsman Association banquet chairman Rocco DeFronzo how the seventh annual event turned out, he said “fantastic.” Since its inception in 2005, this dinner has grown into one of the finest events of its kind in the Twin Counties, and while not every sportsman and sportswoman in Columbia and Greene county made it to the soirée, it was well attended. Some of the more familiar names were Rep. Chris Gibson, state Sen. Roy MacDonald, senate hopeful Kathy Marchione, Assemblymen Pete Lopez and Steve McLaughlin, Judge Jonathan Nichols, Columbia County District Attorney Paul Czajka, Columbia County Sheriff Dave Harrison Jr., Columbia County Clerk Holly Tanner, and Trish Cutler, who gained national recognition last August with the Woman’s Concealed Carry Holster Fashion Show — an event she established and fostered. Held at Kozel’s Restaurant in Ghent, the dinner had more than 260 paid attendees, some of whom would have never been seated had others not shown up. According to Gary Simpkins, more than 40 guns were raffled off as well as several high-end trips. DeFronzo gives credit to the success of the event to the 30-member committee, some of whom have already begun soliciting items for next year. As for the special youth firearms deer season on Oct. 6-8, junior hunters (ages 14-15) with a big game hunting license will be eligible to take one deer of either sex with a firearm when properly accompanied by a licensed and experienced adult. They may also use a Deer Management Permit or Deer Management Assistance Program tag for an antlerless deer, during the youth firearms season only. For more information, visit: www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/46245.html. News and Notes: If you’re looking for something entertaining to do this weekend, look no further than the 37th annual Norwalk Boat Show. The in-water production will be moored at the Norwalk Cove Marina, Calf Pasture Beach, Norwalk, Conn., Thursday through Sunday, and along with featuring the newest and best in boating, sailing and fishing crafts, the show will have plenty of attractions for boating enthusiasts of all ages. Lifelong boaters and those who simply enjoy life on the water can shop for luxury motor and sailing yachts, sport fishers, performance boats, sailboats, kayaks, nautical gear and the largest selection of marine accessories in the Northeast. While admission is $15 for adults and free to youngsters age 15 and under, just about all of the hands-on activities, training sessions and demonstrations are free. For example, visitors can take the helm during on-water boat training that emphasizes close-quarter boat handling, an introduction to sailing, advanced docking experience and coastal cruising. Also on tap is a demonstration of the Flyboard, the new jet-propulsion technology that works with a Personal Watercraft to help users fly up to 35 feet in the air and dive deep. To get an idea what that’s all about visit: http://flyboard.com. For new paddlers or those looking for the latest techniques, visitors can step into a kayak or hop on a paddleboard at the marina to experience paddlesports firsthand or observe daily demonstrations from the experts. Then there is CORFit — a new fitness program that simulates the act of balancing while paddling and helps train and sculpt the body. And, if you always wanted to try scuba diving, anyone age 10 and older can do it here in a heated pool. Participants can also get their photo taken underwater as a keepsake of their diving adventure. Attendees can also get a taste of the boating lifestyle while taking a ride aboard a 240 Sundeck, 23 Ensign or Hanse 470 sailboat on the Long Island Sound. Show hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. For more information and updated seminar and event schedules, visit www.boatshownorwalk.com or call 212-984-7007. — Russ Burton tells us that the annual Greene County Federation of Sportsmen Youth Pheasant Hunt will be held on Sept. 29 starting at 7:30 a.m. and attendees should take note of the new location. This year’s hunt will be held on the Maurer property, 209 Weber Road, Earlton. Located at the intersection of Weber Road and Schoharie Turnpike, the youth hunt is open to all licensed junior hunters age 12-15 years accompanied by a parent or guardian. A 2011-12 junior hunting license is required. Participants will also need eye and ear protection, shotgun and shells, hunting vest or jacket and a hunter orange cap (no camo). Co-sponsored by the Northern Catskills Longbeards Chapter of the NWTF, NYS DEC Officers Association and the Earlton Fish and Game Club, dogs and handlers will be provided, as will lunch. There is no charge to the hunters. However, advance registration is required. In addition, Burton tells me that pheasants will also be released at the Colgate Lake Wild Forest area for those wanting to hunt on their own. Colgate Lake is located via County Route 23C and County Route 78 in East Jewett. Dropping anchor ’til next time.

OK, but everybody's interest is not sparked by the same thing... With the students in this video, it certainly does work the other way around - they were all interested in conservation but most were not interested or were even opposed to hunting...

Did anyone hear about the youth snow goose season in NY which conservation officers acted as hunting guides for the kids?

Anything with the word "youth" in it has become the sacred cow in the world of hunting the past decade... This nation-wide youth hunt craze needs to be quantified... Lets see the results on paper with a statistically robust study - how effective are these youth seasons??? The kids from hunting families are likely to hunt - especially if parents say no to electronics and athletics... It isnt realistic to get other peoples kids from non shooting families into guns and hunting.... Some of those kids can be salvaged from metrosexuality when they are adults... Studies are starting to show that adults or young adults are more likely to stick with it anyway... The following shows a nine percent increase in hunters nationwide, but the influx of females is probably as much a factor as youth recruits... Hunting, fishing, and wildlife-watching activities have increased in 28 U.S. states over the last five years, according to a report released this week by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation State Overview Report shows that the largest increase – 47 percent – occurred in Alaska, with Louisiana a close second at 40 percent. The State Overview is the second of a series of reports on the National Survey, which has been conducted every five years by the U.S. Census Bureau since 1955. The Bureau interviewed residents of 48,627 households across the country to estimate the number of hunters, anglers, and wildlife-watchers active in all 50 states, and to also measure how much money they spend on related equipment, travel, taxes, and license fees. The report reveals that South Dakota has the highest proportion of residents who hunt – 21 percent. Alaska beats all other states at the percentage of fishermen – 41 percent. And Vermont has the most wildlife-watchers – 53 percent. Part one of the National Survey report, called the National Overview, was released in August 2012 and gives an overview of hunting, fishing, and wildlife-associated recreation participation and expenditures at the national level. Nationwide, people spent $145 billion dollars on these activities in 2011. The funds provide vital support to rural communities as well as conservation efforts, and are a reflection of the public’s commitment to preserving wildlife, said USFWS Director Dan Ashe in a press release. The National Overview also reports that the number of U.S. residents that either hunt, fish, or watch wildlife increased by 2.6 million to 91.1 million since 2006 and includes 38 percent of all Americans over the age of 16. The amount of recreation by anglers increased by 11 percent, and hunting increased by 9 percent – reversing a 10 percent decline in hunting during the previous decade between 1996 and 2006. The USFWS will release a final version of the two documents in November in addition to individual reports for all 50 states on a rolling schedule beginning in December. The reports are especially important to state and federal natural resources agencies to ensure that opportunities for hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation continue to be provided.

Not trying to diss you, but I am not sure my point is coming across... (Off course this program is different than teaching your own kids to share your passion and hunt with you). I think it is more than action because the whole experience seems to lend itself well for the purpose of learning to appreciate hunting and its role in conservation. I suppose you can set up a "deer camp" instead of a "duck camp". But how do you to tie it to conservation - with a negative message how the deer starve and so on and so forth? Contrast that with this duck camp where the message was positive and discussed wetland conservation and its positive impact on the game they were pursuing. .

There isnt even a base of small game hunters to mentor youth & novices anymore... It probably doesnt matter what game a novice is introduced to but viewing the following link it is hard to imagine how deer hunting would be as effective an introduction to these students.... Check it out:

On post # 24 I said Mexico determined crows need some protection. It is also possible they were concerned that with year-round hunting pressure north of the border(s) that the continental crow population might use Mexico as a refuge.....

Couple of comments: This topic has the same tone of rationalizing why shoot this species... Yes crows are predators, crop pests, urban and suburban nusiances because of noise & droppings, can be a carrier for a variety of diseases. However sport hunting cannot reduce their numbers because of their behavior. Hunting will remove problem crows because due to their intellegence they will leave an area permenantly or otherwise modify their behavior. They somehow communicate with other crows and are able to inform them of dangerous locations thereby preventing other birds from becoming a nuisance in the same area. This works because in the winter they roost in huge flocks so every bird gets the info. Use the population control argument on an informed anti-hunter and they will have a field day with it.... The management of migratory birds is under the jurisdiction in lack of better terms of the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Congress entered a treaty in 1918 with Canada and Mexico (the migratory bird treaty act of 1918) under which the three countries work together which makes perfect sense for species which migrate through all three nations. Mexico determined that crows need some protection. All seasons for migratory gamebirds are actually set by the individual states and can be more restrictive than federal guidelines but not less restrictive. The federal guidelines restrict the months which seasons can be open, the maximum bag limits, and also the number of days hunting can be allowed. Only hunting crows on certain days is an effort to extend the season to take advantage of migration and may more effectively pressure nuisance birds. By choosing friday through monday it allows more hunters to hunt weekends. Reference was made to protecting "song birds". You should know that crows ARE a song bird. This is determined by the structure of a species vocal apparatus which gives it the ability to sing complex songs and even mimic other birds. Interestingly doves are called song birds but they are NOT song birds. Crows which sound "nasily" are fish crows which are a little smaller but the best way to tell them apart is by their sound. Crows are edible and likely contain less toxins in their tissues than tuna fish... Most of the toxins are avoided by trimming fat and skin before cooking... I would be more concerned with swallowing a lead pellet, if you are concerned about injesting toxins use non lead ammunition.... Probably more info than bargained for, but anti-hunters are getting more and more informed. Hunters need to keep pace, especially you people in your twenties and thirties because you are going to be the next spokespeople for hunting...

As far as I know, it is the corporate policy of Gander Mountain to allow you to do what you are asking. If we get anyone to set up a GM with literature and a dove petition, we can take your literature too... But I am not going to personally do this and we cant do much more than hand out your stuff as we have our hands more than full... BTW: A recent study by Delta Waterfowl has shown that recruiting adults is working better than recruiting youths.... Also there is an entire focus group for hunting recruitment with a long-term plan within the FWS cooberating with state wildlife agencies... Good Luck!

Here lies the problems... A decision based on the outcome of a public opinion battle is not necessarily a science-based decision by the DEC... Don't restrict blame to politicians, but also to their appointees of the citizen advisory boards to the DEC. These board members are appointed by politicians to represent you and I... Some/most board members have no formal training in conservation biology... Another similairly structured board purportedely represent you and I to function as assurance our license money is spent "wisely". The next link in the chain is the NYSCC - if like me, you choose not to be a member and disagree with nearly everything they promote, your just out of luck.... At least PA is open and transparent about their game commission board members by publishing a mini profile about their backround... No wonder PA implemented AR because half of their board members are into AR and trophy hunting! However PA has a law that I am not sure exists in NY. That law mandates that for every dollar of license money a percentage is put toward habitat... As a result PA has a safety net, it can afford to make some mistakes... Not saying AR are a mistake I will stay nuetrel on this one... My point is whatever the issue the blame is always directed at the DEC staff and the politicians, but not the political appointees and the NYSCC... I don't always agree with the DEC or FWS either, but I also know that too often they are compelled or forced to do things differently than they would have... The other thorn in our side is the Outdoor Writer's Association. They represent institutionalized thinking, are generally believed to be credible, and have the means to reach a large audience. If they are biased or factually wrong they impact policy and opinions...