wztirem

Wild turkeys are not color impaired. In fact, they can see color very well. Their vision is telescopic and gives them the abilty to see details clearly (from one hundred yards thay can distinguish a human eye blink). Inaddition their vision extends 180 degrees. I have killed but one turkey in over 30 years. For those turkey hunters who are continually successful, my hats off to them. As far as hunting them safely, the DEC's website offers very good advice!

As I hunt on State Lands,I sit the entire day aglow in blaze orange in a well scouted out location and most oftentimes I see deer and have the opportunity to pick and choose. If I do not see any deer, at least I had the opportunity to savor the experience. Note: I am scared to death of walking around on State Land during the open firearms season!

Amen to this POST + + +

My question is this: can deer see Orange? You can look it up- They cannot. Can most hunters see it- You betcha! I for one would like any hunter near to me to see where I am and so would my loved ones!!!!!!!

You too! I missed Empire for the past several months. My feelings regsrding the state of hunting in NY are guarded considering the fiscal crisis within the state. I am greatly disappointed that the NYSDEC did not impose greater penalties regarding reporting deer kills etc. Better information will settle a lot of arguments and make the DEC's job in managing the deer population (by DMU) a lot easier. As it stands the arguments amongst those who care (sites like this) will continue. Unfortunately the posters to this site represent a very small voice (perhaps not a silent majority's opinion) of the state of deer hunting in NY. You do realize that that the arguments amongst us will heat up! All I can say is have a thick skin! Great hearing from you, Bill

Hello all! Glad to see this website up and running after Empire discontinued its service. In any event I live in East Meadow NY and hunt throughtout NY State taking advantage of all seasons. I have been an avid hunter for over 35 years who relishes the bow season ( huntinting with a recurve bow) and also enjoys the both the regular gun season and the late ML season. What concerns me most these days is the in -fighting amongst the ranks regarding AR and crossbows and season lengths. We should be grateful for the generous seasons,protect them and fight those who wish to eliminate or restrict our rights to hunt in lieu of fightng amongst ourselves. Good luck to us all this upcoming seaon and be safe!

Larry- I am not a big fan of AR, but the question you had about whether or not we can tell taxpaying landowners how to hunt on their own land has been answered years ago when the 3" antler rule was established and the seasons, and all the other regulations. Should we be adding to those restrictions? ..... Well that's another issue. I don't believe we should unless there is one huge, important, well documented and scientifically proven reason that involves the health and perpetuation of the species. I'm not sure the AR crowd has met that standard yet. Your second point about how strong the convictions are of the QDM and AR proponents is a valid one ...... I think. I believe there is a huge difference between answering some kind of poll vs. the decisions we make out in the field when the deer steps out into the clear. I think also it is a lot easier to stand up for a concept as long as it is just a concept than it is when it is an actual law. Another thing is, just who is going to sit around with a bunch of other hunters and start preaching for killing 1.5 year old deer? So there may be a lot of hunters who are just saying what they believe their peers want to hear. So if the harvests don't reflect what we hear from hunters, I guess I'm not surprised. It kind of makes sense. Doc As the majority of huntable land in NY resides in private hands, let those owners of such lands impose antlers resticictionspon thosewho hunt such lands. Public lands should not be subjected to AR.

Doc, Just cut to the chase, you are against the introduction of crossbows! Elminate the rhetoric, for you you just like to argue. Move on please! we are tired of yiur act!

If at was that simple there would be no reason to belabor the point of whether or not AR is or is not necessary. As diverse as the habitat is in NY, AR may be necessary in some DMU's but not state wide. As it stands right now, it is a personal choice. The DEC sees no need to expand the program,after all they encourage hunters to kill as many deer as their tags will allow.

My point is that we need a much better representative sample to believe the DEC statistics. All those hunters who fail to report their kills are doing themselves and all their fellow hunters a disservice.

I agree, but such numbers would be the only way to make a real, fair comparison. The statistics will only become believable once the percentage of hunters reporting their kills increases. The formula which the DEC uses to estimate deer kills renders, in my opinion such statistics unreliable.

We are running out of warm bodies!

My agenda is that it is wrong to keep any archery equipment out of the season based on anyone's desire that only their choice is "the one". And is is more then a little hypocritical of anyone using a modern tricked out compound to be against crossBOWS because they are "too easy". If you want to suggest I have any other agenda, man up and post it rather then make vague accusations and dance around it. Steve, I understand your point completely! As an avid bowhunter (recurve)for over thirty years I have "NO PROBLEM" with allowing crossbows to be used during any big game season! If the state could generate additional revenue by the sale of crossbow licenses to offset DEC operating costs, I am all for it. If the introduction of crossbows during archery season attracts new hunters, enables former bowhunters with disabilities to bowhunt again, I am for it.

Good post NYhunter! What is most important these days is to get more people interested in hunting.

I must say, its great to have a site like this! Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!