erussell

Use to get nice browns out of the no kill area below the 17 bridge on black woolly buggars and big streamers. Seen a few in there that looked as long as my leg sipping tiny little midges off the surface. Pretty funny a brown that big would still eat something that small.

Interesting study on PA hunters with GPS trackers. I can see this, Some of the stateland I hunt once you get back in 1/2 mile or so on some of the tracks without trails you will never see another hunter and lots of deer are there. http://www.northamericanwhitetail.com/deermanagement/dm_0304GPSresearch/

I think the rack has already been destroyed if it is a fake or some dasterdly deed will befall it before anyone finds out it will just dissapear.

So won't antler restrictions to ;D

Could you point me to that DEC wording, please? Seems to me that the DEC should not be voicing any opinions about illegal weapons. The data does not support that statement, or you and Culver's opinion. There are more crossbow hunters than bowhunters in OH. The gap gets bigger each year. When VA legalized crossbows, they lost 14,000 bowhunters in 2 years. I though crossbow persons considered themselves bow hunters. So your admitting crossbows are really not bows at all but something other than? Sorry just have to stoke the fire

Have been bugging my friend the last couple of weeks to go over to the land he hunts and check for sheds. We'll he went over to a NYBB scorers house that boarders the land to see if he knew if the big boy he has been seeing up there was shot and the guy said he didn't think so but there were no sheds on the land because he already got permission from the land owner and looked. But he wanted to see the video of the buck so he could compare it to his trail came photos. And boy does he have some nice bucks on cam. He did say he scored 2 bucks that came of the hill and both were in the 140's.

Did you ever pick one up? What caliber did you get?

I'm so far just for AR's in the southern Zone only. Anything AR in the snow belt to the Adirondacks IMO is probably a waste of time. I don't think the habitat is there unless the forever wild people throw up there hands and let the state start to clear cutting the ADK's. Which everyone knows isn't going to happen. The worst thing the state of NY could ever have done was let the ADK go unmanaged. I spent a week in the Cedar river flow a few yrs back and was amazed at the lack of wildlife except rabbits, mice and chipmonks.

I think thats what they want us to do, throw up our hands and stop hunting. The Anti's are behind this somehow, just don't know who. Not a real conspiracy believer but you starve a dog long enough it's going to die. My question is where are all the sportsman groups that are supposed to be watching these people?

http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011104020348 Don Walker of Horseheads can probably show you every hole in Catharine Creek where big rainbow trout lurk during the spring spawning run. But when it comes to the state agency that regulates trout fishing and other wildlife programs, Walker is baffled. Two years ago, New York hiked sporting license fees across the board to help keep the state Department of Environmental Conservation solvent. Since then, DEC has been hit with 140 layoffs, closed two environmental education centers and eliminated some lab functions including effluent testing at wastewater treatment plants. The cuts leave Walker and others wondering where exactly their money is going. "We don't know yet who is being impacted by it," Walker said. "Are fish hatcheries impacted by it, and the pheasant program? It's a tricky thing as far as I'm concerned." Disappearing dollars The DEC is one of the largest and most diverse state agencies -- managing everything from waste disposal to oil and natural gas exploration. Its 2010-11 budget was more than $514 million. But for those who hunt, fish and trap -- more than 2 million New Yorkers in 2008-09 -- DEC is also the agency that uses their license dollars to manage New York's fish and wildlife resources. The money that is spent on those licenses goes into the Conservation Fund, which provides the majority of funding for the state's wildlife programs. The money in that fund is not to be allocated for other DEC programs such as enforcement of natural gas drilling regulations, for instance. Two years ago, state officials sounded the alarm because the Conservation Fund was in the red. The answer -- the Legislature approved across-the-board increases for all sporting license fees. The cost of both resident fishing and hunting licenses went from $19 to $29, and the cost of a sportsman (combined) license rose from $37 to $47. Now the fund has a healthy surplus, a bulge that continues to grow, in fact, because it isn't being spent. The Conservation Fund balance on March 31, 2010, was $9.6 million. This year, the balance is projected to be $22.24 million. At the same time, the DEC has been hit with reduced work force, centers and lab work. "Even though this is 100 percent paid for by license fees, there are still limitations imposed by the Division of Budget," said Jason Kemper, chairman of the Conservation Fund Advisory Board. "The fund is solvent. It's growing rapidly. But at the same time, we have issues in hatcheries and staff that we can't backfill. These are issues that can easily be resolved. "We stepped up to the plate. We are the only interest group that pays for what we use," Kemper said. "We pay a vast majority of the staff and resources in our department. The tough part is we pay for the services up front. We buy licenses for the next fiscal year. Now we're not able to spend the money that their license dollars pay for." If sportsmen are unhappy with the return on their investment, fewer of them will buy licenses and go afield, Kemper fears. And that will mean more than just the loss of that license revenue. "It's a double whammy because a lot of our federal aid is off of license dollars," Kemper said. "If we can't keep the level of service that we did in the past, we lose licenses." The state receives about $22 million annually in federal aid for sport fish and wildlife restoration as well as other programs. Agency in crosshairs Under the state budget approved March 31, all state agencies, including DEC, will see their funding cut 10 percent, said state Sen. Tom O'Mara, R-Big Flats. It will be up to the executive branch to decide how to implement those cuts, and O'Mara said he is concerned about the impact on the sportsman. "Times are tough. We're dealing with a $10 billion deficit, and everyone is taking hits, from education to health care and everything in between," O'Mara said. "We just need to make sure our voices are heard, that the priorities be kept in place, and that we maintain the great outdoor sporting activities that we have here in New York." While the Conservation Fund continues to build a surplus, DEC is trying to get by with fewer staff in the office and in the field. Facilities such as the Rogers Environmental Education Center in Chenango County and Stony Kill Education Center in Dutchess County have been shuttered, aging fish hatcheries face expensive repairs, and conservation officers are patrolling larger and larger areas. Sometimes one officer has to cover an entire county. Doug Stang feels the pinch. Stang is DEC's assistant director of fish, wildlife and marine resources and an avid outdoorsman. DEC is still struggling to figure out how to effectively manage those natural resources after losing many key players and funding, Stang said. "We may not do everything as well as it used to get done. We're still grappling with what our reduced capacity is," he said. "There were things many of those employees did that nobody else did. Every program has constituents. If anything starts to slide, those of us who are left hear about it." State officials certainly heard from the sporting community a few years ago when then-Gov. David Paterson attempted to shut down the state's last remaining pheasant-rearing facility, the Reynolds Game Farm near Ithaca, because of budget woes. The move would have saved $750,000 -- none of which was paid through tax dollars -- and sportsmen's groups that normally focus on their own niche rallied in support of pheasant hunters and against the cuts. Paterson ultimately dropped the plan to close the game farm, but sportsmen's groups were wary of his administration after that. Many of them are waiting to see if Gov. Andrew Cuomo is a friend or enemy to the outdoor community. "Paterson didn't care about sportsmen's issues," Kemper said. "I'm hoping we will make better progress with this administration." For Stang, a 28-year DEC veteran, the fight is personal. He not only manages the state's wildlife resources, he and his family enjoy them. Stang wants to make sure those natural treasures are there for his own family and all New Yorkers to enjoy, but when people ask him what the future holds, he can't make any promises. "I don't have an easy answer for them," Stang said. "I'm also a license buyer. Many of us here are, and we want to make sure that we have good, enjoyable, successful experiences when we go out there. "I am still very certain that I and my friends and family and going to go out and have a really good time in our boat catching fish," Stang said. "My son had his first year for turkey hunting. We had great experiences. That part of it I'm very enthusiastic about. The budget aspects are less certain." Sportsmen anxious With trout fishing season now under way, area outdoor enthusiasts are seeing one tangible benefit from their license dollars. So far, state budget woes haven't seriously affected the state's trout stocking program, but there are big question marks beyond this year, said Ken Osika, manager of the Bath fish hatchery. The hatchery already had to shorten the hours it's open to the public because of staff cuts. "On weekends we'll be closing at 11:30 instead of 4, which I hate to do. People like to visit during the weekends," Osika said. "We don't know what's going to happen after April 1. It's an unknown right now." All that uncertainty is unsettling to local anglers and others who enjoy the outdoors. "Yeah, we're worried about that. They did cut DEC officers in the area. You can call them, but you usually don't see someone right away," said Jim Laskaris, president of the Catharine Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited. "Of course the state took a big hit in the fish program. We were afraid they were going to cut back to a smaller amount of fish. That didn't happen to our county yet," Laskaris said. "Eventually though, it will trickle down to the sportsman. Of course we're the ones who pay for it. It is a concern to all sportsmen." Laskaris believes things like habitat improvement will fall by the wayside as the state shifts money elsewhere, unless counties and local conservation groups step up and try to pick up the slack. Mike Warren of Hornell, president of the Steuben County Federation of Sportsmen, is even more pessimistic in his assessment of the situation. "I think people were concerned about that before they had the big hit. Definitely yes, I'm disappointed that they are making cuts in staffing and stuff in DEC for sure," Warren said.

Don't understand people who drink beer. Why not just drink a bucket of cow pizzzz. Especially all the putrid swill that was named here. Have a really hard time finishing a bottle of beer unless there is a funnel involved. Now wine on the other hand is tolerable as long as its not to dry. Use to like jack and some vodkas, drink them straight and chase with water. Got in a lot of trouble that way so I had to lay of the Hard stuff. Oh yeah and I love's me some hard cider

I'm actually for crossbow's as long as they put in antler restrictions to ;D You crossbow guys have got to give a little to get a lot

I did notice some flatening of the neck on some of the 1st rounds I shot like it was having a hard time feeding the 1st couple of rounds. Could have just been I didn't have the mag in straight. It was a real challenge getting the full mag in when I first started shooting. Seemed to smooth out after I shot a few mags though. I took it apart and gave it a really good cleaning and light oiling so we'll see how it gos on the next round. It really flings the spent caseing

Going to sighn up with NYB sometime this week if I get a chance and maybe pick up one of there snazy hoodies to.

Send the pics to the DEC they are interested in sightings. If you go to the bottom of the page there is an email address there. http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/9368.html

Where's that? Salmon River? Some of them steelies look really fresh to the river. Where'ed you get the laker, down by the river mouth?

Just got back and finished taking it apart and cleaning and oiling it. I also had to re super glue the screws into the base, added a little xtra this time, last time i didn't put enough on I think, pulled back on the scope after I was done shooting and it moved backwards a little. Was more of a learning experience this time than anything. Takes a bit of practice getting a loaded magazine in and seated properly. Also I noticed when you slam the bolt forward to load a bullet you have to push forward on the handle a little to get it to seat the 1st bullet correctly. I think its a little tight because its brand new. Other than that I had no jams, shot groups I expected out of a semi with a 18 inch barrel at 100yrds and was more than pleased to shoot 20 rounds of 30-06 and not even have a sore shoulder. The gas operation took a ton of recoil out of the gun, my 308 bolt gun had more recoil than this 30-06. Will need another 20 rounds to smooth things out and get a better feel for the gun Might grab a box of 180's and 150's just to see if they shoot better. I also found some 125's but I think that may be a little light.

Checked a section of the creek today for about 3 hours. Tons of droppings, zero antlers. > Stupid deer, Guess I'll just have to get them the old fashion way and shoot them in the fall

Absolutely hate having a quiver on my bow. I like the back quivers, have one with a pack on it like this. Love it!

Could never understand why people take pics of deer with there toungue hanging out. I just cut it off and toss it after I gut them out, not like they need it anymore.

Most of it is open hardwoods but there are pockets of pine cover that I was checking out and the trails leading from one to another. Lots of droppings everywhere around the thick pines but no antlers. Must be doe groups. I hope the bucks just all wintered together and I'll all the sudden run into a dozen or so shed's. just have to keep walking and looking. I suspect they were in the thick pines along the creek but still to much snow down there.

Spent 2 hours tonight on the south facing slope and found nothing but a bunch of big rubs. To much snow in the valleys still, maybe by june it will start to melt : Suposse to get another 7in by saturday so maybe by july.

Need to find a material like they make the ghost blinds out of. You could clean up the industry with that invention.

saw alot more bucks this yr to. Last yr was so warm I saw only one a small spike. This yr we started out bow cold so my buck sightings were way up. I think alot of the bucks last yr were just laying around because it was so warm and unless you walked over one you didn't see anything. I think this is the cause as to why there were more bucks this yr than the previous yr in my area atleast.

lucky for him he was only a half mile from an old logging road and it took him and a female client he was guiding an hour to get the deer out.