Tinlodge

I just received word that Senator Gallivan's bill number is S1699. This is the companion bill to A283 submitted by Assemblyman Ryan. These bills are the same bills that were in the Senate and assembly in the last session. Please let you local representatives know you support these bills.

The NYS DEC have taken both studies into consideration along with hunter input....which they ask for each and every year. The micropoll has been linked on several web sites and mentioned in several magazines and newsprint, and yes the poll was published on NYCC FaceBook and Web page...you to can "vote"

1995 and 1999 DEC/Cornell University deer hunting regulations survey, also an on going survey http://www.micropoll...1097485-2082586

Merry Christmas!!!

Another misconception regarding crossbows is that it is easier to shoot with and requires less skill in hunting. Hunting with crossbows still requires the skills needed by a bow hunter to take down his prey even if releasing the arrow is not drawn by hand. You still have to patiently wait for the deer to come close before shooting. Tactics used by a traditional archer is still needed by a crossbow hunter because although shooting does not require much exertion of effort, shooting and aiming accurately is still a skill to master for a successful hunt.

There are plenty of misconceptions about the crossbows. One of the comments we"ve heard from non-crossbow shooters or just hunters who don’t want crossbows used is you shouldn’t allow crossbows in archery season because hunters can shoot deer with a crossbow at 100-plus yards. First off, you can kill a deer with a lot of weapons out to 100 yards, but that doesn’t mean you should try. Sure, someone could aim really high with a vertical bow and let one fly and kill a deer if they hit it at 100 yards. That doesn’t mean they would — or should — try it! The same is true for a crossbow. The trajectory of a crossbow bolt is no flatter than the trajectory of an arrow from a compound bow. Yes, if you aim high enough, you can hit a target at 100 yards. But personally, I feel it is highly unethical to take shots much past 50-60 yards. Even the most expert shots wouldn’t shoot past that. There are simply too many things that can go wrong between the time the shot is taken and the time the bolt arrives. All the animal has to do is take one step and you’ll have a gut shot! Wind becomes a real factor also. A 5 mile per hour breeze will move your bolt 10 inches or so at 50 yards. Just imagine a higher gust!

Crossbow Bills Reintroduced in the Senate and Assembly Great news! Assemblyman Sean Ryan and Senator Pat Gallivan have both reintroduced their crossbow legislation from 2012. The new Assembly bill number is A283 but at this time we don't have the Senate number. We will Send Senate number as soon as we get that information.

We are moving forward into 2013 prepared to pick up where we left off last year. We have commitments from Senator Gallivan and Assemblyman Ryan to introduce legislation that will expand the crossbow use to more than firearms and late muzzleloader seasons. They will be working on the drafting of this in the next few weeks and we will let everyone know when they are ready to introduce it. What needs to happen is for everyone that supports crossbows to go to our web page and join NYCC. We need the support of everyone both in numbers and with the membership dues to help us make sure this happens.

If the governor had signed it there would be no crossbows except during gun season, and no early youth hunts. Now we need to go back and pass a clean bill authorizing the crossbow as a legal hunting implement, and leaving the regulatory authority with the DEC where it belongs.

The Governor has VETOED Sweeney's Bill

New York Crossbow Coalition New York's Grassroots Crossbow Organization comprised and financed solely by New York Sportsmen and women, Bowhunters, former Bowhunters, State and Local Sportsmen Organizations, County Sportsmen Federations, and New York Archery and Sporting Equipment Retailers. Hunting seasons are underway, elections are over and the Holidays are approaching fast. This means the 2013 Legislative session is not far away. 2012 was NYCC's inaugural year, and although we did not realize our goal of full inclusion of crossbows for all game during any season archery equipment is permitted, we were able to elevate the crossbow discussion and advance the legislation through the Senate, only to be stalled in the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee. An extender bill allowing for continuing crossbow use only during firearms and late muzzleloading seasons for deer and bear was introduced and passed both chambers but it has yet to be delivered to the Governor for his consideration and we do not know when that may happen. On February 3rd of this year, New York Crossbow Coalition was born as a Facebook group. The idea of a pro crossbow organization had been festering in my mind since June 2010 when I watched, in disbelief and disgust, the video of the Senate Environmental Committee where a member of New York Bowhunters Inc. claimed to represent ALL bowhunters of New York implying ALL bowhunters oppose crossbow use during archery season. Sitting in front of my computer that February evening I pulled the proverbial trigger and created the NYCC Facebook page. Interest in the group quickly blossomed and before we knew it we were preparing a booth at the 3rd Annual Sportsman Appreciation Day in the Well of the Legislative Office Building at the same time we were quickly evolving into a formal organization. In early March we filed incorporation paperwork, and on March 14th, 2012New York Crossbow Coalition, Inc. became a legal entity. Now here we are, 10 months later, with 656 members, 537 or 82% being current or former bowhunters, all having submitted membership applications. This is a great start but to be successful in 2013 we will need to expand these numbers as well as raise much needed financing. The decision was made for the final weeks of the last legislative session to hire the services of a government affairs (lobbying) firm to help present our message which proved to be beneficial in seeing Senate Bill S6474A passing on the Senate floor as well as being essential in signing 45 members onto Assembly Bill A9682. Moving into 2013 we will need to double down on our efforts. We are pursuing the services of the government affairs firm for the entire 2013 legislative session and this valuable service is far from free. Contrary to the misinformation spread by crossbow opponents, NYCC is not sponsored or financed by any crossbow manufacturer. To the contrary we are financed solely through memberships and the sale of raffle tickets purchased by our members and others that support our goal of crossbows being classified the same as compound, recurve and longbows and other grassroots fundraising. Our projected expenditures for 2013 are between $13,000 and $15,000. Yes that is a large sum of money, but we are serious and dedicated to see crossbows expanded, and wish to see this happen this year. We do not want this dragged out year after year. It is time to make the effort to see this through, once and for all. Lofty goals! Yes, but with the help of those in favor of crossbows becoming a legal hunting implement, and not just for deer and bear, but for all small game, including turkeys as well as for bowfishing this is achievable. Today we are rolling out a 2013 "Early Bird" Membership campaign. Anyone who join's, renews or upgrades to a Full Membership through January 13th, 2013 will be entered in a drawing to win a Carbon Express X-Force 400 crossbow package donated by Insight Archery, Binghamton, NY. The winner will be drawn on January 13th at the 2013 New York Sportsmen Show in Syracuse. Already paid your 2013 dues, don't worry, you are already entered in the drawing. All 2013 Full Members will receive a membership card and our new window sticker. People have asked if we are going to offer NYCC merchandise. I am happy to announce we have partnered with Top Stitch Embroidery and Screen Printing in Chittenango, NY and there is now a NYCC online store. (www.topstitch.com/nycc/home). They offer a variety of hats, shirts, hoodies and jackets with the original NYCC logo along with a new graphic logo. All the apparel is embroidered with the exception of the short sleeve tee shirts which are printed. To introduce this store and apparel to our members we are offering a 10% discount on all orders over $50 placed through December 31st. Simply enter promo code NYCC at checkout and the discount will be applied. With the Holidays right around the corner, NYCC apparel will make a great gift that shows your support for NYCC while helping fund our efforts. In response to requests from sportsmen clubs and federations as well as sporting goods business owners that support crossbow inclusion we have created organizational and business sponsorships at the following levels: $25 for a Supporter, $50 for a Partner, and $100 for an Affiliate. Sponsors will receive a certificate indicating their sponsorship level along with being listed on the NYCC Sponsorship Web Page. If you know of any organization or business that would be interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact me or check the web site for more information. Heading into 2013 we have commitments from our friends in the legislature to have bills filed when the session opens in January. We need to reach out to all the members of the Assembly and Senate that were recently elected or reelected. This is true for you our membership also. It is not too early for you to reach out to your 2013 representatives in Albany and express your position. The more constituents a legislator hears from in support of our position will not only help us when we visit them, it also helps open the door to some that may be apprehensive of crossbows making them more receptive to the information we present. Any contact you have with them and their offices is helpful, but the most effective is to make an appointment and visit them in their district office. If necessary, make your appointment with a staff member if the legislator is unavailable. An office visit holds the most weight in a legislator's mind as it shows you are personally engaged in the issue. I totally understand if a personal visit is not possible. If that is the case, please consider writing them a letter and sending it through the postal service. Believe me, these 2 forms of contact have the greatest impact on the legislator. Legislators believe it's easy to send an email or make a phone call, but those that take the time to visit and or write letters show their commitment. When you visit, make your points, be concise and most importantly, keep the meeting short. They are busy and they have made time to give you an audience and hear your concerns but be respectful of the amount of things they have to deal with. 5 to 10 minutes is all it should take to make your point. If they ask questions you may be there longer, but let them control that part of the meeting. Don't go into the office expecting to sit down for a half hour and have a lengthy discussion as if you are old high school pals. Don't feel like it was a waste of your time if you don't get more than the 5 or 10 minutes. That brief time sends a very strong message and is valuable to our cause. Phone calls and emails are also useful. If these are your preferred methods of communication please don't hesitate. Any contact helps, so please make an effort somehow. 2013 is going to be a busy and important year for us. On December 31st the current legislation expires, so future crossbow use is really on the line, we either work hard to secure the crossbows future in New York starting in January, or we face the prospect that we won't even be permitted to use them during the firearms seasons as we presently can. We are up to the challenge, are you? So what can you do? 1. If you haven't already, join, renew or upgrade to a full membership for 2013 to help with the cost of this endeavor. 2. Give someone a gift of NYCC merchandise or a 2013 full membership for the Holidays. 3. Reach out to your legislators elect before the end of 2012 and ask them to support full inclusion of crossbows as the majority of the sporting community including bowhunters desire, as reflected in the Cornell Statewide Deer Hunter Survey - 2010. 4. Promote a sponsorship of NYCC to your local clubs, federations, businesses and sporting shops. NYCC is truly a grassroots organization. I am convinced from the feedback I receive there is enough support to achieve our goal of full crossbow inclusion but we need to work together. Remember Together WE WILL Succeed! I would like to take a moment to thank everyone that supports what we are doing and thank you for your help. Truly, we cannot make this happen without a strong membership. Here's to a safe hunting season As we head into the Holidays, please pray for our troops, may God watch over them and return them safely to their loved ones. Merry Christmas and Happy New Years to you and your family. Rick McDermott President New York Crossbow Coalition www.nycrossbowcoalition.com [email protected] www.topstitch.com/nycc/home (store) p.s. Some people that gave us an email address are not receiving our emails because we are not on their preferred email list. Please make sure you add [email protected] [email protected] and [email protected] to your preferred senders and address books.

PETA Urges People to Break the Law Posted on October 11, 2012 There was no denying that PETA opposes hunting. Now the animal rights group also is on record urging people to violate laws—make that hunter harassment laws. In an October 9, 2012 blog posting, PETA urges its minions to: “Help counter the cruelty of hunting in your area: Post “No Hunting” signs on your land and that of sympathetic neighbors and friends, join or form a local anti-hunting group, protest organized hunts, and spread deer repellent or human hair (from barber shops) near hunting areas. Also, before supporting any wildlife or conservation group, make sure that it opposes hunting.” Fortunately for hunters, these tactics constitute hunter harassment, a practice that is illegal in all fifty states and also on federal land. The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) championed the enactment of these laws during the 1980’s and 1990’s in response to a campaign entitled “Hints for Hunt Saboteurs” by the anti-hunting organization, Friends of Animals. The Sportsmen’s Alliance also helped defend state hunter harassment laws in both Iowa and New Jersey courts when challenged by the anti-hunting lobby. The result has been protection for American sportsmen and women from the exact sort of thing being promoted by PETA. “It may be hunter harassment in itself for PETA to be encouraging others to break the law,” observed USSA president and CEO, Bud Pidgeon. “If indeed there are foolish people out there who follow the PETA directive to harass hunters, I would not be surprised to see the authors of this article charged as well as the perpetrators.” Hunters encountering protestors, deer repellent or other items placed in their hunting areas should immediately contact their local Conservation Officer (game warden) or local sheriff’s department and report the violation. Source: http://www.ussportsm...-break-the-law/

Do have a source of the statement? Or is it your prediction?

Congrats to all of the boys and girls and their mentors for such a safe and memorable hunt...

Have fun with her! nothing like creating that bond...

your daughter will be going with you, but not carrying her pink longbow, then that's not hunting, thats teaching and being a mentor...sorry I misunderstood your wording

You'll be allowing a six year old to hunt illegally? In NYS? Seems like an awful big chance to loose your hunting rights...

DEC Announces Details for Columbus Day Weekend Youth Deer Hunt - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservawww.dec.ny.gov The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has confirmed that junior hunters ages 14-15 will be able to hunt deer during a special youth firearms deer season over Columbus Day Weekend this year, October 6 through October 8, 2012.

Crossbow bill delayed. Governor asking if some kind of compromise can be reached

New York Crossbow Coalition is holding a Demonstration, Annual Meeting and Picnic August 25th at the Albion Fish and Game Club, Just east of Pulaski. Come join us and shoot one of the available crossbows or bring your own. Picnic includes Pulled Pork, Hotdogs, Burgers, Salt Potato's, and more Can Raffles and 50/50. Come enjoy the day with other pro crossbow sportsmen and women and show your support for crossbow inclusion in New York. Coming from out of town, here's some other things happening in the area. NY State Fair runs Aug 23rd through Sept 3rd in Syracuse, the annual Salmon run begins in late August, the Salmon River Fish Hatchery is a 5 minute ride and the Salmon River Falls are 10 minutes from the picnic. There is plenty of camping as well as lodging in the area. Check nycrossbowcoalition.com for additional information. See the attached flyer for full details. Hope to see you there, Rick McDermott New York Crossbow Coalition www.nycrossbowcoalition.com 2012 Annual Picnic.pdf

Great pictures!

Good day! Two articles for your reading pleasure. Essentially nothing changed from the previous law. Crossbows are legal during firearms and late muzzleloading seasons for deer and bear only. This years legislation extended this through 2014. This does not mean we will not be pursuing this again in January, but the extension did keep crossbows as legal hunting implements although heavily restricted. http://www.outdoorne...down-in-Albany/ Elliott Column.pdf

Although it is not what we were pushing for, A10583-A and S7705-A have passed the Assembly and Senate. We were opposed to the original version of these bills due to the language that eliminated early bear & muzzleloader seasons and worse yet the youth pheasant and waterfowl hunts. These amended versions will allow for the continued use of crossbows for big game during firearms and late muzzleloading season only through 2014 Since we were not able to get the Ryan bill to the floor, there is value in having the current crossbow language extended and not having it expire. One of the problems in Albany is if the current law expires then we have no current standing to work from, we would need to begin from scratch, and all the hard word and momentum we achieved this year could possibly be lost. As a result, we are not taking any official position on the amended bill. We have heard from numerous members from both parties in both houses that they plan on bringing this back into the 2013 legislative session and not wait until 2014. Many that voted in favor of this bill did so to make sure the crossbow remains alive for the future, not because they believe it is in the season where it belongs. Please, before you confront your legislator on this issue, inquire about why they voted as they did and inquire about their position on this for

Larry Becker passed this along this morning. Please take the time to make the calls In my haste to get my note out prior to a meeting last night I did not include phone numbers. Obviously you can call whoever you want but my priority order is: 1. Governor Cuomo: 518-474-8390 note: may have to leave a message if you cannot wait to talk to a person. 2. Assembly speaker Sheldon Silver: 518-455-3791 3. DEC Commissioner Joe Martens: 518-402-8545 4. Assembly Majority Leader Ron Canestrari: 518-455-4474 5. Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb: 518-455-3751 A staff member will answer. Do not expect to talk to the actual contact. Politely request that their boss do whatever he can to bring A9682 (Ryan)to a floor vote next week and that you are in favor of it passing. If the line is busy do not give up it may mean those that support are truly calling but it also may mean the opposition is requesting the bill never sees the light of day.

The above video has been presented to the Legislature, with negative impact! It has been described as a gun, because of the AR lower. We are members of both the American Crossbow Federation and North American Crossbow Federation, also.