jjb4900

Hopefully, the hunter's who don't keep on top of the latest regulation changes and don't voice their opinions will wake up and start voicing their opinions and maybe we can swing things back to get rid of the antler restrictions. The people who are on top of things and are vocal are usually heard, which is why antler restrictions were implemented, most hunters have no interest other than when hunting season rolls around. This is in no way a dig at the folks who pushed for restrictions, they are involved year round and pushed for what they wanted and got it...lesson learned. I can say for fact, that the majority of hunter's I know did not get involved and sat back and hoped for the best.

But, with that being said, I give them credit for their fight to accomplish what they stand for, hope everyone takes notice of the importance of being vocal in what you believe in.

I got my renewal notice for NYBowhunter's today, sorry to say I won"t be renewing. Although I supported their stance on keeping crossbow's out of the Archery season for able bodied hunter's, I am unhappy with their fight to squash a youth hunt....my guess is they will lose more members this year then they bring in.....just my opinion.

Well, we have the restrictions now, so we'll see how it goes. Hopefully everyone who is now hunting these areas is aware of the changes as DEC doesn't mail out regulations with licenses bought online, not sure if they send em out to lifetime license holders or not. Guaranteed they will be uninformed hunters out there who have no clue....we hunt next to an antler restriction zone and last year there were bucks brought into the local butcher,from restriction zones, that didn't make the size restriction, and unfortunately, or fortunately, DEC stopped in while these deer were being processed and fined the hunters........and guaranteed, if the youth hunt doesn't get final approval, there will be guys out there hunting with their kid's because they think it passed, and I have already talked to guys who were under the impression it did.

I respect your opinions as I hope you respect mine, and you responded like gentlemen............good hunting!!! gentlemen..............good hunting!

who's clueless, me?.......if so, fill me in.

I'm not saying you're wrong about the support for antler restrictions, just arguing your statement that DEC doesn't base and can not base their law making on the wants and needs of a special group...that's how antler restrictions came into play.

I've shot both..same smile.....my dad has shot both as well, and yup ,same smile, but it's getting harder and harder for him to get around, do you feel ok telling him and other's like him that they might never take another buck because YOU want a bigger one?........problem is, we don't all have the same opportunities on the land we hunt...........so this argument could go on and on.

sorry, but antler restrictions are based on the wants of a small / special group...I never mentioned any illegal activity in my post. DEC did make their antler restriction's at the voice of a few vocal hunter's.

not to mention, a hunter's first deer is probably just as important as their last....have you ever seen the look on an older hunter's face when they get a deer? it gives them the chance to say "hey, I still got it".....much more important than showing off a big rack. If anyone has an aging father or relative, I hope you can relate.....we've really messed up the meaning of hunting if it come's down to antler size.

here's an example, we have a house next to a man who is 90+ years old, every year he get's a buck, spike or 4p, pretty sure he don't care about eating antlers ....it's a struggle for him to drag himself to his hunting spot, but he does it unassisted and get's his deer. he doesn't own enough land to get a landowner's permit and is not guaranteed a dmp.....he feeds himself and his blind wife on what he get's...is it fair that now he may not get that food because of the restriction's? I'm sure he's not the only one who rely's on a deer for food...the antler restriction proponent's certainly have no idea how this affects these people.

not a fan of restrictions, what about the guy's who don't have time to live on the internet because they are too busy working dusk till dawn working on their farms, and have no idea what's going on because they have more important things to do, like making a living? not to mention that DEC does not poll everyone and goes on what special interest groups with money push for? believe it or not, some folks don't hunt for antlers....

yup, turkey and and small game...people shooting up into trees for squirrel with a .22, now if that ain't dangerous, I don't know what is...certainly not a youth under adult supervision shooting at a deer.

This kind of stuff should not happen, to allow special interest groups and politics interfere with wildlife management is outrageous......the whole crossbow / antler restriction / youth hunt debate is dividing hunters instead of making us stronger....I will not be renewing my NYB membership after this year, but if the youth hunt gets squashed, I will use that weekend to take my son up to sight in all 10 of our rifles, my vacation I took to take my son hunting will not be wasted!!

Gray Fox

Is there a deadline for signing the bill that would block the youth hunt?

The term being "selfish", can be applied to both sides of the argument, I'm all for the youth season, that makes me selfish for wanting my son to have an advantage over others for allowing him to have a shot at a deer before the regular season opens, those that oppose it are selfish for not wanting an interferance in the bow season. I take my son out with me as often possible and when school allows. I still don't agree with the safety issue. the only legitamate reason people want or don't want it is for personal reason's.....much like antler restrictions.

I can simplify my opinion by saying I think people want or don't want a youth season for selfish reason's....me included.

ok, you're right on might take...and I respect you because you're probably one of then informed people who post. But, I still think that most opposition is based on personal ideals, I still think the one's opposed to it, base their argument on what they have to, to keep bow season a "bow" only season. Some argue it's a safety issue and some argue it's because a crossbow is not a "bow" (and I agree) and no other weapon should be allowed during the archery season...tough issue.....I just have a tough time with the safety argument, because if you look at the statistics of hunting accident's i'm pretty sure most accident's have occurred between people in the same hunting party and not by strangers.

Hunting season's and the dates they're held don't kill other hunter's, irresponsible hunter's kill other hunter's, To suggest that people are opposed to the youth season for any other reason then that it may screw up their bow hunting is ridiculous.

I also think that allowing youth's to use their tags for either sex during the regular season is a good alternative to not having a designated youth season. I take my son as often as possible, but giving him a chance at a buck can be a challenge.

I think everyone should take note and realize the importance of voicing your opinion on what you think is important , NY Bowhunters is a strong organization and keep on top of what they believe in, they keep on top of what is going on and fight for what they have, and want to keep what they have and get more if possible. If you only have a vocal few, your chances of making a difference are greatly diminished. In my opinion this is the same reason antler restrictions were implemented, the ones who are in favor were very vocal and the majority who weren't, sat back and hoped for the best or were not informed as to what was going on and were under the impression that DEC made the call as to what was implemented or not. I for one, took the time to write DEC and lawmakers and voiced my opinion, but you have to wonder how many others just sat back and waited to see what happened.