SteveB

Here is simple one for roast, the round or even trimmings - pulled venison. Make enough - there will be no leftovers. Put the meat in a crockpot with a package of onion soup mix and a cup or so of water. Cook on low several hours or overnite till it falls art easily. Drain most of the liquid and add a bottle of Dinosaur, Sweet Baby Ray's or your favorite barbaque sause - some jalopeno's if you fancy. Mix thoroughly and serve on a good roll.

You don't think it's possible for one counties sportsman's club to total 2000 members - a generous estimate of NYB's total STATEWIDE membership? County Federations include all sportsman organizations. Thru archery leagues, 3d shoots, and local sportsman's club's, I interact regularly with 100 plus hunters who bowhunt. Overwhelming attitude is they are not interested in using a crossbow, but would have no problem with them being allowed with all other archery equipment in the bow season - at least 80% plus. Since their not interested for themselves, they are not forming a crossbow org and probably would not join one until it effects them close to home. Not that different then NYB struggle to even get 1% of the licensed bowhunters in the state - and again that number is generous. Fact is the crossbow where legal has not ruined or had any effect on those choosing to hunt with real bows - or even those shooting compounds. ;D

From the article: "the biggest outcry coming from the New York Bowhunters, a relatively small organization that — as Columbia County Sportsmen’s Federation Vice President Jim Bertram pointed out when the meeting came to a conclusion — has less members on its roster for the entire state than the Columbia County Sportsmen Federation has in the county." And I don't believe Columbia County is even that big.

Letters going tomorrow. Thanks

http://www.registerstar.com/articles/2010/06/03/columnists/outdoors/doc4c0734afc110d893809425.txt 2 quotes from the article: "the biggest outcry coming from the New York Bowhunters, a relatively small organization that — as Columbia County Sportsmen’s Federation Vice President Jim Bertram pointed out when the meeting came to a conclusion — has less members on its roster for the entire state than the Columbia County Sportsmen Federation has in the county." "A handful of NYB members stood outside the conference room, as did several people who oppose hunting all together. And, had I not recognized some of the faces, or for the signs the NYB were holding, it would have been difficult to tell the two apart."

Hunters that don't report are a huge problem and we will never be able to get the info needed to accurately attempt to manage numbers for the habitat. If that could be done, then discussion would become feasible on attempting to balance the age structure. PM me your email address and I will send you the report on the stats I gave. Thanks

Spikes for the most part are late born bucks here in CNY and most likely will mature. But nearly 60% of the 1.5 bucks in the 3 wmu's around me are 6 pt or better. AR would target the best of the 1.5's and protect the older bucks that never will be 6pt or better. Net result is about the same # of 1.5 being killed. The DEC has neither the resources or methods to even give an accurate accounting of the overall population. They is no way they could accurately evaluate a program like AR. PA after several years still cannot reach consensus on their AR experiment. And Mississippi has seen hygrading effect their bucks to the point where 3.5 and 4.5 bucks are averaging significantly smaller average racks.

I think it is a fine voluntary program.

I make them because I feel there would be no impact other then allow some hunters to stay in the game longer. And I feel most all the arguements against are based on emotion and not fact. Ei: increaded poaching, flooded with slobs etc. I am a sales rep for a fireplace company - no profit motive or any way to gain a penny from their legalization. You and most others don't know me, but if I felt there was any negative at all, I would never support them for profit. Bowhunting is my only real passion and I would never do anything to hurt it for me or others. That really is it. I have never met or corresponded with WNYBuckHunter, but feel his motivation is similar. Thanks for the discussion without the rancor that usually happens.

My reason is simple. The horse has long been out of the barn with the compound. The modern compound is but a distant cousin at best to the weapons that the bows seasons where started with - long bows and recurves. The compound and crossbow are more like big and little brothers with the crossbow actually being older by some several 100 years. To allow the modern compound and not crossbows makes no sense to me whatsoever. Either return the bow season to trad only or allow all archery equipment. Either is fine with me. Or baring that, make the use of treestands and shoot thru window groundblinds illegal in bow season so no weapon has the advantage of a hidden draw from the quarry. That's as clean as it gets.

Chevy - again, I hunt with a recurve. Thanks

I simply tell my story and experiances - if that is negative, it is what it is. I spent 3+ years as a member - was a county co-rep for almost 2. Never saw a questionaire or had recieved any attempt to communicate with me other then an occassional request to man a booth in a membership drive. I offered repeatedly my services to do more - even when I was still anti xbow to no availe. I repeat - I do not hate the org - they do a ton of great work. I think attempting to get them to open up so members would feel they are part of the org and allow their involvement and imput is a very positive thing. NYB could be an extremely powerful force for ALL bowhunters in the state if they choose to. And I would be the first to return and support them with greater vigor then I use now to show their shortcomings as an organization that is far from member driven. And trying to paint me as an anti or animal rights person is not even a weak arguement.

If you read my other post, I freely admit I have neither the time or skills needed but would assist and support anyone who does. This does not mean I am willing to acceptthe only org because it is the only one. The fact is in their current mode, NYB is not representing us and show no inclination to change. You admit they have problems as well - how do we get them to change if they reuse to allow input from their members? Retorical question needing no answer as nothing will happen until they open up.

Welcome aboard!

We will not have enough organizations in NY until we have one for bowhunters willing to communicate openly with them and that has the tools in place to do so.

Bring it on!

They have and continue to a lot of positive things. But they have some positions that simply are not allowed to be discussed by the handful that controls the organization. I have been a member twice - the 1st time while I still supported the banning of crossbows. I found it impossible even then to work for any change what so ever from within. General membership is notified of all decisions after they are made and no input is sought prior. While they are the only bowhunting only org in NY, the membership represents less then 1% of NY bowhunters. I sincerely wish there was a way to open them up so info and opinions could be shared proactively rather then reactively with the members - but currently that is not the case. Failing that I feel we do need another org that would better represent all bowhunters. I have neither the time or skills to organize such a group, but would be willing to join and actively support one.

Plus you can get 2 signed over. Got 2 for 7J last year.

I can shoot as far as my bow will shoot in my back yard. Plus a friend of mine has a shop with a 30 yd range 4 miles from me. So I shoot at least a couple times a week year round - sometimes a 100 arrows, sometimes only a couple.

Great post - the presumptious of that guy is amazing - but typical.

Found you guys - missed the old site. Figured Doc was having withdrawals ;D Steve