nyslowhand

Did any of you expand the justification section of the linked legislation via the "expand arrow"? Hunter satisfaction is the only justification, which goes back to how ARs got implemented in certain areas a few years ago. The old proverbial squeaky wheel theorem! NOTHING to do with whitetail mgmt or science based facts! Was solely based on the DEC's surveys showing less than 1/2 ( ≤ ~40%) of NYS hunters were satisfied with their opportunities of taking a mature buck. IMO, just a very sad example of what deer hunting in NYS has evolved into in today's world.

Maybe just me or my PC, couldn't look at Photobucket links. Anyways... More power to you for using traditional equipment. Looks like real feather fletchings too. You da man! Now all you need is a volunteer for the William Tell final test! Not me, perhaps Phade... LOL

The #1 factor in using a diaphragm turkey call is getting it to fit in the roof of your mouth properly. Takes a lot of experimentation with trimming the edges and bending the frame to fit snuggly into the contour of the roof of your mouth... a little at a time. The better the fit, the less exhaled air it takes to make the sounds. Then you can begin to practice, practice, ....! I actually got banned from practicing in my own home by a family vote. Began listening to a CD in my car while commuting & learning to make each sound. Not the most ideal acoustic environment, but you can get the basic techniques this way w/o a lot of strange looks or complaining from family members. Eventually you'll need to fine tune the sounds, cadence, loudness, etc outside. Slate & box calls are great, I have a couple of each and carry/use them on almost every hunt. But when those gobbles start getting louder and you know he's coming in, at least for me, I want both hands on the shotgun, up & ready and concentrating on the shot opportunity. Unless you're hunting from a blind, this is the time when those old, wily Toms pick-up every movement in the woods. Thus.. I've learned to use a diaphragm call.

Hard to believe anything that comes out of Uncle Ted's mouth surprises anyone...? LOL

My meatloaf & chili are forms of artwork or at least a way for me to be semi-creative in my meager culinary skill set. So each batch is a little different than the last or next creation. My recipes are defined by what's in the refrig/freezer and my mood at the time. Anyways, back to my basic meatloaf ingredients... Always have a lot of venison made into hot Itl sausage with added pork & use that solely as the meat base. But whatever your choice of meat or proportions, go with that. I add egg(s), breadcrumbs or corn meal, peppers, onions, mushrooms, salsa (as hot or thick as you like) and whatever spices you desire. Be warned, salsa makes the final product a little more loosely packed or crumbly, so add salsa as needed. Per my mood, may also add garlic, steak seasoning &/or A1 drizzled over the top. I don't use it, but suppose you could add BBQ/wing sauce if the mood strikes. To me it's a sin to put ketchup on these meatloaf creations, but whatever floats your boat! Have even drapped bacon over the top of venison meatloaf before, if it's available at the time. Be creative, to me there is nothing worse than a plain ground meat style meatloaf, esp using venison as the base. Another personal hint, I try to keep the juices to a min and pour/syphon them off as meatloaf is baking. Okay, that's where most of the flavorings migrate, but it also tends to boil the bottom of the meatloaf as opposed to baking it. Just me...!?! Can't suggest a proper 350deg cooking time, since w/o a meat thermometer each time it's a trial & error method for me. Basically, you can tell & will know when it's done. Be creative & form your own favorite recipe per your experimentation. Even if it does go terribly wrong, still can be used as a base for spaghetti sauce or chili.

From what I've read, a hunt in Africa can be cheaper than some exotic NA hunts, but there's nothing in Africa I'd want to shoot. Esp some animal that would eat or kill me if I didn't connect ethically. Now one of those photo safaris looks interesting though!! For now I'll just have to settle for those Nat Geo live feed photo safaris viewed from my recliner close to the refrig & bathroom! lol Like a lot of others have hinted, live life with NO regrets is a great philosophy that I also try to follow! Then there's all of life's little "real world" inconveniences or stumbling blocks thrown into the mix, like careers, bills, family obligations, blah, blah... Regardless, keep your bucket list, work on achieving each item, make additions and live life to its' fullest in the process. Unless you've won the lottery or been fortunate enough to be born with a silver spoon, dreams are what keeps life interesting!

Little advice from someone that has had dream hunts on their bucket list for years and now that I'm ~70yo they have dropped to the bottom of the lists. Those all day hikes, esp up & down the Rockies, thru the deep snow or in the swampy Yukon are really out of the question now. If you have the resources ($$) and the support from the family to do one of your dream hunts - DO IT!!!!! Those of you that dream of taking a moose or grizz with a long bow, I admire your dream...... and courage! lol

Funny as hell.....

Looks like the Sig Sauer's P320 pistol may be the Beretta M9's replacement as the US Army's issued sidearm. IRC, the USN Seal Teams already use Sigs...!?! Been 10yrs in the process of finding a replacement for the M9, so I wouldn't expect this to happen overnight. http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/19/politics/army-new-pistol-sig-sauer/index.html

Basic trespassing is a violation, not a crime, misdemeanor or felony. Best of my knowledge, the fine can be up to $250 if it can be proven the trespasser did so unlawfully &/or knowingly. Little hard to prove "knowingly", so LEOs likes to give warnings first and then issue tickets for repeat intrusions. A few suggestions, do NOT involve the DEC, call your local Sheriff's dept. Even then it's a little hard to prove a specific individual was trespassing w/o some detailed trail cam or cell phone photos showing an individual's face, vehicle lic #s, dates/times or even a confrontation. Don't suggest this during hunting seasons when there might be weapons carried, but you could confront the trespassers, explain what they're doing, where the property lines are, state you don't allow trespassing and that a LEO might be contacted if needed in the future. If it's a local that's trespassing, you're better off dealing with the situation as a neighborhood issue first. Like you mentioned this is a huge grey area and some trespassers will continue intruding until confronted/caught and then claim ignorance of the postings. Good luck!!!

Deja-Vu.....

Isn't the "co-registered" option merely a shortcut in lieu of going thru the transfer process if something happens to the person that's actually in possession of the handgun? Other than that, can see the validity if individuals within same household have access to & use the same specific handguns. Wouldn't it become a huge legal & liability nightmare if an individual (spouse w/o being co-registered?) actually had to use a weapon in self defense within the home!!?!!

Okay, did mine online and it took about 15min. All you'll need in front of you is your driv lic, current permit # and card (?) showing listed handguns registered to you. If you've moved around some over the decades, need to jog your memory as to which county you had originally applied for your permit decades ago! Most of my time was spent on the listings page trying to input handgun info as it appears on my current permit. Ended up inputting kinda, sorta, maybe the same info as it appeared on my permit. Problem was it keeps bouncing you back to listing page if there were any errors and you'll need to scroll up to see the error messages. Not obvious at 1st that's what's happening! FYI - Any of you with a Ruger Super Single 6 will have same issue I had, no way to check "multiple calibers" and then input 22/22mag, Guessing that box is limited to numeric data only, so 22/22 shows up & you're put into the perpetual error cycle. Another minor quirk is in the SN box, you won't be able to input actual SN as it is inscribed on your handgun & on your current PP if it has any special characters, ie; the "-" between numbers. Lastly, you'll need to opt out of the FOIL act and state "you fear you or others will be harmed or for your life if this info is released to the public". Or whatever good/legit reason you used before when opting out, if you still wish to!

These are common elements of product design, built-in obsolescence and service lives. Ie; If you can make a product (appliance, auto, electronics, blah, blah) that'll last for decades w/o any issues, you probably won't be in business long enough to see your initial products actually die. Tell me about it... Went shopping for a hot water heater a couple years ago to replace a 12yo one that was dying. Electronic controls on a hot water heater... WTH! Could NOT find a simple, basic model anywhere! And then there's all the electronic junk they put into/on newer vehicles that doesn't seem to work worth a crap!! Wish I could find the bureaucrat or safety engineer that thought those super unreliable TPS (tire pressure sensors) were a good idea! Grrr...!!!

Isn't this part of the old proverbial, "a parent's revenge"? When your kids think they have the world all figured out and think life sucks at 17yo... give them a few years, a crappy 8-5 job, a spouse, couple of kids, a house, two cars and a ton of bills. Then mom & dad can sit back and smile.. told ya' so...! We've all been there, right!??!

I've followed these Xbow threads for several years and they all seem to go the way this one is headed. Pretty sure the "Xbow poll" thread didn't merely disappear, more likely it was deleted by this forum's Admin/Mods for language or personal attacks. Sort of the direction this one is headed!! BTW - There was another similar poll taken in NYS regarding Xbow implementation. Not sure about the specifics, who conducted it or the particular demographics of the polled voters. Believe it was somewhere in the 60-70% in favor of implementation range. For what it's worth...! I am a "closet" Xbow supporter. I've hunted with vertical bows when most forum members were still learning fractions. Joking..! I pay my dues to NYCC in hopes they can persuade our NY legislators. I do NOT stand on a soap-box preaching for their inclusion. I DO listen to both sides of the argument, while dismissing most opinions as simply being overly zealous, biased or not fact based. I WILL agree with those that are against inclusion into archery season due to the "dreaded element" of hunters that might take up a Xbow. I've heard 1st hand stories of strictly gun hunters, buying or winning a Xbow in a raffle, shooting a few bolts (or not!), signing the DEC's " Crossbow Hunting & Safety" certificate and heading into the fall woods, All w/o any idea of how to hunt the typical archery season, how a BH kills or possibly even the most basic tracking skills. This I put full blame on our NY legislators and the DEC for dropping the ball by not requiring the Bow Hunters Ed course for Xbow usage and possibly even a special, token license. As of now, the DEC has no way to track how many hunters are using Xbows, what their specific harvest #s are or how these #s effect whitetail mgmt or harvest reports!! You'd think...!??!

Probably have the same effect as when compound bows or in-line MLs were developed & introduced into the array of deer hunting implements, many moons ago. Think that didn't cause an uproar...!?! Pretty sure there's still a devout group of long bow &/or cap/flintlock hunters that continue using their weapon of choice. AND.. are simply viewing modern weapons as the changing times! Not like the introduction of Xbows into the full (SZ) bow season will eventually put whitetails in NYS on the endangered list. Case in point, when they introduced rifles in many SZ counties, it didn't dramatically increase the harvest numbers. IMHO, do NOT see the validity for all the "arm waving" anti-Xbow alarmism among that group of hunters. Putting any of these more effective weapons in the hands of the hunting community doesn't automatically make them better or more productive hunters!!! Just my opinion, take it or ignore it!

Please do NOT take any of my comments or opinions as any sort of criticism of you or the coalition. Just trying to understand the "big picture" as a Xbow supporter!! Here's a few things that have baffled me about the Xbow issue and proposed legislation. Isn't the legislative year from Sept -> end of June, with two separate sessions as you mentioned? Aren't any proposed & inactive bills within that Environment sub-committee actually purged before the new Sept session? If so, why aren't new Xbow bills proposed in Sept as opposed to waiting until the argument starts over the new state budget and most everything else gets ignored? Is this an attempt to get new legislation added under the radar to the new budget as a "pork belly" add-on? Gotta be some sort of strategy used that I'm not seeing...!?! Maybe you can give us supporters some insight into the workings of the proposed Xbow legislation over the past at least couple of years. Appears as thought a majority of hunters support full implementation of Xbows into the archery season, as polls show This seems to be also supported by numerous conservation and sporting organizations, as you listed a couple years ago. SO.. why is this such a political hot potato with a minimal number of antis lobbying against it always appearing to prevail? Also recall reading a news article a few months ago about how these types of changes to DEC regulations stand little chance of being passed as new legislation w/o the DEC's blessing. If the past couple of years the bulk mailing barrage of support to all legislators hasn't worked, what's the next plan? As of now the DEC seems to be struggling with ways to manage the over-population issue. Shouldn't we try to convince them this Xbow legislation might be beneficial, not to mention increasing hunter numbers, involvement &/or satisfaction in deer hunting in general. They've stuck their nose in the AR issue attempting to satisfy some hunters, so why not here? At least from my armchair view, seems as thought the DEC would be our best ally. BTW - Apparently I'm a victim of misinformation supplied by news organizations. IRC, the current Xbow regulations of 2014 are what came out of the Enviro sub-committee and then passed by the house & senate. Distinctly remember fingers being pointed at the sub-committee's chair (Dean Skelos) as being responsible for the FUBAR hack job of an otherwise fairly straight forward bill.

The last two years these Xbow bills got stalled in an Environmental sub-committee. Only until the NYS legislature adjourns for summer recess will we know for sure if it has a chance of being put up for a vote in 2017. That date is ~June 15th or so. Unless by some small miracle our elected officials actually get off their butts and do some real, constructive work and put it up for a vote earlier. What are the chances of that??? FYI - Interesting point, some legislators that sponsored these bills are actually on that dreaded, black hole Enviro sub-committee. My question to them is - So, you sponsor a bill to make your constituents happy and then let if die in a sub-committee you're a member of...repeatedly? Naturally we need to write to our representatives to get these Xbow bills initially introduced! Once they get differed to that sub-committee, those are the legislators on that sub-committee that need to be the focus of the letter writing barrage! A bill can't be voted on by the house or assembly if it's stuck in the sub-committee quagmire! If it goes to the last days they're in session in June, chances are pretty dim it'll get any attention. Just so all of you that aren't aware, this sub-committee is where the current "stupid" Xbow season dates, regulations and lack of insight came from! Thank you Dean Skelos, hope you enjoy jail!

TWC is notorious infamous for these specials for new customers at ~1/2$ as existing customers are paying. Irks me every time I see one of their tickler ads!!!!!!!! TWC responded to a question a few months ago about losing customers and simply said they'd have to make up the lost revenue by charging existing customers more! WTF!!!! Oh yeah, now TWC has merged with Charter and vowed to improve service and their offerings. ALL great PR, but any idiot can foresee higher $$$$.

Maybe he survived exactly how the photos show him, night time travel...? Nice buck fer sure!

Pretty sure this is everyone's hot button, cable companies & cell phone providers! Problem I have is that they basically shove crap down your throat and charge a small fortune for mediocre &/or unwanted services. Oh yeah, their customer service is a literal joke ...!!! Then the govt steps in to try and help the consumers w/o a clue as to what to do!! Pretty sure there is a huge lobbying effort against any deregulation and lots of pockets getting lined. Anyone been following the recent intervention by the govt (FCC?) into the TV cable box requirement & monthly leasing fees? Seems to be a fairly straight-forward issue, at least in my feeble mind! Has turned into a political fiasco and battle with the TV cable providers. Typical!!!! Deep breath, inhale, exhale, happy thoughts, blood pressure down....!

Do your research. Lot of YouTube videos explaining bino specs and the trade-offs. Decide where you'll mainly be using them, in what terrain and how far you might shoot. Lots of trade-offs with magnification, field of view, target acquisition, weight and stability!!!!!! This is one situation where the male mentality of bigger is always better is NOT true! LOL. Then you can begin shopping for quality vs price! Not that we have the same expectations or usage for binos.... but I chose a good quality 8X42. I never will need then beyond ~150yrds, mainly used in wooded terrain, need quick acquisition in the binos of what I see with my naked eye, want to be able to follow the target's movements w/o losing them and not overly concerned with counting hairs or points. Not saying 6X mag wouldn't suffice or that higher mag binos don't have their place! Personal preference item!

Tipping is one of my "hot buttons". Who do you tip? When is their service above &/or beyond their normal duties? Do I consider it a tip for exceptional service or them merely pan-handling or playing me? Irks me when you go into a Chinese take-out or a local pizza/sub joint and there always seems to be a tip jar on the counter. WTH is that for?? Live in a mostly rural area, so tipping a taxi driver for getting me directly from Pt-A to Pt-B alive is a little confusing to me! Use to give the mailman a Christmas bonus (tip) mostly because I went to HS with him and he delivered daily. Also use to give the garbage men bonus 12pks or Xmas cookies because they were the same local guys every week and took everything I put out. I'm no Scrooge, but when the mail is delivered by 3-4 different carriers. Or the refuse company is located 30-40mi away and have different guys p/u every week. Or not being on a 1st name basis with UPS/FedEx people that make infrequent deliveries. Probably no tips or Xmas bonus for them!! Completely different scenario when I go somewhere to eat!! Always tip at least the minimum and generally a little too liberally. Depending on......

Going to post anyways w/o the secret ingredient, the spices. The allure of eating healthy via venison is lost when you make sausage or ground meat products. Some sort of added pork or beef fat is needed to make the super lean venison palatable after cooking. Where I have my deer processed into venison sausage in Wayne County adds about 3-5# of pork per the typical 30/40# of venison. AND... their secret spice mix, of course! If it were me, I'd go to Hegedorns in Webster, Breen's in Williamson or any other small grocer that has their own meat dept and ask what commercial brand of spices they use, suggest or might offer. Possibly Joe's Meat Mkt in Ontario might even be helpful. My dad used to be the king of venison sausage, but he had professional help from a local butcher. He was supplied steak trimmings and the commercial spices. The process (IRC) was to remove the silver skin gunk, cube all meats, add-in spices and some liquid (water, broth, etc), hand mix thoroughly, refrigerate overnight while mixing a few more times before grinding. Sort of a marinating process before the grinding step. Weren't there others that had suggested on different threads to pre-freeze the meat some before grinding, helping the grinder avoid clogging up? Tony Costanza makes great venison products, 5 stars and kudos to him!!! I've tried some that were gifted to me from friends. I just can't justify his ~$8-12/lb price after you have supplied the main ingredient, the venison. Suppose if $$ were no issue... but to me it's cheaper to eat prime rib.