nyslowhand

Did some research on this anticipating the change-over myself. Isn't the satellite internet option very $$, much more than RR? I have a poor SE->SW exposure, so I'm a little hesitant going to Dish. Look at the channel line-ups - Isn't Dish the only one with local stations? Dish & Direct have really great start-up offers, but you really have to look at the price after this initial peroid. Here's something that will get your blood boiling. Few weeks ago there was an article in the paper about this very subject. TW said they were going to cut back on their "switch back" offers. Also made a statement; TW is losing customers to satelite providers, so they will simply have to make more money on their existing customer base. WTH!!!

Per the NYS Assembly calendar, today (6/20) is their last scheduled session before the extended summer recess until I believe mid-September.

The DEC's 2012-2016 Whitetail Mgmt Plan was written, opened to public comments, revised and had a 2nd public comment peroid. Eventually it was adopted by the DEC. It's simply a Plan, changes to regulations or introduction of new ones must go through the painful legislative process. Specifically for this topic, DEC's stance on crossbows is outlined in the Mgmt Plan in Appendix 5.2 (pg53). http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/deerplan2012.pdf

They better get going, have today and Thursday to vote on this bill beofre their extended summer recess. FYI - Amended bill still has the old 500' rule.

Doesn't look like it's going to happen this year. http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=A07252&term=2013&Summary=Y&Actions=Y&Votes=Y

Ditto, when I was still employed. Would take every Friday off during bow seaason and then only 3 days during regular season to make a long Thanksgiving week.

Work..., vacation.., planning..! Whatz all that? Big scheduling event for me is when my SS check is deposited. Sorry, devil made me do it! Don't hate me.

So it's out of commitee, passed the Senate and now to the Assembly...???? All before their summer recess beginning June 21st..?

FYI - Xbow bolts have either flat or 1/2 moon nocks, so they are not secured onto the string. Bolt is retained (on most) by a leaf spring holding bolt onto the rail in the area of the vanes. Xbows also use bolts with lengths of 20-22". Agree with above! "Stupid is as stupid does", regardless of weapon.

Haven't gotten many photos of mature does over the past couple of weeks so I had to assume they were fawning. First sighting (photo) for this year. Okay, I'm going to adjust the date stamp. Should read 06-05-13.

Any of you that may have one of these newer BTCs that takes 1280 x 720 HD video may have experienced problems viewing videos. May also be for the 2012 models..? If you're like me and stubbornly clinging to Windows Vista.... From Bushnell: (BTW, it worked!) "Thank you for contacting Bushnell customer service This is usually an issue with not having the proper codecs for the computer not to recognize the video. I would download DIVx and see if this third party software will allow veiwing of the vdeo after it instals the codecs your missing to view the images."

Back to the original poster's question about the status of the Xbow bill!! Little more than 2 weeks before the NY legislature goes into summer recess (6/21), don't get that "warn & fuzzy" feeling they'll move on this legislation.

If he's like any other mature buck I've seen (photos), he'll disappear into the nighttime after the bachelor groups break up.

Amazing and rare trail cam photo. As a deer hunter, it's also disturbing!!

Same here, typically don't see anything that even looks like a rack much before mid to late June.

Anything is better than the ratchet straps supplied with the stands! I'm probably a little OCD about safety, so I prefer these. Pack of four for I believe ~$30 from Tractor Supply. Enough to secure the platform on two stands. You'd be amazed how much better the 2000# ratchets secure than the 500-900# ones. http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/erickson-rubber-handle-ratchet-strap-with-vinyl-coated--s--hooks-2000-lb-maximum-pack-of-4

Only had trail cams for ~6-7 years, but don't recall seeing one so developed by the end of May. Typically they only have gnarly stubs with the ocassional 4pt growth.

First year I used a ladder stand, I bought some of that leaf-cut camo netting. Wrap it around the platform and it conceals a lot of movement while sitting. Problem is, you're lucky if you get a 2nd year's use out of it before it deteriorates. Have some stands with Camo-Flex faux leaf limbs tie-wrapped to the platform and ladder sections. Costly, but works great and last a long time. If you can find the right sized real branches, they work also. Even after the leaves fall off! Anything to conceal your profile or movements!! Have even tried to camo paint the stand to try and break-up its' outline. Not so sure that is worth the time, spray paint or effort! Paula - LMAO!

Some good input! To each his own prefered method of hunting. I like to hunt from ladder stands. More power to those than bow hunt from the ground!! Just to make sure we're on the same page, my original post was about those full sized ladder stands with substantial platform size, 15-18' high to platform, full height arm rests, flip-up seats, gun rail, etc. Do have a couple of those $50, 13' versions and hated myself after buying them. When your size 13 boots extend out past the platform while sitting and the arm rests only come up to your thighs - not for me!

Seems to be a continual search for a well made, inexpensive ladder stand. Pretty much come to the conclusion I can't have both. If per chance you do come across one, more than likely it's on-line and the s/h puts you into another level of $$. Just started putting together a couple I bought at Dick's around last Christmas. Just to vent for a minute..! In the process of putting together my 10th & 11th ladder stands. Any time I've had to write work instructions, the 1st thing you do when complete is to hand them to a novice and see if they can follow the steps or procedure. Any of you that have put together a ladder stand know what I mean. Just forget the written steps and give me a lot of detailed photos of the assembled product. Then there's the hardware!! Either missing, insufficient amount or worthless! What's with those latch pins that are supposed to tie together the ladder sections? Have a box full of them I replaced with bolts instead. And then the crappy, cheapie ratchet straps, another box full I had replaced with better ones from Tractor Supply, Lowes, etc. Who the heck designed that spanner, support bar that goes from a mid-ladder rung to the tree and gets secured by a bolt/set screw? Mine are eventually drilled and a bolt thru both spanner sections. Then one of the supplied cheapie ratchets securing everything at the same location. So, finally you get it all together with only a minor headache and miniminal trips to the hadrware store. Mine are hauled into the woods strapped on a small trailer in two sections, platform and ladder. Where I'm putting up the stand I finalize the assembly. If you're foolishly independent like me, you try to raise the ladder stand by yourself. Sure it's nice to have a 2nd person to support the base on the ladder from "kicking out" when you walk the stand upright. By myself, I've had pretty good luck simply raising the platform up to shoulder height and then giving the whole thing a robust shove to bury the base of the ladder into the ground. You can also drive a stake(s) in the ground at the base to help it from 'kicking out'. Now you have it up and against the tree. Don't like how it's positioned and want to rotate it some? Here's where I can provide some input from my own bad experiences. Do NOT allow platform to come away from the tree. Baby steps; move ladder base, rotate platform and so on. If you foolishly try to have the stand vertical and not supported against a tree - disaster awaits! So it's up and positioned to your liking! Here is where a 2nd person is very helpful. That is when you're climbing the ladder to get the initial securing ratchets around the platform. This adventure gets the heart pounding! All my ladderstands are ratcheted at the top and bottom of the platform with ~2000# ratchets. You won't believe how much more secure they are than the supplied ones or ratchets of a lesser strength (~900#). And as mentioned, a 3rd one securing ladder sections to tree near the spanner bar. Almost forgot to mention the base of the ladder sections sinking into the ground or mud. I use ~24" lenghts of 2" x 10"/12" pressure treated pieces of lumber for the bottom of ladder section's leg support. Have used flat rocks or cement blocks, but they don't work as well. Here's a neat product. More interesting is the fist minute or so of the product's video showing what happens when raising a ladder stand. Been there & done that!!! Will give you nightmares!! Nothing like watching you ~$150 ladder stand topple over and you can't do anything to stop it! https://www.treestandup.com/

The panel (legislators) did mention they were trying to get it passed before the June 21st summer recess. Which could possibly put Xbow useage in the 2013-14 season. Otherwise, another year passes. Lot of facts thrown around during the hearing, but one I found interesting was the sheer number of NY sportsman that the groups in favor of Xbow actually represented.

Correct! Xbows are not legal weapons since the regulation expired allowing them in limited 2012 season(s). Yes! There is a bill in the legislature to put the decision of implementation in the hands of the DEC. No! Once bill is passed it is not an automatic implementation of this weapon! There will be a hearing in Albany this week (5/22/13) allowing for public (& opponent's) comment on this bill. http://huntingny.com/forums/topic/16438-crossbow-hearing-invitation/?hl=crossbow 2013??? Not a sure thing. Time is the Xbow's main enemy for this year's useage. And..The powerful anti-Xbow lobby group.

Just got this today when I changed SD cards.

As an avid outdoorsman, I can see the "big picture" of the role of predators in the ecology of wildlife. But as a hunter, I have to agree that the coyote population needs to be better controlled. Why there is a specific season for coyotes is beyond my comprehension. Open this season year-round! Also, to protect the hens while nesting there should be a plan to control the nest raiders; raccoons, skunks , opossums, etc. These should also have a year-round open season (hunting & trapping) with no bag limits. IMHO as a turkey hunter, I'd be willing to make sacrifices to help the turkey population reestablish itself. My suggestions would be to continue the spring youth weekend hunt for obvious reasons. Discontinue the fall turkey season and reduce the spring season to May 15-31 with a one gobbler limit. This might allow some successful breeding before the season opens. Across NY the turkey population varies widely, so specific regional restrictions could be helpful in allowing the population to thrive while still giving hunters the opportunity. In my little part of the world (8F), where the turkey population is struggling to maintain, I'd be willing to make sacrifices. In areas where the populations are fairly robust these restrictions might not be necessary, like the Southern Tier, Catskills, etc. When the DEC can legitimately show the #s are on the incline, reduce some of these restrictions. As hunters, think we can all agree we have little effect on the turkey population as the hunting seasons are regulated currently. As stewards of this precious game bird, shouldn't we do our part and make some sacrafices to ensure future generations of hunters can enjoy what we have?

Ahh, the old lawn maintenance trap. The older you get the more logically you look at it. All that money, time and sweat into making it greener and lusher only requires the same in manicuring it. Let the Joneses have their pretty lawn, I'm with Lawdwaz, blacktop it all. Bless you folks that want to do it!!