jrm

Are you training with a crate? That can also help.

Another option is to modify the rifle. Stag Arms makes a stock that eliminates the "pistol grip." There is also the ARMR2 device which can eliminate the "detachable magazine" definition. The Stag modification (about $100) has supposedly been "approved" by the state and that configuration is being sold in NYS gun shops. The ARMR2 (about $50) is not an "officially approved" modification, but lawyers have offered legal opinions as to its ability to eliminate the registration qualification. So, for between $50 and $100 your wife could get to keep her rifle without the need to register. Either modification would also allow her to sell the rifle inside NYS to another NYS resident. FYI - I have NO affiliation with either manufacturer. I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice. If you want a real legal opinion, contact a lawyer that specializes in this area. I suggest you do NOT contact the NYSP, as they are not lawyers either and have been know to provide wrong and/or contradictory information. Contacting them could also put your phone number (with name, address, etc) into their system. "Anything you say can and will be used against you..." and all that.

That seems to comply with #5 because it is being "dragged or physically carried" and not "transported." A technicality, and one that could be interpreted differently by different officers.

What publication are you referencing? (i.e. p22) I usually go by the website (which states the same): (I added the emphasis) I'll agree that you would get a ticket for having an untagged carcass on an ATV or tractor, but I think it is BS and not in the spirit of the law. Then again, if you have a filled out tag (like you are supposed to) it isn't a big deal to attach it when you load it on the ATV or tractor. The quote did state "dragged" by a tractor, so that MAY be permissible. Reminds me of a friend who was getting grief over a trailer. It is not legal to park a trailer on a street when it is not attached to a car. A code enforcement officer came by and was hassling a friend (who's trailer was still attached, although he planned to unattached to hook to a different vehicle). The code officer waited there to give the ticket as soon at it was disconnected. The friend undid the hitch, but left a safety cable attached. He pointed it out the to officer, who couldn't give the ticket because it was technically still "attached" to the vehicle. Sometimes the enforcement of the law loses sight of the intent. (And sometimes, people use the letter of the law to skirt the intent).

What was the ticket for? If he was riding off the road and presumably on private land, there is nothing to ticket for. Unless it was uninsured - insurance is required when not riding on your own land. That would have been a legit ticket. It is my understanding that the officer could have also confiscated the ATV in that situation.

Why do the neighbors and cops hate you? Do you actually ride the ATV in the city? (That's asking for it to be impounded). From what I have heard about vehicle impounding in NYC, it is definitely less expensive to carry insurance. Seems like you have a place outside the city for your UTV, so why not keep both machines there? When I looked at insurance, I was given two prices. One for storing the machine at my main residence on Long Island (in a locked garage). The other price was for storing it at a secondary rural upstate residence (also in a locked garage). The agent knew there is almost always someone at the downstate residence, but infrequently at the upstate residence. The cost to keep it upstate was about 1/4-1/3 of the cost. Obviously, it was also much more convenient to store it where I can use it, as opposed to lugging it back and forth.

The NY dealers have been losing ammo sales for a while. Although the situation sucks for all involved, the local stores are going to have to learn to adapt to he new business environment. Things are always changing and you adapt if you want to survive. If you can buy something online for $x.xx, there is no reason for a local store to charge 3x, 4x or 5x that amount. I run a business and completely understand that that "brick and mortar" people have different expenses. However, many of the online resellers are also physical stores who were simply smart enough to open an online store and make their money though good prices and high volume. Heck, a local store could order the same ammo from an online vendor and add a 10-20% markup. If they really tried, they could go to the source and get the ammo at closer to "wholesale" price (depending on volume). Everyone would make out on that deal. Somehow, _some_ local stores are either inept at purchasing or gouging customers. There is no reason I can get ammo online for under $.50/round (delivered) while a store like Dick's (which has the purchasing power of a large chain) sells the same exact ammo for over $1.00/round. Again, the situation sucks. However, Lucky Gunner and the NY stores who are charging only $10/transaction are smart. LG makes a sale and the local store generates traffic. At least some of the folks picking up ammo will make an additional purchase they would not have at that store.

This is what scares me. The law is bad enough. Misinformed store employees and management could make things worse. There is absolutely nothing in NY law that requires you show you must own a particular caliber gun to be allowed to purchase that caliber ammo. You don't even need to own a gun to purchase ammo. Only certain guns will require registration. Also, the new registration requirement for long guns with certain features does not go into effect until April 15, which would make it impossible for most to "prove" registration between the ammo law taking effect on 1/15 and the registration provision on 4/15. What the new law does require a background check for ammo purchases in NY. It does not limit the amount, type or caliber purchased. (That is bad enough and hopefully will not survive the inevitable SCotUS challenge). While I am not a lawyer, I can see nothing in the law which prohibits (or even references) your ability to travel outside NY to purchase any and as much ammo as you like for your own use and bring it back to NY. I really hope local stores do not get stupid and start making the situation even worse. I don't necessarily agree with the "screw them" mentality for local stores, but I will definitely not purchase anything as a store that starts with crazy rules or price gouges. If you try to purchase ammo in NY and are hassled by a silly rule like needing to "prove" anything, ask for the manager. If he says the same thing, ask to see the store policy. Same thing for places like Cabela's in PA. There is absolutely nothing wrong (as far as I can see) with them selling you ammo in PA. Even if they somehow feel there is a problem with you bringing to your home in NY, who's to say you are not purchasing it for use in PA (or another state)? Any refusal to sell would be store policy. BTW, I was just in the Hamburg Cabela's and used a credit card. No ID requested. I didn't buy ammo this time (no stock on most calibers I use, and the prices were very high on those I do). Not sure if the ID thing is random, applied to certain cards or kicks in with an ammo purchase.

Sure, that's the way it is supposed to work. In reality, only the Board of Elections can place your name on the ballot. The can, and DO, disqualify candidates. Each year in my district, I notice that a majority of the races have only one candidate on the ballot. Democrat, Republican, Conservative, Liberal, Working Family, Green... etc. There is no way one person can hold the core beliefs of ALL those parties at the same time. I looked into this a few years ago. Seems there was a serious challenger for a few of the races. However, the board of elections found a way to disqualify his petition. He had the signatures, he had the paperwork - they managed to find something "wrong" with it in the 11th hour and the candidate faded away. That's Long Island politics. The BoE may be comprised of both Republicans and Democrats, but they often conspire together to keep the status quo. "If you let my brother-in-law be Parks Supervisor, I will let your cousin be deputy commissioner." It's incest and it's rigged. Every so often there is a change in power (i.e. Gulotta to Suozzi in Nassau County) but the results are the same. Only a slightly different set of "buddies" occupy appointed government positions. I'm not defeated, just being a realist. Look at the numbers for Skelos. I _guarantee_ there will not be a primary contender. What do you suggest? A non-vote is a vote for Skelos. If he gets re-elected, it will walivdate his pro safe act position. Remember, Skelos not only voted for it, he enabled it to come up for vote and strong-armed all the downstate republicans to side with him. The ONLY way to get a message across is to unseat him (difficult and unlikely) or at least put such a dent in his numbers (make it a close race) that he and the downstate GOP twits take notice. Where my heart is? Believe what you want about me. I merely point out that downstate they are all the same. From an unSafe act perspective, electing a democrat is no worse than having a pathetic rhino like Skelos in office. If Skelos loses in November it will obviously be due to the law he helped implement. I think even Carolyn McCarthy would think twice about pursuing additional gun legislation if she was the one to replace him. (Even if that wasn't the case, it is still no worse than what we have. Bottom line, the only way to hurt Skelos is to unseat or make it a very close race. The only way to do that is to vote for his opponent. The only realistic opponent is going to be a democrat. I would have to question "where the heart is" of anyone who votes FOR Skelos after the cowardly backstab he gave everyone in this state. I gave my solution - what's yours? You imply I am somehow a traitor for merely pointing out a viable solution. While we are standing in the rain outside Skelos' office in protest, he is warm and dry inside and on the phone with Cuomo making a deal for "unSafe II - the sequel." These putzs understand one thing - votes (the ones that count). our options are Skelos, a democrat or some third party nobody (if you can get one on the ticket) who will simply pull a Ross Perot and steal Skelos votes to allow the democrat to win anyway. Nothing personal, but I am fed up with the corrupt downstate politics after seeing the same BS played out my entire life. With all due respect it is naiveté to believe you just "get the signatures and get on the ballot." (It can be done if they are sure you are a token candidate with no money and no chance to win.) The way you get on the ballot down here is to pay your dues and play ball. To fight it you can't think in textbook terms. You have to play trench warfare and use guerrilla tactics.

True, your choices are a republican who will support the unsafe act or a democrat who will do the same. The difference is that the democrat has a higher level of honesty because they are voting the way they are expected to. Someone suggested getting a challenger to the republican for the primary. The corrupt nature of NY politics (almost as bad a Chicago) will not allow that. Look at people like Dean Skelos (NY State Senator from LI). His back room deal with Cuomo allow the unSafe act to happen. It was also Skelos who strong-armed the other downstate republicans to vote for the unSafe act. This guy continually gets on the Republican ticket completely unappeased in the primary. The "powers that be" will not let anyone challenge him. The only way to "win" IMO is to "take one for the team." Everyone needs to hold their nose and vote for the democrat to get traitors like this out of office. If enough of us vote for the "other" party, it will send a strong message. There is no loss in doing so. If someone like Skelos actually loses his seat, our situation will not be any worse. However, it will send a strong message and cause the republicans in NY to rethink their position. Last election Skelos ran against a very weak democrat and took just over 60% of the vote. Even making a significant dent in that margin will send a message and cause the party to rethink positions. Not the greatest strategy, I admit. But the corrupt political situation (at least downstate) necessitates unusual strategies. Know this - every 2014 vote FOR someone who supported the unSafe act is a vote in favor of the law. If these buffoons are re-elected it will validate their "yea" vote and embolden them to create even more restrictive laws.

I purchased my license in mid-November as my first chance to get into the field was just before Thanksgiving. The clerk never asked me about WMU preference - just asked if I wanted a doe tag. From what I saw online, these tags are difficult/impossible to get in my WMU. I figured the clerk didn't know what he was doing, so I declined the purchase (thus, I don't know what the tag would have said). The question caught me by surprise, but I also thought I would end up with a tag that I was not allowed to use because of the WMU I am actually hunting in.

I purchased a hunting license a a few weeks ago. It's my first time hunting/getting a license. Thought I understood the different types, but was asked a question I am not sure I understood. I bought a "Super Sportsman." The clerk asked me if I wanted to buy a "doe tag" for an additional $10. I am thinking this is a DMP tag. But I thought there was a different process for those and that they were issued for specific WMUs. The clerk didn't ask me which WMU I would be hunting in (or maybe he assumed I would be hunting in the same WMU where I bought the license.) Can anyone shed some light on this and explain what the $10 "doe tag" is about?

I took a hunter safety course earlier this year and the instructors were claiming things along these lines. They explained that there are so many specific rules to properly post a property that no one is able to get it right. They were definitely implying that the "hunter" doesn't need to worry about it because you can get away with trespass due to the technicalities. I questioned them on this, asking for the source of their claims. They tried to brush me off and eventually said it is not a state level thing but all found in local town codes. I call BS on that. All I could find anywhere was what'sis shown on the DEC site. Conspicuous signs, posted minimum distances, etc. I think all this "can't be on a tree" talk is urban legend and wishful thinking. I welcome any legit references showing otherwise. As noted on the DEC site, all land is owned by someone. If you are not on public land, you are on private land. If on private land without permission, you are trespassing - whether or not there is a sign.

Believe it or not, DEP police have issued traffic tickets. Although they work for New York City, they apparently have police powers statewide. Crazy, but true. From what I have heard, a few years back DEP was setting up speed traps on roads in the Catskills. This caused some friction with either the NYSP or local police and the practice was ended That has been my understanding. I have property upstate. I was speaking with a neighbor who explained this to me. We were discussing watching out for each other's property and exchanged phone numbers. He told me that the local cops will not respond to a trespassing complaint from someone who doesn't own/reside at the property. If we saw anything, we agreed to contact each other so the police could be notified. Sounds strange, but it does make sense. You see a strange truck pull up to the property next to yours and call. The cops respond and the people say "we are allowed to be here." Without a property owner to refute the claim, who's to say they are lying? You could think they are trespassers, but they turn out to be friends of the owner.

So the Regular Season tag is (obviously) governed by the antler restriction. You can only take an antlered deer and it must comply with the AR rules. In bow season, however, the Anterless/either sex tag still allows you to harvest a doe. Although, if you use the either sex tag for a buck, it must conform to the AR rules. Am I understanding this correctly?

I'm a little confused and hope some of the more knowledgeable folks here can clarify things for me. I'm new to this, so go easy on me. With a "Super Sportsman" license, you receive the following: a Regular Season Deer Tag and a Bow/Mz Season Either Sex Deer Tag and a Bow/Mz Season Antlerless Deer Tag I understand that the regular season deer tag is an Antlered deer tag. I am in a southern zone AR area. No problem - the rules are clear. However, what about early and late bow season? There is an either sex/anterless deer tag provided for those. The DEC website states these anterless/either sex tags: Cannot be used for Antlerless deer during muzzleloading seasons in certain Northern Zone WMUs that are forAntlered Deer only Bow and MZ seasons do not line up exactly. Also, the AR restriction area I am concerned about is in the Southern, not Northern Zone. Finally, the hunting season chart on the DEC website references the AR by stating: "Bucks must have at least...." So the question is, what is legal to harvest in this Southern Zone, AR area with a bow during late (or early) bow season, using the anterless or either sex tag?

I know there are no gun (bow only) zones. Are there "gun only" (no bow) zones? I can't find anything about that on the DEC site. If the zone is "gun only" there may be a problem using a bow at all.

Progressive seems to have the best rates. GEICO may also have some good rates. Engine size is what will determine cost. I have a 2011 Polaris 500 that I have been paying about $75/year for full coverage, incl. theft. I just picked up a 2013 Can Am 800 and the same coverage is a little over 200. It took me by surprise, but the agent explained it is all due to the much larger engine. I am no lawyer or DMV expert. However, the answer is usually "yes." Property you rent or lease is typically considered "your" property for purposes such as this. You are legally in "possession" of the premises during the term of the lease.

i misunderstood about the reg. I am not sure what the rule is on that, or if there is a rule. Having the plate attached with the current year sticker seems required. It would also seem to be proof of registration. Since the insurance requirement applies to riding off your own property (meaning it is not necessarily required for all people) I would think it a good idea to carry proof of insurance when riding off your land. If you decide to carry your registration, I would highly suggest carrying a photocopy and NOT the original. IF the card is required, a copy is legal (it is on regular cars, so I am guessing the same for ATVs). The biggest reason is that the ATV reg is transferable. That is like carrying around the original title for your car.

Is the cop going to let you slide on a speeding ticket because you "like to drive fast?" If a cop is going to ticket you for no reg on your ATV, the "aesthetic" argument is probably not the best one to use. WIth some zip-ties, there are plenty of places to hang the tag on any ATV and not ruin it. It is only $12.50/year to register. I bet the ticket is a lot more than that. For me, the best reason to register is to be able to get insurance. Insurance is very inexpensive (especially on the smaller engine ATVs). It not only provides liability insurance but also theft insurance. If your ATV is stolen and you have no insurance, you are out of luck. If it is also not registered, you will probably get a ticket when you report the theft! From the DMV website: According to this, the 14 year old can ride all he wants on your own land. He can also ride off your land if you or another adult are "supervising." More riding options open up when you have the safety course (which is offered free)

I know this is an old topic, but I just came across it. If you are interested in a log cabin/home, check out Alta Log Homes: http://www.altaloghomes.com I have no connection with them other than as a happy customer. They can design and build from a small hunting cabin to a large home. They do nice work. They are Delaware County, but do work all over the state.

IMO, not voting is a bad idea. It sends a clear message that you don't care and they can do whatever they want. Like it of not, politicians are beholden to the VOTERS. If you don't vote, you don't count. Some would take this further and say that if you don't participate in process then you have no right to complain about about it. Years ago I heard a great story about Ed Koch (former NY mayor). An up and coming Al Sharpton came to his office. Al asked for this and that and claimed to represent some large number of minorities in the city. Koch turned to an aide and asked him to get something. The aide comes back with a book which Koch looks over. Koch turns to Sharpton and say "you may represent XXX amount of people, but you only represent YYY amount of voters." I forget the actual numbers, but the "voter" number was a small fraction of the actual eligible voters. Sharpton didn't get anything he wanted, but learned that getting people to the polls is what gets politicians to listen. I am dreading going to the voting booth this November. In my district 99% of races in the "off" years all have a single candidate. Repub, Demo, Conservative, LIberal, Green, Family, Communist, etc are all the same person running. The fix is on as the local board of elections only allows whom they want on the ballot. I still go and vote. When I don't like the choices, I "write in" myself as my vote. I believe this sends a clearer message of my dissatisfaction. I let them know that I am not too lazy or don't care enough to vote. I let them know that I am involved in the process, exercise my rights and have a vote that can and will go to a qualified candidate who will represent my views. Not voting can easily be seen as not caring and apathy. The last two presidential elections were largely decided by who was able to get the better voter turnout. From 1972 on, voter turnout for a _presidential_ election has been less than 60%. That means more than 40% of eligible voters stay home. (Even worse in the off years). That's more than enough to make a very real difference in the outcome of any election.

From the DEC website: Question: Does the DEC pay for repairs when a deer damages my car? Answer: No, the repair of damage to a car from a car/deer accident is the responsibility of the vehicle owner. Generally, automobile insurance will cover the cost of repairs for this kind of accident. The Environmental Conservation Law allows the owner of a vehicle damaged by collision with a deer to keep the carcass for consumption or give it to a third party. The accident must be reported to a police agency and a permit obtained. It doesn't specify antlers, but the gist is that a permit is necessary. It is also interesting that it states "owner of a vehicle damaged by collision." This would seem to exclude someone else in the vehicle who does not own it, someone who sustained no vehicle damage from the collision and of course, someone who came along after the collision. It would be interesting to see the actual wording of the law. On antlers, I guess it depends on your project. If you are aiming big, you have to get 'em wherever you can. It might take a long time hunting to build this...

Here's a tip for trailers... You can title (less than 3000 lbs trailer) and register your trailer in the state of Maine. You do not need a residence or address in Maine to do so. This works from the small trailers discussed here to large horse/equipment trailers all the way to full size 48' trailers. There are plenty of companies in Maine that can take care of this for you. (I have used the Staab Agency for several years. I have no connection to them other than being a satisfied customer.) It is not only less expensive to register in Maine, it is much easier. They also offer various long term registration options. I have a trailer and usually get a 5 year plate. You can do it online or over the phone. So much easier than dealing with NY.