Rebel Darling

Also - Upon a second and third reading, "cats at large" isn't specified in this section, and there may be case law that defines "at large" as an area other than a neighborhood.

The way it reads to me, and I'm no lawyer (don't know if there's one on this forum, either...), but I often read the law and proposals, and while you don't have the right, anyone over the age of 21 in possession of a hunting license may lawfully dispatch a cat for killing protected birds. Small game is not mentioned, so the rabbit scenario is out. The term "humanely" is a vague one, however, and while subdivision 5 provides for a prevention of civil litigation, a lawyer could file suit and argue that the dispatcher acted in an "inhumane" manner, which could lead to civil litigation for damages. Notwithstanding, all firearm discharge laws and limits would still apply. Don't know if that comes into play in your neighborhood. Environmental Conservation § 11-0529. Cats hunting birds; dogs pursuing deer or killing other wildlife in certain areas. 1. Any person over the age of twenty-one years possessing a hunting license may, and environmental conservation officers and peace officers, acting pursuant to their special duties, or police officers shall humanely destroy cats at large found hunting or killing any protected wild bird or with a dead bird of any protected species in its possession. 2. Every environmental conservation officer, forest ranger and member of the state police may kill any dog (a) pursuing or killing deer within the Adirondack or Catskill parks, at any time; (b) pursuing or killing any game or wildlife on a state-owned game farm or wildlife refuge; or (c) pursuing or killing any game or wildlife on a state-owned or leased wildlife management area, except a dog being legally used for hunting small game or for dog training. 3. Every park patrolman, park ranger and member of the state police, county police and town police may kill any dog pursuing or killing deer within any state park or state park reservation at any time. 4. At any time (a) any environmental conservation officer, dog warden, forest ranger or member of the state police, anywhere in the state, (b) any member of any town police within the limits of the town of which such member is an officer, (c) any member of the Westchester County Parkway police on any park, parkway or reservation owned or controlled by the county of Westchester or (d) any member of a police force or department of any county, city, town or village in which such member has jurisdiction and is regularly employed may kill any dog pursuing or killing deer and any coyote killing a domestic animal. 5. No action for damages shall lie against any authorized person for the killing of a cat, dog or coyote as provided in this section.

@chas0218 - Can you provide the Code (is it ENV?) as well as the section? The LBDC website prevents direct links.

That line and the image struck me as funny. Thanks for the laugh...

I haven't done this (my first climber is in the mail), but I have seen a climber cable locked to the base of a tree on public land. It was there each time a stalked through that area.

Stand no. 2 Looks out to a scrape and licking branch. Haven't checked the card yet, but it's time to drop a little buck urine and kick up some dirt. The mesh seat is ripped from a fallen branch. It's holding up, but I'm a little nervous about it. I'm all thumbs when using Tapatalk

Stand no. 1 A four-point walked through this morning, and it looks like the does are bedding at the stand base around sunrise and wandering through not long after. I'm all thumbs when using Tapatalk

Pretty sure by the late season I'll be hunting out of a tree fort... I'm all thumbs when using Tapatalk

I'm of the same thought... I'm all thumbs when using Tapatalk

I haven't seen Hawks as an option. Yargh... I'm all thumbs when using Tapatalk

I truly meant RAIDED that account (ha...) and went all in for the Lone Wolf Hand Climber - a friend of a friend in the North Country loves his (hugs the tree and only uses the bottom half on occasion, which is not my plan...) and I'm partial to products made in the U.S. Cabela's currently has an offer that includes a free muddy magnum harness, and they were $10 less than Lone Wolf's website price, with a $5 off shipping promo code... Still a huge dent, but I'm excited to go for a few test runs next week (hopefully). I'm all thumbs when using Tapatalk

Well... I raided an account and sprung for a climber. I think I might end up using the steps to hang gear. Thanks very much for all the help and input. Perhaps I'll use steps in the future, but I realized that I really like the mobility option inherent in a climber, and the security of ladder sticks for my more permanent, hang-on stands.

It was 40 degrees at 7:00 a.m. this morning on Taborton Mountain. Left all the windows open last night... Oops. Almost started a fire. This week's morning temperatures have already started a fire in me. Itchin'.

Very smart and creative, Wooly. It's a unique idea, and that ring looks great! If I ever get good/lucky enough to lay down a few bucks, I'll be trying your method to fashion a ring for myself, and for my hunting friends and family. Thank you very much for sharing!

I thought I read a while back on one of the political threads that Papist had been all over the world to hunt. Places like Iran and such... Can't be sure. Not saying I'm laying down $500 on it, thought... Ha.

I read a few more books on bow hunting strategies during the "off-season," and cleared a small area to plant some clover in the spring. The does and their fawns are regulars, and I'm hoping the bucks will follow. A couple of weeks back, I raked over that area, and planted a mix of Whitetail Institute's "No Plow" and "Bowstand." It's a small area, with only a few hours of spotty sunlight. It's taking hold, though, and I hope the does don't decimate the growth too soon. I set up a stand on a maple about 15 yards off the area, tucked between two hemlocks, with two choice shooting lanes trimmed out in late July. This is a good stand for the prevailing wind. I also found a scrape, which is now active, paired up with a licking branch. Over the past month or so, I go out on occasion to spill out buck urine, and leave a bit of my own. I haven't checked the camera card, but someone's a little P'O'd with the strange scent, and kicking up a fuss. I set up a stand about 25 yards away, but will have to reserve this stand for uncommon winds. I think I found a buck bed right in the middle of a few downed trees, collected boulders, and in a bed of ferns. I have yet to figure out how I'm going to hunt this one, and will be patient to learn if he's changed his patterns in the past couple of weeks. It's a quick line from the bed to the bog and the neighbor's property line, with a need for uncommon winds. I also have a few public spots I like to visit in 4J (hoping for two early season does), and 4H, and those will be a combination of still hunts, and climbing sticks. It's my second bow season, and I'm excited by how much I think I've learned, and can't wait to learn more about just how clueless I really am...

Here's the rest from the bighorn series. We were pretty lucky to have seen them. I thought the two fellas might lock horns, but they just sniffed each other, and the one on the right walked away. I'm still trying to connect with my first whitetail buck, so I'm a LONG ways away from even dreaming of ram hunts. Although, I've already got the itch for elk... EDIT: Unsure of why that fourth photo is blurry here, and cropped the wrong way.

Welcome, and best of luck downstate!

While reading across a few books, it seems that the Bighorn is at the top of many hunters' lists. The challenge of reaching the animal (the mountain variety) is often mentioned as one of the reasons for the ranking. Might have something to do with that strong head and horns, too...

The wife and I were in Utah last week, and came upon this fella and a number of others while in Zion National Park. I'm betting someone on this site hunted bighorn sheep at some point, so I thought I'd share a photo of the "desert" variety...

Beautiful photos... Wow!

Happy B-Day (eve...) I'm all thumbs when using Tapatalk

Here's some tinder for thought via a guest contributor on the site "Wired to Hunt": http://wiredtohunt.com/2016/08/30/if-were-not-careful-hunters-will-end-hunting/

I clearly missed that one... I'm all thumbs when using Tapatalk

"Just tell him they were mosquito traps, or something..." That's how I imagine that conversation going down in the regional DEC office. That response is hilarious. I googled "mosquito traps" and mosquito catch traps," and checked available images. I didn't see anything resembling an upright, open box on the ground. Bizarre... Maybe they're meant to catch spider species, however. Such a strange, and somewhat unsettling find.