Rebel Darling

That was a good, informative read. Thanks for sharing. I hope to read Myers' Pirate, Pawnee, and Mountain Man: The Saga of Hugh Glass at some point.

An antlerless late/regular season tag should be pretty easy to administer. I think that's a good idea to consider.

I'm pretty sure it works like this: Local governments (taxing entities) are able to provide real property tax rebate checks if they comply with the terms of the program which states that the tax increase must be at or below a 2% increase, or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower. It might be more efficient and less costly to cut the tax levy and save the money up front, but hey... Don't those checks and the feeling of depositing them remind you of a certain someone when you enter that voting booth? Ha. ADDED - And I have yet to get one...

I figured I'd share my comments as submitted. Alternative ideas and thoughtfully articulated arguments against the ideas I presented below will be appreciated and considered. ________________________ - Idea # 1 - I support opening the Youth Firearms Deer Hunt on Columbus Day Weekend to junior hunters. - Idea # 2 - I have no comment on restricting the early muzzleloader to antlered only in 6F and 6J. - Idea # 3 - It is my opinion that additional early muzzleloader seasons will ruin what hunters appreciate about bow seasons, as well as ruin the characteristics of the field that make them effective hunters (quiet habitat and undisturbed game). In addition, early muzzleloader seasons may result in a decrease in the overall take of deer in WMUs in which increased take is desired. More hunters in the woods with louder implements earlier in the year means fewer deer moving freely in daylight hours earlier in the year, and then potentially less deer (antlered or antlerless) taken during Regular Season. Rifles are the most effective firearm with the greatest accuracy and greatest energy over longer distances. If the objective is to harvest more antlerless deer, this is the firearm to put to work. With that in mind, I think the best option is to encourage Regular Season hunters to harvest does with a special antlerless season/weekend, in addition to antlered deer and during the Regular Season. That would result in two tags for Regular Season hunters; one antlered tag, and one antlerless tag good for the “antlerless only weekend/season." Another idea would be to restrict part of Regular Season to antlerless only. Phase 3, as currently proposed will be seen as a punitive measure against bowhunters, and may work instead to erode trust between bowhunters and the DEC. For bow-only zones, such as 4J, the DEC could facilitate communication between private landowners and hunters and encourage landowners to open their property to hunters. If there is room in an already tight budget, perhaps DEC could conduct a low-cost media campaign on the detrimental effects of deer overpopulation - starved deer, increased vehicle collisions, forest and crop health, etc. In densely populated (human), suburban areas, access to hunting ground is a considerable obstacle to hunting success. Perhaps a database of available private parcels that can connect landowners to hunters would work. The database would be accessible through an online interface that would enable the property owner to include as much or as little information as is required, including open dates, how many hunters allowed, rules to consider and other preferences. Hunters would then be able to “browse” available parcels and contact homeowners through the interface. Parcels already committed could be removed from the database in order to help avoid trespassers trolling for property. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance, and thank you for your time.

I felled the tree and cut the wood for the fire. I harvested the deer for the burger. I am a very satisfied fella tonight. I'm all thumbs when using Tapatalk

Predator urine might work, in addition to the aforementioned. I'm all thumbs when using Tapatalk

I saw this article from an Oregonian news source on Facebook. I don't know anything about the news source's credibility, readership, slant, etc.: http://www.bendbulletin.com/exports/newsletters/main/3923642-151/burns-meeting-gets-tense-when-bundys-arrive The article doesn't address any of the arguments behind the occupation, but instead attempts to provide a general sense of local sentiment during a public forum.

I think that a large part of the problem is the general perception that is created as a result of armed occupiers not yet being arrested, and then allowed to receive accommodations. That, to many, seems like a "protected class" treatment afforded them, or an unfair advantage in the face of the Law. A question that I'm curious to know the answer to is: "Why haven't they been apprehended and charged?" I'm not there, I don't know the details on the ground, so I really don't have anything other than questions, and I'm doubtful that I'll ever get any answers that are anything other than skewed, swinging one way or another. What I can say is that the perception created by an apparently uncontested and armed occupation of land that belongs to us all leaves me unsettled.

Greetings from Sand Lake, NY. Hope all's well across the way.

My jawbone would rattle if I saw a buck that big come around. Great looking deer, and it must have been a thrilling hunt. Congrats on the beast!

Venison stew and homemade bread for dipping. I'm all thumbs when using Tapatalk

The lady and I went and saw it yesterday afternoon. I had never been in a room so full of people, and so incredibly quiet for 2.5 hours. The movie, in our opinion, was well worth the money, and the time spent. The lady mentioned to me that had she not experienced the field dressing and butchering of deer, that she probably would have found the movie too graphic and gruesome, but since she's seen the reality of harvest, she appreciated the movie's graphic "honesty." Tom Hardy did an excellent, recognition-worthy job as Fitzgerald.

Wow... I had no idea that Golden Eagles were in NY. I'm awed, and amazed. I've been fortunate with my Golden Eagle sightings in other states (watched a predation near Golden Gate in CA, and an eye-level cruise in Polychrome Pass, Denali, AK), and hope to be lucky enough to encounter one here. I'm also looking forward to reading more on this thread. Thanks for posting...

The Pappy's is almost gone, but I do have some other options. I LOVE bourbon. A good friend turned me on to Pappy's a bunch of years back, before the craze. We used to get the 20 year for around $80. One bottle a year, reserved for special occasions. Nowadays those bottles are harder to find than mature bucks on state land... I'm all thumbs when using Tapatalk

14% more bears in the NZ!? Wow... Deer numbers down in the SZ, as many figured. I thought this was an interesting qualifying statement: "preliminarily it looks like deer hunters in western New York generally saw less harvest decline than in portions of central and southeastern New York." Seems to be in line with observations on the forum - I haven't read everything...

Mid-day tracks across the backyard yesterday in 4L.

Hi, Mike. I was trying to be helpful. I'm all thumbs when using Tapatalk

Malliotakis voted to allow for big-game rifle hunting in Albany County in 2014, and voted to allow big-game rifle hunting in Schenectady County in 2015. 2014, SB 5714 - http://www.assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=S05714&term=2013&Summary=Y&Votes=Y 2015, SB 5316 - http://www.assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=%0D%0A&bn=s5316&term=2015&Summary=Y&Votes=Y She might not be that unfriendly towards hunting interests... It's just two bills.

As a matter of course, and if you're attempting to persuade legislators on the passage of legislation that would benefit the hunting community, I suggest approaching the chairs of the Environmental Conservation Committees, and the members on those committees. Steve Englebright (D) is the Assembly Chair. His district is on LI. Tom O'Mara ® is the chair on the Senate side, and his district is in Western NY - I can't remember exactly where off the top of my head... Malliotakis isn't on the EnCon Committee, so my guess would be that she's less influential at the beginning stages. In the past couple of years the Legislature voted to allow for rifle hunting in Albany and Schenectady counties... I can't remember off the top of my head, but I think Malliotakis voted for those bills. I'll look into that, and post that info in a bit. I'm all thumbs when using Tapatalk

What I find most strange is that the NYS Senate district lines are population based as well. Whereas the federal government compromised on the distribution of power through allocating two Senators per state to balance the power of population density in the House, NYS chose to base the entirety of its representative government on solely a population based model. Granted, the NYS Constitution was written before the US Constitution, but it's still an unusual system in a country that largely adopted the balance of power system as written at the federal level. Think about the distribution of representative power, despite the efforts of gerrymandered districts, under this model. We do have the possibility of convening a state constitutional convention to discuss this, and other constitutional issues. The question of whether or not to convene will be on the 2017 general election ballot. As a side note, there are upstate legislators, both democratic and republican that support hunting initiatives.

Congrats! That story is stirring the curiosity in me, as well as the desire to get back out for a hunt, maybe my first 'yote hunt. Do you have plans for the kill? Take the hide? What else is/can be done with a coyote kill? At any rate, congrats again on a well-executed hunt. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm a poor judge of age, but I think he'll be an even better challenge next year. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The only LL Bean I find worthwhile is the Freeport, ME outlet. The hunting and fishing lodge is pretty impressive. It's the only store location I know at which they sell and repair firearms and bows. The selection of gear is also worth the walk-through. The store is open 24 hours a day, so you can avoid crowds. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Congratulations on your growing family! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I agree. Thank you for sharing the link. In a similar vein of thought, I read this article, "4 Tips for Answering the 'Why Do You Hunt?' Question" found on Wired to Hunt yesterday: http://wiredtohunt.com/2015/12/15/4-tips-for-answering-the-why-do-you-hunt-question/ Shockey mentioned the points offered in the article.