Dave

What's to stop the DEC from changing it to 4 pts on one side. This only benefits those hunters who want bigger racks period at the expense of all the hunters who just want a deer. A friend of mine told me many years ago "you can't eat antlers". I think most hunters, hunt for meat (food) not antlers. Give them an inch and they will take a mile. This AR situation will make it even harder for hunters to get access to private hunting land. Who wants to wait 3-5 yrs for the new legal buck and have some hunter stroll in and kill a nice big buck you have been waiting for, for years? So lets see what the AR will give you. Less access to private land,and many hunters frustrated giving up on hunting, nothing to hunt. Who benefits ? The trophy hunter!!!!! Dave

First I do hunt more than one day. I hunt bow most of the season and a lot of gun also. And you didn't answer the question which tastes better a young deer or an older one. If you hunt for trophies the meet will not be as good. May look good on the wall but doesn't do much for the palate . I should have said taking 3-5 years of me making the decision on what type of buck to shoot. It's funny how angry you get when we think the gov't will take away our guns, but you have no problem with them taking away our hunting decisions as what to shoot or not shoot. If they restrict any more of our hunting privileges we will have no need for guns because there will be nothing to hunt. Just think how much the hunter success rate will drop.Dave

Forgot this one too. Dave

Took these off the trail cam yesterday. Dave

This is pretty much my attitude on AR except that I do see one potential way that state-wide mandated AR could impact my hunting and the sport of hunting in general. That would be IF the imposition of AR had a significant negative impact on the decline in hunter numbers. I have no way of knowing if AR might be the final straw that drives on-the-fence hunters over the edge. Actually, I don't know anybody who can say for sure. However, put in combination with the fee increases, and a few other moves I have to wonder if we aren't simply accelerating this decline with every new restriction and hunter irritant. I don't know, but it certainly is something to think about. I'm not of the position that it would really have that much affect on hunter numbers long term... you might have those that are half hearted hunters now passing on a license the first coupe years, but I think once those hunters started seeing more mature bucks being taken by hunters over the years... hunter numbers would actually increase... I know there are those on here that talk down big antlers.. but I think the truth is that once they start seeing those mature bucks... they would be back hunting again... my worry is that the 3 on a side restriction won't be enough to see the benefit quick enough... places where antler restrictions are stricter and protect nearly all yearling bucks.. you will see the substantial benefits within 3-5 years... it is a little slower with just a 3 on a side restriction... either way it I will have little to do with my feeling about hunting... I have had little trouble finding a big buck over the years... I think when hunters experience the benefits of a good AR and have the ability to see bucks of all ages on a regular basis.. they will always impose their own restrictions to make sure they don't lose that experience. I agree with Doc I think the older hunters will drop out of hunting in bigger numbers than the DEC expected. You want them to wait 3-5 years to hunt bigger bucks, many don't care about bigger bucks, they just want to hunt and let them decide on what buck to shoot. Another thing I was thinking about as far as AR restrictions go. What will happen to all the 1 1/2 year old bucks this year. Is it possible that the hunting public will take their anger out on the DEC and shoot the younger bucks this season because they know they will be shut out for 3-5 yrs at getting a crack at the new legal buck. If this is the case will it take more than 3-5 yrs to rebuild the herd? Just my thoughts on this matter, I am not in favor of AR, and I am getting older and now they are taking 3-5 years away from my hunting just so others can have a shot at a bigger buck. Question which tastes better a young buck or an old one? Dave

I commented on this this morning and the price went up 4 cents this evening. Dave

Congrat's John the baby is beautiful. Going to my nephew's baby's christening today. Dave

Most people complain but don't vote. Look at the mess this country is in, who got us there it's the politicians who we elected. Not the tax payers, we pay our taxes in good faith and they mis appropriate it to things we would never vote for in a million years. VOTE THEM OUTDave

Anyone going to the Tim McGraw concert in Bethel this weekend? Dave

I don't believe it should be mandatory if you choose to not shoot small bucks it should be up to you not the state. My club doesn't shoot spikes or 3 pt deer and it has been that way for years and it has not improved the quality of bucks in our area one bit. In fact there have been years we haven't taken a buck at all. So in our area it doesn't work even with our self imposed AR restriction. Dave

While we are on the subject of Fawns I saw two about 3 weeks ago. In the field across from my house two does each had a fawn. But haven't seen them since, have seem many deer in the same field but not the fawns. What do you think happened to them any suggestions. I haven't been hearing any coyotes but it may be a possibility. Dave

Cheapest gas I can find in Bellmore is $3.75 at Valero on Sunrise hwy. Dave

Yep, lots of artifacts on there. I almsot forgot, theres a small park in Cuylerville, not far from Letchworth where theres a tree that has a pretty significant story about it. Kind of neat to see. Heres the story... http://www.flickr.com/photos/dangler/4927805789/# Thanks for sharing that was an amazing story.Dave

Guy's lets decide on place, date and time to meet. Dave

Doc, I think it would depend where you hunt. In my area the homes are far apart and only have human activity in the summer months and after that you don't see anyone till next summer. So I would say that they are seasonal and there is no encroaching on any ones privacy. Dave

I buy that reasoning if you shoot a spike at 7:00 am opening day your hunt is done. But if you pass him up you may see a bigger buck that you would have missed if you shot that spike. More time in the woods more deer to see so don't jump on the first buck you see.Dave

That's want I love about my place up state, can shoot whenever I want. It's all up to me, Bow I have two deer to shoot at, gun I have a bench rest at 50 and 100 yards. And I live on Long Island and it's always a hassle to sight in your guns. Dave

i agree, id say this is a topic where we agree to disagree! so many mixed opinions on this and it will go 100 pages before this topic dies out again... lol Just beating a dead horse over and over and over. No one will change their mind on this issue either for or against.Dave

Pygmy. sounds like life is good. Have a great 4 th of JulyDave

I'm not, pay attention there skipper and troll some other thread. Don't be a D---?Dave

I'm not, pay attention there skipper and troll some other thread. Nice to see some one kicked over a rock to let you crawl out...or did they finally get the ankle bracelet attached for you so you could go home. Back again spewing the same ole' story. You are right....everyone else is wrong......no one hunts the way superman "thehunter" does.....we get it. I have no idea what you are talking about. Be more specific , What does superman "the hunter mean? What does ankle bracelets have to do with anything?Dave

No, the real issue is your failure to understand why this biology you keep touting was ever developed in the first place. If it weren't for the greater benefits that the hunter might potentially get from it, it would have NEVER even been devised. So maybe you ought to "read, learn and understand" with a more skeptical mind. Keep trying to cover up that brown it down old school ignorant mentality. How many hunters do you think have that mentality, brown its down? I have been hunting since 1968 and none of the hunters I know subscribe to that mentality. Are you talking about the people you hunt with? Don't paint every hunter with such a wide brush.Dave

Except for the fact that you have claimed in previous quotes that that sitting in treestands or waiting in ambush at food plots (or waiting in ambush anywhere) is not hunting. So I think what you have been saying is that if you don't hunt deer on foot, you are not a real hunter because you are not really hunting..... Have I got that right? Doc, I couldn't put it any better, that's exactly what he is saying. But he will probably but a spin on that too. Of course he will say he doesn't care what you think . But he sure posts a lot of BS. Debate I don't think so.Dave

I think you are right but don't over estimate his smarts. He has a one track mind.Dave

This is a monumental moment that I am in full agreement with Dave here. The supporters of AR's however will NEVER admit it. When we corner them on this they will usually tell us "but who wouldn't prefer to shoot bigger bucks?", which brings us back to what we were telling them in the first place that AR's are there primarily for bigger antlers. AR's, QDM's, all this was concocted by biologists who were paid by trophy hunters to come up with some ideas on how they could get bucks to grow bigger antlers, period. You guys can beat around the bush all you want, but to many of us it's as clear as black and white. At least if you guys told us that you like to hunt trophies and thus think that AR's should be implemented, we would give you the benefit of the doubt and respect your opinions. Sugar coating things with this other mumbo jumbo about herd health makes you guys sound like typical politicians trying to sucker the masses into believing things that aren't true. Like you Steve I call them as I see them, that one was a wolf in sheep's clothing. It's all about the antlers period.Dave