Dave

If we get all day turkey hunting it would be at a price. DEC probably would raise the fee for the turkey tags. Dave

Guys I hear your opinions and I would error in the side of a larger caliber than the 22. Anything can deflect the smaller bullet that say a 3006 might go thru and still take out the deer. Plus you have the capability of taking a bear with the larger caliber if one crosses you path while deer hunting. I would not even take a shot at a bear with a 22 type bullet. I know we are not talking about bear hunting but you never know when one will cross your path, maybe a once in a life time chance and I would want to be prepared. Dave

Is that wood stove made by Vogelzang, Mountaineer?Dave

I was hunting rabbits in Mattatuck the first week in Nov. Hunted property bordering a vinyard and a nursary in the late morning. We kicked up 2 fox and were they big ,as they ran thru the field we got two shots off but no luck. I was surprised how big they were, I thought they were the size of a small german shepard. I would guess 7 1/2's loads were not enough to take them down.Dave

Con Ed

HAHA I LIKE THAT! IVE PLACED TRAIL CAMS UP HIGH LOOKING DOWN ON THE PARKING AREA SO I CAN SEE EXACTLY WUTS GOING ON WHEN IM NOT THERE. MAYBE EVEN GET A PLATE NUMBER OR TWO... Muzzy, did the same thing have a trail camera on a pole on my property facing the house. I have pictures of nyseg reading the meter. Haven't been up since Dec. with this cold weather batteries probably dead. But they don't know that.Dave

Hunter, also retired from a public utility, which one did you work for if you don't mind me asking. Dave

Pygmy, thanks for the info. Dave

Pygmy. I use a modified chock and use 12 ga 7 1/2 "s Dave

Guys I just started rabbit hunting a few years ago. I hunted this year and got 3 rabbits. My question is how far can a 12 ga. shotgun shoot and be effective . Most of the rabbits I shot are at close range within 20 yards. I have seen rabbits further out but don't shoot, so how far a distance can one shoot and still kill a rabbit. Dave

Guys, never been to Sterling Forest but would like to take a day trip there if the snow ever melts. Did you see any small game? I would like my first hunt to be for squirrels. Dave

Eddie, you are correct you must report both. If you were successful and also if you were unsuccessful. Sorry for the confusion. Dave

Eddie, just to make it easy you would report the total number of deer taken. Remember this would all be computerized and for example you reported 3 deer taken they would know what permits were used. It would be right there on the screen. Also you don't want to report more kills than you have permits for. That would be a red flag and you might get a call from the DEC. Yes you would pay the fines when you purchase your license for the following season. Reporting all game would be possible, but right now just talking about the deer harvest.Dave

Eddie, lets say there was a fine of $5.00 to start with. Once it's implemented we can see if it works. If the results are not what they expect then we could raise it the next year say $10.00. I don't think this is such a bad idea we already pay $10.00 for a DMP and there is no guarantee. Remember this is all speculation on our part. Dave

Doc, no one ever said ban anyone from hunting. I don't know where you got that from. What was suggested was that you had to report by the end of the season. Reporting meant you were successful and reporting meant that you were unsuccessful. Which you agreed was totally doable , by letting the computer do the work. Then we added that if you didn't report this year then next year when you applied for your license you would incur a penalty. But you wouldn't be banned that's too harsh a penalty and totally not what was suggested. Doc I think that you answer so many topics you forget that you are talking about. :'( In the beginning you were in favor and as time goes by you change your mind. Dave

I agree. Doc, I think this topic had ran its course, full circle. Losing interest in hashing up same old stuff lets move on. But it was a great debate and everyone was heard. Dave

FYI THis convert always reports his kills, when he's lucky to get some. Backstrapper, I believe most hunters are ethical and do the right thing, even when no one is looking. That's why I think it's up to the hunters to come up with the deer kill numbers not the DEC. The problem is the DEC never gave us a forum to do so, some may disagree and say you always had to report your success. But there was no enforcement or incentive to do so. But if there is a way to capture these numbers we would comply, like you are now doing. WE would just add reporting also that you weren't successful then we would have an accurate account of the total deer harvest. Lets just have the computer do the work for us not the DEC guess work.Dwve

Doc, finally getting some converts. Dave

You just need to get a permit from the visitors center. It cost Five bucks. You can use rifles and shotguns and as far as i know you can use .22 Thanks, who must snow is there ?Dave

Guy's what are the requirements to hunt in Sterling Forest? I am interested in hunting small game, are rifles and shotguns allowed? Can you use a 22 ? Dave

I think what happens is that when you start to get unemployment there is a start date and it is good for a year. So if you go back to work even part time you can only make a certain amount a week $405. If you make more you will not get benefits for those weeks. Even if your unemployment account had money and the end of your year comes they will stop your benefits. They will not extend your benefits I think then you must refile if your eligable. And it starts all over again.

if you look in at your hunting guide, it is mandatory to report and actually illegal not to. You can be ticketed taken to court and fined. And unles sthey know you were successful, how will they know you didnt report? You have 7 days to report and it can be done online now. I know a few guys who report they were successful even though they werent just to make themselves look good in their minds. So reporting is only as good as the reporters. Data can be taen several ways depending on who is reviewing it. Bubba, I think you have missed the point. Like you say it is mandatory , but that's a joke. If it was enforced then we would have all the data we would need. But it's not!!! And If you read my comment I said that everyone would have to report "EVERYONE" If you were successful you report if you are not successful you report. That's how they would know, we all report. So next year when you purchase your license they would be able to see if you reported the previous year. If you did fine, no penalty, if you didn't you get a penalty. I only used February as an example because there is still deer hunting on Long Island. So we could capture as much data as possible. As far as certain people making false reports , even with a few false reports the overall numbers would be closer than the DEC. I like to respect the hunting public to do the right thing. Not bring them down by the few unethical hunters. Dave

Well I think we finally have reached a topic generally agree with. Let the computer do the work. Hunters can call,or go online and input results like we are doing now and we can also have a deadline to make the final report. Which would be later, say like February 1st . So if every body complied we would have the real tally and not some guesstimate like we have now. All this would be up front so the hunters would know the deal before the hunting season started. No need to send notices to non reporters this would incur additional expense. They would just see a surcharge when they renew their license. Dave

NYantler, it's simple if you buy a deer hunting license then you have to call in if you are successful or not. So you either report you got a deer or you report you didn't get a deer. Same thing for those who get DMP, you have to report if you got a doe or not. If they have no problem applying for a DMP they should have no problem calling in a report. I think most people who fill their permits don't call in so DEC makes up the numbers. If they wanted to take it a step further if you get a DMP and don't report your success or not then next year you should be denied a permit for that year. Just my opinion on how to get realistic numbers. Dave

When you buy your license , like DECALs if you didn't report the previous year you pay $5 surcharge.It would be tacked on to your next license. It may not be the best way but it could be a start. At least the numbers would be real. Dave