greybeard

No rule against it that I ever heard of, but trying to kill a wounded goose on the water after you knocked it down is not always easy. So killing one swimming may not be as simple as some think. I'd say, flush it like a pheasant then shoot it,(jump shooting), I've done that with geese, but more with Brant .

NYHillbilly.. Maybe my call said ,come "hare" and say hello. Shawn.. Maybe it was a mating call...and sounded like rabbit screams of passion.

Was fishing and took a break and took out a predator call, to see if I could see a fox. While calling, I saw something coming towards me, and when it got to about twenty feet from me it stopped, put it's ears up and stared at me. It was a cottontail. Never called a cottontail before, just thought it was strange.

I sent you a pm hope it helps... I don't know about rabbits at Stewart, but am sure guys here would know.. do you have a beagle ?

Prego.. I'll have to find my old logs and get back to you. I will pm you when I find them. Suggestion. I'm not familiar with Westchester, but you may want to check out small game hunting there too..

Ciao, Just a thought: I don't know Tug Hill, but since you live in Putnam and want small game why not hunt Cranberry Mt. They stock pheasants, and there's some small game including turkey... Aside from pheasants,I've shot some squirrels and even a grouse there. The only problem is that it can get crowded and at times all of the assigned parking spots are taken.(There is limited access) It only happened to me once, but it can happen, then you''ll need backup spots. I never went on a weekend.

Thanks.. I'll pm you during the season.

Doc.. I sometimes can't remember what month it is, but I remembered your post... The part of the discussion about signing out guns, was quite lengthy, but bottom line of the thinking was ... Go to a preserve, or armory, sign out a gun,get a hunting license, shoot stocked game, turn in gun.. Goal.. Allows people to hunt and yet controls guns.. This subject was beat to death, but still continues with some, maybe looking for support of their ideas. Fortunately, it's only talk . It wasn't a poll, just talking. Some of the more liberal, felt that preserve hunting in wooded areas required a lot more hunting skill than baiting wild game. (They didn't like hunting at all, but that wasn't a choice).

Doc, I wasn't going to ask the question, but the discussion took on a life of it's own and generated a lot of talk about hunting with a number of people .. Hunting seems to be on a lot of people's minds and they want to voice their opinions. At times, I am being bated(no pun intended) into a conversation.I'm around long enough to see it coming and to get in my points, but sometimes like to get other views from hunters to enhance my views. Just a side note .I believe, that,on a post a while ago, you had mentioned that people were thinking that we should check guns out of an armory to use for hunting to eliminate gun ownership (if it wasn't you, sorry). That actually came up in 2 separate conversations related to the above question, but were even expanded on , they were almost scarey, but I'm not going into that here.

Many sporting goods stores display game heads from preserves, television hunting episodes, and youtube show hunts over baited areas as well as baited bear stands. So I wasn't surprised when I mentioned going on a wild boar hunt that I was harassed(jokingly) about tying boars to a tree and shooting them. He was kidding, but got the idea from somewhere(He is VERY right wing,, not a hunter, but an outdoorsman). I believe, from my discussions, that many people, including hunters and former hunters, believe that most TROPHY sized animals are shot over bait, or on preserves. I've had discussions regarding preserves and bait hunting, especially recently . The discussions always get into morality, fairness,, etc. but I'm not addressing that here.. I have only one question which I was asked and I answered today , but wanted other opinions. , How would you answer the question, " Which requires more HUNTING skill : a guaranteed stocked preserve hunt (200 -1000 acres), Non baited, but fenced. or a non guaranteed hunt over bait stations, or baited barrels(wild game) from a stand erected by the outfitter in a set location ?" The question is HUNTING SKILL only, not fairness, or morality. ( I asked a few people, if they had a choice of types of hunts, which they would chose, and I was surprised at answers I have gotten from them)

When was this passed ? Who will collect all the ammo that we don't use ? This is a reason why the Federal Government doesn't have to pass stricter gun laws, the States , cities, counties and local towns will do it for them

I'm down at the beach on most days at various times. Today was the first day, this year, that I saw ducks that migrate here. It was a raft of sea ducks . A few broke from the group and came into the surf. I didn't see any flying, just swimming. I never remember seeing them this early. I watch for them every year, but never hunted for sea ducks except for Old Squaw.

ok.. Got it,.. Thanks

Dinsdale.. Thank you. Have you ever tried boiling them to loosen.

Paula is grumpy ???? Never!!! She's among the best on this site...

Priceless..I'm going to use that.. Thanks

I'm looking into an out of state hunt, and checked with a taxidermist on a European Mt. for a Feral goat(if I get one). I'm sure that it's the best way to go , but I was thinking of bringing the head back with me and doing it myself. I've done some taxidermy so am familiar with procedures, but not horn removal.( I know antlers are different) I've read how to do it, but never did it. Has anyone ever removed horns from a goat. Some boil, some let them rot off...Any suggestions ?

pistolp.. Thank you for that info, I may need it... I sent a letter, on Friday, requesting it and even enclosed my first 2 hunting licenses, and a few other documents to show how long I've been hunting .. I wish I would have asked here first. If I don't get a replacement based on the letter, I will call that number, but I took the course in 1964. Long story, but I took it again sometime around 1980, so maybe it's on file.

Shawn, I may be able to use my certificate..I see DEC guys sometimes when I'm out.. So I'll put it in my car and have someone look at it.. I'm old and wrinkled too and I'm still somewhat useful, so maybe it'll be ok. to use the old wrinkled card. It's generally hard for me to give up days in November from bass/blue fishing.. .. .so I'll hunt in the morning and fish when I get back if we have a good fall run...... I wish that I was good enough to show you something., but thanx. side note: When I took the Hunter Safety Course, almost 50 years ago,, no one, as far as I remember, told us(my friends and I) not to lose the Hunter Safety Course Card. We all just assumed that you only needed it to get the 1st license. I just found out that in at least one State, and probably more, they don't accept the license, you need to show the certificate to get a non resident hunting license..The one State will not accept the Bow Course as proof. So keep that Hunter Education Card. in a safe place ( I think now they tell new hunters to keep it).. just thought I'd pass it on,

Shawn, I took the course during the Middle Ages, soI don't know if the instructor is still around, but it's a good thought. I think I can read his name on the certificate(I gotta look again later), and maybe the DEC can help. Like I mentioned earlier, I do have the certificate, but it's really beat up. I probably have some old hunting licenses with bow stamps too from when I bow hunted upstate. Like I mentioned above, I've been away from deer hunting for a long time and I'm not sure if I want to go back to it, but if I do I want to be ready. Seems like the rules are the same except that I have to carry my bow hunter course card.

jjb.. I was in contact with the DEC on 2 other issues and just figured I'd spare them any more of my endless questions, and, or requests, and ask here. Thanks Papa Bear..I got those... I'm more into small game, and maybe waterfowl again, but I'm starting to get the bug for deer. So glad I know the rules now.

I haven't bow hunted on Long Island in over 20 years, but am considering it now. The regs, as I recall, were originally copied from the Westchester rules and therefore no bow stamp was required. . So when I hunted,I just had my big game license . I purchased the Sportsman's license yesterday, but not an archery license. Can I legally bow hunt on LI in the October thru Dec. season with only that license.. Maybe I'm just not seeing it, but In looking at the NYS Hunting Guide, it isn't clear to me. I have my bow hunter training certificate, but it looks like moths ate it . I can see my name, but not the date.

I agree with Mike Rossi in that put and take vs wild birds and restoration are different issues. My opinion.. I'm in favor of put and take, There are economic benefits because many more hunters spending money on licenses, equipment, etc. However, I think that the biggest issue is keeping more hunters in the game. I used to hunt those birds in various locations and saw so many hunter's afield, that at times there were no spots available to hunt..Look at Cranberry Mt., or Sterling Forest, there are many hunters chasing those birds. Also, if they stopped stocking the coop on LI there'd be almost no small game hunter's on LI Hunter numbers are declining,especially young hunters. I say, the more hunting opportunity the better. As far as stocked fish(since that was brought up).. There is no question in my mind.. Keep it !! I have fished stocked trout since the mid 60's. I've fished them on LI, the Catskills, and the Adirondacks. It's a winner. It's just fun. They have fishing festivals every year that bring hundreds of young kids to teach them.about fishing. How bad is that ! I have a friend who used to say that fishing for stocked trout is not real fishing. One fall, as we were bailing in Striper after striper from the beach, I asked if if this was real fishing .. He had No answer.... It's all fishing, and all of it creates outdoor sportsmen and women.

long island hunter 5.. I pm'd you some info

Paula, I was in contact with the guide. He is not the owner. He gave me info that I asked for including contact info for a taxidermist, who I contacted. At this time, he would be the guide that I would use, but if I check other outfitters I will keep that in mind. Thanx