greybeard

Congrats..Nice fish what did you get it on..

GREAT story..and whatta deer.. Congrats.. You really earned that buck!

. My question originated from conversations and then some verification of what I was told by antis, and just non hunters.I was going to wait until I got a better feel for the coordinated efforts by anti hunters before I wrote about it. Mike Rossi ...You are correct about conservation funds coming from other sources.Some of those sources are what caused my concern. The antis are recommending wildlife funding to compete with our license money. They reportedly want more access to hunting areas as well as more of a voice in wildlife Management. Although I am not finished looking into these,there are 3 areas(at this time) that concern me: The non Hunters stamp .. Wildlife Conservation Stamp... The third is being recommended for non hunters regarding all species also recommends creating a stamp for specific wildlife to match our stamps (like turkey stamp).. I was told of this one and saw it, unfortunately I can't point to the site because I can't find it again...It's on the internet, but I can't relocate it. The antis continually point out how low hunters numbers are compared to what they refer to as wildlife watchers when recommending the above funding tools.. Another issue that concerned ,me was anti hunters advised to get hunting licenses. Some sources of this were well meaning, but the anti sources recommend it to get into our designated hunting areas to disrupt hunting. One site gave explicit instructions of how to disrupt while looking like hunters. It advised antis to wear masks because of cameras put up by hunters, take occasional safe shots to scare game, take down tree stands,etc. My concern about antis having hunting licenses, aside from the obvious, is that they will park in our spots(on LI that's a real issue), and they will participate in surveys and have a hunters voice. The non hunting stamps/license may allow them access as well as a voice as a non hunting group.. both of which are stated in their documentation. They also state that more funding gives them a bigger voice with legislators. The above, are in my opinion, just some of the reasons why we need younger hunters. We all know that the antis read our hunting sites and have even been caught here baiting hunters with questions. They use our words against us. Their PR campaigns have had an effect turning hunters on each other while selling the public on the cruelty of hunting....Look at their term "canned hunt"...Hunters use it constantly.. The antis attack hunting with Hounds, look at California, They are now attacking bear hunting, for 2014, over bait and using hounds in Maine..(I seem to recall that antis stopped dove hunting in Michigan, and I believe that some time ago they attacked pigeon shoots in Pa., but I don't recall if they were successful on the pigeons.)... There's too much to write about My opinion, shared by others on other sites, is that we should NEVER be publicly critical of how others hunt as long as it is legal. If we don't like what they do then we just shouldn't do it ourselves. Stating that we don't participate in it is fine, but disrespectful criticism fuels the anti cause. I believe that it also deters young impressionable potential hunters. I constantly read about the Safe Act, as well as Federal Gun legislation which is good and appropriate, but I think that we seem to ignore the anti hunters coordinated attacks and the long range effect. Some are funded by groups throughout the U.S. so an anti hunting campaign can be launched even in conservative states. I am still looking at anti hunting sites, which I am doing for my own head. I like to know what the other side is doing . I am aware that much of what I wrote is my interpretation of what I have been told and read.

Now that IS impressive !!! Congrats.. just curious is one hound a black and tan and the other a redbone

landtrac...Thank you. My concerns appear to be warranted. I agree with you that recruitment is something that we should all be concerned about. This was partially the reason that I asked the question.It may be BIG problem in the future. I found , what I believe to be, an attack by antihunters that can only be thwarted by increasing numbers of younger hunters.(I was told about it and read about it) I'm not sure that their strategy can be effective, but it can work if they increase their numbers of DEDICATED antis and we lose potential DEDICATED hunters. Another thing that concerns me is that, unlike many hunters, the antis never seem to attack each other. THEY are against ALL hunting, while WE bicker amongst ourselves as to strategies, techniques and equipment. We turn off some young hunters . We are fortunate that many times the antis respond to specific issues, kind of crisis management. They come out to protest a squirrel hunt, or bear hunt then go home kiss the parakeet, plant a petunia , send a check , believe that they saved the world and wait for the next crisis.. However, that being stated, we must realize that they do have DEDICATED people with power and money, who have launched successful campaigns against us and therefore they can not be ignored. In addition, they seem to be increasing their numbers of young people, while we lose young people. We need new blood to fight . If we don't recruit, in 20 years the average age will be 66 !!! (Twenty years goes quickly.)

I can only find dated information reporting the average age of New York hunters. The last report that I read listed the age at a round 46 years old. Does anyone have any current information ? I'm interested because in following anti hunting sites and listening to conversations I have some future concerns. I'm not sure if those concerns of mine are justified and worth discussing so I'm trying to gather more info. for myself

My wife and I went to the beach today to look for owls.While we were walking and looking we saw 2 snowy owls..I didn't bring a camera(again), but I don't take such good photos anyway.

I am not going to get too involved in this, but I have just a couple of thoughts, and opinions. During the last election, in particular, the NRA and others attacked the President because he was going to take our guns away. Almost immediately the anti gun people, answered, publicly. They stated and documented that there were less gun laws at the end of his first term than when he got in. They pointed out that he was given an F in gun control by an anti gun group. There went the credibility of the gun lobby in the minds of many people !! Although that didn't cement his win, it did point out that the gun lobby was just trying to create a paranoia, and spread wrong information. I read statements about the Safe Act, many are based on unwarranted fears, and predictions. If the pro gun people want to attack this law they MUST use documented facts only , or again they will lose credibility, and viewed as paranoid, and uninformed. The goal should be to sell those people on the fence, because most of those for it, and most of those against it have made up .their minds Many gun owners do not care about background checks, or the government knowing that they have guns.They have been told time and time again, through the years, that the government is coming to take their guns, and they still have them. They own a couple of guns, hunt as a past time a few days a year, and will pay a little more for ammo. I don't know how you can win them over, but being united, informed and law abiding citizens helps. Telling those people that you will ignore a law because you don't like it, or spreading rumors, predictions and disputable facts doesn't help the cause.. Lastly, in my opinion, most people are not one issue voters, and will look at the totality of issues, not just gun control. So when you wonder why gun owners vote for an anti gun candidate that is a possible reason. If the Governor threw out the law himself, would YOU vote for him, or are there other issues. I think many here still wouldn't vote for him.

We get together with neighbors a few times a year and have a different food choice for each event. New Year's Eve is cold cuts, which I almost never eat, but nice once a year.. I counted 7 squirrels in my freezer this morning so I asked my wife what she thought of me puttin' them on the bbq and serving them on New Year's Eve to the neighbors as an appetizer...Bottom line, we're eating cold cuts "only".

Do the dogs bite them afterwards ? (joke).. Actually, I agree that it is a pretty good idea. Good protein

That is sad, VERY sad, and kinda scarey coming from a school.

I was just telling my wife about this thread and she reminded me that I used to cut ducks into small pieces and fry them with hot Italian sausages. She'd laugh when I would say that I liked it and tell me the flavor that I tasted was the sausage, not the duck. She'd tell me that , if you have to disguise the flavor that much, it's not worth eating it. I forgot all about that

I live in Nassau County where there is 0 hunting except for waterfowl.. Five miles from my house, by side streets I can launch my kayak and get into good waterfowl areas. I have other spots that are close too. I hunt weekdays, I leave late, and I can get waterfowl(not always), so it's very convenient. Except for good days crow hunting, I get more birds waterfowling then any other bird hunting, Ducks are not destructive to crops, that I know of. They are not predators of small birds, and eggs, like crows, so , although I don't have to justify it to anyone, it kinda bothers me to kill them and not enjoy eating them. I will still hunt ducks, at times, but will take only a few for the season, and only those that taste o.k.(I will hunt Canada geese though since, as I wrote, I like to eat them.) We all hunt for our own reasons. I don't judge anyone who thinks differently, or even just likes the wing shooting, but I have to do what works for me. Moog.. Try one, you may like it... Some guys enjoy them

ants, I saw your post after I did mine, I thought the corn fed ones were better. Thanks, for that information, now I'm glad I never traveled to get ducks.

I stopped shooting old squaw, because no matter how I tried to cook them they were pretty bad.I tried them a few different ways. I rarely shoot divers for the same reason, but if I do decide to shoot one, I'll eat it. I don't shoot mergansers because of the warning about eating them. They do make nice mounts though, especially the male hooded Merganser(my opinion). I think that mallards, greenwing teal and wood ducks are ok. and can be good if prepared to YOUR taste. I'm not a fan of black ducks, sometimes they are not so good, but I'll eat them. I cut way back on waterfowling, because I'm not a fan of the meat. I do love calling them though. I like Canada geese.. breasted, cut in strips , membrane removed, pounded with meat mallet, marinated in olive oil and garlic, then bbq..spiced to taste...I'm a terrible cook, but I can bbq geese. If ducks tasted like squirrels, I'd be out every day. As far as donating, I never heard of it being done, but it's possible. Supposedly, when the State kills off a bunch of resident geese, they donate them to the homeless. You can ask the DEC They oughta donate brant to welfare frauds and you'd see how fast they'd become honest and get a job...

Yeah, the brant do get educated...I used to watch them take off as they saw the duck boats running thru the bay. By the mid season they'd take off when the boats weren't even close. I was convinced that they knew what a duck boat was. I did my best when I hunted them from my kayak, which is blue, and I wore a black jacket and black cap(we used to call it a long shoreman's cap), and face mask.. MANY times I could slowly paddle up to them, in very shallow water , position the kayak, load, bang on the 'yak, flush and shoot, like jumping pheasants. They usually weren't too afraid of me. I did this in the flats, where if you misjudged the tide you could be stuck in mud. No other boats in there , but me at the tide I'd hunt it, but I had to haul ass outta there at times, or I'd get stuck. For most waterfowling, I wouldn't shoot from the kayak while I was on the water, but straight shots in under a foot of water I would, unless other conditions made it unsafe. Funny thing that I noticed, on the south side of the bay, they tended to be more spooked by the kayak..Both sides got hunted and I thought that there was more boat traffic on the north side,. I had a theory, but it's just a theory

Virgil... Congrats... I like that area for Brant, but the current is too much for me in the kayak. I used to watch the guys shoot brant while I herring fished from the point lookout pier. I can't get my head into going for them.

I don't do it, but have a friend that does . He goes out of Montauk, and I believe the North Fork. He has done quite well. He and his friends go a few times a year. I'll ask him. I will be in touch with him in a week, or so. I will forget to ask so please pm me in a few days and it'll go to my email so I'll remember. For bass , what time of year are you considering ? There are a number of charters on LI which are not as far out as Montauk, but I only know about them from ads, or fishing reports. Something to think about, the charters mentioned in fishing reports may be paid advertisers of the site, or magazine. I don't rely on published, or even word of mouth fishing reports generally, unless I know who puts them out. I have seen a number of less than accurate reporting from some. However, sometimes the reports are accurate and worth following...Hard to figure. Oh yeah, he goes for stripers, not fluke on charters. I'll email a different friend now(so I don't forget) and ask him if he knows any charters.. I don't know if he does, but he seems to know everybody.worth a shot. No guarantees for fish, but the guys I'm asking, I trust..

Shawn, Have you tried the Benjamin trail NP air pistol. It seems to have the velocity needed, but for some reason I decided against it when I saw it advertised. I assume that it can be left charged. I already had my other 2 air pistols, so that may have been a factor in why I didn't research further. Also, as far as co2 airguns aren't they less effective in cold weather. I own 2 co2(s), but don't shoot them much. My 1377 penetrates better than the 1322 when shooting thru cans , but the 1322 makes clam shells kind of explode when I shoot them. The 1377 just goes through. I've shot many pests with both, butI never killed anything with either of them at over 10 yards. I'm sure that they'll do it, but I never tried. I use the springers for a longer hunting shot

When you go into a store, some companies track you with your rewards card. Order something on line and you'll get emails from other companies. Buy a gun and the NRA will send you stuff. Send a donation to some chatities and see how many requests for money you get from others Use EZPASS, traffic light camers, street security and store cameras, and you are trackable., Don't telemarketers have your telephone number, and name,. etc. Your info is sold constantly, forget privacy. Everyone seems to be collecting and sharing an awful lot of your information

I'm not well versed on many aspects of airguns. I'm a hunter who uses an airgun, not an airgunner who hunts. So take what I say, based on that. I'm not too technical. I shoot either the 1377, or the 1322 a few times a week, most of the year. I like the adjustable power because in one spot where I shoot, I need lower power. I got them because I just like to shoot, and had to take care of some pests. You tube has some info on both guns. One even shows a penetration test by a guy. When I was taking care of some pest problems I found that pumping it when I saw the little beasts scared them away, or just took too long and they'd move. It's not that it takes too long, it's just where I do it I have limited field of view and they'd move out of it sometimes while I was pumping.. I asked an airgun dealer how long those guns could be left pumped, and I was told that they should hold the pump for up to 30 minutes then I should shoot it. So I'd pump it to the power that I want, then when I'd see my target, I just load the pellet and shoot. I have read that the gun can be dry fired with no problem,but I can not verify that . I have done it to release the pressure then re pump. I was stationary to do the pest thing, so it's very different than still hunting for grouse , etc.

hunter49.. I agree.. My wife says that they'll do to ammo, etc. like they did to cigarettes

Phade,, great story.. I'll admit this here, because no one really knows me...I quit bow hunting after I grunted in a huge buck to within 15 feet of me and missed him as he stood there broadside. I was calm, I raised the bow and put the wrong pin on his shoulder., and the arrow went right over his back. He ran maybe 30 yards and again stood broadside, and offered a clear shot. I decided that I didn't deserve that deer because I was a failure. So I stood up and yelled at him, and scared him off.. M y friend heard me yell, then saw the deer , but had no shot. When I told him that I didn't take the 2nd shot, he just stared at me.We never spoke of it again... I quit bow hunting that day !!.. True Confession

There are many deer hunters who buy 1 box of ammo every few years. They deer hunt maybe 3 days a year, and may never take a shot. When I got into the bow, I had the same box of '06 rounds for years . I'd bow hunt, then if I felt like it in rifle season, I'd go . I was different than some others because I needed other ammo, for my other hunting, but some only deer hunt. That's why they don't pay attention to it. If they have to pay more money every few years, they'll just live with it. It's just the way it is, not everyone has the passion, hunting is just something to do .

I own the Crosman 1377 (.177) and the 1322(.22). I have read where guys modify the 1377 to get more velocity. I think youtube has stuff on that. They are very accurate and I have the rifle stock attachment that fits both.(I hit a fly, sitting on a white vegetable, at 25 feet, a few months ago, so that's accurate). I shoot them alot, and really like them. I thought about getting a hunting air pistol, as you did not, too long ago. My 1377 claims 600fps. I haven't put in on a chrony, but I doubt that it would achieve that. The 1322 is around 425fps(I think). Both will kill squirrels with a brain shot at close range and are good for pest birds. I , personally, think that they are underpowered for most hunting, but some may disagree...I read on the internet that guys do hunt with them in some places, one guy uses the .1377 for grouse(head shots). NYS requires 600fps in an airgun to hunt, so I use my air rifles in the field, When I was lookin, I was interested in either the Browning 800(I think that that's the number), or the Hatsan model 25 super charger. I did not research enough though. Diana makes one too. With the new gun laws and attitudes, I decided not to get any more air pistols because I thought that the idiots , one day, may make me get a pistol permit for it..Maybe , I'm paranoid, but that was my thought..( I live in Nassau County).