Syracuse.com - Crossbow advocates hopeful of new legislation that would let the DEC set regulations for hunting with crossbows

[HuntingNY-News]

A new crossbow bill, A00283, has been recently submitted by Assemblyman Sean Ryan, D-Buffalo, and would give the DEC authority to regulate where, when and how they should be used.

Syracuse, N.Y. -- If you don’t succeed, keep trying.

That’s the philosophy of crossbow hunting advocates who want to see use of this hunting instrument continued and regulated by the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

A late session veto by Gov. Andrew Cuomo killed a crossbow bill authored by Assemblyman Robert Sweeney, D-Lindenhurst. Sweeney’s bill would have continued crossbow regulations that expired Dec. 31 for another two years.

The Sweeney bill, supported by New York Bowhunters, a bow-hunting advocacy group, would have again only allowed use of crossbows to hunt big game (deer and bear) during the regular firearms and late muzzleloading seasons – not during the regular bowhunting season. It would have also eliminated the Columbus Day weekend youth firearms hunt for deer, which occurred this past fall for the first time.

As it stands now, the use of crossbows to hunt game is not allowed at all and the Columbus Day weekend youth firearms hunt, which occurs during the regular bow hunting season, is still a go.

A new crossbow bill, A00283, has been recently submitted by Assemblyman Sean Ryan, D-Buffalo, and would give the DEC authority to regulate where, when and how they should be used. A similar companion bill will be submitted soon by Sen. Patrick Gallivan, R-Elma, in the state Senate, according to aide from his office.

Meanwhile, Sweeney will not be submitting another crossbow bill this year, said Denise Kretz, his chief of staff.

“I’m not happy we don’t have anything,” said Rick McDermott, of Pulaski, president of the 740-member, New York Crossbow Coalition. “I’m also not going to support undermining the DEC’s authority.”

The state Department of Environmental Conservation has not taken a position on the issue.

“The DEC does not comment on legislation,” said Lisa King, a DEC spokesperson.

Gordon Batcheller, the DEC’s wildlife bureau chief, attended a town meeting in Brewerton last spring hosted by the New York Crossbow Coalition in Brewerton. He said the DEC’s position “comes down to getting people outdoors.

“If we don’t have people out there hunting, bird watching, looking for snakes and reptiles, fishing ... we will not have a future generation of dedicated conservationists,” he said.

The DEC’s hands are tied, though, until legislation is passed giving them the power to set the regulations.

David Figura can be reached a [email protected], by calling 470-6066, through Facebook at PS Outdoors and on Twitter at PSOutdoors.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog