Syracuse.com - Barclay sponsoring legislation to restore hunting with firearms on SUNY ESF-operated land in North Country

[HuntingNY-News]

It's too late, though, to do anything about this fall's hunting season.

Assemblyman Will Barclay, R-Pulaski, today issued a press release that he is sponsoring legislation next year that will restore hunting with firearms on some 5,300 acres operated by SUNY ESF in the North Country.

Hunting has been allowed on the two properties for decades SUNY ESF announced recently, however, that the practice must stop.

The announcement comes in the wake of the N.Y. SAFE Act with its increased penalties passed earlier this year. However, the school's stance is actually rooted in a "flawed interpretation" the school has had for decades of the original legislation concerning the two properties and the use of firearms on school or college-owned properties. The school thought the original legislation exempted the two properties, but closer reading of the original law proved otherwise.

Read the full story.

The firearms ban concerns the 2,500-acre Pack Forest Demonstration Area in Warrensburg in Warren County, and the 2,800-acre Dubuar Memorial Forest adjacent to SUNY ESF's Ranger School at Wanakena near Cranberry Lake in St. Lawrence County. The property is used for education, research and demonstration purposes.

Not all hunting is banned on this land. Hunting with bows and trapping will still be allowed.

Barclary's release said the following:

In the wake of the announcement that SUNY ESF is now banning hunting on 5,300 acres of North Country territory, Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,I-Pulaski) is sponsoring legislation next year to restore hunting rights on the popular site.

This land has been used regularly by SUNY ESF's students, faculty, research staff, and the general public but will now be off-limits to small- and big-game hunters this fall due to firearm possession changes resulting from the NY SAFE Act and incorrect interpretation of the existing exemption rules.

Barclay sees this legislation as crucial to the hunters and sportsmen in the area and to hunters who travel to the region.

"This new ban on 5,300 acres of hunting land is more collateral damage from the ill-conceived, misguided SAFE Act," said Barclay. "The SUNY ESF lands have long been utilized by hunters and sportsmen, attracts tourists, keeps the deer population in check, and helps conserve the land.

"That's why I'm sponsoring legislation next year to restore hunting with firearms on this land. With this ban coming to light after our legislative session ended, there is, unfortunately, nothing we can do to restore hunting in this area in time for the 2013 hunting season; I'm hopeful, however, that we can act next year to restore access to this popular and important land," said Barclay.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog