Syracuse.com - New York State budget legalizes crossbows, contains money for fish hatchery repairs

[HuntingNY-News]

Crossbows aren't legal yet. The DEC will have to work up a draft of the new regulations and a public comment period will be held. After considering the comments, the DEC will then finalize the regulations.

Albany, N.Y. -- The 2014-2015 state budget approved by lawmakers Tuesday contains some items of interest to outdoors enthusiasts - including the legalization of crossbows for hunting small and big game (deer and bear).

The crossbow issue has been controversial. The legislation approving the coming year's spending plan enables the state Department of Environmental Conservation to regulate their use, with the idea of allowing hunters to use them as early as this fall.

The legislation authorizes crossbow hunting, except on Long Island and Westchester County, for hunters 14 years of age or older.

Crossbows aren't legal yet. The DEC will have to work up a draft of the new regulations and a public comment period will be held. After considering the comments, the DEC will then finalize the regulations.

At this point, it appears the idea is to allow crossbows during "portions of the archery season" and during the firearms seasons, according to a press release from the governor's office late Tuesday. It's not clear from the release, though, what "portions of the archery season" that will be.

Other budget items of note for outdoors enthusiasts, according the press release, include:

State fish hatcheries: $4 million dollar will be spent to to address critical infrastructure repair needs in the state's fish hatchery system.

Specifically, DEC will make repairs to hatcheries, including boiler replacements at Chautauqua Hatchery in Western New York and Oneida Hatchery in the Mohawk Valley, and rearing pond (raceway) repairs at several DEC hatcheries. Building repair and improvement projects are also in the works for Caledonia Hatchery in the Finger Lakes.

In addition, DEC plans to purchase 16 new fish stocking trucks with fish life support systems that are essential for the safe delivery of stocked fish.

Reduced Price Fishing Licenses, Free Fishing Promotions: This includes reduced fees for seven-day fishing licenses, from $31 to $28 for non-residents and $13 to $12 for residents; an increase in the number of authorized statewide free fishing days to eight from two; and authorization for DEC to offer 10 days of promotional prices for hunting, fishing and trapping licenses.

$6 Million for Access to Fishing and Other Recreational Opportunities: Includes $6 million for 50 new access projects involving 380,000 acres for fishing, hunting, hiking, canoeing, bird watching and other forms of recreational activities throughout the state. The vast majority of these new access sites will provide new or improved access to fishing opportunities, with new trails to fishing sites, fishing platforms, boat launches, improved signage, and new and improved parking. See how this will impact Central New York.

Boating and Fishing Access Upgrades Underway: DEC is currently in the process of upgrading boating access facilities on Forge Pond in Suffolk County, the Mohawk River in Schenectady County, Great Sacandaga Lake in Saratoga County, and Lower Saranac Lake in Franklin County. New access projects to be completed in 2014 include a new boat launch on Round Lake in Saratoga County and installation of a fishing pier on Green Lake in Greene County. The state has invested more than $2.8 million on boat launch improvements during the past 3 years.

Expanded Adventure License Offers: In addition to a commitment made by the governor in his January State of the State Address that provided free Adventure License Plates for new lifetime fishing license holders, the 2014-2015 State Budget authorizes discounted Adventure Plates to existing lifetime fishing licenses holders and access to the plates to annual license holders. Anglers, both new and existing license holders, will now be able to choose from licenses plates featuring trout, striped bass and walleye.

Debut of the Lifetime Empire Passport: This offers visitors to State Parks the option of paying a one-time fee to experience all that New York State Parks has to offer throughout their lifetime.

Adventure Licenses: These will be available to holders of lifetime hunting, fishing and trapping licenses, as well Parks' Lifetime Empire Passport and NY Safe Boating certificates, whereby a person can consolidate his or her paper licenses onto one document, a New York State driver's license, featuring icons including: a deer and fish for sportsmen lifetime licensees; a deer for hunting; a fish for fishing; an arrowhead for bowhunting; a bobcat paw for trapping; a powderhorn for muzzleloading; an anchor for a boating safety certificate; and a maple leaf for Lifetime Empire Passports.

Streamlined online access to purchase sporting licenses, Adventures licenses and Adventure plates: Sporting licenses can now be purchased online on the DEC website at licensecenter.ny.gov/. The Adventure Licenes and Adventure plates will also be available soon from a new web portal.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog