New York Crossbow Coalition November News Letter

[tughillmcd]

 

Northern Zone Crossbow season has come and gone, and many of you are preparing for the Southern Zone Opener on Saturday, November 5th. As I write this I am asking the same questions most of you ask every day. Why are we as Crossbow Hunters excluded from the entire Bow Season? Why do we  use the Muzzleloader Privilege instead of the Bow Privilege to use our Crossbows? Why are there arbitrary draw weight restrictions on Crossbows that eliminate the majority of recurve crossbows and width restrictions that prohibit some of the newest technology reverse limb crossbows? Why do we have a 250 foot setback while all other bows have a 150 foot setback? The sad truth is, not enough Crossbow Hunters engage in the process. I hear all the time, "Give it time, it will change". As many of you know, it will not change all by itself. In 2014 when the Governor included Crossbow Full Inclusion in  his Executive Budget the Senate also included it in their Budget Bill, however,  the Assembly opposed it. We reached out to our membership and had everyone calling their legislators and the Assembly leadership to adopt the Crossbow language. As the clock ticked down to the final days of the budget process, we made our voices heard loud enough that there was a compromise that resulted in the crossbow regulations we have today. Although, not perfect by any means, it was a great starting point from which we can grow. What we have today did not "just happen". It took the time and effort of hundreds of people engaging in the process to effect the change in position resulting in this compromise. Achieving Crossbow Full Inclusion will not just happen either, it will take another concerted effort by the silent majority to see this through. So what is our next step? How do we proceed moving forward?         First, we are asking everyone that wants crossbows classified as a bow to sign a letter to the Governor, acknowledging his support for crossbows in his proposed 2014-15 Executive budget, and asking for his continued support moving forward. Follow the link below to fill out this important letter online. Your letter will be added to the others we collect and deliver to the Governor's office. Click Here to Submit Your Online Crossbow Letter of Support    Print out the paper copy of the letter and have others sign them.  Printable letter to the Governor  Please return the letters to NYCC PO Box 316 Pulaski NY 13142  to be delivered to the Governor and so we can add it to the total count submitted.      After submitting your letter, if you have not already done so, please renew your 2017 membership. If you were an Associate Member or have signed up for the newsletter but never joined, please join TODAY! We need to have a strong voice and that voice grows as our membership grows. Although many have expressed their support in the past for NYCC, when speaking to elected officials, organizations can only speak for their "current" paid members, not people that were members last year, or a few years ago. We need our membership numbers to reflect the view of what we know is the majority of hunters, including the majority of bow hunters, that support crossbow full inclusion. Please show your support for the equality of crossbows as archery equipment by joining or renewing and submitting your $20 membership fee today. Online Membership Application  Printable membership Application         Lastly, get your friends, hunting companions and family members to join the cause by submitting a letter to the Governor and also joining the Coalition as a full member. Take the letter and membership applications to your hunting club, your rod and gun club and lets not forget the local sporting goods shops. Collect these letters and send them back to us and we will include them with the others we deliver to the Governor. We are a true grassroots organization comprised of like minded hunters and outdoors enthusiasts. When our membership promotes our message to others, we grow. Word of mouth has proven to be the best advertising we have at any cost.       Good Luck to everyone this hunting season, and most of all, be safe. Rick McDermott President New York Crossbow Coalition Follow us on Twitter @NYCrossbow Like us on Facebook Follow the link to see the entire Newsletter http://conta.cc/2fqSfUN