New York

[ishiwannabe]

Not for arguements sake, just stating something:
I never heard of this organization until I read this post. I have been hunting in NY for almost twenty years.
I agree with Shawn, get the youth age lowered, and get the kids more active in archery, or the numbers will continue to decrease. The kids are the future of everything, including bowhunting.
On another note, I think hunters in general have it tough enough as it is, without segregating the group by the means with which they hunt.
I cant think of one person that bow hunts that doesnt gun hunt....might just be my friends though.

[Stone Knife]

I would love to see the bowhunter age lowered to 12 that would mean that Joe could hunt deer this season. But NY will never do anything that makes any sense, they never have and they never will. They keep bleeding what few hunters they have left dry, and give you virtually nothing back in return, it gets sadder every year. If things ever fell through with my job I would be out of this place in a heart beat, and go somewhere that has more opportunity. Any of us will be darn lucky to have our children stick around this state to raise there family's here, but you can hardly blame them.

[sweet old bill]

Now AL I continue to send messages to the DEC, I think they now see my name and toss the email. They continue to do anything that brings in $$$ to the DEC with no reguard for the Deer herd and or the hunters. I sent them a email asking why they couold not expand the deer season for archers such as in Maryland and other southern states. Most of these areas have opening of the bow season that runs from Sept 1 and ends in the month of Feb 28.... Without causing any increase in the overall deer kill numbers. I will send another email, the DEC will be I was told at the NYbowhunters meeting in APril. SO maybe we can get on there case to make the changes that hunters want.

[Al Dente]

Yes Bill, there will be a Biologist there doing a presentation.  There's usualy a Q and A afterwards.  It is very troubling.  This is just the tip of the iceberg.  The DEC has turned a blind eye, deaf ear, etc... to the sportsmen of NYS.  They even want sole control over Fish and Wildlife issues, solely upon themselves, with no Legislature involved at all  The way it is now, Bills must be sponsored in both Houses, brought into Committee in both Houses, pass Committee in both Houses, pass both Houses entirely, then await the Governor's signature.  The DEC feels that they do not need this system and want to make all environmental laws and changes themselves.  We're upset now, could you imagine what we'll be facing if they get their way in Albany?!?!?!  It's funny, I got a press release last week from the DEC, stating that Commissioner Grannis has submitted 3 pieces of Legislation to be enacted concerning EnCon laws.  I asked for the Bill numbers, and sponsors, several times.  Today I received an answer that Commissioner Grannis has not yet submitted them, but sometimes in April they will be goin directly to the Governor!!!!  Chutzpah!!!!

[Stone Knife]

I'm with Shawn on the idea of loosing our youth to other activities at a young age, we are competing with high speed Internet and games. I work my butt off to compete for my sons attention to keep him interested in hunting, there are some out there that wont work as hard and those kids we will loose. If you want longer seasons it wont happen over night we may very well be long gone before it will come about, we need to get the age lowered to keep the kids involved this will equal numbers and we all know there is strength in numbers. It's time to end the short term battle and switch to the long term ideas that will change the playing field, the key to it all is in our kids and their kids and so on. The people that want to see our rights gone have been doing this for years that is why they are winning the battle. And now with Spizer gone we have fell out of the frying pan and into the fire so to speak. We need the right to include our children for the long haul win, the heck with this coming bow season focus on the future and get those 12 year olds the right to bowhunt!

[sweet old bill]

Now what a week lost to friends. Now lets all ask the DEC to start the season for bow on Sept 1, like a lot of the southern states do and have the season run thru Feb 28.

I am sure this year you will also see the cross- bow have a special season. I keep getting info on why my small little archery shop should carry cross-bows. I am sure lots of money is being tossed aroung to get the needed votes to make a xbow season be part of the NY law.I like some states do allow a cross-bow to hunt but they have to have a doctor to say they no longer can pull ands hold a normal bow. I would not have a problem with something like this, I want to keep hunters hunting, I myself at 66 years young could see a time when I may due to physical problems still want to hunt but may not have the physical ability. I have had rotocup repair and some days to draw the bow at even 55 lbs is a real problem.