New York Hunting Reg Changes

[SteveMcD]

This is going to be interesting to see how this turns out. NOTE THE RELAXED RESTRICTION FOR "LONGBOWS" TO ALLOW HUNTING WITHIN 250 FT OF A BUILDING. New York's General Reg's are very specific about "a bow being a Longbow, Recurve and Compound". But, to relaxe the restriction only for Longbows, probably will cause a stir. The Junior Hunter change is a welcome and long overdue advancement, not as good as we wanted but, better than nothing at all.

Junior Hunter/Trapper Mentoring This bill would establish a junior big-game hunting license and a junior trapper mentoring program. The junior hunting license would allow 14- and 15-year-olds (who can already hunt small game with a firearm) to obtain a license to hunt big game with a firearm. The junior hunter would have to be accompanied by an adult who a) is 21 years or older and has at least three years of big-game hunting experience and b) exercises control over the junior hunter at all times during hunting. The trapper mentoring program would allow licensed trappers to serve as "mentors" and allow someone younger than 12 (who doesn't have a trapping license) to assist with trapping.

Modernize Fish and Wildlife Law The bill would:

Give DEC authority to regulate ring-necked pheasant and quail statewide. Enable the final federal regulations to set migratory game-bird hunting seasons in NYS, except where more restrictive regulations have been adopted by DEC. Permit the use of longbows beyond 250 feet of structures. Allow the taking of snapping turtles by hand, net or turtle trap. Allow the use of crossbows by seniors/persons with disabilities. Allow the use of live-restraint cable devices for trapping furbearing animals.

[SteveB]

Steve,
Do you know where in the process this bill is?
Similar ones seem to get introduced every year, but seldom make it to the floor, let alone thru both houses. Is this one different?
Thanks
SteveB

[SteveMcD]

SteveB... as a county Federation delegate I knew it was coming up. And these changes are totally supported by Commissioner Grannis. They have just been submitted to the Legislature. But they appear to have some support this time around.  
 
For more details, please see the DEC press
release at   http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/42553.html.    

Before any changes take place, these initiatives will need to be
introduced into the 2008 Legislative Session and passed into law.  To
track the status of these legislative initiatives, I recommend
monitoring the New York State Assembly website.  They have a great tool
available to track current bills in the legislature.
  http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg     You can search by keyword or Bill
Number.

[Al Dente]

I can't find any Bills regarding these changes.  I have kept my eye on this all-encompassing Bill since the first press release several weeks ago, and was told that Commissioner Grannis was going to place it directly in the Governor's hand.  I was wondering how he was going to bypass the Legislative process.

[SteveB]

Thanks Steve!

[Keith Deters]

A733

S1284

[Keith Deters]

Those are the youth bills.

[Stone Knife]

These bills are both flawed and wont have much impact on getting our youth involved in hunting at a younger age. How is it that a 12 year old can sit side by side with an adult both having weapons and have enough good judgement in safe handling of a weapon when they are hunting small game, then suddenly the same person cannot be trusted when they are hunting deer or bear.  I would not want to settle for this type of hunt when it comes to archery, we shouldn't just settle for a better than nothing bill, I going to write to Sen. Volker and express my dissatisfaction with a bill that seems to be gutted just to squeak by.

[SteveMcD]

Stone Knife... I understand your point. But sometimes you have to forego a battle in order to win the war. An all or nothing attitude on this issue, in this state of ours, is like cutting off ones nose to spite the face. This is the most support and progress we've gotten in years. Once the politicians see how the mentored youth hunts have proven successfully, then it will be time to push for more. A slow go is better than a no go.

[Keith Deters]

S1284 passed the Senate.

[Al Dente]

The problem lies within the Assembly.  The Youth Bills have passed the Senate for the last 3 or 4 years.  When they hit the Assembly, they die in Committee.  Until the NYC are Democrats, who make up the majority of the Assembly EnCon Committee, realize that the youths are not let loose, alone, with a firearm, a bow, or a bowie knife, the youth are left to the malls, street corners, and video games.  I've met with plenty of them, and have firsthand experience as to their lack of knowledge on the outdoor subjects.