Dear Fellow members,
President’s Message
Fall ‘09
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
State Bowhunter and Muzzleloader Associations
Compile Joint Southern Zone Deer Season Proposal
Canandaigua, NY -9/18/09 -New York Bowhunters, Inc.
(NYB) and the New York State Muzzleloader
Association (NYSMLA) have been working jointly for
several months on a southern zone deer season
proposal that allows both parties to meet their
objectives. Copies of the proposal have been sent to
the New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation, Bureau of Wildlife (DEC) and other
Sportsmen’s organization throughout New York State.
The
DEC desires to increase the harvest of antlerless
deer in their effort to effectively manage the
whitetail deer herd as well as allow for a weekend
of early hunting opportunity for junior big game
firearms hunters. The NYSMLA wishes to have an early
“primitive” muzzleloading season and NYB seeks to
restore lost hunting opportunity that occurred with
the implementation of the 2005 big game
restructuring regulations. Therefore, both
organizations reached out to one another to work on
a sensible proposal that would be acceptable to
firearms hunters, muzzleloader hunters, bowhunters,
the DEC and to the general public. The timing of the
proposal coincides with the DEC’s scheduling of
public meetings this September and October regarding
the state of the deer herds in New York.
The
DEC recently scheduled public meetings in an effort
to “capture the issues that are important to
sportsmen, particularly as they relate to bag
limits, season structure and tag options. We (DEC)
hope to receive feedback from meeting participants
that helps us (DEC) prioritize the issues that are
important for NYS deer hunters and the public”
stated DEC Wildlife Biologist Jeremy Hurst.
Information on these meetings can be found by going
to the DEC website at
http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/57795.html.
The
NYB/NYSMLA joint proposal would restructure the
southern zone hunting seasons as follows;
•
Open the 23-day regular firearms season on
the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
•
Open the early archery season on October 1st,
ending on the Friday prior to the beginning of the
regular firearms season.
•
Allow for a weekend of junior (ages 14 & 15)
big game hunting opportunity on the weekend prior to
the opening of the regular firearms season.
•
Open a 5-day antlerless-only “primitive”
muzzleloading season on the Monday prior to the
beginning of the regular firearms season, ending on
the Friday prior to the beginning of the regular
firearms season.
NYB
President, Gary Socola stated, “The DEC
follows a progression of weaponry in the northern
zone, starting with archery season, muzzleloader
season and then progressing into the regular
firearms season. The NYB/MYSMLA proposal follows the
precedence already set by the DEC.” Socola
indicated that he has records over the past two
years showing that bowhunters have sent over 8,000
letters and signatures on petitions to DEC
Commissioner Pete Grannis asking that the DEC open
the early southern zone archery season on October 1st
. “I’ve heard people complain that
bowhunters are greedy and that they kill all of the
bucks prior to the firearms season”. Not true says
Socola,
“Statistically bowhunters take a very small
percentage of bucks when compared to the regular
firearms season take. In my 31 years of bowhunting
experience, I have never met a more sharing and
caring group of hunters.”
If
we want to “harvest more antlerless deer and
expose new hunters to the outdoors, why are we
taking early season bowhunting time away from
archers and at the same time increasing their
license and permit fees, asked Socola?”
New
York States 2009 southern zone early archery season
is the latest opening date in the Northeast states
Socola,
“let’s get our youth, seniors, persons of disability
and all hunters out earlier in the season so that
they can enjoy our natural resources in better
weather while helping the DEC control our expanding
deer herd.”
The
states of
Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Hampshire, New
Jersey, Ohio, and Virginia all have early archery
season opening dates in September. Maine opens up on
October 1st
in most areas, Pennsylvania and Vermont
open on October 3rd
and Massachusetts on October 12th
. Having an archery season opening date
on a Saturday is not as critical for bowhunters as
it is for firearms hunters. An October 1 opening
date is an easily recognizable date and also
coincides with the DEC’s licensing year.
Socola added, ”Let’s not forget that the
economic impact of hunters being afield for
additional hunting days would add a huge influx of
funds into the states sagging economy. More time
afield has a direct correlation to monies spent.”
According to a US Fish and Wildlife Service
2006 National Survey of Hunting, Fishing and
Wildlife, New York’s 1.2 million hunters and anglers
spent $5 million a day for a total of $1.8 billion.
Annual spending by New York’s sportsmen is equal to
the combined cash receipts for dairy products and
apples, two of the top agricultural commodities in
the state ($1.8 billion).
NYSMLA President, Bill Brookover (Black Powder Bill)
is excited about the possibilities this proposal
offers. “The NYSMLA has tried for over 10
years to get a primitive muzzleloader season in the
southern zone. This proposal will allow us to do
that and also allows provisions for the youth and
for bowhunters. Bowhunters and muzzleloader hunters
are not at odds with one another in New York State.
This is not a hunter issue but a season issue
created by the DEC’s current season structuring. By
working together, our organizations are showing
sportsmen throughout New York State that we can put
aside any differences and work together towards our
common goals.”
Pennsylvania (PA) has had an early muzzleloader
season since 2000. The PA early muzzleloader season
regulation states “Those wishing to hunt deer
during the flintlock muzzleloading and muzzleloading
seasons are limited to single-barrel long guns
manufactured prior to 1800 or a similar
reproduction.” PA also offers a special firearms
season for junior and senior hunter. “Brookover
states “Our joint proposal will allow the
youth and seniors a chance to hunt in better
weather. With the NYSMLA/ NYB proposal, kids can
strike out after school for a late afternoon bow
hunt because of the later sunset time. The
antler-less primitive week will give families a
chance to work together as a team instead of
dropping Papa, Sally Mae & Jr. off at tree stands
200 yards apart. You’ll not see a dozen hunters
driving deer through a block of woods either.”
The
straightforward proposal will allow increased hours
a field during warmer weather with a sunset later in
the day and provide a regular firearms season
pre-Thanksgiving weekend opener. What better week to
start the regular season? Many hunters are off the
following Thursday & Friday and can take off the
whole week using only three additional vacation
days. Brookover added, “Our proposal will
provide more and often more agreeable -deer hunting
opportunities for families, kids, seniors, persons
with physical disabilities and just about every
hunter across the board.”
New
York Bowhunters, Inc. was formed in 1991 to promote
bowhunting, educate hunters and non-hunters, and to
fight anti-hunting legislation. NYB annually runs
youth archery camps, a physically challenged program
and supports special projects such as the “Gift
Boxes for Troops” and helped establish an archery
range for troops serving in Iraq.
The
New York State Muzzle-loaders Association was born
from the Tryon County Militia in 1977 and is
"dedicated to the continuing support of black powder
events, people, and legislation." The NYSMLA has
over 40 affiliated clubs throughout New York State.
The NYSMLA has 6 major events in 2009. The first
event was the "Primitive Snowshoe Biathlon”
held in March and the last will be the 18th
annual "Primitive Rendezvous & Hunt."
The Rendezvous will be held just outside Inlet,
NY at the Moose River Plains wilderness area October
9th -16th
with Visitors day Sunday October 11th
10:00am till 5:00 pm.
NYB
can be contacted by phone at 585-905-0961 or by
email at
nyboffice@newyorkbowhunters.com
or
check out their website at
http://www.newyorkbowhunters.com/.
For
information about the NYSMLA contact them at NYSMLA
Inc., 200 Clifford Drive, Vestal, NY 13850 or by
email at
bpb@frontiernet.net
or by checking out their website at
http://www.nysmla.org/.
Download in PDF
-END
“Green Ammo”
(Lead
Free)
IMO
green ammo is OK, but that BS in
California
is just that, BS. Why only Condors and in some
instances an eagle is found to have lead poisoning
and to my knowledge no other birds of prey, song
birds or scavenging carnivores have been identified
as poisoned.
Your tax dollars fund these green
projects. Problem with this Green movement is there
are no alternatives for traditional muzzleloaders
and antique firearms. I’m not your casual shooter
having logged well over 100,000 rounds on one
shotgun alone and thousands of cast bullets have
rolled out of my moulds. So when a blood test 10
years ago showed no signs of lead poising. I asked
how this is possible with all the toxic exposures in
the HVAC trade and shooting sports that I’m not a
walking brown field?
Ammo shortages:
The
ammo shortage
in general & green ammo is even harder to find, this
makes it almost impossible for people to make a
change on their own much less having to follow a
government mandate at this time. The war on 3 fronts
is costing more than figured & the Obama effect has
really caused ammo shortages. Lead in ammo is not
even 5% of the total "WORLD" market, which makes
this an ammo ban and not an environmental or health
issue one in my book. My bottom line is let green
ammo become available without banning lead for
muzzle loaders, reloaders & manufactures will start
to produce more green
hunting
ammo as time goes on.
Firearms owners feel the lead ammo
bans are nothing more than a flanking attempt to
stop shooting all together & I feel the same way.
What this means to us is, all fishing sinkers and
bullets will not be allowed. So when the federal ban
on lead ammo happens the antique firearm owners are
screwed. What bout here in NY? How long till the ADK
agency comes out with a lead ammo ban? People, there
is absolutely nothing that says a substitute has to
be in place for the government to enact a regulation
to outlaw anything we use or to force us to do
without.
Sporting License sales dates may change:
I asked the DEC
what the fiscal year was and how the dates would
coincide. Here is the reply.
The State fiscal year is April 1 to March 31. The
trapping, freshwater fishing, small and big game
license year is October 1 to September 30. The
saltwater fishing license year is January 1 to
December 31 but the 2009 saltwater license goes into
effect October 1 and ends December 31 and the 2010
saltwater license starts on January 1, 2010.
~end quote~
Comments on the license sales dates:
*What exactly
is wrong with the current Sept 30 license
expiration? Was someone complaining?
*I wouldn't
mind being able to renew my license online, and have
it mailed to me, now that the entire thing is
electronic anyways. *
I'd really
like, is a more durable license, which could survive
a license year in my wallet, and still be legible.
*Make the sales date
April 1st
as January 1st is the middle of small game season.
Conclusion:
If we are
forced to stop using lead & when our shooting ranges
are closed we could always spend all our free time
running for some government position. For me hat
making is looking like a new hobby because I know my
30 odd years of community service is way more than
anyone government agency can handle. If you don’t
show up or stand up for your lifestyle, do not
complain to those of us who do.
Well it’s time
for me to go. I’ve melted some 50 pounds of wheel
weights into shiny ingots while working on the above
comments. As always I could talk for hours so I’ll
sign off for now.
See ya on the
firing line
Regards, BPB
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
DEC License Fee Increase proposals
Subject: DEC License Fee Increase proposals
To:
NYSmuzzleloaders@yahoo.com
Date: Wednesday,
February 11, 2009, 8:59 PM
I attended a
meeting this afternoon with DEC Commissioner Grannis
and a herd of other reps from sportsman groups to
discuss the budget shortage in the Conservation Fund
(CF) and the various proposals on what to do.
Attached you find the proposal from the CFAB
(Conservation Fund Advisory Board) on license fee
increases which are almost a given.
CFAB Proposal http://www.frontiernet.net/~bpb/nysmla/CFABProposal.pdf
The deal is that
the proposed "Stamps" for various types of wildlife
would be dropped in lieu of the fee increase. This
is projected to clear up two years of Fund deficits
and cover the next two years of projected operating
costs. The only variable may be the "SALT WATER"
license that seems to be inevitable and if
implemented would add to the CF coffers.
Also in two
years the "Baby Boomers" will be reaching that
discount age and additional work has be done to
address the shrinking revenue as a result.
Stay tuned
and voice your opinion with your local
groups/organizations.
Eric "GRIZ"
Bratt NYS Muzzleloaders Assoc.
Posted by
BlackPowderBill at
6:52 PM
Labels:
DEC License Fee Increase proposals
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
NY budget cuts to Environmental programs
Group,
Read em` and
weep, from a tax on all bottles to salmon, trout,
marine licenses, park fee increases.
DEC education
camp fees from $250 to $325 per session~ that will
kill the program for sure, I do not know to many
associations that will pay a $75.00 fee increase.
For the full
report visit this site
http://publications.budget.state.ny.us/eBudget0910/ExecutiveBudget.html
Regards,
BlackPowderBill
http://publications.budget.state.ny.us/eBudget0910/fy0910littlebook/Environment.html
2009-2010
Executive Budget – Briefing Book
Environment and
Energy
Adirondack Park Agency
Department of
Agriculture & Markets
Department of
Environmental Conservation
Department of
Public Service
Energy Research
and Development Authority
Environmental
Facilities Corporation
Hudson River
Park Trust
Hudson River Valley Greenway Council
and Conservancy
Northeastern
Queens Nature and Historical Preserve Commission
Office of Parks,
Recreation and Historic Preservation
