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FeedLegislation leaves some clear losers
New York sportsmen got at least some answers with the passage of legislation that essentially extends crossbow use for another two years, albeit only in the regular firearms and late muzzleloader deer seasons.
It wasn't what crossbow proponents wanted to hear, but you could make the argument that crossbow users weren't the big losers in the final hours of the legislative session when all this came down. In fact, they didn't actually lose anything; they just didn't get the expanded crossbow use into the regular archery seasons they were looking for.
Still, you don't have to look far to find some losers in all this.
For starters, youth hunters, who were poised to see the state's first ever youth deer hunt over the Columbus Day weekend, saw those possibilities quashed by a clause within the legislation that prohibits a firearms offering of that kind within the regular archery season. And since the state's deer plan proposes an Oct. 1 archery opener in the Southern Zone and the Northern Zone bow season is already in session at that time, youth hunters are left out of the special deer hunt equation.
Too, DEC's fish and wildlife division also took a hit on this, since the legislation essentially trumps the department's season-setting authority by restricting the youth deer hunt within the regular archery season. It remains to be seen – and it will likely be seen this week – if DEC's final version of the deer plan includes that youth deer hunt, but if it doesn't it's simply a move designed to put a good face on this whole mess. Make no mistake, this was a youth offering DEC wanted and was looking forward to kicking off.
What's doubly disappointing to DEC fish and wildlife officials is that the bill was offered up by the chairman of the Assembly's environmental conservation committee, Assemblyman Robert Sweeney of Suffolk County. It's a disturbing trend, this "we know best" attitude of state lawmakers when it comes to managing our fish and wildlife, and this has to be another blow to the morale of the fish and wildlife folks who worked so hard on the deer management plan, only to see a slice of it struck down by state lawmakers.
It's not the first time; we saw it last year when antler restrictions were implemented in a single WMU with the stroke of a legislative pen, after publication of the hunting regs guide. Lawmakers also meddled in crossbow legislation last year, with a bill prohibiting their use even during the regular deer season in Cortland County.
Sadly, we'll probably see more of this kind of legislative trumping of DEC management efforts in the future.
And when that happens, we all lose.
Yes youth hunters are left out of a gun hunt during bow season. It wasn't like we were creating a new opportunity for youths to hunt. They always have been and are still allowed to bow hunt during the bow season. So they are not "left out," they will just have to learn how to bow hunt instead of teaching them to take the easy way out by using a gun. Perhaps it would benefit a few youths to learn how to work hard and accomplish something diffucult. What kind of message would we be sending if we teach them that it is ok to take the easy way out? This youth season was not a new opportunity for kids to hunt.
Take a youth hunting anytime you like! You don't need legislation to do that. All this youth hunt stuff is so touchy-feely but I don't see where it "recruits" any youth hunters that wouldn't have been hunting with their families anyways. Where's the stats?
But the big thing here is that the DEC does not and should NOT have absolute say in everything. They can be corrupted, make bad decisions, be vindictive. That would leave no recourse for those that disagree with them. To all those that think they should have all the power, be careful what you wish for! You might not like what they decide for you some day!
VECTORTURBO - I agree and disagree. Today's youth does need to learn to work hard. On the same token, the techniques we are using to recruit youth hunters are not working. Hunting needs to appeal to the younger generation, and if that means giving them a better chance at success than the rest of us, then so be it...I'm prepared to make that sacrifice. If we can't get kids interested in hunting, then future wildlife management techniques will need to change because hunters will not be able to fund the agencies designated to manage wildlife. Also, reduced numbers of hunters may not be able to meet wildlife management demands. State agencies across the country recognize this dilemma and are pushing hard for increased opportunities for youth hunters. It's important that we support these types of regulation changes to help keep license costs lower, and to ensure our future generations will have opportunities to hunt.
BOWCHICK - The stats show a steady decline in hunter numbers for the past 20 years. Whatever techniques are currently being employed to bring new hunters into the sport, and keep them there, are not working. The greatest potential for recruiting new hunters lies in the youth.
DEC makes decisions based on scientific data, economic feasibility, and public opinion. Furthermore, nearly every biologist in the DEC hunts and they have a minimum of a bachelor's degree and several years of experience managing wildlife. Politicians make decisions based on the opinions of their constituents and generally have no background in wildlife management at all. I distinctly remember the last Governor of NJ shutting down bear season because his constituents were anti-hunting bear-loving types. NJ went 8 years without a bear season despite the state wildlife agency highly recommending one because bear populations had reached dangerous levels and nuisance complaints were at all-time highs. So yeah, be careful what you wish for!
The link below puts things into perspective. Note how hunter numbers are down, and note the difference in youth hunters in 1997 compared to 1989. That trend has continued.
http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/hdrudeer2000.pdf
You are all right. Hunter participation has declined but keep in my the key item that is declining even faster is access to hunting land. NYS is basically down to 3 types of hunting land- Private,leased, and state, and we all know state land is not close to the opportunities that private land provides. My experience has been that those youths that have a place to hunt do in fact hunt however introducing someone from a family that doesnt hunt where will they go???? As land access decreases so does the average number of hunters!
Gee, thanks bioguy for clearing that up. Spoken like a true DEC employee! Just because they have degrees doesn't mean they are not capable of being petty!