SteveBNy

“By allowing rifle hunting for deer and bear in this region of our state, we can humanely lower the deer population as they often die of starvation. It will also prevent human deaths from
automobile accidents that have been rising from vehicles hitting deer on our highways, and also see a reduction in the spread of Lyme Disease throughout the State of New York, which is often spread by deer ticks.”

Frankly this is pretty insulting to the bow, shotgun, and muzzleloader hunters. Its saying they were not "humanely" getting the job done. That is a crock. The reduction in doe permits throughout much of the state this year is proof of the methods already in use are effective where permits are issued and access is allowed.. If the above statement by the congressman is true about the overpopulation, then it means that all the areas where rifles will be permitted had no reduction in permits this year? While it may be true, I have not done a comparison and doubt that will be the case. Most of the areas in the state where there is an overpopulation are urban with real access problems for hunters. Some are even hiring contractors to control the deer population rather than finding ways to allow hunter access. Even we can't get in these with bows, are rifles going to be allowed in these areas (humanely, of coarse)?

The reason rifles are being allowed is because some hunters wished to use them and where succesful in their attempts. It had nothing to do with the need to better control the population. And don't tell us bows, slug guns and muzzleloaders could not get the job done if given the chance.

Steve