Maybe if the public knew their complete job description they would realize we need alot more of them.They do more then chase hunters.
The Division of Law Enforcement is responsible for enforcing all of New York's Environmental Conservation Laws relating to hunting, fishing, trapping, license requirements, guides, endangered species, commercial inland fishing, possession, transportation and sale of fish and wildlife, importation and sale of fish and wildlife from outside the state, sale of domestic and foreign game, taxidermy, plumage, private propagation of fish and wildlife, shooting and fishing preserves, trespass, and damage to property and livestock by hunters and fishermen.
Environmental Conservation Officers are responsible for enforcing statutes regulating the harvest of marine species including shellfish (oysters, scallops and clams), lobsters, crabs and saltwater fish.
Since the enactment of the Environmental Conservation Law in 1970, the Division's officers have been assigned the function of enforcing the environmental protection provisions derived from the former Conservation Law, Agriculture and Markets Law and Public Health Law. Generally, these environmental protection statutes prohibit air and water pollution, pesticide pollution and regulate the disposal of solid wastes. Division officers are also responsible for enforcing laws regulating the transportation, storage and disposal of hazardous waste, and the illegal disposal of regulated medical waste.
Water pollution control duties include the investigation of discharges which contravene water standards, oil and chemical spills and fish kills. Environmental Conservation Officers also enforce statutes protecting streams, navigable waters and adjacent marshes from unauthorized disturbances and filling activity.
Air pollution control responsibilities include enforcing laws prohibiting open fires, excessive stack emissions and idling diesels.
Solid waste pollution control duties include inspecting landfill operations to ensure compliance with regulations, policing operators of septic tank and industrial waste disposal firms, monitoring legal and patrolling for illegal construction and demolition sites, and enforcing the Returnable Container Law.
Environmental Conservation Officers inspect retail outlets for the illegal sale of detergents containing excessive amounts of phosphorous. Officers are also alert for violations involving the illegal sale of banned pesticides or restricted pesticides. Division officers are assigned the responsibility of enforcing sections of the Environmental Conservation Law, containing the Freshwater Wetlands Act and the Mined Land Reclamation Act. The first act is designed to protect freshwater wetlands from destruction and the second to restore the environment after mining operations (including sand and gravel) are concluded.
The Division's officers enforce the provisions of New York's Navigation Law which regulates the operation of both commercial and pleasure vessels. The chapter includes a tough section which makes it a misdemeanor (crime) to operate a vessel on New York waters which is equipped with a toilet unless the vessel is also equipped with an approved holding tank for sewage.
Environmental Conservation Officers enforce the prohibitions contained in the State's Parks and Recreation Law which regulate the operation of snowmobiles. Special emphasis is directed toward reducing the number of fatalities which occur through illegal operation on highways. Officers enforce the State's Vehicle and Traffic Law provisions designed to prevent the degradation of the environment including prohibitions against littering, excessive exhaust smoke and inadequate muffler.
[/align]Every enforcement agency devotes a measure of time to non-enforcement activities. Environmental Conservation Officers participate in public relations efforts, information and education programs and search and rescue operations. Officers investigate hunting incidents and assist at hunter safety training courses.
I grew up near a family that was well respected in the community. It was also a well known fact that the father and son would take as many bucks as they would see fit every year.
It's amazing what gets you respect in some communities.[:'(]
The reason no one frowned upon this activity was that this family only hunted in season, and in an otherwise very ethical manner.
You mean they didn't shoot them out of their cars or have a feeder on their property. Wow great guys.
They were simply hunting for their food.
That's one way to look at it. What does a high ranking NYS trooper make a year proably close to six figures would be my bet.
Wonder what the people that weren't seeing any bucks thought about this upstanding family?
You shoot 24 bucks in a year you are not using all the meat, your pulling back straps and hind quarters and leaving the rest for the coyotes and birds.
Back on topic.
Do you think we should have more conservation officers roaming around?Yup. I used to get checked a lot on the Susquehanna walleye fishing. Until thewomen realized I was legit,then she just left me alone.
Had an incident in Windsor were I had filled the wrong tag out (wrong WMU) and left it on the seat.Then I legally tagged the deer.That was on opening day gun season same guy pulled me over that Sunday in Vestal. Two DEC officers one checking my gun the other is checking my license he say's my name out loud thefirst cop spins around like he won the lottery.
He starts asking me questions so I tell him exactly what happened. I filled a tag out for the wrong WMU, and then corrected my mistake the hide was in my garage with the tag the deer was already cut up and I had called it in. Told him I had destroyed the other tag.
Two cops covering over 40 miles,that's kinda thin.