RE: New Years Resolutions for NY Hunting & Hunters
DEC - I think on of my biggest pet peeves and a place where many could apply a New Year’s resolution would be regarding all of the complaining about and finger pointing at the DEC. Constructive criticism is a good, but rarely offered. I am sick of all the whining about “the DEC did this” (actively stocked mountain lions) or “didn’t do that” (issue “me” a doe permit) or “shouldn’t do that” or “needs to do this” and on and on. The DEC has a difficult, sometimes impossible, and often thankless job. Take for example one of the biggest complaints many have – “they have no clue what the deer population is”. Think of this next time you complain about this topic: 1) most of those who complain know little or nothing about population dynamics or estimation; 2) many reports estimate the actual reporting of deer harvest at around 40%. It is difficult enough to estimate deer numbers when accurate harvests are known, but when they have to estimate 60% it is even more difficult. So it is us hunters that could help them do their jobs better in regards to deer herd estimation. Report your harvests, it only take a few minutes. For the most part the DEC has done the best they can with the resources available to them. This is not to say that things could be improved here and there, better leadership found in certain areas, and priorities adjusted from time to time. The next time you have a complaint why not do some research, write a letter to or call the DEC, get involved with local sportsmen’s groups, attend meeting/hearings, etc. Offer constructive criticism, reasonable alternatives, and suggestions for improvement on issues that you may disagree with. Don’t just idly sit by, complain, & whine – that’s the easy, lazy way.
With that said, I would have to say the having someone like Grannis in charge of the DEC wouldnot be theway to give the DEC proper leadership. It needs to have someone with a solid and practical environmental backgraound (biology, natural resources, wildlife management, etc. being a hunter, fisherman, and/or outdoorsman (or woman) wouldn't hurt either. Someone with these credentials would not only give the DECstronger credibility, but it would give the outdoors people of the State more confidence in the DEC.