Sterling forest, a state owned park, about 10k acres in orange county NY, has just announced it will be imposing AR (rack width past ears) in most of the park. The director told me today it was a result of 2/3 rds of its permit holders requesting it. I dont remember being asked or polled, and Ive held a permit every year since it was owned by the state. Last year QDMA came and did a seminar at the visitor center, looks like some of the SF higher ups drank the koolaid they were serving. I dont know what the logic is behind this move. Most of the folks who use this land are NYCarea residents, who just want to enjoy theyre limited time in the deer woods ,and Jersey residents who are fleeing theyre own state's ARS. Most just want to participate in the hunting season(AMEN!)and fill their tag, they dont care if the deer is a "quality deer" ,whatever that is. I guess SF feels more restrictions on newbie hunters is a good way to increase hunter participation..wrong! While I was handing in my application, I took a look at the hunter photo album, at the vistor center. lots of happy hunters w/ nice 125+++" bucks taken (gee howd they do that w/ out ARs) along w/ other hunters (mostly kids) who looked just as happy w/ their lesser "quality", basket rack bucks. Too bad the state will now determine what "quality" a buck has to be to put a smile on a new hunters face.

Good news is they opened up a bunch of new land for archery hunting.