My apologies if you thought I was calling you a republican, although you did mention the indiscretions of two democrats in a previous post without giving equal time to the very many republican politicians who also qualify. Many hunters would not feel offended being called one I can assure you, in fact they are proud to be one!

I am not making any excuses for not being given a sunup/sundown chart. I determine for myself if it is light enough and safe enough to shoot. The tables may have a big significance to you, but they don't to me and probably the majority of other hunters. All I am trying to point out here is that hardly any two hunters will have the same thinking of what should be ethical or not. To nitpick on a subject like actual legal shooting time is so irrelevant in my opinion. Now if someone kills a deer in pitch darkness, we all know that it is against the rules, but to condemn those who may have shot a deer a few minutes before or after "legal" shooting time when it was plenty light enough to see clearly and classify them the same as poachers is just not right in my opinion. I do still believe, however, that the state WOULD give out the charts if they thought this issue was so important. You can't expect hunters to be googling in hunting camp or anywhere else for that matter, and it is NOT a prerequisite to buy a local paper the day before you hunt to find out when sunup and sundown is for the area hunted. The regulation book says sunup to sundown as a rule of thumb, the rest is up to the hunter. If hunters stretch it too much, most know what the consequences could be.

No harm nyhunter863. My point is if a hunter is caught, he/she should not place a spin on it. Thats all, it's trivial yes, but too many Americans spin everything to there liking when they get caught doing something wrong, even the small trivial infractions.

Hey, just in case you or anyone wants to know when legal shooting hours in their state begins or ends, you can visit your DEC web site. In the fall, in most states it's probably 30 mintues before official sunrise and 30 minutes after official sunset.To obtain the official times, just visit the U.S. Naval Observatory's Web site, http://tycho.usno.navy.mil/and at the bottom left click on Sun Rise/Set tab under popular links. Then type in the name of the city or town and state nearest the place where you'll be hunting. Add the year and the correct month by month data will appear. The U.S. Naval Observatory is the official source for sunrise and sunset data, and the information it provides is used by state game management agencies to determine legal shooting times.

Happy hunting folks!

It is legal to transfer deer tags in New York.These however Are DMP permits. The only problem with this even though its legal people have their nieces, nephews, grandmothers, greatuncles ,once removed all going to hunter safety courses getting their licenses. They now transfer all these tags to guys that hunt hard and kill tons of deer. At our camp ten yrs ago which is just outside of Bolivar Ny It wasn't a problem to see 10-20 deer opening day. Last year I saw more bears on opening day than deer (3 bears and 1 doe) The D.E.C has figured out what weve known for 5 yrs they only gave doe tags to landowners this year. This transfer of tags plus we now the locals take their fair share during the (summer hunting season). All this has left us paying taxes on a camp that fun to go to if all you want to do is play cards . Cause the hunting really sucks 1995 six hunters 5 bucks 3 does 2005 six hunters 1 doe on the fourth day of the hunt Poachers maybe Most likely DEC mismanagement too many doe tags for too long plus the ability to tranfer tags spells doom in my opinion.

I should have noted in last thread although not in P.A. its also an issue in neighboring states Bolivar is not but a stones through from P.A.

Eventhough NYS has cut back on the doe permits it issued in the last couple of years, their goal in the last couple of decades has been to kill MORE deer, not less. They prefer less deer in the state because of the many accidents with deer/car collisions when deer populations are too high. When the deer numbers rebound in some areas, they will probably go back to giving as many doe permits as before. I think the DEC cares more about auto insurance companies who want less deer, than the rapidly decreasing hunter population who want to see more. That is one reason they went to this system where a hunter could get two doe tags transfered to them. Just aren't enough hunters out there to fill all the tags if one hunter is allowed to shoot only one buck and one doe.

What if I let my son shoot an extra deer and let him use my tag? We are both hunting together and I figure the deer has a lot better chance of survival if he shoots than if I do. Or how about if I let my other son who's 11 and passed the hunter safety course in VT shoot a deer and use my license, is he a poacher? If we still lived in VT he could get a license. There's a huge difference between poachers and people who break the rules a little bit. I will always put my kids first when it comes to a hunting opportunity. I know some other dirt bag fathers that would shoot a deer with their kids tag.

both are illegal and not a way i want my kids to grow up hunting..no,he is not poacher, he is OUTLAW..

as deer get less MORE hunters will try to find ways to get more deer..TAGS from others are way they will do it..

at least you are honest ,no doubt that what you suggested is going on and going to get worst..

only chance to stop it is, 1 deer and your done,then the bad guys are going to be able to be watched when they are seen dragging out deer on regular basis..

with all LEGAL tags and permits last few years, no one could put 2 and 2 together..

make it 1 deer , your out of woods and things will change..

Matt, I think you're making it soundlike a free for all and it really isn't. A hunter can only have up to a maximum of 2 permits signed over to him and the state still controls the number issued so they still have the same level of statistical control as they had before.This new law isn't a ticket to kill "tons" of deer as you've implied. I wish they would allow the transfer of antlered tags as well.

I been reading these forums for a while now. I thought I would add my one cent here to the topic. I see nothing wrong with a deer being harvested and being tagged with anothers.If that deer is not going to waiste,What is the problem?You think these peoples are goanna eliminate the deer population more than it is? Not a chance.If the PGC was worried about the population of the deer,Wouldn't you think they would reduce the numbers of doe tags or close the season for a couple years? I have no problem with people useing others tags,especially at the close of season.I would not use childrens tags though,As someone stated,the children come first.I would let them harvest the deer and apply my tag and other family members tag if it came down to the end of season. Whats the difference If I shot the deer or if someone else did and applied a tag other than pulling the trigger? This can't be about sportsmanship or poaching.It's just a minor bending of the law. 70 in a 65 mph zone.

oh my!!