I don't have a problem with the new regs at all, plus were gaining another week to the bow season. So what that they have a week of Muzzleloader season after the first two weeks of the archery season. The bow season starts right up again during the last week in October and runs until the third saturday in November. What's the big deal???
They want to kill off more doe, and many guys would rather shoot doe's way before the rut kicks in anyway. So by starting the bow season on October 1st, and then after two weeks have a one week Muzzleloader season to try and harvest some doe's again, I don't have a problem with what they are proposing at all. When the actual rut starts, it will be only the bowhunters out there anyway!!!

Maytom - you must not be a bowhunter. They want to cut bow from 5 weeks of undisturbed to 2 weeks - a bowhunter would be upset with this. If you are, it is just something you do until you can start shooting them with a gun. A week of rifle hunting after 2 weeks of bow will change the deer behavior - try hunting a pattered trail in early dec.

Steve

DO you use a flintlock or a modern inline,just wondering because you said primitive weapon.

maytom,
I agree with SteveBNY......You're obviously NOT a Bow Hunter! Why am I going to scout all Spring,Summer and Fall to locate doe groups, heavy trails and staging areas? Why bother practicing all Summer and Fall with my bow? So I can get close enough to arrow a Whitetail? Forget it, because the first time you or one of your Muzzle Loading hunters touches off a load around me, it all changes!
No one who is a serious Bow Hunter can look at these proposals in a good way. I'm not saying that SOMETHING shouldn't be done. Just not the way they've laid it out. They(DEC) will upset one groups hunt just to appease another group of hunters. It's wrong! Leave things the way they are and lengthen the late season for Muzzle Loader. (Or something close to that.)

Not to get into a pissin' match here, but I'm sorry to differ with you guys. How many actual people Muzzleloader hunt compared to shotgun hunt anyway? A "far less" amount than shotgun hunters!! One week in the middle of October won't do a thing to the deer movement patterns in November's rut!!! YES, by golly I actually am a Bowhunter!! And guess what, if "you" are a bowhunter, you know that deer are creature's of Habit, meaning that they will use the same areas year round as they always do, unless there is a major change to the landscape or intense pressure, which I firmly feel won't be a issue at all. Again, I don't see the problems with this. Also remember, these are only proposal's, and have to voted on before actually being employed!! So before you start panicing, think about it.

Both of you make me ashamed you are in the woods every fall. Seriously, I really feel that. First of all, I do not agree with maytom's opinion, but there is no need whatsoever to resort to ad hominem remarks.

As with everything in this world, there is a difference of opinion between people. Hunters are not excluded from this. Democrats do not all agree with each other, nor do Republicans or any other political party. Obviously this thread was to generate opinions and thoughts on your proposed views from NYB, but you would never know it from these two replies above...because if you were trying to get feedback, you would not be resorting to personal remarks ("You must not be a bowhunter")...well obviously he is if you happened to read a bit more carefully, notice the term WE was used instead of "you all" or y'all as some prefer it.

It would be okay to say I disagree and here are my points, but there is no need to criticize the man for HIS opinion. I would not criticize you for views that are different than mine (which I disagree with NYB's proposals), but I sure as heck hate to see ignorant people oblivious to their own faults. Just because bowhunting takes different measures than the other methods of hunting does not mean it gets preference of any sort. Get off the high horses gentleman, and act like you are supposed to be.

BTW Are either of you leaders within NYB? I am just wondering if you two are "typical examples" of the people in the organization.

And I bet more than a few feel the same way as me. There is no need to resort to tactics like you two just did. I bet maytom enjoys bowhunting. How would you like it Steve if I said you were NOT a true bowhunting enthusiast? I bet you would be tasting sour grapes. Or how about you J-Bow? I suspect just the same as i would feel, ticked off.

If I were any kind of man, and I made a screwed up remark like that, I'd offer an apology.
But then again, I did not make that remark, you two did.

Excellent response, maytom.

Although I do not agree with your opinion, I commend you on your ability to not stoop to Steve and J-bow's level. I have more respect for people that act right, even if I disagree with them.

I think last year we discussed it at one point. (FL Iota....missing the sun)

Thank You.

And to finish off my posting duties for the day (5 in a row)...

A new thought....

Has anyone heard what the DEC's opinion is on the harvest numbers being down? I have a gut feeling that this will become a factor in the debates now.

I believe that even though the DEC anticpated lower numbers overall, in both harvest and herd numbers, that they were caught off foot.

Some DEC employees in region 8 ( one of the powerhouse regions for both categories) have remarked that the herd numbers are in fact below 1 million in the state, and the DEC may have overestimated the herd by X percent due to various issues ( weather patterns on a micro climate level were a large factor, ie areas measured in small square miles had tremendously different winters than land a few miles away).

I suspect that if the numbers are low enough, we may dodge having to address a doe harvest week for at least another year.