Arguments continue on antler restrictions
Last week’s column on prospective antler restrictions, one of more than a dozen resolutions up for consideration and submission with the New York State Conservation Council, generated lively discussion during the June meeting of the Erie County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs. That discussion sparked rebuttals.
Tom Beiersdorf (Arcade), Ronald V. Wolf (Hamburg) and Rob Oram (Franklinville) ask, why wouldn’t we give antler restrictions a try?
“How many of us pay thousands of dollars each year to travel to the Midwest to hunt big whitetails?We could have that right here in Western New York. Let’s keep that revenue right here. Our rural stores and shops could really use it. We have the genetics. We have the food sources.
“Please don’t get us wrong. We en-joy venison as much as the next guy. And for that we have doe permits. Now we can even get others to sign their doe permits over to us as well. We are able to have the best of both worlds if we give an antler restriction program a chance!
“You don’t have to be a wildlife biologist to see that if a buck can get to be 2z to 3z ye 1/2 r 1/3 old here in WNY it’s a trophy.
“That is what antler restrictions will do for us. We do, however, feel that there should be a youth hunter exemption. Not only that, but those not fortunate enough to own land and have to rely on the state’s public land to hunt, could have a chance at a trophy as well.
“There are so many people practicing quality deer management on their own already now here in WNY. Why not get the most out of what we already have right here? What’s the worse case scenario?We try it for a few years and go back?
“We know the folks in [Pennsylvania] are glad they tried it.”
On the other hand, Russ Morgan of Arcade wonders: “What are these Erie County hunters thinking?”
The tests in these pilot counties have proven to be a win-win for both hunter and a healthier deer population. People have to understand that deer hunting has changed over the years. Maybe more young adults would get involved in hunting if his or her chances of bagging a mature buck were in their favor. You would think that it would get old killing the same yearling bucks year after year. It goes to show you that hunters from Western Yew York are used to settling for the way things are in all aspects. We should set our goal a little higher.
Among other issues, the following proposals might be worth some feedback.
• Archery season opening date: Monroe and Green County proposed to move the start of archery season from the Saturday following the second Saturday in October (Columbus Day) to Oct. 1 in the Southern Zone.
• Youth hunting age: Oswego County seeks to amend Penal Code No. 265, which bans discharge of firearms until age 12, to reduce the age for youths to age 8 with adult supervision.
• Venison donation: Steuben County cited loss of Department of Environmental Conservation funding to venison donation programs statewide and proposes a 50-cent portion of sporting license sales be dedicated to these programs.
• Shooting distance: The New York State Muzzleloaders Association proposed the 500-foot or more distance from occupied buildings to discharge of firearms be reduced to 250 feet for archery/bow shooting.
• License year change: The New York State Muzzleloaders Association submitted a proposal to change the license renewal date from Oct. 1 to April 1.
Other resolutions involve additional state forest funding, moose as a game animal in New York State, wanton waste, hunting guides, hunter education review, removal of dog collars, and a separate bear tag.
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