Conservation

Important Links and Reminders

Ladies and Gentlemen,

For those who missed the NYSDEC coyote presentation at SUNY ESF last week, Tom Merrill forwarded the below link so that we may still access most of the info presented.

ESF Coyote Seminar Video

DEC ANNOUNCES 2019-20 DEER HARVEST ESTIMATES

Hunters in New York Harvested More than 224,000 Deer in 2019-20

DEC Tested More than 2,600 Deer and Continues to Find No Evidence of CWD

DEC Camping on State land COVID UPDATE

2019 Crossbow Support Letter

IN THE NEWS

DEC Big Game Report

OCFoSC Big Game Report 2024-07-15

1) As the 2024 New York State legislative regular session has drawn to a close, there are some bills we need to keep a close eye on:

As of the close of the 2024 Regular Session of the New York State Legislature, the following have resulted:

A] A6815A/S5802A would allow hunters 60 & older to hunt deer with crossbow in a “special archery season. Passed Senate. Sitting in Assembly EnCon Committee.

Recommend that OCFoSC support passage of this bill, unless A2940/S3191 advances, first.

B] A2940/S3191 broader than above bill. Would allow hunters 55 & older , as well as those unable to draw a vertical bow, to hunt deer & bear with a crossbow. Would require Archery privilege, instead of Muzzleloader Privilege. Sitting in Senate EnCon Committee.

Recommend that OCFoSC support passage of this bill.

C] S8461B “Sporting Range Good Neighbor Act” would require each trap or skeet field to be a minimum of 600 yards by 300 yards in size. Also requires lead remediation. No Assembly companion bill. Remarked as S8461A & passed Consumer protection Committee. Remarked as S8461B & committed to Senate EnCon Committee. No Assembly companion bill, at this time. Recommend that OCFoSC continue to vehemently oppose this ridiculous bill that serves no purpose, other than to unnecessarily burden local sporting clubs.

D] A2882/S6649 would require firearms dealers to post & provide to customers, written warnings of dangers posed by access to weapons in the home. Passed Senate 05-28-2024. Delivered to Assembly. Referred to Codes Committee 05-28-2024. Awaiting delivery to Governor’s Office.

Recommend that OCFoSC vehemently oppose this bill as more unnecessary requirements for dealers to adhere to.

E] A2084A/S4976A would prohibit use of lead for hunting on State WMAs, State Forests, Forest Preserves, State Parks, or any other State-owned land open to hunting, as well as any land contributing surface water to the New York City water supply. 04-20-2023 Amended to S4976A. 01-03-2024 Recommitted to EnCon Committee. No apparent Assembly action.

Recommend that OCFoSC vehemently oppose this bill, especially since no science has established a causative link between use of lead hunting ammunition and any form of contamination or adverse health effects.

F] A8443 would allow New York State Attorney General to prosecute out of state dealers which sell firearms and/or ammunition to New York State residents. Would require out of state dealers to contact New York State Police for background check, prior to sale. Currently, no Senate companion bill. In Assembly Committee.

Recommend that OCFoSC vehemently oppose this bill on grounds that such legislation is beyond the jurisdiction of the New York State Attorney General, and is an attack on legal interstate commerce.

G] A1553 would authorize a person to pass his/her guns to immediate family members through their estate. 01-03-2024 Referred to Assembly Codes committee. No Senate Companion bill.

Recommend that OCFoSC support this bill and encourage our local State Senators to sponsor & support a companion bill.

H] A0508 would prohibit NYSDEC’s pheasant rearing for hunting. 01-03-2024 referred to Assembly EnCon Committee. No Senate companion bill.

Recommend that OCFoSC vehemently oppose this bill, since pheasant hunting is a $60,000,000.00+ annual economic engine for the New York State economy.

I] A9862A/S8479A Would require payment card networks (credit/debit card) to use firearm/ammo specific codes for purchases.

OCFoSC should vehemently oppose this because of invasion of privacy & possible discrimination issues.

PASED BOTH HOUSES. HAS NOT, YET, BEEN DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR’S OFFICE.

J] A6663A/S138A Would ban NRA certified firearms instructors and create NYS DCJS standards and implement a DCJS instructor corps.

Recommend that OCFoSC vehemently oppose this legislation, as NRA created the Sportsman Education Program for what is now NYSDEC, as well as the fact that NRA trainers provide training to tens of thousands of lawful gun owners, in New York State, every year.

PASSED SENATE, REMAINED IN ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE.

K] A5696/S4818 would create a 10-day waiting period for firearms purchases.

OCFoSC should vehemently oppose this bill, since it only negatively impacts law abiding citizens, while having absolutely no deterrent effect on violent criminals.

PASSED SENATE 42-19. REMAINED IN ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE.

DEC Big Game Report

In 2023, New York hunters harvested 97,557 antlerless deer, which includes both adult does and fawns. That number was 115,536 in 2022.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation recently released white-tailed deer harvest statistics from the 2023-24 hunting season. The estimated harvest reflects a statewide decrease of 9.6%.
In 2023 (which includes early 2024), 209,781 whitetails were taken compared to 231,961 in 2022. The number is also down from the five-year average of 229,839. The greatest contributor to this decrease was a lower antlered deer harvest.

Legislative:

The Senate has initiated a bill a Glock Handgun ban. Please take a moment to read and contact your representative. This is from Gun Owners of America. I did go to their site you can put in your location, and it shows who your representative is if you don’t know.

Yesterday, anti-gun New York legislators introduced a bill designed to COMPLETELY ban the sale of Glock handguns and other semi-automatic pistols. Their bill, S. 9225, comes under the guise that Glocks, and other semi-automatic “convertible pistols,” can be easily turned into machine-guns through the installation or attachment of a “pistol converter,” more commonly known as a “Glock switch.” New York state lawmakers are intentionally targeting a major firearms manufacturer and banning the sale of their product because criminals, who don’t obey the law in the first place, could illegally acquire handguns and then illegally alter them further. Under federal law, machine guns are already heavily regulated items, so what might be the real intention of this law?

It’s obvious: to initiate the framework for a complete ban, and total confiscation of semi-automatic handguns – all made possible through New York’s handgun registry.

This legislation was only introduced yesterday, so it’s important that we move quickly. We won’t stand for these abuses of power, and neither should you.

The left’s onslaught on gun ownership has never been clearer, fill out the form above and DEMAND your state senator oppose S 9225

Latest version of New York Open Water Data Act (S239A) 05/03/23

Members,
Federation President Jim Froio asked me to send out copies of the latest version of S239A (attached). The main addition I noticed under section 3 (c) is to develop an integrated water data and information platform, including a publicly accessible site where data will be made available through the state's Open Data Program website (data.ny.gov).
Started in 2013, Open Data NY has expanded from 244 to nearly 1,600 catalog items from 60 state entities. Among other elements, this data base has an Open Budget element where anyone can look up budget and appropriations for the current year and prior years going back to 1995.
A likely source of funding for S239A is the Environmental Protection Fund, now in its 30th year that funds environmental projects in three programs: Solid Waste, Parks and Recreation, and Open Space. The Open Space Program supports the Water Quality Improvement Program for undertaking projects that reduce the flow of pollution to our lakes, rivers and streams, and projects to protect aquatic habitats.
We may not have time remaining for Federation support of S239A, but at least you can view the latest version of this proposed legislation.

Federation Report

Big Game:

S8461A needs a realistic idea of the requirements imposed on shooting sports complexes. I believe that, including Bridgeport’s 12 trap fields, if this proposal gets enacted, the line of trap fields at the New York State Amateur Trapshooting Association Homegrounds, which currently stretches for about a . mile, would need to stretch over 20 times this length, or about 10 miles. As a reference, State Route 31, from U.S. Route 11 to the traffic light in front of the casino in Bridgeport only stretches about 8 . miles.
The NYSDEC Reynolds Game Farm is looking forward to supplying 30,000-day-old pheasant chicks for cooperators to raise and release for publicly accessible pheasant hunting which is a $60,000,000.00+ economic driver in this state.
There is an estimated Pittman-Robertson/Dingell-Johnson funding bank of 1.3 billion dollars for the 2024 fiscal year.
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) recently celebrated 50 years.
Western states big game license (lottery) application deadlines are soon. Pennsylvania’s Elk license lottery is already open.
Relatively mild winter conditions and a somewhat early start to the 2024 forage growing season should bode well for available deer & bear numbers, this coming big game season.

SOUTH SHORE ASSOCIATION PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

6/10/2017 Today the South Shore Association announced the student who will receive up to $6000 each under their ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ASSISTANCE awards for 2017. Those named are:

Zachary Hill Major in Environmental Sciences

These awards are made by South Shore and follow on to a program that has awarded over $50,000.00 to date. After graduating, past winners have gone on to careers in Wildlife and Forestry management, and Environmental Engineering in our County and State.

“These awards are an example of the strong belief South Shore has in the young people of our community ”said Ron Green, President of South Shore. committee member echoed Choosing those students who will eventually make the environment and conservation their profession helps to perpetuate the outdoor recreation traditions we love so dearly”. Joe Snyder the committee chair mentioned he felt “the tradition of these awards really says a lot about the South Shore membership’s ideals and commitment to the outdoors”.

To qualify for these awards the applicants must have demonstrated an interest in the environment and the academic ability to continue studies in a related field to one day promote enjoyment and use of the outdoors for future generations as the members of South Shore do today.

Hunting Safety and Etiquette Tips From DEC website

DEC reminds hunters to follow simple safety guidelines and use good judgment when choosing a time and place to hunt. Considering other people who enjoy the outdoors or live nearby can help avoid potential conflicts and ensure a safe and enjoyable season.

As coastal areas become more populated, it is important for new landowners to receive a good impression of the safety, ethics and traditions of waterfowl hunting. A little courtesy and time spent before a hunt can go a long way to avoid or minimize conflicts with property owners and other outdoor enthusiasts. DEC encourages hunters to:

Consider contacting owners of property adjacent to where they will be hunting, well in advance;
Tell property owners when and where you will be hunting. Property owners may be less concerned if aware of planned hunts;
Take the time to explain to the landowner the intent to abide by the laws and regulations pertaining to waterfowl hunting, familiarity with the locations of houses, and safety protocols;
Plan out shooting directions and verify that the selected spot to hunt is safe and in compliance with the law. Keep in mind that shot pellets, especially when discharged at a high angle, can sometimes travel farther than 500 feet;
During conversations with landowners, identify any concerns the landowner may have and discuss them before you go hunting; and
Leave hunting locations as clean as you found them, and be sure to pick up your empty shell casings and other litter you may find.

Conservation, Legislation and Scholarships

Important Links and Reminders

IN THE NEWS

DEC Big Game Report

DEC Big Game Report

Legislative:

Latest version of New York Open Water Data Act (S239A) 05/03/23

Federation Report

Mark your Calendars for this event

SOUTH SHORE ASSOCIATION PRESS RELEASE

Contact information for upcoming conservation laws:

Hunting Safety and Etiquette Tips From DEC website