[Jimmymac]

in reply to: Bow Season vs. Crossbows #10093

I agree Steve, that most sportsman in the state want the crossbow. But if you asked these same sportsman; “do you want guns allowed during the archery season?”, they would also widely support that as well – its the majority, the gun hunters, who support the crossbow in the state. They just want more opportunity to take a deer, or they want the same chance at an early season deer that archers have.

Do you really think the crossbow will retain people in the hunting ranks? It’s taking kids and the older generation afield, mentoring, and above all retaining and providing land where hunters can access the animals. It’s not a new toy or hunting implement that will grow the hunting population, it’s lack of public hunting lands here in NY that has shrunk the ranks. People don’t want to pay the high cost for a license and not have a place to go.

As for NYB, any group that takes a stand for a belief is going to alienate people. I give them credit for doing this and not caving in the interest of adding new members and therefore operating on a tight budget. They have shown they can take the criticism while fighting to preserve a “heritage”. They just did win the NYSCC “Conservation club of the year” award (to the great surprise of the alienated ones) for their work with youth archery programs, and for their work in assisting handicapped hunters by sponsoring hunts and then taking these folks afield and helping them overcome these handicaps and using a bow, proving over and over that a crossbow is not needed.

They haven’t dictated anything Steve, they are merely working in preserving the heritage that the archery seasons in NY represent.

[Jimmymac]

in reply to: Please introduce yourselves, I'll start #9950

Hello all, fairly new member here. Love the forum, complete with a few of my favorite writers! Name is Jim (or Mac) and live with my beautiful lady, Cheryl, in the southern tier of western NY (read; snowbelt). At 53 years young we have subscribed to a simple way of living, sharing our one room log cabin with a spunky lab and spending our time (when work doesn’t interfere) in the woods of our property which borders a few thousand acres of state lands. Have bowhunted since a teen, starting with a stickbow for years and then spent a few wretched years behind a compound (please forgive me) before finding my way back to what matters several years ago. While Cheryl doesn’t bowhunt she does love to wingshoot and turkey hunting has become a favorite pastime (when she isn’t chopping and putting up wood – God bless her!).

Looking forward to conversing with all you fellow trad-hunters and good people on here. Special call-out to Dave Petersen whose book; “On the Wild Edge”, which I discovered a year after Cheryl and I made this move was akin to receiving a stamp of approval for the choice we made. Truly inspirational to both of us, although Cheryl would love to have your wifes take on it…..:wink:

[Jimmymac]

in reply to: Bow Season vs. Crossbows #9939

Sadly, in the past few weeks NY State has passed legislation that now allows a “crossgun” during the regular firearms and muzzleloading seasons beginning in 2011. The group New York Bowhunters fought this legislation strongly (without much support from bowhunters statewide) but in the end, the money machine won. For those who say “I don’t care if they allow them during the firearms or muzzleloader seasons”, you must realize that having the crossbow allowed during those seasons is not a victory for the crossbow manufacturers. People are not going to lay down their 12 gauge slug guns or their rifles and take a crossbow into the woods. This is about money, about selling crossbows, supporting campaigns, growing a taxbase, selling more hunting licenses at the expense of our primitive seasons and also the wildlfe we covet. Yes, we allowed compounds to evolve like they have – blindsighted, but that doesn’t mean we now roll over; instead it means we stand and say enough is enough.

In NY we know they won’t settle for the seasons as currently allowed, they won’t give up until they give every bubba a reason to go out and buy a new toy. I have to say that I am afraid of the type of person this will draw to the primitive seasons should they be allowed, the compound has done that in spades. Shooters, not hunters. People without the skills of woodsmanship or the love and respect of the quarry. People who want nothing more than the chance to spew bravado over their great hunting trophys. People without ethics.

[Jimmymac]

in reply to: Doug Borland Article #63958

I agree with everyone, a great article indeed. Having read Jay Massey’s “A Thousand Campfires” several times, it was nice to read this reflective piece on an old hunt with new charcters. Anyone who hasn’t read Jay’s book mentioned above, get it if you can find it. A most enjoyable read and another man of ethics.

[Author]

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