NEW YORK STATE CONSERVATION COUNCIL, INC Resolutions. Crossbows

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1 NEW YORK STATE CONSERVATION COUNCIL, INC Resolutions Crossbows Crossbow use to archery privileges Erie County Federation of Sportsmen s Clubs Whereas, a crossbow propels its projectile in the same fashion as a compound or recurve bow; Whereas, the effective hunting range of a crossbow is similar to that of a compound bow; Whereas, the minimum age to hunt big game in NYS with a compound or recurve bow is age 12 under supervision of parent, legal guardian or qualified mentor; Whereas, a muzzleloader is a firearm; Whereas, the minimum age for youth hunters to hunt big game under supervision with a firearm is age 14; Whereas, under Governor Cuomo s NY Open for Hunting and Fishing initiative the muzzleloader privilege now carries a cost lower than the archery privilege; Whereas, maximizing revenue into NYS Conservation Fund helps maintain the operational health of fish and wildlife work done by NYS on behalf of the People; Therefore, be it resolved: That the NYSCC pursue legislation to amend the NYS Crossbow Law to change the requirements for crossbow use from the muzzleloader privileges, and to require archery privileges for lawful hunting with a crossbow, and to provide youth hunters age 12 and 13 the same opportunity to hunt big game with their parent, legal guardian or qualified mentor as they have with compound or recurve bows, while strengthening revenue into the NYS Conservation Fund. Contact: Dan Tone fishhillrd@gmail.com (716) Firearm Committee: support Legislative Committee: The committee concurs with the resolution with the following comments: There should be hands on training, preferably within the bow hunting class, before going afield. There is some question of young hunters having adequate strength for using a crossbow and in the use of tree stands by youth hunters. 1

2 Move the Southern Zone late muzzleloader and late bow/crossbow season to the end of December Yates County Federation of Conservation Clubs Whereas, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is responsible for regulating hunting within New York State; Whereas, the NYSDEC sets regulations, quotas, and seasons to help manage our natural resources; Whereas, the NYSDEC employs trained wildlife biologists and managers and they have years of experience managing our fish and game resources, and the expertise to do so; Whereas, the white-tailed deer is primarily crepuscular, active at twilight. Deer activity changes with the length of the day peaking during the rut. Hunting pressure, the rut nearing its end and short days cause deer to become more nocturnal; Whereas, moving the late muzzleloader and late bow season, which run concurrently, would allow the deer population over two weeks to go back to normal activity. Deer in December, during many hunting seasons, appear to be much less active during daylight or to seemingly have become nocturnal; Whereas, other states Pennsylvania and Ohio already have a successful late hunting season during the last week of December and/or into January; Whereas, a late season in the last week of December when sportsman have time off from school and work will allow college students hunting opportunities they otherwise may not have during their college years. This would put more hunters afield and prevent some from giving up hunting entirely. This would be a time when three generations of a family are able to hunt together; Therefore be it resolved: that the NYSCC seek to change legislation to move the Southern Zone, 9 day late muzzleloader and late bow/crossbow season from its current dates on or about December 8th to the 16th to a new season of on or about December 26th to January 3rd in order to give late season hunting opportunities to sportsman and to meet the deer management goals of the NYSDEC. Contact: Steve Weckelman weckpyny@gmail.com (315) Legislative Committee: The committee has no opinion but notes: The DEC objective in setting seasons, methods, etc. is focused on population management and hunter participation. To this point, this has involved earlier, rather than later dates Allow muzzleloader or archery big game tag to be used with crossbows New York State Muzzleloaders Assoc. WHEREAS, Hunting with a crossbow as a legal implement for big game was passed into law in 2014 under Environmental Conservation Law, Article 11; 2

3 WHEREAS, Hunting with a crossbow outside of the regular firearms or early bear seasons requires a Muzzleloader Privilege to participate; WHEREAS, Archers have the ability to harvest a deer with a Bow tag and then also purchase a Muzzleloader tag which could be used to harvest another deer during the defined special crossbow seasons; WHEREAS, Muzzleloaders have long been denied comparable opportunities for special use seasons when compared to the archery hunters despite paying the same fees for privileges; WHEREAS, Muzzleloaders who have an interest in hunting with a crossbow must now choose to harvest a deer with either a crossbow or muzzleloader; THEREFORE BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED: that the NYSCC support a change to Environmental Conservation Law to allow crossbow hunters to be able to use either a Muzzleloader Privilege tag or an Archery privilege tag instead of being limited to the current Muzzleloader tag allowing more flexibility for tag use and not making the muzzleloaders choose between taking a deer with a crossbow OR taking one with a muzzleloader. In addition, this resolution in no way proposes to change the existing season structure or dates, only the tag structure for use of the crossbow. Article 11 Title 7 (New language is in bold italics) A bowhunting privilege when included on a hunting license entitles a holder: (4) who is fourteen years of age or older to hunt wild deer and bear with a crossbow, in a special muzzle-loading firearm season, as provided in title 9 of this article. Contact: NYS Muzzleloaders Assn. Eric Bratt grizekb@aol.com phone (518) Firearm Committee: support Legislative Committee: The committee concurs with the resolution. Coyote Season Extension of current coyote season Erie County Federation of Sportsmen s Clubs Whereas, Predator prey relationships between the white tailed deer/turkey and the coyote have been extensively studied throughout the United States; Whereas, Studies in Texas have shown 70% of a coyote s diet during the months of June and July to consist of fawns and that fawn survival in a coyote proof enclosure was significantly higher than outside the enclosure. Maine food habitat studies showed that white tailed deer make up 50 60% of the coyote s diet and this predation had the potential to have significant negative effects on the deer herd. Fawn survival studies in Centre County Pennsylvania during showed that of the 218 3

4 fawns that were followed with telemetry equipment, predators killed 22%, the leading source of mortality. Of the fawns killed by predators, most were killed by coyotes (49%). Studies in Northern Alabama and Southwest Georgia studied fawning on similar parcels of land, one where coyotes were aggressively removed during fawning season and the other where no removal was done. The results showed a staggering difference. In the removal areas, 2 out of every 3 does were observed with fawns and in the non removal areas, only 1 out of 28 does were observed with fawns; Whereas, The impacts of predation on turkey populations vary by season, location and land use patterns, but predation may significantly impact these populations when faced with our State s growing problems of poor nesting cover, exposure to severe weather for extended periods of time and a growing predator population. Studies conducted on stomach contents of coyotes taken in Mississippi and of coyote scat have shown that the coyote s best chance for a turkey dinner is during the poult rearing season when the young poults are unable to fly; Whereas, By extending a portion of the coyote season out into the more favorable spring weather conditions of April and May would help to put more hunters afield in search of coyotes. Actively removing coyotes during the critical fawning period for the white tailed deer herd will help to reduce predation on the herd s fawn population. Having the coyote season available during the entirety of spring turkey season would create opportunities for Spring turkey hunters to harvest a coyote whether actively in search of them or as a consequence of a coyote coming in to attack a turkey set up. Actively removing coyotes during the critical nesting period for the wild turkey flock will help to reduce predation on the flock s poult population. Therefore, be it resolved: That the NYSCC pursue legislation to amend the NYS furbearer hunting regulations to extend the coyote hunting season from its current October 1st March 31st time frame to an October 1st May 31 st timeframe, thereby creating additional protections from predation for our white tailed deer herd and wild turkey flocks and creating additional opportunities for hunters to harvest a coyote. Contact: Dan Tone fishhillrd@gmail.com (716) Spring Bear Season Delaware County Federation of Sportsmen Bear Season WHEREAS: The negative impact to agriculture has increased with the increased population of black bears in NYS; WHEREAS: Human/bear conflicts have increased with the increase in the population of black bears in NYS; WHEREAS: We believe this would increase opportunities for sportsmen to harvest bears and reduce the number of unwanted bears killed with nuisance permits; 4

5 THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT: The New York Conservation Council pursue the necessary legislation and regulations to develop and implement a spring bear season in New York State. Contact: Daniel Owen dowen@mkl.com Firearm Committee: support Legislative Committee: The committee has no objection but notes: The DEC Bear Management Plan is focused on additional fall hunting, including and early bear season in September. They feel that this would be the most productive and be particularly effective in taking nuisance bears. A spring season would be an option if future population levels warrant it. Rifle for Big Game in Onondaga County Expand the types of wildlife that can currently be hunted with centerfire rifle in Onondaga County to include big game. Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs Whereas, centerfire rifles have been a legal hunting implement for the taking of small game (with the exception of migratory fowl and turkey) and varmints and predators for many years in Onondaga County; Whereas, centerfire rifle cartridges have been legal for use in pistols with a barrel length of less than 16 inches for many years for the taking of big game in Onondaga County, and many of these pistols are ballistically superior to some of the banned centerfire rifles; Whereas, in all of the counties contiguous to Onondaga County, centerfire rifles are classified as a legal hunting implement for the taking of big game; Whereas, there was never any published scientific evidence presented to show that banning rifles as a legal hunting implement for the taking of big game would improve or increase public safety; Whereas, current regulations banning centerfire rifles as a legal hunting implement for the taking of big game were created under the assumption that shotguns are always safer than rifles, a scientifically conducted, peer reviewed study done for the Pennsylvania Game Commission proved that assumption to be incorrect (Do Shotguns and Muzzleloaders Pose Less Risk Than Centerfire Rifles for Hunting Deer in Pennsylvania? March 2007); Whereas, counties that have a higher population density allow the use of centerfire rifles for hunting big game (Orange County has a population density approximately three (3) times that of Onondaga County); Whereas, open big game seasons are the only time, in Onondaga County, that centerfire rifles are not allowed to be carried afield, with the exception of centerfire rifles less than.22 caliber; 5

6 Whereas, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and other law enforcement agencies records show no increase in number or severity of firearm related hunting incidents attributed to centerfire rifles as a legal hunting implement for the taking of big game in counties which have recently changed to allowing centerfire rifles for big game hunting; Whereas, all current state and local laws pertaining to use of shotguns would also pertain to use of centerfire rifles; Whereas the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen s Clubs, passed a resolution requesting that centerfire rifles be allowed for hunting big game in Onondaga County in April 2013; Whereas, NYSCC policies on resolutions state that "Resolutions are policy declarations and are not meant to solve local problems unless all other avenues of remedy have been investigated on the local level ; Whereas, the Onondaga County Legislature has failed to propose a "home rule" resolution asking the state legislature to "Expand the types of wildlife that can currently be hunted with centerfire rifle in Onondaga County to include big game" even after several requests over several years from the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the New York State Conservation Council support legislation to amend the New York State Environmental Conservation Law, , relating to allowing the use of centerfire rifle for hunting big game in the County of Onondaga. Contact Information: Stephen Wowelko wowelko@juno.com (315) Firearm Committee: unanimously support Big Game Committee: support Legislative Committee: The committee recommends that this resolution be rejected. While we concur with the objective, the legislature will not consider any rifle bill without a request from the county legislature. Like it or not, this issue must be addressed at the county level before requesting a change to the ECL. 6