There is hope!

When is the last time you remember a positive gun bill being passed? Much of the southern half of NY has been restricted to the use of shotguns, muzzleloaders, handguns and bow for deer hunting for as long as there have been seasons. Today, our governor signed a bill adding rifles to this list. The bill opens the use of rifles in the regular hunting season in the whole counties of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chenango, Herkimer, Montgomery, Oneida, Oswego, Otsego, Schoharie, and Tioga, and the portion of Broome County east of the Susquehanna River.

NY has allowed the use of any centerfire handgun for years, including Contenders, Encores, etc. This law will now give hunters in those areas additional options. Hopefully, this will lead to a slowing in the drastic decline of hunters hitting the woods each year.

Here's part of the press release I found:


"Governor George E. Pataki today announced that he has signed into law legislation that will allow the use of rifles to hunt big game in certain counties in Central New York.

Under the new law, hunting regulations in the rural parts of the State's "Southern Zone" will conform to existing regulations that already allow the use of rifles to hunt big game in other parts of Upstate New York within the "Northern Zone."

"Hunters have always played an important role in New York and they are among the safest and most responsible in the nation," Governor Pataki said. "This new law will provide hunters in rural parts of New York's 'Southern Zone' with options during the big game season as other hunters in parts of upstate New York already have. It will also increase safety because rifles are considered to be as safe, and more accurate, than shotguns and other muzzle-loading firearms." "

Yes amazing !I do remember when they added muzzle loaders and handguns. Now they finally did it right.I guess theys till have no sunday hunting ?

NY has allowed Sunday hunting for as long as I can remember. PA, however, has stuck with the Sunday restriction.

Great. Glad to see NY is loosening up.

quote:

Originally posted by erict:
NY has allowed Sunday hunting for as long as I can remember. PA, however, has stuck with the Sunday restriction.

All of Canada is also so governed.

erict, where did you see this? I cannot find a mention of it on NY's DEC web page...

http://www.dec.state.ny.us/

I'm looking at land to purchase in the state, and I was looking in areas where one can hunt with a rifle. If what you saw is true, it greatly influences where I will continue to look...

johnnyreb,- I will confirm this, when I call my dad tonight.
He lives in one of the southern zone counties that still uses rifles for big game seasons.

Talked to my dad Fri. night and had a small party at my friends home yesterday in N.Y.S.and so far there is nothing in the news or newspapers of any such bill being signed or proposed.

Iowa is trying rifles in the lower two tiers of counties (the ones closest to Missouri) for the late antlerless season this year. Maybe some legislators are finally getting the idea.

DGK

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:

quote:

Originally posted by erict:
NY has allowed Sunday hunting for as long as I can remember. PA, however, has stuck with the Sunday restriction.

All of Canada is also so governed.

There are some Sunday hunting opportunities In Canada Here is a link to Alberta's Sunday WMU's

http://www.albertaoutdoorsmen.ca/huntingregs/sundayhunt.html


Here is an article about Ontario which may be open to Sunday hunting in the near future.


http://www.ofah.org/News/index.cfm?ID=2&A=GetDoc&DID=708

Been away from the computer for a few days - but here's the link to the full press release:

http://www.state.ny.us/governor/press/year05/sep01_2_05.htm

This has been in the works for awhile. There have been some rumors the last couple of years that it was going to happen, and a State Senator named Dale Volker (who is a former police officer in a Buffalo suburb) really pushed for it. It passed the legislature in June and we had been waiting to hear that the governor signed it.

I have hunted my whole life in Cattaraugus County and as a "rifle-nut" it is fantastic news...but I imagine I will have a hard time selling my Hastings-barreled 870 that has been my deer gun for years.

Now I just have to figure out which rifle I am going this season.

Sad to say... It's not likely that they like hunters or hunting any better than before.

The deer populations across the country are skyrocketing because there are fewer and fewer hunters and pressure from insurance companies paying for deer/car collisions is the key factor.

At least maybe it will benefit hunters in the end anyway.

$bob$

I have to say "I'm shocked". We lose a couple of hunters every year to accidents. Guess I'll have to break out the FN-FAL and "blast me one". (deer, that is) Did you happen to notice if it was OK to shoot from the sun roof? (in 60 days it'll be the snow roof )
Collins, Syracuse, Onondaga Co.