Posted on 09/06/2005 10:33:19 PM PDT by neverdem
News Outdoors Reporter
Hunting for big game with a rifle becomes legal in parts of Western New York this deer and bear seasons. Rifle hunting options will open to hunters in 10 counties along New York State's Southern Tier.
After decades of proposed rifle bills in the Department of Environmental Conservation Southern Zone, some restricting caliber sizes, Senator Dale M. Volker, R-Depew, saw his bill S918-A successfully through the New York State Senate. Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte, D-Niagara Falls, sponsored the bill as A4852-A in the Assembly. The bill met with great acceptance, with a 58-2 approval in the Senate and 177 ayes and just 17 nays in the Assembly. Gov. Pataki received the bill Aug. 18 and officially signed it into law on Thursday.
Arguments about public safety and caliber sizes did not emerge in this round of voting. In Pennsylvania, a recent introduction of rifle hunting in shotgun-only areas near Philadelphia saw a reduction in shooting incidents from 25 to 14 for newly opened suburban areas. Western New York hunters must determine county line areas before heading to their favored hunt haunts this season. While this bill poses an "Effective Date: Immediately," Chautauqua County had withdrawn inclusion when the bill was first framed this year.
Effective this hunting season, hunters can use all centerfire rifles when big game hunting for deer and bear in Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chenango, Herkimer, Montgomery, Oneida, Oswego, Otsego, Schoharie and Tioga counties, as well as selected areas of Broome County.
Hunting- and gun-related bills had not been received with much favor in Albany in recent years. During a Safari Club International visit of state chapters to legislative chambers in 2003, various SCI members made appointments with key legislators.
The most recent gun-related bill that reached the governor's desk was the Eddy Eagle (gun safety program) bill. It was vetoed after opposition emerged with the disclosure the National Rifle Association sponsored the Eddy Eagle program.
Volker had introduced this proposed rifle bill in six previous sessions of the senate. This time, SCI support helped introduce and explain the advantages of the Volker-DelMonte bill. Volker said, "By allowing deer and bear hunting in this region of our state, we can humanely lower the deer population as they often die of starvation. It will also prevent human deaths from automobile accidents that have been rising from vehicles hitting deer on our highways, and also see a reduction in the spread of Lyme disease, . . . which is often spread by deer ticks."
For the average area hunter, this comes as a welcome option. "I can finally take my .270 out of mothballs," said Robert Hauser of Lancaster, a shotgun hunter who heads out to fill the freezer with venison each fall season. "Since I quit going to Pennsylvania in 1978, the rifle has been out of service."
Mike Shevlin, immediate past president of the Central and WNY Chapter of SCI, said, "All the guys I hunt with in Allegany County say "Oh, man, I can't wait to get out with my rifle.' " Shevlin prefers his flat-shooting .257 Roberts, a caliber with which he has taken five western big-game animals.
"Until now, I've only been able to use it here on varmints," he said, "and last year it took five foxes."
Now, he can hunt the Southern Tier east of Chautauqua County and south of Erie and Genesee counties within an hour drive of home.
e-mail: wille@pce.net
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20050902/1037494.asp
This is good news. It would be unadvisable to try and take down a bear with a shotgun.
The most recent gun-related bill that reached the governor's desk was the Eddy Eagle (gun safety program) bill. It was vetoed after opposition emerged with the disclosure the National Rifle Association sponsored the Eddy Eagle program.
With that veto, Pataki ensures that his career as an elected official is over. Good riddance.
Good riddance indeed.
You gotta be kidding me. What WERE they allowed to hunt with, pointy sticks? Rocks? Bette Midler movies played at max volume to convince the bears to commit suicide?
Only shotguns, muzzleloaders, handguns, bows and arrows were allowed for big game in those counties, otherwise you should refer to New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the respective counties. They were paranoid because of the range of centerfire rifle ammo and where the round finally landed. Here's the map.
I think I can handle a black bear with it. In fact I'm feeling so confident with it, I'm thinking of using mint oil as a cover scent.
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