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Local News


Problems
By Douglas H. Domedion

Deer problems.
Deer season is not far off.

With hunting season just around the corner there are some hunting license changes that have been put in place, but apparently not without problems.

A new license sales system was set up back in January, but a recent check with our local license issuing agents found problems. First, there is an issue using the new camo-colored paper supplied by the state for licenses. There are problems with the new paper not printing out on the state-supplied printers, and the numbers on each panel on the individual licenses are not lining up properly. Also, the rolls of new paper are too big and several feet have to be ripped off each roll before they stay on printers. There is also a problem with some of the paper apparently not having been cured correctly, as it is sticky and tends to jam.

These problems are being solved by the folks in Albany with a partial solution; they will be issuing licenses on both the yellow paper used on last year’s licenses and the new camo-colored paper for this year. What? Bet the Conservation Offices will love that deal!

And by the way, why camouflage paper? If we have been using back tags all these years with large contrasting numbers so they can be readily seen why are we printing them on camo-paper now? Why don’t we just eliminate the back tag?

Other issues with this new “Albany” system is that many are finding the new e-mail license sale system difficult to navigate and time-consuming to complete. Also many lifetime license holders have not received their new hunting licenses yet.

Another problem that has arose is getting the deer management permits issued. As of last week it has been on hold.
All these problems of course have not been the result of what the DEC has done. It is the result of our folks in Albany again. So much for Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s “N.Y.S. Open for Fishing and Hunting” initiative that is highlighted in every state DEC press release.

While in a negative mood I’ll bring up the crossbow issue. For years there has been an unsuccessful push at the Albany level to allow senior citizens and those handicapped enough that they can no longer pull back a vertical bow (compound, stick or recurve). Well they finally did something and now everyone can use a crossbow, but not during the first month of the bow season. However there was still no provision for those senior citizens or handicapped people to use a crossbow during the first month of the archery season when weather is more favorable. Cold weather is a real problem with these folks who still want to participate in a sport they have enjoyed in the past but they have been left out in the “cold” again.

We pay our DEC folks good money to do what they were trained to do – manage our natural resources. So why are we allowing the politicians to run the show? We need “new blood” representing us and allowing the folks who are trained to manage our environment and wildlife to do so. Of course voting is the way to change things and there are enough hunters, trappers and fisherman across the state that we can override the “Albany’s voting crew” if they all get out there and vote.

Come the beginning of November, during elections, many sportsmen are out in the field and many will not be in their home county to vote. I’ll be at my camp in the Southern Tier bow hunting, but I will be filling out a New York State Absentee Ballot Application. I picked mine up at the Town Hall, but you can also get it on line by Googling “N.Y.S. Absentee Ballot Application.” This application must be delivered to your county board of elections no later than the day before the election day or post marked (if sent) no later than one day before the election and received not later than the seventh day after the election.

Every hunter, trapper and fisherman needs to vote this year to get things back on track.

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