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Post by trappermac on Feb 13, 2020 9:21:42 GMT -5
Nice post Mark.
In my opinion, with strong leadership and a strong and clear agenda, others will follow.
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Post by whartonrattrapper on Feb 13, 2020 10:04:45 GMT -5
Nice post Mark. In my opinion, with strong leadership and a strong and clear agenda, others will follow. Not knocking the current leadership. (now anyway) Mark could do great things for NYSTA. Maybe put another feather in his cap! Not that he needs anymore LOL
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Post by nyrat on Feb 13, 2020 17:49:51 GMT -5
great post mark
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Post by milkie62 on Feb 13, 2020 18:21:13 GMT -5
Mark is definitely a leader,not a follower. Heck he drives a Chevy.
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tmc
#2 Newhouse
Posts: 2,447
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Post by tmc on Feb 14, 2020 11:25:06 GMT -5
Heck if I'd known name recognition was what we needed, I woulda asked Elvis at our annual New Years' Eve Conspiracy Theorist's Hullabaloo in - shoot, can't tell ya. It's secret. But he still drives a Cadillac.
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paintedpaw
Retired NYSDEC Lake George Ranger
Posts: 691
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Post by paintedpaw on Feb 14, 2020 14:38:36 GMT -5
I am very, very impressed with Mark's post, well thought out. I have always been impressed with his intelligence, and glad he too drives a Chevy. I am far from interested in hanging metals on my chest or bashing NYSTA. Mark's comments about the Pennsylvania organization are very true, and we could learn from them. NYSTA has some very dedicated long term people, I'll not name names, but NYSTA also has some dead wood that should not be there. I very strongly agree with Mark's comments regarding the Pennsylvania Game Commission vs our DEC. I have become very, very sour on them and how they do business, or lack of it. Their mishandling of matters such as fisher management, refusal to listen, and condescending attitudes have really turned me off. The closure for the otter season in the Catskills and Mohawk Valley should have never happened and is an absolute disgrace and egg on the face of DEC. A number of those closed areas provided otters for the reintroduction areas. Brilliant, pure brilliance. A lot of those involved from DEC are long retired, yet the closure remains. How many in DEC get advanced college degrees while at work, rather than be solving management matters.How much of DEC is arrogance and politics dominated by the God Father in Albany? In particular I am disappointed in the Region 5 wildlife manager who I thought was a friend.I'm not going to bash him here. The one comment to Mark that I would make is regarding convention locations. Prior to Frankfort we held conventions all over the state; from Little Valley to the St. Lawrence River(Canton) from Middletown to Canandaigua, and a lot more, usually run by the Director of that region. Trouble was we constantly ha trouble with county fair boards, and why we settled on a centrally located fair that welcomed us. We also hosted a number of NTA National conventions, and I personally witnessed very poor decisions, like camping on Blacktop at the Syracuse fairgrounds to the mishandling of money by a couple of chickees more interested in flirting than doing their jobs. I am thrilled to read the details of money handling improvements. I remember when there was no night deposit, no one accompanying the guy with large amounts of cash in his pocket, and even a treasurer threatening the board with legal action about money he "lost" at Tupper Lake. As you can see I go way back.I can even remember Director's meetings in Tom Hase's home in East Syracuse.I'm old, but I ain't dead, yet. I remember the days when the Director of Wildlife and/or the Director of Law Enforcement would come to our Director Meetings. I also remember when we raffled off a pick up truck at our convention and made money off it too. Yes, NYSTA has slipped a lot, but there is some bright talent out there, like Mark and our Vice President as examples, also long term members like Hughes, Carmody, Rockwood, just to name a few. We all need to get off our butts and get more involved. I don't ever want to lose trapping and in our state that means using our heads, not leaving it to the next guy. Well said Mark, well said!
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Post by bill1960 on Feb 14, 2020 22:13:26 GMT -5
Al did I just read that you would donate your pickup truck so I can raffle it off at the convention LOL that's Nice of you Bill
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austin
test results are back... I am joerat's daddy
Posts: 483
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Post by austin on Feb 15, 2020 6:20:10 GMT -5
Per the NYSDEC upper management decisions, I'll give you three of many, many nationwide comparisons.
For the past few years our DEC has conducted logging and land clearing operations across the state on just about every WMA with saleable timber. Reasoning is habitat improvement, which in fact it does. But when asked where that timber-sale money goes at local town meetings, DEC reps reluctantly state that all proceeds go to the general NYS fund.
Several years ago, the DEC initiated a project to construct all-aluminum kayak launches for handicap people to access WMA waters. The West River unit of Hi-Tor WMA in Naples had two... each of which cost roughly $50,000 I was told. $100,000 was spent to facilitate x-number of summertime recreational kayak enthusiasts to paddle around on WMA waters without help to launch. The West River unit used to be a waterfowl and muskrat mecca... untold 1,000s of each were found there. Now the marshy sections are mostly overgrown narrow-leaf cattail mats. Could there have been one $50,000 aluminum kayak launch and $50,000 invested in dredging out the dead, devoid of life, cattail-matted jungles? I bet $50K would pay for a fair amount of excavator work there, and local duck hunting clubs could have secured matching funds from private donors and/or DU like they did before in the 1990s when similar dredging was last done.
A decade ago (or more) the NYSDEC secured a 200+ acre plot just south of the Hi-Tor WMA border in Naples, formerly known as the "Smith Farm" for 200ish years. 150 acres are flat bottomland, historical swamp that was drained for farming in the early 1800s. It has not one but two pure, hi-flow artesian springs that boil out of the ground and create freeze-proof year-round streams. The DEC had plans drawn up to develop that into a wetlands utopia for hunters, trappers and fishermen to enjoy along with general public use. To date, absolutely nothing has happened there save for bi-annual mowing of grasslots to keep ash and box elder saplings from taking over.
On the other hand, I have hunted public WMA lands in Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and Ohio to date. Guess what they do? Actually plant annual food plots such as corn, soybeans, buckweat, sorghum along with apple trees, sawtooth oaks, modified chestnuts, domestic grape vineyards, etc... paid for from state coffers. State coffers supported by license and permit sales.
I'm a year or less from moving legal residence out of NYS and most likely southeast Iowa, in large part for the 1,000% superior mature deer, huge flocks of turkey, unbelievable coon populations, awesome muskrat & mink trapping potential, etc. In addition to far lower cost of living, far better gun laws and laws period but all that's a different conversation from here. If I were staying in NY I'd take an active role in NYSTA at this stage of my life, too. But I'm not. From what I've seen in four other mecca-hunting states versus NY, it's a no-brainer decision for me.
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paintedpaw
Retired NYSDEC Lake George Ranger
Posts: 691
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Post by paintedpaw on Feb 15, 2020 10:23:15 GMT -5
My pickup truck is my ticket to independence, sorry, no donation.
As for leaving NYS, Tom Fisher had the guts to get out. Now he's out west trapping mountain lions. If I was a younger man I would seriously consider moving, however my wife's family is here and she will not budge, even to Pennsylvania.
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austin
test results are back... I am joerat's daddy
Posts: 483
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Post by austin on Feb 15, 2020 10:51:27 GMT -5
My pickup truck is my ticket to independence, sorry, no donation. As for leaving NYS, Tom Fisher had the guts to get out. Now he's out west trapping mountain lions. If I was a younger man I would seriously consider moving, however my wife's family is here and she will not budge, even to Pennsylvania. given a choice I'd prefer to have many ties here. But as life turns out, I have no long-term roots. So why not make the most of that and live where the most fun is to be had?
a friend of mine who grew up and lived in Honeoye - Bloomfield moved to southeast Iowa in his early 50s. Bought a bigger house with 60 acres out there than the smaller house with 10 acres here with money left over from the flip. He's 20 miles from Rathbun Lake WMA which is 30,000+ total acres. There is also a smaller WMA 5,000+ acres five miles away that the state of Iowa along with DU created a flowing grassy wetland complex inside of couple years ago. My friend tells me this year it is stacked with countless muskrat houses from end to end.
many midwest and western states have public walk-in areas for sportsman use paid for by state leases to the landowners. I've personally seen those in North Dakota, Iowa and Missouri. Two of my younger friends went to eastern Kansas Nov 2018 for archery deer. They hit a few of these private-land walk in areas on DIY hunt. One location they found a rutting group of deer with several bucks measuring 130 - 160+ inches, running all around seeking does in broad daylight.
meanwhile, here in NY we have p*ss-pounded state owned WMAs, or an endless sea of Posted No Trespassing signs.
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Post by trappermac on Feb 15, 2020 13:38:49 GMT -5
Grass is greener syndrome. I'm fine here, I live bordering 1800 acres of state land along with my own, I keep a 20ft cuddy on a Lake Erie slip fully loaded for walleye fishing in the greatest walleye fishery there is, I haul it twice a year up to Lake O to troll for salmon and trout in the greatest salmon and trout fishery, wife and I love the Adirondacks and head there at least five times per year(nore now that we're retiring) to canoe camp and fish, and yeah I've been all over Canada to canoe as well as the Boundary Waters, even to British Columbia. Nothing beats the Dacks for us. I enjoy the trapping I have access to here, the whitetail racks are fine as far as I'm concerned. Hunting opportunities are unlimited here, bear, deer, waterfowl, turkey, pheasant, grouse, predators, etc. Great steelhead opportunities on the great lakes tribs, great trout flyfishing on area streams as well as dacks and catskills. Yeah it sucks here.
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Post by joerat4 on Feb 15, 2020 14:08:57 GMT -5
Well put Trappermac!!!
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Post by markg on Feb 15, 2020 17:20:19 GMT -5
I agree with Trappermac. I have lived and worked in several states in my lifetime. They all have there pluses and minuses. Family ties are the most important thing to me. I also agree with Mr Zagger and while I am not sure what will come of it I am going to start to be more involved . Starting with attending the NYSTA board of directors meeting next Saturday. Gotta start somewhere!!!
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Zagman
#2 Newhouse
Posts: 2,186
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Post by Zagman on Feb 15, 2020 18:03:47 GMT -5
Oh man, I moved to NY in 1988...followed a college girlfriend. We broke up six months later. I was lost, didn't know a sole....
BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME!
Met my wife here, ended up at a company that changed my life, started trapping coyotes in earnest, started building "Almosta Farm", and the rest is history....well, MY history.
You guys are stuck with me, I'm afraid!
MZ
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austin
test results are back... I am joerat's daddy
Posts: 483
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Post by austin on Feb 15, 2020 19:46:18 GMT -5
Grass is greener wherever one's focal points are. NYS has arguably the best fishing variety in the U.S. if not world. The hunting is decent. The trapping current state is decent to sucks, depends on where & what species. Nowhere in NY does turkey or mature buck hunting compare to Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, even Ohio. Not even almost close. Unless you prepay for muskrats on the Iroquois complex or Montezuma, you have no chance for big catches west of Syracuse. And even those guys struggle thru bad years... most of the Montezuma bids winners pulled stakes early or never set up at all, just called it a loss. Coni is the only one doing well and he's way below norm. Robert Wadell caught 950+ coyotes from October thru last week in the midwest states? 900+ coyotes in a single fur season? One guy, dirt holes and muskrats chunks with coyote urine? It would be ludicrous to compare our coon numbers and quality to those in Missouri and Iowa, so let's not even entertain that folly. In Iowa or Missouri, you want a handgun? Well, go on down to the local store and buy one. Walk right out the door with it and carry around to your heart's content. Different pastures for different folks. As I said the fishing is world-class here, no comparison elsewhere. And I don't regret being in NY thru the years, I've seen investments grow here like crazy that probably wouldn't elsewhere. And the relationships were great, past tense. No one can debate other places are superior, even far superior to NY when it comes to outdoors opportunities. That fact is undeniable. To each our own... bloom where you're planted or uproot and transplant. Either way, money grows on trees
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Post by joerat4 on Feb 15, 2020 19:53:43 GMT -5
Don't let the door hit you where the good Lord split you!
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Zagman
#2 Newhouse
Posts: 2,186
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Post by Zagman on Feb 15, 2020 19:54:12 GMT -5
Instead of us helping with NYSTA, we can help you pack up! You can't have much stuff.....
MZ
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Post by joerat4 on Feb 15, 2020 19:59:05 GMT -5
Walleyed is probably on the thruway heading to Naples now with a bunch of boxes.....lol
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Post by trappermac on Feb 15, 2020 20:53:29 GMT -5
That's funny Joe....
So Austin, you're going to move to Iowa to shoot a turkey, a big rack, buy a handgun (I assume you won't pass a background check here), trap $3 rats. All of which you can do in NY. You're no Robert Waddell, so that doesn't even factor in. Enjoy the tornados, I'll plow snow.
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Post by walleyed on Feb 16, 2020 5:07:41 GMT -5
Instead of us helping with NYSTA, we can help you pack up! You can't have much stuff..... MZ Mark, Is there a "UNITED TRAPPERS" Affiliate out there in Iowa in need of a Chief Financial Officer. We shouldn't ship anyone west without suitable employment compensation awaiting them.
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Zagman
#2 Newhouse
Posts: 2,186
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Post by Zagman on Feb 16, 2020 7:35:40 GMT -5
Hate to pile on poor ole Austin....but he posts year-round about why HE doesn't trap and implies the rest of us are idiots....but NOW is moving to a new state with one of the reasons being, well, trapping??? I've watched his antics long enough to know that he rarely does what he says, but he has a need to FEEL viable on internet forums, showing pics from his past that we've all seen a million times. Or his new thing: selfies of him scouting or hunting with no animals in pics. What got me on this thread was that he typed a long reply with the intention of telling us he will NOT help the NYSTA and probably never has.... WHY TYPE ANYTHING AT ALL IF THAT'S THE POINT OF TYPING? Why? Because it gave him a chance to talk about, well, him..... Go. Leave. Quit telling us about stuff you AREN'T going to do...... I used to hunt ducks and geese. Like a madman. Don't do it any more. But I don't go on duck hunting websites, showing pics from 20 years ago, and telling everyone, every day why I NO LONGER hunt ducks and geese....... He doesn't do anything for NYSTA now....but wanted us to all know he won't do anything going forward either! Great! Thanks for your service!!! LOL MZ
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Post by walleyed on Feb 16, 2020 7:45:44 GMT -5
What got me on this thread was that he typed a long reply with the intention of telling us he will NOT help the NYSTA and probably never has.... He doesn't do anything for NYSTA now....but wanted us to all know he won't do anything going forward either! Great! Thanks for your service!!! MZ That was a particularly stinging rebuke of the Muskrat Munchkin !!! Oh, how the mighty hath fallen !!! w
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paintedpaw
Retired NYSDEC Lake George Ranger
Posts: 691
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Post by paintedpaw on Feb 16, 2020 11:30:07 GMT -5
WOW !
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Post by herm on Feb 16, 2020 12:05:51 GMT -5
I will miss you Austin
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Post by walleyed on Feb 16, 2020 13:37:09 GMT -5
AL ? Other than wow, you're at a loss for words ? Not like you to run out of steam, brother trapper.
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