|
Post by johnrockwood on Jan 16, 2009 14:27:14 GMT -5
I just received this from the NRA ILA:
Big Victory for New York’s Sportsmen: Reynolds Game Farm to Remain Open!
Following pressure from upset hunters and facing legal action, Governor David Paterson (D) and Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Chair Pete Grannis have decided that the Reynolds Pheasant Preserve, a last-of-its-kind pheasant-breeding operation open since 1927, will remain open.
Last month's announcement that the farm would close set off a chain of events culminating in a suit filed by the New York Rifle and Pistol Association, the National Rifle Association, the National Shooting Sports Foundation and the Conservation Alliance of New York. The groups requested and were granted a restraining order to halt the destruction of the pheasants until it could be determined whether they were paid for with monies derived from excise taxes collected from firearm and ammunition sales.
Please call Governor Paterson and thank him for reconsidering the farm's fate. You can contact the Governor by phone at (518) 474-8390.
|
|
|
Post by Itrapny on Jan 16, 2009 14:37:56 GMT -5
Great news...Now please, everyone take 30 seconds and call and thank the Gov for keeping the game farm open. All to often, all we do is complain about things that are wrong and forget to say thank you when something is good!
|
|
traps82
#3 Newhouse
Hope is always alive
Posts: 3,208
|
Post by traps82 on Jan 16, 2009 15:13:02 GMT -5
I agree this is great, but can I say something... Well, I will... Why should we "thank" him? From what I can tell, this should not even been on the block... I know about the political stuff.. But doesn't this just show us that the Governor knows he was wrong? I mean, I'll do it, but I will be happy that that they can't see that I am not smiling. I really am not trying to be negative here, so please don't rip me too bad!! ;D
|
|
|
Post by fisherman on Jan 16, 2009 15:57:43 GMT -5
Nice to see a positive response to our phone calls!
|
|
|
Post by Itrapny on Jan 16, 2009 16:48:35 GMT -5
You'll get more flies with sugar than sh_t
|
|
traps82
#3 Newhouse
Hope is always alive
Posts: 3,208
|
Post by traps82 on Jan 16, 2009 16:52:09 GMT -5
I know, I know... But "they" just get me riled up!!!!!!!
|
|
|
Post by Itrapny on Jan 16, 2009 16:55:12 GMT -5
Any victory, no matter how small, even if it shouldn't have been taken in the first place, is a victory when you're the minority
|
|
traps82
#3 Newhouse
Hope is always alive
Posts: 3,208
|
Post by traps82 on Jan 16, 2009 17:36:15 GMT -5
I agree... Maybe I need some sugar sprinkled on me to sweeten me up!!! ;D ;D ;D
|
|
|
Post by herm on Jan 16, 2009 20:37:53 GMT -5
At last weekends Houndsman BOD Meeting this subject was discussed.Also talk about a trout and pheasant stamp.I asked would you need a stamp to have pheasants in your possision or just for hunting them.The person who was talking about the stamps said you would need one to be out hunting them.I said I used to hunt pheasants with beagles and never with a bird dog.I asked if this is the case how would an ECO know what game a person was hunting for.To be safe from being ticketed if this were the case you would need a pheasant stamp to hunt any small game with a dog or maybe even without one.No answer was forthcomming to my question.
|
|
traps82
#3 Newhouse
Hope is always alive
Posts: 3,208
|
Post by traps82 on Jan 16, 2009 21:29:23 GMT -5
Good point.. I have had plenty of beagles that put up the birds..
|
|
|
Post by erict on Jan 16, 2009 21:30:25 GMT -5
OK folks, bear with this and read what you care to. This is some information I had forwarded to me - it came from the President of the NY State Conservation Council relative not only to the pheasant farm, but about trapping, hunting and fishing here in NY. (Note - the decision to keep the farm open was made shortly after this was sent, but work remains to be done. Please also remember the name Judith Enck, as I don't find her to be a friend of the sportsman).
From: NYSCC President Harold Palmer <nysccpresident@yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:34:47 -0800 (PST) To: Subject: Update pheasants and NYSCC march on Albany
Hello Everyone, At this time I have not been able to change the position taken on the pheasant farm and pheasant program. I have no idea if the Governor even knows what revenue is generated from pheasant hunters in New York. The Governors staff continue to send all info and inquiry's to Judith Enck who will not work with sportsmen. As of the evening of January 13th Ms. Enck stated that the pheasants will be disposed of and there will be no talks about the purchase of birds either day old chicks or adults to be released. We do have many members of the Senate and Assembly interested in helping but I do not believe they can stop what is already started. The only help may be the purchase of birds with our funds, a pheasant stamp. At the Meeting with Ms. Enck I asked for the break down of where our money (Conservation Fund) has been spent. Ms. Enck did not have one she asked Commissioner Grannis who did not have one and apparently DEC does not have one. as they have been working to make one up for me since last week and it is not done. I wonder how anyone could say the Conservation Fund was in the red, what they used to justify the closing of the Pheasant program and farm. What I have been told is that the birds will be disposed of starting January 19th to those game bird breeders and those that raised day old chicks first and then the remaining birds will be slaughtered and donated to food pantries. I have told DEC and Judith Enck that we had agreed and planned to work on a reasonable license fee increase, after this lack of cooperation with the sportsmen and the fact that they have nothing that shows where our Conservation fund money is spent, we oppose any license fee increase, any added stamps and the marine recreation fishing license unless they start working with sportsmen and the CFAB and show us where our money is going and we will make recommendations as to where it gets spent. I also stated that we are opposed to any of our money being spent on non game species. I also stated that sportsmen have been working with DEC on many issues and that this new direction by the Governors office of not working for and with sportsmen, has created a feeling of no confidence in both departments I would like to know how many sportsmen, women and youth each county,club or organization can bring to Albany on February 10th to meet with their legislators and to show sportsmen care about hunting, fishing, trapping, and our gun rights.
Let me know ASAP how many will be coming and I suggest you come in bus loads as parking is limited and expensive.
Things should be finalized about the pheasant program by that date but we need to show that sportsmen are fed up with mismanagement of our funds and resources. we also need to show that we do not want any of the anti gun legislation that is pending and other being introduced daily.
If your county or organization supports a pheasant stamp I will need a letter that I can make copies of and take to Legislators for their support on this issue. Send your letters and faxes to the Governor letting him know how upset you are about the lack of cooperation that sportsmen have received from his staff, and that we will not tolerate the theft of our funds and resources.
Governor David Peterson’s fax number: 518-474-1513
Remember that no matter what happens we are not stopping this fight, and I will continue to spread the word about any changes
Here is a my testimony to the joint Senate / Assembly Encon budget committees on Tuesday January 13th Thank you. Harold L. Palmer President New York State Conservation Council, Inc.
Testimony of the New York State Conservation Council, Inc.
Presented by President Harold Palmer Before the Environmental Conservation Committee Hearing On the Implementation of the 2009 Environmental Conservation Budget January 13, 2009 Good morning, Chairman, Members of the Environmental Conservation Committee, and Staff. I am pleased to present testimony relating to Governor Paterson’s proposed 2009-2010 State Budget and the closing of the Reynolds Game Farm (the Pheasant Farm) and pheasant stocking program of the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), and its impact upon significant operational and capital programs that relate to fish and wildlife management.
The funds for the Pheasant Farm and raising of the pheasants come from the Conservation Fund. The Conservation Fund receives the majority of its money from the license fees that sportsmen pay to hunt, fish and trap in New York State. The Governor's office never consulted with sportsmen or the members of the Conservation Fund Advisory Board (CFAB) before making his decision to close the Pheasant Farm. By law, the CFAB oversees the use and spending of the Conservation Fund monies; this did not happen. DEC has offered the 9,000-plus pheasants to game bird breeders free of charge, and plans to send the remainder to be slaughtered and given to food banks. Giving them to food banks is not a bad idea, but who is paying for the processing? I have not received a reply to this question from the Governor's office. Also, since sportsmen paid for these birds, the pheasants should not be disposed of until an agreement can be worked out between the State, CFAB, and sportsmen. The spending of sportsmen's dollars in the Conservation Fund has not been accounted for. I asked Judith Enck for a breakdown of where our money was spent. She did not have one; DEC Commissioner Grannis does not receive one, and the CFAB does not receive one. The only report available is a pie chart, which can be found in the CFAB report. If no one knows what the money is spent on, how can anyone say the Conservation Fund is in the red? The closing of the Pheasant Farm and the pheasant program in New York State will ultimately cost millions of dollars in lost revenue for the Conservation Fund, as well as the local economies all over the state and the General Fund.
I would like to share with you a couple of economic facts about the pheasant program. According to NYS DEC’s 2006 small game hunter survey, pheasant hunting was one of the most popular small game hunting activities in the New York. The survey indicates that 60,000 hunters harvested 130,000 pheasants. Figuring dollars that the Conservation Fund takes in from 60,000 resident and non-resident pheasant hunters, who spend $16 and $55 for hunting licenses, respectively, adds up to approximately $1 million. Counting all hunters who buy a hunting license that would allow them the opportunity to hunt pheasants totals over $22 million that goes into the Conservation Fund each year. These figures include everyone who buys a Small Game, Sportsman and Super Sportsman License, and come from the 2007/08 Conservation Fund Advisory Board (CFAB) report. According to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USF&W) report from 2006, small game hunters spend over $600 each, per year, related to hunting small game. Most pheasant hunters spend more than that because of additional costs involved in raising dogs to hunt with. Figuring just the $600 per hunter, for 60,000 pheasant hunters, pheasant hunting adds $36 million to the local economies across New York State. That’s $36 million that will be lost. This lost revenue would have contributed almost $3 million to the General Fund and county governments from sales taxes on these expenses.
I understand that the State will be selling the Reynolds Game Farm, possibly to Cornell, and the money will be put into the General Fund, not the Conservation Fund. If the farm was purchased with money from the Conservation Fund, any money realized from its sale should be returned to the Conservation Fund.
Pheasants are the only visual return hunters see for their license fee money. Now, with the State closing the Pheasant Farm, they will see nothing in return. There are approximately 100,000 acres open across the state for pheasant stocking and hunting; these lands could now be closed to hunting and other activities. Proposals:
1-Keep the pheasant program running as is and institute a pheasant stamp, with the money going into a dedicated account to raise or purchase pheasants and stock them on lands open to hunting; and continue the day-old pheasant program for 4-H youth and others. For example, 60,000 stamps @ $10 would equal $600,000.
2-Spend Conservation Fund dollars only on game, game birds and fish that one can take when in possession of a hunting, fishing or trapping license. While we believe that it is important to improve and protect wetlands, and non-game and non-game bird species, our license fee money should not be spent on them if it means we are having our programs abolished or cut. All Conservation Fund expenses should go through CFAB (as was intended by legislation) for approval before our dollars are spent.
3- The proposed $10 Trout and Salmon Stamp: We oppose this unless the money goes into a dedicated account for raising and stocking trout and salmon. After the Pheasant Farm closing, we no longer trust the Governor’s office and Budget to keep the fish hatcheries open. The wording for the proposed stamp needs to be changed so that anglers who fish for bass, panfish or any other fish that are not trout or salmon are not required to have the stamp. The stamp should only be required by someone fishing for and in possession of trout or salmon. We would prefer that a license fee increase be implemented this year instead of a trout stamp.
4-Instead of a trout/salmon stamp, institute a license fee increase of $10 for each of these resident licenses: fishing, small and big game, trapping, sportsman, super sportsman, and hunting. Increase non-resident fishing, hunting, trapping and super sportsman licenses by $20. This will bring in over $10 million.
5-$19 Marine recreational fishing license: We are opposed to the way this is written. In the Governor’s proposed budget, this money would all go into the Conservation Fund. We believe this is wrong, as the majority of those buying this license live in the marine district, and as such they should have some benefit from the money generated from the license. We feel that $6 from each license should go into the Conservation Fund, and the remainder should go into the marine account. There should also be a combo license for fresh and salt water at $10 more than the regular fishing license, which is $19. Create a Marine Super Sportsmen’s License at $10 dollars more than the current Super Sportsmen’s License. Count all who buy a combo license as saltwater anglers for the federal registry. The way this is currently proposed, an angler who fishes fresh water and the Hudson River from the Troy Dam downstream, including all waters of Long Island, would pay a total of $38 per year for two separate licenses to fish.
6- Increase the minimum fines for fishing and hunting without a license to three times the cost of the license, and make it so they can pay the minimum to the officer by credit card at the time of citation, or by sending the money to DEC; if they want to go to court, add surcharges that would go to both the court and the Conservation Fund.
7- The Bottle Bill: we have supported this in the past with the inclusion of non-carbonated beverage bottles. We are prepared to take a stronger stand in support of the bottle bill, if the non-refunded deposit money goes into the EPF and 2% of this money each year goes to capital improvements on the fish hatcheries and boat launches.
8- For this budget year, keep enough money in capital spending to cover any repairs needed on the fish hatcheries to keep them operational until bottle bill money comes in, or until the economy recovers.
We strongly believe that the Conservation Fund can be made solvent with proper management of where our money is spent and a reasonable increase in all license fees. We do not see a need for the Trout and Salmon Stamp. I would like you to note that I am available, along with the other officers of the New York State Conservation Council, to assist with issues regarding the Conservation Fund and the sportsmen/women of New York State. Thank you for your time and consideration of these comments. Contact: Harold L. Palmer, President New York State Conservation Council, Inc.
|
|
|
Post by xbr on Jan 16, 2009 21:49:50 GMT -5
Great! I'm glad to see the conservation council take a strong position for sportsman. I don't necessarily agree with everything they say. It's just good to see them taking a position for sportsman instead of their old ways. Congradulations, we are making progress, at least among our own ranks.
|
|
|
Post by tughillmcd on Jan 17, 2009 0:06:16 GMT -5
CANY and the NYSRPA were instrumental in stopping the closure of the Reynolds Game Farm by filing for an injunction in State Supreme Court Friday morning January 16th prior to the Governors announcement of his change of heart on this issue. Here is a statement from Gene Molyneaux, CANY President. If you wish to read the CANY Press Release and the injunction they can be found at canyus.org
|
|
|
Post by Itrapny on Jan 17, 2009 7:09:06 GMT -5
More & more information coming in that Sportsmen & women when efforts are combined and unified can get action. Thank you to all involved and lets support theses orgranization in any way we can....Wayne
|
|
|
Post by herm on Jan 17, 2009 8:03:11 GMT -5
I still find no answer to my question.
|
|
|
Post by tughillmcd on Jan 17, 2009 8:49:44 GMT -5
A pheasant stamp is a concept at this time and no details have been discussed. If the DEC claims the Conservation fund is running in the red but is unwilling to open the books to CFAB and the sportsmen, should we even discuss a stamp or any increases.
Should we be endorsing starting a stamp program in the first place? If so when will we have a stamp for rabbits, and squirrels, or raccoons, fox, coyotes. If we get them it will partly be our doing.
The purpose of a pheasant stamp is to create a dedicated fund for the pheasant program only. Well if the DEC refuses to show accountability for the conservation fund in general why would we believe they will be anymore forthcoming with how the dedicated fund will be spent.
We need to do something but we should not be offering solutions with out knowing the true severity of the problem. They will take our desire to do the right thing and run with it when the sky may not really be falling.
|
|