The updated document of NYSCC positions is attached.
This is an updated list of positions of the NYS Conservation Council, Inc., the majority of which were established through the resolution procedure of the NYSCC at its annual meeting each year.
NYSCC Positions
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ACCESS
1. Support efforts to allow disabled sportspeople access to now inaccessible outdoor areas.
2. Oppose “Quiet Waters” program that would set aside bodies of water in the Adirondacks for canoeing only. (08)
ACID RAIN
1. Support efforts to protect resources, both natural and manmade, from the effects of acid rain.
ALTERNATIVE DEER HARVEST STRATEGY
Oppose the implementation of mandatory antler restrictions in Delaware County’s Wildlife Management Units 4O and 4P. (10)
Archery
1. Pursue/support a DEC big game regulation change that would annually open the Southern Zone early archery-only season on October 1st, ending on the Friday before the opening of the big game firearms season on the 3rd Saturday in November. (09)
2. Support a change in the law/regulation to lower the discharge minimum distance for archery equipment to 250 ft. of a dwelling. (09)
ATV Weight Classification
Support that the NYDEC and State legislature amend the current NYSVTL to increase the defined weight of an ATV from 1000 Lbs to 1500 Lbs dry weight, creating a Class I and Class II system for ATV weight limits. (09)
BACK TAGS
1. Support elimination of DEC regulations that require displaying of back tags in any part of NYS. (05)
2. Seek legislation that would remove the need to wear a back tag while hunting in the Southern Zone and also increase the fines for hunting or fishing without a license. (07)
BALLAST WATER DISCHARGE
Pursue sponsorship of legislation regulating the discharge of contaminated ballast water from commercial shipping, including both oceangoing vessels and those operating in interstate waters within the Great Lakes States. Legislation should be modeled after the initial ballast water permit program established in the State of Michigan. (07)
BASS
Support the statewide bass season opening on the third Saturday in June through November 30th. (05)
Bears
Support that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation seek any amendment to change Fish & Wildlife Law subdivision 2 of Section 11-0523 to: Any bear killing or worrying livestock on land occupied or cultivated, or destroying an apiary thereon must be reported to the D.E.C. for their recommended deterrents or the animals be trapped and/or destroyed by the D.E.C. as they feel necessary to resolve the problem. (Sound bear management practices.) (10)
BOAT LAUNCH FEES
Support no fee charged for boat launch site areas to persons with a valid NYS fishing license. (06)
BOBCATS
Support regulation change to expand the areas for hunting and trapping of bobcats.
BOWHUNTING
Support 12- to 14-year-old hunters to purchase a youth archery license.
CONSERVATION OFFICERS/FOREST RANGERS
Support continual review for enhancing and increasing numbers of ECO’s and Forest Rangers.
CROSSBOW
1. Support the crossbow as a legal hunting implement in NY, relaying this information to various sources.
2. Support the enactment of a regulation or law to allow seniors or physically challenged hunters to hunt with a crossbow during the regular archery season. (10)
DEC STAFFING
Support the need for the NYSDEC Division of Fish, Wildlife & Marine Resources to have at least 430 full-time personnel to maintain programs necessary to protect fish, wildlife and marine resources in NYS.
DEER FEEDING
Support the NYSDEC having control for deer feeding regulations during the open deer season.
DOGS
1. Working Defined: Support legislation that amends ECL Section 11-0923 1(b) to say that a dog is not "at large" if it is involved in an act of hunting game or training on game as permitted by the ECL or DEC regulations.
2. Dog Collar Removal: Support the introduction of legislation that would make it illegal for anyone except the owner or authorized person to remove any collar from a dog. (09)
DRUG USE ON WILDLIFE
Oppose administration of any drug, vaccine, compound or chemical agent to any free-ranging or semi-free-ranging wildlife unless the same has been approved for use on these species through the USFDA.
FIREARMS
1. Support legislation that rescinds all sections of the NYS Penal Law relating to “assault weapons” and “large capacity ammunition feeding devices.” (05)
2. Support legislation to repeal sections of law associated with ballistic fingerprinting. (05)
3. Pursue sponsorship of legislation to amend Section 400.00 of the NYS Penal Law to provide for “shall issue” standards to be applicable to resident pistol license applicants in NYS. (07)
FISHING - SPECIES / REGULATIONS
1. Support legislation that removes fishing license exemption from waters of the Hudson River from Troy Barrier Dam to Tappan Zee Bridge.
2. Support legislation to ban the sale of all fish caught by recreational anglers; bait fish exempt. (06)
3. Support that the NY State Conservation Council work with the NYS DEC to immediately create a buffer zone to use and transport live bait in an area from Interstate 90 and Interstate 190 West to Lake Erie and the Niagara River and from Niagara Falls to the Pennsylvania State Line and all of Grand Island, NY. The bait must ONLY be used on Lake Erie and the Niagara River. Support that Lake Erie bait dealers once again be allowed to collect and sell uncertified bait for use ONLY on Lake Erie and the Niagara River within the defined zone by permit only. (09)
FISH HATCHERIES
Support Governor and State Legislature dedicating no less than $22 million from the State General Fund for the necessary updates and repairs on state fish hatcheries. (05)
GAS & OIL DRILLING
Support review of oil and gas drilling revenues between CFAB and DEC for the goal of dedicating some percentage of these revenues to habitat and access, such funds to be deposited annually in a designated and dedicated fund within the Conservation Fund. (04)
GENERAL OPERATIONS
1. All resolutions approved in 2003 will be active until the close of the 2006 legislative session. Similar resolutions will not be considered until that time. A similar schedule will be followed in later years. At a full meeting of the whole, a vote can be taken to extend a position on the even years, in the event the issues addressed by the approved resolutions have seen no action.
2. Recognize the un-organized sportsman as a potential customer/member of the Council.
HABITAT / ACCESS
1. Support a minimum of 30% and a maximum of 50% of revenue derived from sales of Habitat/Access Stamps be dedicated to a one-time payment to landowners who allow public access. The amount of these payments is to be determined by DEC and FWMB based on certain criteria. (05)
2. Support legislation that will require that purchase of a New York Habitat/Access Stamp is a mandatory pre-condition to purchase of any hunting, fishing or trapping license by non-residents. (04)
HUNTER APPRENTICE
Support NYS DEC adequately funding the Hunter Apprentice Program throughout NYS. (05)
HUNTER SAFETY / COURSE / INSTRUCTORS
1. Support DEC being given the authority to impose a fine, imprisonment, and revocation of hunting privileges of any instructor convicted of any offense relating to the improper issuance of certificates of qualification.
2. Support the introduction and promote the passage of legislation that would make instruction of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's Hunter Education Course mandatory in New York State's public schools when ten or more students request the course during the school year. (10)
LAND CLAIMS
Support the protection of any natural resources located in public lands under dispute.
Moose
Support introduction and encourage passage of legislation to list moose as a game animal in New York State. Also support a New York State Moose Lottery, where all funds are to be earmarked and go toward wildlife conservation. (09)
MOURNING DOVE
Support and seek legislation to establish a mourning dove hunting season in New York State. (10)
MUZZLELOADER
Support legislation for the creation of a junior muzzleloader license. (05)
PHEASANTS
1. Support doubling number of adult pheasants stocked annually in NYS from 25,000 to 50,000. (05)
2. Terminate the Young Pheasant Release Program and instead raise the 15,000 eight-week old birds to 18 weeks for release as adults. (05)
3. Support NYS DEC reviewing the cost for its pheasant program with the goal of reducing the cost per bird to a level that reflects those of New York’s neighboring states. (05)
Public Comment
Support better compliance by the DEC with public comment periods as the NYSDEC submits rule/regulation changes that deal with hunting, fishing and trapping to the New York State Register and consider a public comment period as required by law. (10)
Rifle Hunting
Support the pursuit of legislation/regulatory changes to allow the use of rifle in Wyoming County during the big game season. (10)
SMART GROWTH
Support efforts of the smart growth project as long as habitat is maintained.
SNOWMOBILES
Support an amendment to Chapter 609 of the Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Law to establish standards and fees for non-trail use snowmobile registrations. (07)
SPORTSPERSON BILL OF RIGHTS
Support legislation and any constitutional amendment that guarantees the heritage of hunting, fishing, trapping as a right of every law-abiding citizen of the State of NY.
TRAPPING
1. Support legislation to amend portion of law dealing with trapper’s name and address having to appear on trap, this to be replaced with a number assigned to that trapper. The number then would accessible through computer with the NYSDEC.
2. Oppose the federal ban on leghold traps on federal lands.
3. Oppose any town permitting a charge for anyone trapping in a township in addition to the charges for a trapping license.
4. Support requiring trappers to check water sets and remove furbearers at least once each 48 hours; maintain the current definition of water set. (08)
VENISON DONATION
Support request for funding for the Venison Donation Program from the General Fund and not the Conservation Fund.
WATERFOWL
1. Support legislation, regulations, and rules that prohibit, without a permit, the dispensing, disposing, placing, exposing and distribution of any salts, grains, or other feed grown off-site that may serve as an attractant to waterfowl. (05)
2. Support a management plan for the cormorant both in New York State and on a Federal level.
WATERWAY / WATERWAY MANAGEMENT
Support management plans toward elimination of invasive species that affect the waterways of New York.
WOLF
Oppose the introduction of wolves in New York State.
YOUTH
1. Support a minor 12 to 13 years of age to pursue big game with a firearm if accompanied by parent or guardian or a legally licensed adult over the age of 21 AND whom a parent or legal guardian designates in writing. (04)
2. Only one firearm may be possessed by either the youth or adult, and youth must be within easy reach of the licensed adult. The youth must possess a license/permit and must report any game taken if required by law. This license fee shall not exceed $5.00. The youth shall not be required to pass a hunter safety course until he/she is 12 years old as he/she is under immediate supervision of an experienced hunter who has successfully taken the course. (07)
3. Pursue sponsorship of legislation to lower the age to handle firearms in the field with guidelines; and support legislation to allow for the “Families Afield” youth mentoring program in NYS at any age with proper guidelines. (07)
4. Support and seek to amend Penal Law 265 to allow youth to handle firearms with parental or adult supervision (with parental approval) from age 8 and above. (09)
5. Support any and all legislation that attempts to amend current environmental law to allow the DEC to have the authority to provide for a youth big game hunting weekend opportunity in Suffolk County. (10)
6. Support any and all legislation that attempts to amend current environmental law to allow the DEC to provide for a youth hunting opportunity on pheasants in Suffolk County. (10)
Sincerely,
Glen Adams
14 Washington St,
Le Roy, NY 14482
585-768-6278
e-mail madams8@rochester.rr.com
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