Commentary

A local religious leader, when asked how he was doing commented, “I am stressed and blessed.”  After some reflection, I realized that was an excellent summary of how I felt in June, 2020.

Like you and people all over the world, I have been totally preoccupied by Covid-19 and its ramifications.  Having lost a relative to the virus in late March, I have been extremely vigilant 24/7.  Translated as stressed.

During the month of May, I spent many days during turkey season isolated in the outdoors, socially distanced and wearing a mask, albeit a mesh face covering, not an N-95.  As Mother Nature pursued her springtime rituals, I was very content and relaxed to be a participant and observer of the unfolding annual wonders taking place.  Translated as blessed.

On January 28, 2020, I attended the New York Sportsmen’s Advisory Council’s Legislative Caucus at the State Capital in Albany.  We interacted with a group of Senate and Assembly members in an easy flowing and friendly gathering.  We were able to discuss the Council’s two policy priorities; 1.  Encouraging Youth Participation in Hunting and, 2.  Expanding Access to Crossbow Use Afield.

New York’s hunting population is rapidly aging.  If new hunters aren’t proactively recruited, conservation funding for DEC and the time-honored tradition will be seriously threatened.  New York is the only state that requires new hunters to reach age 14 before being able to hunt game with a firearm.  A significant number of youth and adults are leaving New York to pursue big game in adjoining states.

Hunting is a wonderful opportunity for parents to introduce their children to nature, conservation and responsible wildlife management.  It also teaches respect for the law, ethical behavior and proper firearms handling and safety.

Expanding access to crossbow use afield by classifying the crossbow as archery equipment and requiring a bow hunting privilege to be used in any season is an excellent opportunity to implement the 3Rs – Recruit, Retain and Reactivate hunters.

Preliminary figures indicate there were more youth and adult license sales this year for the Spring season.  Expanding access to crossbow use would stimulate a similar demand during the Fall season. 

Youth mentoring would motivate inactive hunters to return to the sport and share their knowledge with the novice hunters.  Being able to go afield in nice autumn weather would be an incentive for reactivating former sportspeople.

Cornell University’s Deer Hunter Survey for DEC found a majority of New York deer hunters (including a majority of bow hunters and numerous bow hunting instructors) support legalization of crossbows.  DEC is in favor of such legislation. The federal government defines the crossbow as a “bow” and the Internal Revenue Service designates crossbows, accessories attached to them and their arrows as archery equipment subject to the archery excise tax.

Infectious disease experts are saying COVID-19 will continue to be a serious major threat in the Fall.  Translate as stressed.

If these two reasonable policy priorities were to become law, it will be a benefit to sportspeople of all ages and it will provide an economic benefit to New York businesses by increasing sales, promoting tourism related spending and attracting non-residents to New York.  An obvious bonus for New York would be increased license sales and tax revenues.  For me, who is long of tooth, it will encourage me to bow hunt all season, socially distanced and masked.  Translate as blessed.

If you are in agreement with the two policy priorities, it is imperative you contact state legislators and the governor as adamantly and quickly as possible as they are stressed and blessed, also.