This week's episode of We Love Outdoors with Rich Davenport brings some important updates to the outdoors community, including the changes made recently in Hunting regulations in NY, although we are still waiting on the latest round of big game regulations and comment evaluation before hearing what the fate of those proposals are. We are still waiting for Erie County and Rockland County to pass their local laws to lower the hunting age for deer with firearms to age 12. All other eligible counties have passed their local laws. Get ready to write folks, as the session in Erie County will resume after Labor Day. It is critically important that everyone participate in today's political climate.
Sporting licenses are on sale, and DMP lottery is in full swing. September 1 opens squirrel season in NY, as well as the nuisance resident Canada Goose season across most of the state. You can purchase an electronic waterfowl stamp and display on your smart phone and that is considered valid, just like the fishing licenses. The 2021 fishing season has been productive indeed, with a new freshwater record breaking bowfin caught in Monroe County, while 3 marine fish records were also set. Congratulations to the lucky anglers.
An historic milestone was reached in Lake Erie fisheries restoration with the discovery of lake trout fry, indicating successful natural reproduction, not seen by lake trout in Lake Erie for the past 60 years!
While great news continues for the Great Lakes and their continued rebound from industrialization of the past, more folly out in the Atlantic Ocean moves forward with the proposed sale of wind factory acreage for lease within the nearly 800,000 acres of wind energy areas of the NY Bight, a highly productive and important area of the Atlantic for commercial fishing, and whale migration. Interestingly, slow zones are in place near this sensitive area for migrating right whales and others recently spotted off Nantucket and moving south. Infrasound is deadly to these whales, yet we want to install infrasound generators right in the migratory path. Brilliant.
Despite this, the NY GOP is attempting to deliver transparency to NYers demanding a full cost-benefit study be conducted on this Climate Change arbitrary law, especially in light of the proposed tax increase on gasoline and heating oil of $0.55/ gallon. Not a smart move but a typical Democrat tyrannical effort to further erode liberty in New York State. This initiative, found in bills S.7321 and A.7524 would call for the re-evaluation of this misguided and arbitrary law, and now that Handsy Andy becomes former governor starting tomorrow, who knows, perhaps incoming governor Hochul will use her intellect instead of blind devotion to a failed ideology, serving the people, instead of her party. We won't hold our breath, but will keep some optimism until she proves through her actions to be as big a shill as Cuomo was.
