In this week's edition of We Love Outdoors with Rich Davenport, your humble host explores the regulatory proposals published in the NYS Register in support of the Deer Management Plan. Comment period on these regulatory proposals ends August 8, 2021. Also discussed are the newly proposed regulatory changes for Fisher and Pine Marten trapping, regulations whose public comment period ends 8/16. Our government is based upon citizen participation, and joining a federation conservation club, attending meetings, getting informed and get involved - write letters, send emails, speak with your elected representatives in support or opposition on issues that impact the wildlife, fisheries and our conservation traditions.
Rich Davenport also explores the pending regulations concerning allowable activities on WMAs, F&WMAs, and some MUAs and UAs in NY. Conflicting activities are ongoing on these lands, which is concerning as WMAs and such are to offer wildlife a haven free from human disturbance and harrying when hunting and trapping seasons are closed. This includes reinforcing the leash laws, as dogs cannot be off leash unless engaged in hunting during an open season, or undergoing hunting training in designated areas. You're just walking Fido? ON A LEASH! Your humble host also provides you with updates to the youth hunting law progress, as well as some details from the June 2021 Erie County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs meeting, as the lifting of the covid covid covid rules has brought the lifting of capacity limits, social distancing rules, and the need to pre-register for any event. Short notice to influence the Teach Me To Fish events, but National Hunting and Fishing Day will be full bore this year. Erie County Fair has also announced tickets will no longer be valid on specific days, tickets purchased in advance are good any day of the fair.
Alternative energy is once again in the spotlight, as residents of Chautauqua County voice their concerns and opposition to the proposed Ripley to Barcelona industrial solar array project, opposition to expanded wind factory facilities and wind turbines in Lake Erie. Meanwhile, major hypocrisy was exposed in Buffalo Rising in an article concerning outer and inner harbor development and the lawsuit filed against the Erie County Harbor Development Corporation and their general project plans, using some of the identical environmental concerns as are held in opposition to wind turbines in freshwater. Perhaps Sierra Club and the other hypocrites are now seeing the light and stand to protect lake Erie vs. destroy her? We shall see.
Finally, if you think NY is goofy, check out Arizona and their recent actions to ban use of trail cameras for scouting for the hunt. Eyes wide open, folks, as these things have a funny way of moving from west to east!
