Seneca County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, Inc.
February 19, 2008

General Meeting

Kuneytown Sportsmen’s Club

14 Members representing 9 Clubs
2 Guests

Seneca County Sheriff’s Department - Under Sheriff Wayne Brewer

DEC Wildlife Biologist Jim Eckler

Meeting called to order at 7:30 pm by President Tom Mitchell Jr.  Pledge allegiance to the flag opened the meeting.

Minutes:
Minutes reviewed.  Corrections – Old Business:
NYSCC meeting was not a Legislative meeting. It was a Game Dinner put on by the NYSCC as an Environmental Conservation Event.
Motion made to accept minutes after corrections. Motion carried.

Treasurer:
Treasurer John Andrews is on vacation.  No report given.

Guest:  Seneca County Under Sheriff Wayne Brewer:
Wayne Brewer has been a life long resident of Seneca County and a friend to the federation for many years.  He extended a tour of the facility if anyone would like one.   He stated he appreciates what the Federation does and reminded us that Seneca County Federation was the 1st County to open legislation that helped to get road kill deer off the highways.  He is still an Avid Hunter and Fisherman, but does not get out as much as he would like.  He would like to get a class started for snowmobiles.  Sheriff’s Department looking in to getting a Jet Ski for the north end of the Seneca Lake and patrol as they tend to get a lot of jet skis them there.
Informed us that the Enforcement Center is undergoing its last inspections and after that they can start housing inmates from other counties.  If you need to contact the department there number is: 315-220-3400.
The 911 Center is there own entity now.  They can take calls from any where in the area.

   Jim Williamson from South Seneca asked about 4 wheelers riding on the road and how would they go about letting them do that on the back roads?  That would have to come from individual townships.  The drivers have to be licensed or be accompanied by an adult, just like driving a car, and they must have insurance. 
Noted that if they could, that would save the fields they cut across in the winter.

Jim Eckler – DEC Wildlife Biologist:
DEC Wildlife Biologist works out of Region 8 in Avon and works out of Montezuma Wildlife Refuse.  He works under Mike Wasilco – Head Biologist in Avon.
Jim discussed Northern Montezuma: Funding for bridge for Howeland Island.  Grant money has been secured 350 acres march in Savannah.  All State Land is open for hunting. 

Canoga Marsh: They have placed Wood Duck Boxes in the marsh and they are noticing Black Terns returning.
Seneca Army Depot: Updating Wetlands, this has nothing to do with the recent applications for use. 
Citizen Task Force: Watch the paper and DEC website for Waterfowl Season. It will have an Impact on setting new Waterfowl Season.  Jim is the contact for new regulations for farm damage crops to Geese.  If you call DEC you can talk directly to Jim.
Waterfowl wing clipping: Hunters still sending wings in to the Federal addresses.  That is a good thing.  All clippings are looked at by Federal Waterfowl Experts.  They get to sit around a table, look at the clippings and can tell what birds they came from and from their ages, etc.
Turkey Study:  Turkeys have getting banned around the state.  They use Rocket Net Capture that is safer for capture.
Deer Harvest:  Numbers are not yet available for overall deer take.  It does look like the harvest has increased, which is good for deer numbers with the overall easy winter they had last year.
Black Bears:  Be smart about living with Black Bears.  They are expanding their ranges and the harvest will have to be expanded as well according to the Bath Office.

Thanks Jim. 

Correspondences:
MacDougall Sportsmen’s Club sent in letter from a camper that attended DEC Camp and our looking for reimbursement.  Motion made to reimburse MacDougall.  Motion carried.

     Gary Chave spoke about Bowhunting and how the Southern Zone has been shortened.  Saturday open has 35 Days. NYS Bowhunters are not happy over the shortened season.   DEC Jim Eckler – Formula works out to losing 7 Days and NYS Bowhunters are doing their own campaign.  The other alternative is opening day would be in the beginning of October.

Committee Reports:

Banquet Committee:
We do not have an Emcee yet for the banquet.  Under Sheriff Wayne Brewer asked if he would be our Emcee again this year and he accepted.  Thanks You.

     The Banquet Committee will honor at this years banquet: Jack Lowery.  Jack has been a long time member of the Barge Canal Bassmasters and the Federation. For many years Jack has made Custom Fishing Rod for our banquets.  His dedication to the Fishing Lending Program has added to successful program by putting Fishing Poles in our Libraries and having students and adults enjoy fishing and the outdoors. 

      Dinner Tickets are available for this year’s banquet.  Menu:  Prime Rib, Baked Potato, Vegetable, Tossed Salad, Roll & Butter, Dessert.  Tickets: $20.00.  Banquet will include: Gun Raffles, Chinese Auction Raffles, Special Drawings, etc.  President Tom Mitchell Jr., would like to see more hunting, fishing and outdoor items for the raffles.  Banquet will be April 17th at the South Seneca Sportsmen’s Club 6894 Yarnell Rd. Ovid, NY 14521.

Old Business:

NYSCC:
     Gary Chave told us about the NYSCC event A Taste of Wild New York.  Legislative Committee members of the Environmental Conservation Committee were invited to the event.
They tasted a variety of Rabbit Stew, Rabbit Cacciatore, Venison Stew, Venison Sausage, Pheasant Sausage, Venison Chili, Venison Stroganoff, Smoked Goose Breast,

Smoked Duck Breast, Lemon Pepper Trout, Smoked Trout, Perch served as Poor Man’s Shrimp and a variety of local cheeses.  I went to the Cowlick Creamery, just outside to Lodi on 414.  They generously donated a 1/2 block of cheese.  I was great.  If you get the chance, stop in for a taste.

     NYSCC Spring Legislative Meeting is coming up in Sunday March 9, 10, & 11.  We will be discussing Resolutions, Legislative Committee, DEC Updates, Coyote Study w/ Radio Collars and Conservation Programs.  Motion made to send Gary Chave and Barb Wells to the meeting. Motion carried.   

     They have renamed the Sportsmen’s March on Albany to the Sportsmen’s Legislative Rendezvous.   We will meet with our legislators and tell them of our concerns. We want the Junior Hunters to be able to hunt Big Game.  New York is the only state that does not allow 14 and 15 year old junior hunters to pursue big game.  The northeast states adjacent to NY have lower minimum ages including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine.  Vermont has no minimum age to hunt or to take the hunter education class.   Young hunters are already allowed to hunt big game with archery equipment starting at 14 and small game with a firearm at 12.  Until 16 years of age, a junior hunter must be supervised by a licensed parent or guardian.  These junior hunters 12 – 16 years of age are allowed to use the same guns – 12 ga and 20 ga to hunt wood chucks and coyotes, the same as they would hunt big game.

     We would like to point out how important it is to get our youth involved in hunting, fishing and trapping and lower the age for our junior hunters to hunt Big Game.  We are losing Big Game Hunters to old age and other reasons faster that we can recruit new ones.  Without recruiting new hunters, trappers and anglers to control fish and wildlife, we will not have enough sportsmen and sportswomen left who could carry on the burden of higher license fees; due to age or be physically able to carry game out of the woods.   In the future, 5 – 10 years from now, when there are limited hunters, trappers and anglers, it will only take a couple of years for populations (especially deer) to increase to the point that farmers would have their crops destroyed, woodland owners would have no generation of trees, landscape shrubbery would be destroyed, roads will become an obstacle course for motorists trying to miss live wildlife or carcasses in the road way.  Over-Populations of fish would result in some species becoming stunted and other wiped out.  Animal – over populations would be controlled by starvation, hired sharpshooters, automobiles, or disease which could spread to farm animals, pets and humans.

     While it is DEC that decides what the populations of fish and wildlife should be to balance the carrying capacity throughout the state, it is sportsmen and sportswomen who work to accomplish those goals.  Sportsmen and Sportswomen have been the eyes for DEC biologists for many years, finding over and under populations, die-offs, and invasive species in our waterways and chemical spills in our lakes.  Because sportsmen consume fish and wildlife, DEC biologists test to see how much pollutants the state’s fish and wildlife have in their bodies. They look for ways to reduce these harmful chemicals, so the food can be safely consumed.  Who would care if a new fish or other invasive species showed up in our lakes or Great Lakes, or that some disease was killing our deer, turkeys or other game.  Sportsmen and sportswomen actually pay to control the state’s wildlife. 

   This is what the NYS Conservation Council is all about.  Watching out for the hunters, fishermen and trappers and keeping the federation members informed about what goes on in NY State.

New Business:
Ron Enslow spoke about the wet lands and why they are important.  Wet lands are important as they act as filters and are an excellent source of fresh water.   He also would like the Federation to write a letter to the DEC in favor of the wetlands expansion on the depot and outlying areas.  Motion made to write the letter. Motion carried.  Gary Chave asked Ron to draft a letter and Ron agreed to do that.  Motion made to send letter will be sent to S.C. Board of Supervisors, Senator Nozzolio, Assemblyman Kolb and FL Times. Motion carried.

DEC Camps:
Discussion on the number of youth going to DEC Camps this past year.  Discussed that there is nothing in the By-Laws that states the number of youth we should sponsor.  Bill Dadson again suggested that each child should send a copy of his/her certificate with a letter about what camp they attended.  Motion made that each club can only send 2 youths from each club to camp and that youth has to have ties to the membership.  Discussion:  Then the Federation will reimburse that club $125.00 for each camper sent.  Noted that there should be a Policy Section in the By-Laws and that Policy expires on Dec. 31 of every year. ‘There for be it resolved, there be a set policy to send 2 youths to DEC Camp from every club and to reimburse said clubs, $125.00 per child, represented by a sponsoring member of said club, and up to 10 youths may attend DEC Camps. Motion carried.

Meeting Times:
President Tom Mitchell Jr., asked the membership if they had an objection to starting the meetings at 7 pm.   Due to the lateness that some of the meetings have been running.  Motion made to start the meetings at 7 pm.  Motion carried.

Adjournment:
Motion made to adjourn meeting. Motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

Barbara Wells
Secretary
Seneca County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, Inc.