New York Airguns and Big Game

[Backyard Airgunner]

Back in 2015 the NYSDEC attempted to allow big bore airguns to be used to take big game.  For whatever reason this never came to be.  Its been a few years and they have never attempted to bring this up again.  I’ve emailed the DEC a few times over the years asking about this but have yet to receive any kind of reply. 

The NYSDEC’s website states “DEC may advise the Governor and Legislature regarding possible law changes, but DEC does not have the authority to make changes to the ECL(Environmental Conservation Law). To provide input on any hunting laws that exist in the ECL, contact your local member of the NYS Senate or Assembly.”

So I am asking NY airgunners who would like to take big game with their airguns to please reach out your to local senator and assembly member, send them an email asking to allow big bore airguns to be used to take big game in NYS.

Here are the links to search for your local assembly member and senator.
NYS Assembly Search - http://nyassembly.gov/mem/search/
NYS Senator Search - https://www.nysenate.gov/find-my-senator

[longislandhunter]

I will be more than happy to comply

I've been waiting too for some action on this as, like you said, the DEC did post that they were  going to look into it. 

Jeff

[only1harry]

I have already talked to my assemblyman and senator about big game hunting with big bore airguns. 
That was in 2016 I believe.  I will reach out to them again.

Glad to see you back Jeremy.  I remember you posting Groundhog kills last summer but I don't think I have seen you much on the GTA since.

Harry

[Backyard Airgunner]

Yea I'm back now.  Ended the year with 11 wood chucks including an albino that I ended up selling to a taxidermist.

I plan on writing to my assemblyman and senator every 6 months.  I really want to be able to use big bores on big game in NY.

[YEMX]

I've written the same thing on another post, but if you and your fellow NY airgun hunters have any say in what goes into the law, DO NOT allow BOTH a caliber and fpe restriction.  Have one or the other, and be sure to check it.  A .357 Texan has been proven to take deer just fine.  Maryland has a minimum .40 cal AND minimum fpe of 400 fpe for deer.  It basically kills deer hunting with airguns in Md, w/o spending a big chunk of change on buying/tuning a big bore.  I can't just buy a Sumatra (or whatever they're calling themselves) and go hunting.  I can't even do it w/a .45 cal Texan.  Not w/o spending more money on upping the power.  I'm going to try to figure out a way to maybe have the law changed, but as of right now, deer hunting w/air is a no-go. 

The reason hunting w/air is good, is because Md is mostly a shotgun state.  But the current law allows airguns to be used in shotgun restricted counties.  Which would be great, but there's those restrictions that basically kill it.  Do yourselves a favor, and don't let this happen to your state!

[only1harry]

Yea I'm back now.  Ended the year with 11 wood chucks including an albino that I ended up selling to a taxidermist.

I plan on writing to my assemblyman and senator every 6 months.  I really want to be able to use big bores on big game in NY.

I have never seen an albino G-hog.  Did you post any pics of the albino here at all?

Harry

[Backyard Airgunner]

Tom:  When the NYSDEC tried passing it a couple of years ago the law would have allowed any caliber 0.30 and above.  There was no limit on fpe.  If or better yet, when it comes up again I agree with you 100% it should be a caliber based not fpe based.  We will have to see what happens.

Harry:  not sure if I posted a picture here or not.  But here is one for you.  It was a true albino, pink eyes and everything.  Of course he was living under the shed so he had to go.

[YEMX]

Tom:  When the NYSDEC tried passing it a couple of years ago the law would have allowed any caliber 0.30 and above.  There was no limit on fpe.  If or better yet, when it comes up again I agree with you 100% it should be a caliber based not fpe based.  We will have to see what happens.

Harry:  not sure if I posted a picture here or not.  But here is one for you.  It was a true albino, pink eyes and everything.  Of course he was living under the shed so he had to go.

That Albino is crazy- I too have never seen or heard of an albino woodchuck.  Of course the possibility is there, but dang!! 

That's crazy that NY of all places, being how anti-gun it is overall (even more so than Md), would decide on such a good minimum caliber- and not even add a fpe limit to boot!  I hope that particular parameter of the law sticks!  Good luck with it!!

[guod123]

I'm on eastern LI, in farm and nursery territory. The small calibers have been used by some in their nuisance removal.(bunnies, chucks, rats, and birds) not one of the locals has any plan to abandon slugs, or bows for use on deer. My concern when it was first introduced it was ridiculous. They stated a .30 cal minimum, while it's not allowable to take deer with a .22 rimfire which is usually more powerful, and a flatter trajectory. A concern of many is this will be used to limit or curtail powder burners. Even with the new guns and lower prices, it's difficult to justify when combo units such as a 835, or 870's can be had for less than the cost of any big bore. One major concern with landowners is an animal running and getting involved with a motor vehicle after it's hit. With slugs producing 2000 lbs of energy you still have run offs, there is always dead, and wounded deer that land on the property during bow season.

[YEMX]

...A concern of many is this will be used to limit or curtail powder burners.

I'm not sure how others feel, but for me, I fear the opposite actually.  With many states viewing airguns as no different from firearms, I fear that states will soon begin to regulate airguns and their accessories as firearms and NFA items.

[longislandhunter]

When NY changed the hunting laws and allowed small game hunting with air guns they also officially classified air guns as "firearms" in the law when they are being used to hunt with.  If you're target shooting it's not legally a "firearm" in NY....... but if you're hunting with it it's classified as a "firearm".

Jeff

[only1harry]

Wow Jeremy that albino chuck is crazy!  I didn't know they existed because I had never even heard of one, and of course never saw one in the Forums in over 10 years I 've been with the GTA.

Yes, it was a very good proposal from the DEC 2 years ago with no FPE and .30cal minimum for big game hunting.  Too bad it never became law.  We were all very exited when they posted the big bore/big proposed legislation on their web site for comments.  We all sent in our comments, but I bet a lot of deer hunters that were against it wrote to the DEC when they saw it.  That's the problem.  It's mostly non-airgun hunters commenting and making all the decisions.  It's a screwed up system.

IMO all Crosman (a NY based company) has to do is make a donation to the DEC or for park and forest preservation, then take the DEC Commissioner and a few key state senators out to dinner, and the law will be proposed again and voted into law.  I don't think Crosman and other big bore manufacturers are lobbying at the state level at all.

Unfortunately it's who you know in politics.  A DEC Lieutenant a few years ago told me that the acting DEC commissioner at the time was an airgun enthousiast, and why the airgun small-game hunting bill passed in 2010.

Harry

[Backyard Airgunner]

I've emailed my local politicians in my area and one of the executive assistants got back to me today.

Good Morning:
I spoke with our liaison at the NYS Region 3 DEC office. It was explained to me that the agency held public hearings in 2015 to determine the interest level. The majority of the comments were unfavorable so there are no plans at this time to make any changes. You may wish to be in contact with your local sportsmans federation, if you are not already, as these groups advocate for such things at the state level.
Sincerely,
Barbara A. Clifford
Executive Assistant
OFFICE OF JOHN J BONACIC 

I'm curious as to who was so unfavorable about it, was it anti hunters in general, powder burners or what?  Is anyone a member of a sportsman group or anything?  I don't have any powder burners so I'm not a member of any hunting club or whatever they are called.   I know Crossman is headquarters in NY anyone know someone there we could contact?

[A.K.A. Tommy Boy]

I've emailed my local politicians in my area and one of the executive assistants got back to me today.

Good Morning:
I spoke with our liaison at the NYS Region 3 DEC office. It was explained to me that the agency held public hearings in 2015 to determine the interest level. The majority of the comments were unfavorable so there are no plans at this time to make any changes. You may wish to be in contact with your local sportsmans federation, if you are not already, as these groups advocate for such things at the state level.
Sincerely,
Barbara A. Clifford
Executive Assistant
OFFICE OF JOHN J BONACIC 

I'm curious as to who was so unfavorable about it, was it anti hunters in general, powder burners or what?  Is anyone a member of a sportsman group or anything?  I don't have any powder burners so I'm not a member of any hunting club or whatever they are called.   I know Crossman is headquarters in NY anyone know someone there we could contact?
[

Jeremy ..I don't live or hunt in the State of New York.   Is there anything that I can do to help you in your efforts in legalizing Big Game Hunting with an Air Gun in your State ?       

Best Wishes - Tom

[only1harry]

Jeremy, I am sure the unfavorable comments were from PB guys that do not own big bores or any adult air rifles and believe the more FPE the better for deer.  I am also guessing not too many airgun hunters in NY knew about that DEC feedback section and did not have a chance to comment on the proposed legislation.  NY has a lot of PB hunters that probably outnumber airgun hunters, so right now unfortunately it is a numbers game.  I am having trouble though understanding some of the PB guys.  The more guns we are allowed to hunt deer with the better, and I don't see how that affects PB hunters.  Maybe they just view more AG hunters as competition.

Harry

[Backyard Airgunner]

Tom: not sure what you can do but I appreciate the offer.

Harry: My first thought was the PB guys too but I can't figure out why they would be against a law allowing air rifles.  I cannot see it being a bad thing to have more hunters in NY. 

I sent an email off to Crossman and within an hour their response was "We are already working with organizations like the DEC and DNR to promote big bore airguns for hunting. Thank you for contacting Crosman Corporation."   Not sure what else I can do but keep bugging the DEC and the elected officials.  I don't see myself joining a sportsman club so thats out but I'll talk to people who are members and maybe they can put me in touch with their lobbyist.  I do know one thing, the squeaky wheel gets the grease and if we make enough noise hopefully we can get the law changed. 

[Luis Leon]

I've emailed my local politicians in my area and one of the executive assistants got back to me today.

Good Morning:
I spoke with our liaison at the NYS Region 3 DEC office. It was explained to me that the agency held public hearings in 2015 to determine the interest level. The majority of the comments were unfavorable so there are no plans at this time to make any changes. You may wish to be in contact with your local sportsmans federation, if you are not already, as these groups advocate for such things at the state level.
Sincerely,
Barbara A. Clifford
Executive Assistant
OFFICE OF JOHN J BONACIC 

I'm curious as to who was so unfavorable about it, was it anti hunters in general, powder burners or what?  Is anyone a member of a sportsman group or anything?  I don't have any powder burners so I'm not a member of any hunting club or whatever they are called.   I know Crossman is headquarters in NY anyone know someone there we could contact?

I belong to the Marbletown Sportsmens Club which has some federation members I will ask as to what was the federation's stance on big bore deer hunting and post here when I have an answer.

[Ben in Va]

Dude that albino is crazy!!!  Tell me you tanned that sucker!!!  =)

[only1harry]

I belong to a local "Sporteman's" club with 950 members and they have a "political committee" that goes to Albany twice a year to see the legislators and voice our concerns about hunting and gun laws.  I went with them once 3 years ago and Trump was there for the anti-SAFE act demonstration outside the state capitol in Albany and I shook his hand before one of his bodyguards gave me a little push..  It was interesting talking to State Senators and Assemblymen/women in Albany, but I don't think these clubs alone can do much outside of handing them a signed petition from their membership.  I think if every one of us kept calling and bugging our representatives, then maybe they would present the legislation for a vote. 

Maybe what might work is to have all the sportsman's clubs in the State coordinate and sign a petition/proposal using their combined memberships.  That would amount to ten's of thousands of signatures - if the majority of these clubs supported big game airgun hunting.  It's hard to do though when everyone is a volunteer, and maybe a lot of the PB guys that did not have good things to say about the proposed airgun laws are from these clubs...

Harry