New York State Conservation Council, Inc.

#2-10  Chautauqua County
This resolution FAILED at the NYSCC Annual Meeting on September 18, 2010.      
Whereas there are a number of counties in New York State that have center fire rifles that can be used legally to hunt deer;

Whereas these counties showed no or little reports of unsafe usage hunting violations due to center fire rifle usage;
 
Whereas Chautauqua County has sufficient public and private land to accommodate center fire rifle usage during the season;
 
Whereas the New York State DEC is not opposed to center fire rifle hunting where it is appropriate;
 
BE IT RESOLVED that the New York State Conservation Council seek legislation which would allow the usage of center fire rifles of .243 of greater for all townships in Chautauqua County that are wholly or partially south of NYS Rte 20.
 
Contact:  Gene Pauszek, 66 West Doughty Street, Dunkirk, NY 14048
                  716/366-1772

Big Game Committee comments:  While in general the committee and the Council support expanded opportunities for rifle use the specification of .243 caliber does not conform to the current state regulation.  There was also discussion on the boarder line and the US rte 20 vs. NYS Rte 20 designation.  There are also 4 bills in the legislature regarding this change.  We recommend that the submitters change the caliber designation to match current laws and the boundaries mention be clarified.  While the Council can support an initiative like this, the local communities and authorities are really the ones that need to push this legislation.  Based upon the format that this was written the votes were: Votes – 3 support / 10 opposed / 1 abstain
 
Legislative Committee comments:  Support; should not list .243 or greater, as this is different than DEC Regulations; just centerfire rifle. County needs to get the support of their county and state legislators before the NYSCC can move forward with this.

# 3-10  Wyoming County
This resolution PASSED at the NYSCC Annual Meeting on September 18, 2010.
Whereas sportsmen who hunt big game in Wyoming County are not able to use rifles for the big game season; Whereas at present, rifled muzzle loader and rifled barrel pistol are permitted during the big game season;
 
Whereas at the present time, counties that have rifle season for big game hunting season have not had any accidents since rifles were allowed in the counties;
 
Whereas Wyoming County is made up of rural farm lands and does not have any cities; and sportsmen feel the rifle would be safe in Wyoming County;

BE IT RESOLVED that sportsmen in Wyoming County request the NYSCC to pursue legislation/ regulatory changes to allow the use of rifle in Wyoming County during the big game season.
 
Contact:  Ronald Barvian , 360 Route 20-A, Strykersville, NY 14145
                 585/652-9625-H    716/863-1789-C

Big Game Committee comments:  There is already a bill in the legislature for this addition to the list of counties that have allowed rifle use in the traditional shotgun areas (S7210). Votes: 14 Support / 0 opposed

Firearms & Ammunition Committee comments:  The resolution is generally approved with the following recommendations:
Whereas #3 be amended; although the safety record of hunting with rifles has been very good, in fact better than the record of shotgun only areas on a per capita basis, it is not entirely true to state that there have been zero accidents.
Whereas #4 be amended; the statement “Sportsmen feel the rifle would be safe in Wyoming County,” is an unsupported opinion. Obviously a blanket statement of what all sportsmen feel has no demonstrable basis in fact or statistical evidence. This should be stricken. A suggested replacement statement could be “the Wyoming County Board of Supervisors has passed a resolution in support of allowing the use of rifles for big game hunting in Wyoming County.”
 
Legislative Committee comments:  Support; county needs to get the support of their county and state legislators before the NYSCC can move forward with this.

# 4-10  Niagara County
This resolution FAILED at the NYSCC Annual Meeting on September 18, 2010.

Whereas the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation restricts the types of implements that can be used to hunt big game to certain locations within New York State, thus preventing New York State hunters from using rifles chambered for pistol cartridges in shotgun only New York State hunting zones;

Whereas New York State hunters are required to use shotgun slugs with increased recoil and decreased accuracy to hunt big game in many hunting zones in New York State;

Whereas New York State hunters are required to purchase more costly shotgun slugs to hunt big game in many hunting zones in New York State;

Whereas younger and smaller New York State hunters are deterred from participating in big game hunting because they are prohibited from using rifles chambered for pistol cartridges which are easier for smaller or younger hunters to handle;

Whereas using rifles chambered for pistol cartridges in big game hunting in expanded areas of New York State would attract more sportsmen to big game hunting, and New York State firearm dealers would gain revenue;

Whereas increased sales of pistol cartridges to hunters that are attracted to big game hunting by the ability to use implements that fit their physical stature would lead to increased excise tax funds available for wildlife research and conservation efforts;

Whereas the flexibility to chose a hunting implement that fits the physical and marksmanship abilities of the individual hunter would increase the number of licensed hunters in New York State;

Whereas the use of rifles chambered for pistol cartridges for big game hunting is allowed in sister states that have established case length restrictions to preclude the use of cartridges with lower power and cartridges with higher velocities, and New York State hunters are prohibited from practicing hunting for big game with rifles chambered for pistol cartridges and preparing for a safe hunt in these states;

BE IT RESOLVED that the NYS Conservation Council shall support and seek to amend the big game hunting laws to allow the use of rifles chambered for pistol cartridges for big game hunting in expanded areas of New York State.

Contact:  Jacob Schuler, 3285 Coomer Road, Newfane NY 14108
                  716-799-3093-Cell      jschuler257@yahoo.com

Big Game Committee comments:  While most of those in the committee agreed with the premise that the “traditional” pistol cartridges have no more range than the modern shotgun range and that there are current pistols which use “traditional” rifle cartridges, there are no legal definitions of what caliber/cartridge defines rifle vs. pistol.  This would become a very huge enforcement issue and based upon that fact the votes were:  0 support / 14 opposed

Firearms & Ammunition Committee comments:  This resolution should be rejected.  It continually refers to “pistol cartridges.” While there are many cartridges commonly used in pistols, there are no cartridges that are used exclusively for pistol ammunition. SCOPE, the NRA, and the NYSCC are continually at pains to clarify this fact to legislators who introduce legislation intended to restrict access to “pistol ammunition” to holders of a NYS License to Carry Pistol. To request the NYSCC to lobby for legislation allowing for the use of pistol cartridges for big game hunting will be contrary to the NYSCC position and undermine ongoing efforts.

The majority of the points listed as “whereas” in this resolution are poorly written, unreferenced, or unsupported statements. It is unclear exactly what types of rifles and calibers the authors of this resolution are seeking to hunt big game with, and questionable as to whether these would be suitable for taking big game. The authors should consider submitting a resolution calling for the NYSCC to support legislation authorizing the use of rifle for big game in Niagara County without referring to pistol cartridges. Any rifle that the authors of this proposed resolution are seeking to hunt with, that is suitable for taking big game, would be covered under such legislation.

Legislative Committee comments:  Oppose:  What is the definition of a pistol cartridge? Handguns can shoot a wide range of ammo, the same as many rifle cartridges. Should be asking for the use of rifles for big game hunting.