LEADER’S
MESSAGE
Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb
Dear Friends,

For many of us, fall in New York is synonymous with hunting. With such an abundance of native big and small game, furbearers, game birds and late-season fishing, the opportunities for sportsmen are endless. As sportsmen and women, you are the ambassadors of one of New York’s finest heritage activities and bear the responsibility of passing down the traditions, etiquette and love of the sport to help shape and encourage the next generation of young hunters. The Assembly Minority Conference and I recognize your dedication and commitment to preserving and sharing one of New York’s richest traditions and thank you for your ongoing contributions.
Sincerely,
Signature
Brian M. Kolb
Assembly Minority Leader
FALL FISHING GUIDE
Fall is possibly the greatest time of year for fishing in New York State. The marine waters of New York host varied and exciting fishing opportunities, with the Long Island region offering some of the best striped bass fishing in the country, in addition to an abundance of bluefish and false albacore. There are many locations for an angler to fish from shore or wade region on Long Island. Prime surf fishing spots include Captree State Park, Caumsett State Park, Cedar Beach, Gilgo State Park, Old Construction Dock at Jones Beach State Park, Nissequogue River State Park, Montauk Point State Park, Democrat Point at Robert Moses State Park, Sore Thumb, and Wildwood State Park.

On the freshwater side, many species become very active in the fall as they are engaged in spawning runs or simply fattening up for the winter. The fall offers anglers without a boat a chance at catching trophy-size fish from shore. The Lake Champlain tributaries such as the Boquet, Saranac and Ausable rivers offer incredible opportunities for anglers to catch large salmon and can provide up to two months of fishing for die-hard salmon anglers. The main run of salmon usually extends from early September into mid-November, with the best action occurring from early October to early November. Since river flows tend to govern the intensity and timing of salmon runs, anglers are advised to check DEC’s Adirondack/Lake Champlain Fishing and Hunting Hotline webpage (www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/9219.html) or the U.S. Geological Survey’s New York webpage (http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ny/nwis/rt) for status updates.

On the trout streams, the notoriously selective trout become a little less choosy over which fly or lure to strike. Mature Washington steelhead begin entering Lake Ontario tributaries in the fall with the optimal time for fishing being late October thru November before water temperatures get cooler than 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Steelhead fishing is especially abundant in Oswego County, home to the world famous Salmon River, and many other noteworthy tributaries such as Sandy Creek, Little Salmon River and the Oswego River.


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Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb accepting his award for 2010 Legislator of the Year from NYS Rifle and Pistol Association President Tom King.





FALL HUNTING PREVIEW
Finding Black Bears
New York’s black bear population has been thriving in recent years, currently reaching an estimated total of 7,500-8,000 black bears. While the Department of Environmental Conservation amended their wildlife management unit boundaries last year, resulting in a slight reduction of units, there are still ample hunting opportunities if you know where to look.

Southern Tier – With the healthy bruin population in northern Pennsylvania frequently crossing over into New York, hunting close to the border will likely increase the chances of bagging a bear in Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties.

Areas in Allegany County producing good harvest numbers include Coyle Hill State Forest north of Route 17 in Central Allegany County, covering 2,300 acres near the towns of Belfast and Friendship. Logging roads in this wildlife management area provide additional access into the interior. Hanging Bog Wildlife Management Area, located four miles north of Cuba in Allegany County spans over 4,500 acres. For access, take exit 28 off the Route 17 expressway, follow Route 305 north to the New Hudson Road intersection and take the New Hudson Road north.

Prime areas in Cattaraugus County include South Valley and Pine Hill state forests, spanning 5,300 acres on the western side of the Allegheny Reservoir. State forest lands can be accessed by traveling Bone Run Road, Sawmill Run Road and Brown Run Road, but as always, travelers should consult local area maps. Nine Mile State Forest, located three miles from the Pennsylvania border, spans 3,000 acres in southeast Cattaraugus County and offers excellent hunting opportunities. North Nine Mile Forest Road is the only access road.

North Country – Southwest of the Jefferson County town of Clayton, French Creek Wildlife Management Area offers hunters 2,300 acres of good bear hunting. Access is available four miles from the village on French Creek Road off Crystal Springs Road. A small parking area is available at the bridge on Bevins Road.

Catskill Forest Preserve – Windham High Peak Wild Forest Unit, spanning 4,250 acres at the northern edge of the Catskill Park in the Greene County towns of Windham, Durham, Cairo and Jewett, is an especially choice piece of hunting territory, becoming more important to black bears as other nearby areas become increasingly developed. Access can be found off Route 23, which passes over the northwest corner of the unit or via Cross Road, Old Road, County Route 56 in the Black Dome Valley, Ridge Road and Slater Road.

Pheasant Hunting
Pheasant hunting has been a longstanding tradition for sportsmen in New York. Due to shifts in agricultural patterns over the years, there has been a significant decrease in the native pheasant population. While there are still adequate concentrations of native birds in western New York, a majority of hunters rely on the state’s ongoing stocking program to provide them with an opportunity to hunt this magnificent game bird. The stocking program is funded primarily through license purchases and it is the ongoing advocacy and support of New York sportsmen that has kept it alive and well.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation maintains comprehensive pheasant stocking lists and contact information by region and can be accessed via their website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/9349.html. Additionally, DEC continues to release adult pheasants on specific sites for youth pheasant hunt weekends, giving young shooters the chance to have a mini-season of their own in advance of the regular season. These weekends present a great opportunity for a mentored hunt and guarantee a young hunter who bags a pheasant will be hooked on the sport for life.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION WRAP-UP
This has been a significant year for sportsmen in New York State. The legislative session kicked off with our first annual Sportsmen and Outdoor Recreation Legislative Awareness Day that brought over 1,000 men and women to Albany to champion sportsmen issues and second amendment rights. Your voices were heard far and wide, resulting in an extremely successful session. Very few second amendment bills made it to the floor for a vote, with only two bills - micro-stamping and additional handgun license reporting - passing the Assembly despite strong opposition from myself and the Minority conference. To ensure future success, please continue to contact your local representatives to make your voices heard.

Here is a brief recap of legislative action as of July 1:

Bills Passing Both Houses:
A.924-E / S.6793-B - Legalizes crossbow hunting for deer and bear in New York State, effective February 1, 2011. Going forward, hunter education courses will include a crossbow training component. Anyone who completed their hunter education prior to the date on which crossbow hunting was included will need to complete a supplemental training program before using a crossbow to hunt big game.

A.11312 / S.8116 - Allows for the transfer of a lifetime fishing, hunting or trapping license upon the death of the purchaser within the first year of purchase, or when an active member of the United States Armed Forces dies in combat.

Bills Passing Assembly Only:
A.6468-C / S.6005-A – Requires all semi-automatic pistols manufactured or delivered to any licensed dealer in New York State to be capable of micro-stamping ammunition.

A.10894 / S.7953 - Requires the Division of Criminal Justice Services to submit an annual report to the Legislature and the Governor on the function, effectiveness and administration of the laws regarding the issuance, modification of, amendment to, and revocation of handgun licenses in each county and each city with a population greater than one million.

A.10158 / S.7006 – Allows for rifle hunting in portions of Ontario County south of NYS Route 20.

A.10775 / S.7210-A – Allows for rifle hunting in Wyoming County.

Bills Passing Senate Only:
A.828 / S.5459 – Maintains that a person must be at least fourteen years old to be in possession of and using a pistol or revolver at a pistol range, but removes the maximum age cap of twenty-one.


REMEMBER TO REPORT YOUR HARVEST!
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Hunters are required by law to report to DEC their take of deer, bear, and turkey within 48 hours of kill. Call the toll-free automated reporting system at 1-866-GAME-RPT (1-866-426-3778), or report online at www.dec.ny.gov. Beaver trappers may also use these systems to report beaver take and request pelt seals.
Stay in Touch...
To receive electronic updates about the Assembly Minority Conference, please e-mail Leader Brian Kolb:
kolbb@assembly.state.ny.us, Subject: Updates

To receive up-to-the-minute alerts on key legislation and related issues, be sure to follow NYS Assembly Minority Sportsmen on Facebook.
You can also follow Leader Kolb on Facebook and Twitter.


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