Gill-T

All good so far. I will add on. Scenario- You can’t move a fish- assuming your line didn’t grab the 400 copper on the initial run, a stalemate usually indicates a big fish. The game is to let the fish tire before you even think about netting and yet the longer the battle goes the more likely a hook tears out. There is a sweet spot in the time spent fighting a fish. If a fish ain’t coming, try to clear lines. Try slowing way down. If the fish comes in but is still deep, speed up and strip some line off the reel. Rinse and repeat. Make sure the fish is on top before netting-head first.

This letter explains a little better. Outgoing DEC Commissioner Causes Chaos Prior to Departure January 4, 2019 Dear Sportsman’s Group, New York’s Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) have been protecting the fish and wildlife of New York State since the first Game Protectors were appointed in 1880. In more recent times, ECOs have taken on the responsibility of enforcing the environmental quality laws of New York. These men and women are at the forefront of battling the effects of climate change in New York. Protecting the environment goes hand in hand with a healthy population of wild animals and clean, open spaces. The ECO’s job duties includes long term police investigations, working in coordination with state and federal agencies while crossing state and international borders, and often result in felony arrests and remediation of the harm done to the environment. Their knowledge, specialized training, and dedication to protecting the environment make them uniquely qualified for this task. In addition to these duties, ECOs are recognized across the state as Emergency Response specialists by outside agencies, often contacting them for manpower, specialized equipment, and the use of their highly trained Special Operation Groups. Outgoing Commissioner Basil Seggos of the Department of the Environmental Conservation has brokered a deal with Civil Service to reclassify New York State’s Forest Rangers as Environmental Conservation Police Officer (Forest Ranger). While this is being sold as merely a name change, many of the traditional duties of the ECOs have been assigned to these newly titled Environmental Conservation Police Officer (Forest Rangers). These duties would include investigating Hunter Related Shooting Incidents, enforcing Marine Resource violations, Salt Water Fish Identification, and Fresh Water Wetlands enforcement. Currently, the ECOs proudly perform these duties and understand the serious nature of these investigations, the training required, and the time needed to complete them. Time, that the Rangers themselves say they do not have. For years the Forest Rangers have been fighting Civil Service for a pay upgrade from SG14 to SG15. They were ultimately denied this upgrade, lost two appeals, and had a lawsuit regarding the denial recently dismissed in court. In a denial letter from 2016, Civil Service made it very clear that the Forest Ranger job duties have not changed enough to justify a pay raise. Commissioner Seggos, looking to keep a promise to the Rangers that they would receive pay equality with the ECOs before he left Office, brokered this back-door deal. Pay equality cannot be achieved merely by adding a few new duties. Pay equality is achieved through equal training and equal work load. This deal to circumvent the Civil Service upgrade process will take effect on April 1, 2019, pending NYS Division of Budget approval. Recently the Rangers have been campaigning to add more men and woman to their ranks as they feel they are not able to provide the level of service that the public demands with their current staffing levels. This campaign of “40 more Rangers” and “#moreNYrangers” is being driven by the Forest Rangers themselves, and supported by the Adirondack Council, Adirondack Mountain Club and Adirondack Wild. This campaign is an effort increase staffing in order to handle the traditional Ranger duties they are currently tasked with. Adding new duties to their plate is contrary to this recent campaign. As a matter of fact, this will force the Rangers to split their manpower between investigating police related matters (currently performed by the ECOs) and serving those who have come to rely on them for help. The Environmental Conservation Police Officers support the traditional missions of the Forest Rangers- search and rescue, forest fire prevention, and state land management. Forest Rangers have served well the countless people who enjoy and use the millions of acres of state lands across New York. A duplication of duties, by two separate Divisions within the same Agency, is fiscally irresponsible and does not benefit the environment, residents of New York, or the millions of people who come here to enjoy all that this state has to offer. This duplication is also in direct contrast to Governor Cuomo’s vision when he established the Spending and Government Efficiency (SAGE) Commission. The unintended consequences of the actions taken by the out-going Commissioner will be felt long after he has left office. We are asking for your help in stopping this reclassification process as it is an injustice to hardworking taxpaying families across the state. New York State Civil Service has addressed the Ranger pay issue. The out-going Commissioner’s attempt to circumvent the process is not only irresponsible, but unethical as well. The Environmental Conservation Police Officers are, and will continue to be, the men and women on the front lines, protecting New York’s fish & wildlife as well as the environment we all have come to love and enjoy. Let’s Keep it that way! Please contact your elected State Assembly and Senate Officials, the DEC Commissioner’s Office, NYS Division of Budget, and Governor Cuomo’s Office in opposition to the proposed reclassification. Help ensure that New York State’s ECOs continue to lead the way on all environmental crime investigations, and give them the critical attention they deserve! George LaPoint Director, NYS EnCon Police Officers Association Police Benevolent Association of New York State

Probably 10,000 geese landed on Iroquois this afternoon.

I was walking around with my fly down yesterday. I have no idea how it happened. Must be getting old.

tt

Fish near the inflows.

....... and the second day Greek goose wraps were even better. No ducks or geese flying around Keeney Swamp today......no grouse or pheasants either.

https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/111196.html

Tonawanda-Iroquois has geese still. After dry plucking a goose and cooking it in a crockpot set low for 24 hours in two cans of Progresso beef barley soup I would have to say holy crap it was good!

....and a spray tan booth. Might clash with orange jumpsuit thou.

Or it may be a power play by the ranger's ....... http://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/news/local-news/2018/12/dec-wants-to-consolidate-ranger-and-eco-titles/

Not sure Rollie, but this whole proposal sounds so crazy that I can’t help but think this must be a sick game of chicken to try to serve notice to the DEC???? Absolutely nuts.

Yes usually it’s the yearlings as they don’t have enough fat reserves

I edited the original post. As I learn more about the proposed changes, apparently there is not so much a merger as there is complete removal of Econ officers with the immediate take over of all Econ officer duties by the Forestry Ranger division. This is troubling.

Jeremy’s house. He has taken his beagles way too seriously. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_Bark_Park_Inn#/media/File%3ADog_Bark_Park%2C_Cottonwood%2C_Idaho.jpg

This model is sexy. https://www.savagearms.com/firearms/centerfire/hunter-series/220-slug-gun-ss-camo

Good question. When has technology tipped the balance of fair chase into “unfair”. Are we going to laser beams next lol. There also is the ethics of shooting that distance. The question of “can” we try to kill from that range was answered but the question of “should” we try to shoot from that range needs to be discussed. How are you going to put a follow up shot on a deer 800 yards away? How long would it take the hunter to get in his truck, drive down there and take up the trail? How many hunters watching that video have the discipline and knowledge to make that shot? Sorry this is one of those hijack deals. Back to Rob’s gun question

Amazing shot for sure but that is shooting not hunting.

I own a twelve ga Ultra Slug gun and it is a tack driver but a pain to lug around due to weight. It is a tree stand gun. Most of my family and friends I hunt with have the Savage Bolt in 20 Ga. if I had to do it again, I would buy the Savage. The two stage accutrigger helps your shooting as you will know exactly when the gun will go off.

Lol.

Not to demish the ranger’s importance. https://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/37167/20181008/pressure-grows-on-cuomo-to-hire-more-adirondack-forest-rangers https://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2017/07/nys-forest-rangers-adirondack-workload.html https://www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/2369.html

Forest Rangers are banging the drum to hire more Rangers because they are overtaxed with search and rescues. Their union rep states they are so overtaxed and stressed that they are “sitting by the phone waiting for it to ring” and yet state auditors say Rangers only spend 14% of their time on search and rescue. The truth may be somewhere in the middle but it begs the question why would they state they are sitting by phones (doing nothing) and then say they are overtaxed. Wrong choice of words. State/local police plus DEC Econ officers are all involved with search and rescue.

Little Cleos or a diving orange stickbait in the month of June offshore