[younghunter94]

i have obly hunted in NJ but i love it[up]

 

[bigbuck24]

It has never been better!Like most things in life,you get out of it what you put into it-I stay away from public land though.

 

[rfisc]

I like deer hunting but don't like the other hunters I come accross, most are rude.When you are in a spot getting ready to go to your stand a late hunter comes in and rushes pass you to get in the woods first really sucks.I always would ask the other hunter where he is setting up so I can stay clear of him.Why can't more people be considerate.
I no longer buy buck tags it should be 1 buck per weapon per season that's it. I have passed on plenty of deer this year and I'm sure I'll pass on plenty more.
I hunt in 27,29,&35 and see deer everytime I'm out.One night in 27 I saw 22 deer with 5 being bucks.Out of the 5 only 2 were legal because of the 3 point system. I have seen these same y bucks for 3 years now and don't believe they will get anymore points. Bad gene pool with funky spikes and y's with no brow tines. All the deer are big bodied and I will only hunt for mature does now.
If this state would stop f**king around with the deer tags it would bring hunters back.I'm sure if they asked for $75 for a bear tag they would have plenty of hunters and their money problem would be over until next year at least.
I just like going out and seeing deer and don't care if I get any. I passed on plenty of shots because I didn't feel like dragging one out with my bad back.I still pay my money and go out knowing I'm not going to bring 1 home just happy to see deer

 

[4lifer]

i guess N.J. hunting is just in my blood.i still love hunting jersey I'm in z19.lot of good bucks .yes also a lot of developments high license fees.not happy with unlimmited does or lack of antler retrictions,doe permits in 6day.i hunt the same land that my father ,granfather ,n great granfather hunted.evry year the ground that ive hunted since i was a kid shrinks but the memories that i have of that still keep me here.until im burried i guess i will always be a N.J.H

 

[maximus]

As someone stated before me,I love hunting but don't love hunting Nj much anymore. Years ago people respected your stands now they steal them,shoot a nice buck and if anyone finds out your surrounded next time out. There used to be many sanctuary's for deer[parks,township property,etc] that many of us hunted around[legally] now they're leased or given to gun clubs instead of the residents who pay taxes to buy and maintain these areas. Everything is about money and who you know, which is wrong. I live in somerset county and wish they'd take a look at how hunterdons system to hunt parks etc. is done. A much fairer system to utilize property which would bring alot more land to us who live here instead of having to travel,BTW I'm not bashing the clubs that hunt these properties,I have a problem paying for something and being passed by from those in charge.

 

[RayCRGClub]

Jakes,

I used to be a cheer leader for F+W like you are now but no more.

Not cheerleading...just stating my opinion of deer hunting in Jersey.

I realise that you are also a big supporter of the NJSFSC

And a card carrying member and big supported of UBNJ...doesn't make me a bad guy does it?
I see good things in both organizations, along with conflicts that shouldn't be. And from the outside looking in, some egos need to be checked at the door, otherwise, conflicts will continue to exist and no one will get anywhere. Egos on both sides.
While I would love to say BOTH organizations have been spot on with their direction recently, I am sure everyone has learned quite a bit on how not to move the ball forward in 2009.

DISCLAIMER-I do not think Crossbows should be allowed in the regular archery season, my club does not drive deer, Crossbows should be allowed for 55+ and in their own season, I bow, muzzy and shotgun hunt and think the buy a buck and unlimited doe is a scam.
But I will fight like hell if someone tries to stop this passion we call hunting.

 

[SmackDown66]

This is my first year in the woods.Opening day i harvested a Large doe with my first arrow in the woods. Have let many walk that i didnt think were large enough. I Love hunting nj and yes hate $$$ that go along with it but everything fun costs $$$. Dont plan on leaving NJ to hunt anytime soon

 

[NJ_Bowhntr]

DISCLAIMER-I do not think Crossbows should be allowed in the regular archery season... Crossbows should be allowed for 55+ and in their own season, I bow, muzzy and shotgun hunt and think the buy a buck and unlimited doe is a scam.
But I will fight like hell if someone tries to stop this passion we call bow hunting.

The only difference in your views and mine is the one word I put in bold. It just so happens that fight is now against the Division and Fish and Game Council as they are the ones out to destroy bow hunting in the name of maximum revenue gain. It's a shame it has come to that, but they are the ones attacking what we love, not the other way around.

I am sure everyone has learned quite a bit on how not to move the ball forward in 2009.

How do you suggest we can move the ball forward, when we have to fight with the Division of Fish and Wildlife and the Fish and Game Council just to hold on to what we have? A compromise that allowed crossbow use to some extent, yet preserved a bow season would have accomplished that, but that is not what is in the works now is it. No, we have to fight to keep status quo, or something a little less than status quo, instead of fighting/moving forward.

 

[SmackDown66]

NJ u r so right!!! What provoked the change?? If u r handycapped i still have the right to hunt and if it means a CB than so be it but dont let every yahoo out there and take skill out of the sport!!

 

[RayCRGClub]

How do you suggest we can move the ball forward, when we have to fight with the Division of Fish and Wildlife and the Fish and Game Council just to hold on to what we have? A compromise that allowed crossbow use to some extent, yet preserved a bow season would have accomplished that, but that is not what is in the works now is it.

The key word here is compromise. I meet every month with a F&G Council members who are open to compromise, but everyones ego has to be left at the door. Name calling on a public forum certainly does more harm to the collective good. Again from the outside looking in, everyone involved is throwing hand grenades. Everyone.
Most people are reasonable. More has been accomplished over a plate of pasta or a person to person meeting than ever at a public F&W meeting where everyones on guard.
If anyone wants to start to repair what has been broken, the Union County Federation of Sportsmens Clubs meets the 1st Monday of the month in Westfield.
Everyone can leave their egos at the door...who knows, maybe everyone can start to get on the same page...
Ray

 

[NJ_Bowhntr]

The key word here is compromise.

Check your' PM's

 

[RayCRGClub]

Check your' PM's

Received. Offer stands. If there is anything I can do, let me know.

 

[NJ_Bowhntr]

Offer stands. If there is anything I can do, let me know.

I personally have tried to talk about compromise with members of the Fish and Game Council. The President of UBNJ tried, and was attacked and mocked for it, and others I know have tried to talk compromise, they have thumbed their collective noses at the idea every time it has been mentioned. There is nothing more we can do.

A compromise requires a desire and an effort from all parties to be successful. UBNJ has put hardened views and egos aside and shown that desire to compromise, the Council has not. They want full inclusion...to replace bow season with a multiple weapon season... and have made it clear that nothing else will suffice. We have been told to just sit back and take it. It doesn't take a genius to figure out where the breakdown occurred.

Thanks for the dialog Ray, but it seems it's too late...both figuratively on the issue, and literally, as I'm going to bed. [ko]

 

[1badshot]

No matter how much jersey sucks ,its still my home and I do like many things about it. Being so close to hunting land is great, but at the same time the area to access the land is tight.A ton of guys are coming to the same small areas to get in.
The long seasons are great for those of us who work long hours.
The bag limits should(in my opinion)be cut down. This state could do alot better with some q.d.m.
And I have no idea what the state is trying to do with that crazy book of zones and regulations. It could be made so much easier.
The bears and thieving a-holes and poachers are the real killers in this state. For every one good guy I meet ,I also meet 5 jerks.
How many guys have you known or herd of that dont check in deer or dont bother with permits.Or flat out just shoot anything that comes by.
Im not gonna pretend that Im some rule book toting goody two shoes,but gunning down any and every deer that runs by is stupid and dangerous.
There is no way to manage wildlife with all this going on unchecked.
The cost does kinda suck ,but this is jersey...is anything reasonable here?...no.
All in all I guess I guess its ok.

 

[nightstalker911]

I personally have tried to talk about compromise with members of the Fish and Game Council. The President of UBNJ tried, and was attacked and mocked for it, and others I know have tried to talk compromise, they have thumbed their collective noses at the idea every time it has been mentioned. There is nothing more we can do.

And the compromise proposed was for "Crossbows in FALL BOW only for those 55 and older. No CrossBOWS in any other Bow season for anyone (except the handicapped)

Some compromise [confused]


It does nothing for those UNDER 55.

The State reported, at the same Council meeting that the UBNJ's "compromise" was proposed, that they are currently experiencing a 3%/year decrease in license sales.

Does this "Compromise" do anything to slow this decline.

When "Full inclusion" has been shown in other States to promote Recruitment on Young and Female Hunters, and Retention of older hunters.

Wait you say, " We will allow older Hunters to use them in Fall Bow".

WOW !!

Now there's a real reason for an older Hunter to continue Bow hunting. 30 days of hunting ! While the rest of the Bow Hunters can Hunt from Mid Sept. through the middle of Feb.
No Permit bow, no Winter bow...........

That's "THEIR" seasons (vertical shooters)

When we talked about a compromise, we discussed , Fall Bow NO CROSSBOWS, then after that, they would be permitted for all Hunters. This we agreed would Preserve the Fall Bow Season for the more "Traditional" shooters.
This would also have shown that Both sides of your "survey" were being supported.

I guess your "hardliners" had their way.

 

[Liv2hunt]

I just love deer hunting.. Would I love to hunt some of these farms I see on TV out in Illinois yeah of course.. I wish I had a farm in NJ to hunt. BUt I love deer hunting even here in NJ I hunt state land hard woods and always hope for the best.. I just can't afford all these dam tags anymore..

 

[NJ_Bowhntr]

And the compromise proposed was for "Crossbows in FALL BOW only for those 55 and older. No CrossBOWS in any other Bow season for anyone (except the handicapped)

No Paul, that is not true, and you know it. Why have you changed your tune?

One compromise discussed was Fall bow was to stay bow only and crossbows for 55+ in permit and all other seasons. Another one went as far as none for Fall bow, everyone for permit bow and the rest of the year.

The State reported, at the same Council meeting that the UBNJ's "compromise" was proposed, that they are currently experiencing a 3%/year decrease in license sales.

If they are experiencing a decrease, it's in gun license sales, and crossbows will not increase gun license sales. If they lead anyone to believe that they were experiencing a decrease in bowhunters, they mislead people, which would be no surprise considering the way some people up there have conducted themselves on this issue.

I have the number from the Division...their own numbers...on the number of bow hunters, and there were more bowhunters in 2006 and 2007 than there were in 2005, and I'm betting there are more in 2008, but we will have to wait and see.

The numbers I got from Patty Textera are exactly the same as those reported in a few magazines for their annual deer forecast. Check out the October issue of Bowhunter magazine over the past 3 years. See what number they have for the number of bowhunters in NJ, and then tell me there has been a decrease. By the way, the numbers they have are exactly the same as the numbers I have, and the writer who does the article, C.J.Winand, will tell you he got them from the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife.

Once again, if someone "reported", or implied a decrease in bow hunters in NJ, they mislead the people they reported that to.

Does this "Compromise" do anything to slow this decline.

Allowing shotguns in "bow" season would result in more hunters there too, but it wouldn't be a bow season any longer. No difference than what is happening now with crossbows.

When we talked about a compromise, we discussed , Fall Bow NO CROSSBOWS, then after that, they would be permitted for all Hunters. This we agreed would Preserve the Fall Bow Season for the more "Traditional" shooters.
This would also have shown that Both sides of your "survey" were being supported.

This compromise was one that was never considered by the Council. At the time we talked, UBNJ would have supported this. In fact, I remember talking about UXBNJ, The Federation and UBNJ all going to a Council meeting with this idea, showing a united front. Yet this idea was still shot down. Then the Federation jumped on the full inclusion bandwagon because "someone" didn't like thier first vote, which was for crossbows for only those 55 and older, and told them to vote again because the Council wanted full inclusion.

When we talked about a compromise, we discussed , Fall Bow NO CROSSBOWS, then after that, they would be permitted for all Hunters. This we agreed would Preserve the Fall Bow Season for the more "Traditional" shooters.
This would also have shown that Both sides of your "survey" were being supported.

I'll quote this again and tell you this: that structure IS what Joe Mills talked to the Council about at thier meeting on August 12th. They MOCKED him and made some comment like 'how can you think it's a bow after fall bow but not before'?

I can't speak for the whole UBNJ Council now, but from what I remember, this...

Fall Bow NO CROSSBOWS, then after that, they would be permitted for all Hunters. This we agreed would Preserve the Fall Bow Season for the more "Traditional" shooters.

is exactly what UBNJ Council preferred, and might still support. It was shot down in flames by the F&G Council.

 

[nightstalker911]

"Crossbows in FALL BOW only for those 55 and older. No CrossBOWS in any other Bow season for anyone (except the handicapped)

This was stated at the Council meeting as the UBNJ's stance during Joe's presentation.
No other suggestion was given to the councils Such as " we might consider" Fall Bow NO CROSSBOWS, then after that, they would be permitted for all Hunters. This we agreed would Preserve the Fall Bow Season for the more "Traditional" shooters."

They MOCKED him and made some comment like 'how can you think it's a bow after fall bow but not before'?

Well, If it's a BOW today, then why ISN'T it a BOW tomorrow ? [confused]

I think they were just asking for an answer to this question.

Quote:
Fall Bow NO CROSSBOWS, then after that, they would be permitted for all Hunters. This we agreed would Preserve the Fall Bow Season for the more "Traditional" shooters.

is exactly what UBNJ Council preferred, and might still support. It was shot down in flames by the F&G Council.

Then why wasn't this stated during their Presentation instead of "Crossbows in FALL BOW only for those 55 and older. No CrossBOWS in any other Bow season for anyone (except the handicapped)" ??

 

[nightstalker911]

The 3% decrease was in OVERALL lic. sales.

 

[NJ_Bowhntr]

No other suggestion was given to the councils Such as " we might consider" Fall Bow NO CROSSBOWS, then after that, they would be permitted for all Hunters. This we agreed would Preserve the Fall Bow Season for the more "Traditional" shooters."

Are you sure you are remembering that right?

I still have the printed material he read from (and was blasted for doing so), and it basically lays out the case that the compromise preferred was:

1) no crossbows in fall bow (except for the handicapped) because it preserves bow season, in the same way the Division and Council have always recognized the "lesser weapon" having first crack.

2) crossbows for everyone beginning in permit bow would allow the Division to get the same increase in revenue (a hunter would still have to buy a bow license, permit and buck stub)

3) a spereate safety course and permit for crossbows (like the ML) not only to ensure the weapon is used safely, but to track the success and popularity of the weapon for future considerations and decisions(if the success rates and popularity are very high, they could cut it back, if they are not significant, they could go full inclusion with actual evidence, instead of just guessing, it will not affect the season).

Are you telling me Paul that these things were not mentioned at the meeting?

I personally don't like that compromise because it puts thousands of more hunters in the rut, with a point and shoot weapon, which puts more pressure on bucks, and I think we need to reduce the pressure on the antlered segment of the deer herd, but it was UBNJ's position at the time.