A group of local hunters packed into the committee room of the Old Courthouse on Monday to back a proposal to allow hunting of big game in Genesee County with rifles.
All but a handful of counties in New York have amended their laws to allow rifles for big game hunting.
In Genesee County, that means deer, and occasionally (when the DEC allows it), bear.
Legislators Robert Bausch and Ed DeJaneiro asked to have the proposal tabled because they felt they hadn't yet had enough time to study it nor get feedback from constituents.
DeJaneiro said he was always told as a kid that rifles weren't allowed in Genesee County because with all the flat land, there was no way to stop a bullet.
Jack Taylor, one of several members of SCOPE at the meeting, dispelled some of that myth.
First, he said, Genesee County isn't as flat as some might think. He suggested looking now Main Street in the city, people tend to believe the street is flat, but there's actually dips and rises.
Second, because hunters with a rifle know the power of the weapon in their hands, they're also a lot more careful than some might be with shotguns.
"If you have the mentality this is a rifle, this will go a long ways, it makes you a more responsible of a shooter," Taylor said.
Also, because rifle projectiles break up on impact, they are not as likely to ricochet as a lot of projectiles used in shotgun shells today.
Taylor told the story of a hunter in Wyoming County who fired a shotgun at a deer and the copper bullet hit a tree and bounced back and hit the hunter's uncle.
That wouldn't happen with a rifle bullet, he said.
He said the DEC has found that hunting safety has actually improved in counties that have changed their laws to allow for big game hunting with rifles.
"Just so everyone knows, this is an option, not a mandate," Tim Grooms said. "Some hunters are interested in this because we want a more accurate shot. For one thing, there's the issue of the cost of ammunition today. We pay $3 to $5 for a shotgun slug and might fire several, but it's $1 for a rifle bullet and we'll fire just one. It's a whole better scenario. We hunt with fewer shots and it's better for the deer."
In order for the law to be changed, the Legislature must pass a resolution asking the State Legislature to amend the county's local law.
A bill can't be introduced in Albany until January. That gives the local legislators some time to get more familiar with the issue and get feedback from constituents.
The Public Service Committee will take the issue up again at its Oct. 14 meeting.
"Just so everyone knows, this
"Just so everyone knows, this is an option, not a mandate," said Tim Grooms. "Some hunters are interested in this because we want a more accurate shot. For one thing, there's the issue of the cost of ammunition today. We pay $3 to $5 for a shotgun slug and might fire several, but it's $1 for a rifle bullet and we'll fire just one. It's a whole better scenario. We hunt with fewer shots and it's better for the deer."
-Why fire several slugs? If you are proficient with a shotgun, and don't take potshots, you shouldn't need to shoot a deer more than once.
^That said, I WOULD support
^That said, I WOULD support the use of rifles in Genesee County.
As an avid hunter i have been
As an avid hunter i have been using a rifle for deer for 40 years in Pennsylvania even though I live in Bethany NY. I also hunt in NY with a shotgun. I prefer the rifle over the shotgun. I hear the people blasting away in NY at deer with a shotgun where in Pennsylvania you don't hear that. The shots in Pennsylvania are rarely more than 1.
I have seen the incident reports for both Pennsylvania and NY and NY is higher during deer season .Either way (I prefer a rifle) the hunters need to be sure of there target and beyond.
"If you have the mentality
"If you have the mentality this is a rifle, this will go a long ways, it makes you a more responsible of a shooter," Taylor said.
I have to disagree with that. The mere fact that a hunter knows the power of the weapon he/she is using to hunt with does not make them any more responsible than the next person.
When I used to live in the southern tier, there were at least a dozen or so calls to police, every hunting season, about someone's house or barn, even vehicles in the driveway, being shot by a hunter, who should know better, but who thought it was a deer.
Though the number each year is small, there are still a high enough number of hunting accidents involving irresponsible handling, and shooting, of firearms.
What actually makes a hunter a responsible shooter, is one who respects the laws, but never compromises safety.
And before someone pops off, yes I hunted for 22 years, no I never had any shooting accident in all that time.
Just a clarification....the
Just a clarification....the cost of slugs was brought up to compare the costs at range time; getting familiar with the firearm and testing different brands of slugs at different distances. Not field time when hunting. Trying 4 or 5 brands of slugs to see which sabot slug is the most accurate can add up at $15 for a box of 5, times 8 or 10.
Rifle ammo can be bought and/or reloaded for far less, even with premium bullets and tailored to each individual firearm. Sabot rounds cannot be reloaded, (I invested $300 tying, but even the small company that offered the modern fingered sabot wads gave up and pulled them off the market). You can also reload reduce recoil rifle rounds for youth hunters, which allows more affordable and comfortable range time for smaller framed shooters.
Thus the comparison between the costs of rifle ammo versus sabot slugs and the amount of firearm familiarity and finding your limitations at various distances. By the way, after years of evaluating various pump, simi auto and bolt action slug guns, I settled several years ago on a heavy barrel single shot for accuracy. "Potshots" are not an option, but sure would rather have a rifle!
Tim, I appreciate your
Tim, I appreciate your clarification. I hadn't considered time at the range. All I pictured when I read the post were the hunters that crack off a half dozen rounds as soon as they see a deer in the woods. Anybody that's been out in a stand during hunting season has heard it.
The real issue is that the hunters that are happy to fire pot shots with a shotgun are likely to do the same with rifles.
During my hunter safety course, my instructor made a point of telling the group the a .22 round will fly approximately 1 mile if unhindered. A shotgun slug will not.
Again, I'm ok with the use of rifles for deer hunting in Genesee County. The risks, however, should not be overlooked.
Jason, As a long time NYS
Jason, As a long time NYS Hunters Education Instructor we teach our students that a shotgun slug unhindered will travel up to 1600 yards which the manufacturers state themselves. We teach them but when they are in a situation with a deer in front of them they forget we teach them to be sure of there target and beyond. it is the responsibility of every hunter to be sure of there target and beyond. Some people forget and are not aware of there surroundings that give other hunters a bad name. If you talk to a DEC officer most offenders are over the age of 30 and know better.
Carl. Are you Skinny's son
Carl. Are you Skinny's son (or grandson)? Skinny was one of my dad's best friends. I remember rabbit hunting in PA with him & my dad. That was, maybe, 1962 or so.