New NYS Land acquisition

[rebAL]

check out: http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/36768.html  Latest land grab makes no mention of hunting as an approved land use.  Could anti-hunting Pete Grannis have just overlooked our sport?

[rebAL]

I think I just answered my own question;  Please correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like all that NYS land is going to stay in the hands of a few privileged hunting clubs.  How does everyone here feel/think about that; Using NYS $$$ to buy private hunting land?  It doesn't seem right to me.

[foto]

NYS did not buy the land, all they did was buy an easement to use the land for the stated purposes. The owner of the land retains all other rights which includes hunting rights which they kept because they can and are probably making money off leasing the hunting rights. This is much better for everyone then if they started to sell the land off piecemeal. In this case the hunting rights weren't for sale but its not like NY didn't try and get them. If it was a case where hunting would not be allowed I would be upset but here the land is still being used for hunting by the owner/hunting club lease and we stop 51,000 acres from being developed which is the real hunting/wildlife destroyer and leaves the option open to us in the future to get the hunting rights too.

[Mikey]

If I recall, there was a 'flap' about that particular situation that was written up in the local paper.  I may not be correct but I believe the access to the private hunting areas by folks who had hunting easements was under contention and some local activists were looking to prevent or curtail hunting in that area and it seemed that the hunting club(s) that used the access road could no longer use it without breaking a law (of sorts) unless the could get their access back.  I think that by purchasing or leasing the area the state both opened the land for better public - including hunting - access and resolved some of the concerns raised by non-hunting folks.  Mikey.