Sportsman's Legislative Access Day

Albany, NY

January 2011

Mark Spratt and Chris Ricciardi traveled to Albany, NY on January 25, 2011 to speak to our legislators on sportsman issues organized by the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs.  Four main issues were presented by Steve Wowelko, President of OCFSC. 

1. Lower age limit for shooting sports from 12 to 10, so that New York State can compete on a national level for target shoot competitions and improve the safe firearm handling skills of our future sportsmen and women.
2. Retain a significant portion (~20%) of fishing license revenue in Onondaga County for improving fishing access.
3. Keep Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery open.  As all other state hatcheries are operating at full capacity, closing Onondaga County's fish hatchery will have a negative impact on their abundance of fish.
4. Uniform pistol permit regulations - county control vs. NYS DEC control.  Also reciprocity issues between NYS and all other states.

Will Barclay stated he will reinstate bill to keep Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery in Elbridge, NY open.  Mark and Chris also spoke to Bill Wilbur, 1st VP of National Wild Turkey Federation, about qualifying handicap access.   Mark spoke to Doug Little, DEC biologist, about non-ambulatory access to state lands, specifically Stoney Ponds in Morrisville, NY.   Proposals for developing handicapped areas were discussed.