Written by Frank Carbone Jr.
American made products becoming extinct
If American made products were a mammal, fish, reptile or amphibian they would be considered endangered species. I may be one of those rare breeds of Americans who still looks at the label before buying. Perhaps you might be one of those folks who also prefer to “Buy American” but have given up in disgust. One would have to spend a lot of time looking and still not find the product they were looking for that was also “Made in America.”
I recently went out to buy a good hunting parka and work boots. After shopping at several stores and looking at many different parkas, boots, and other outdoor clothing I felt like I had just taken a trip around the world. Reading the different labels e.g., made in: Viet Nam, China, Bangladesh, etc.
Most of the products appeared to be well made -- I’ve even tried some of the parkas. I’ve found that some foreign made goods may not fit the average American properly e.g., the cuffs, neck, boot widths appear to be smaller. The majority of hunting boot widths are narrow. By the time one puts on a good sock your foot becomes cramped and this defeats the insulating qualities of the boot and you’re sure to get cold feet.
A great majority of the boots that I looked at were foreign made. I finally found a pair that was made in the USA -- it was a Dunham boot. I’ll be sure to look at that boot again and try it on before I make my final purchase.
How long can we as Americans continue to buy more and more foreign made products without it having a major impact on us today and in the future is beyond me? Just within our four county region of NYS, jobs in the manufacturing of American made products are in the minority. While government and service industry jobs are in the majority. Regional construction jobs also fall into the minority and this is impacted greatly by the import of out of state workers and there have been times that foreign workers have been imported.
Ross Perot stated years ago that “when you have more government jobs than manufacturing jobs you’re headed for trouble.”
It seems that the USA’s main products are the stock market, the entertainment industries and government. The salaries and benefits of many of those public servants seem to be much better than that of the people being served. So why should most public servants want to even fight for the rights of the people they serve.
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Deer Management Permits are still available in certain areas of the NYS.
In a recent press release New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation (NYSDEC)
Commissioner Erin M. Crotty announced additional opportunities for hunters to
obtain deer management permits (DMP) for certain areas of western New York.
The DMP’s will be issued on a first come/first served basis beginning November
6, 2002. The DMP’s allow hunters to harvest an antlerless deer and are issued
for the many NYS wildlife management units (WMUs) to control deer populations
in specific regions.
Commissioner Crotty stated that "Deer management permits are an effective tool
for managing deer populations, helping to prevent overabundance of deer and
potential problems associated with large herd numbers. Using our new automated
licensing system (DECALS), we have identified areas where additional deer
management permits may be issued and are pleased to offer hunters another
chance to obtain a permit."
With the introduction of DECALS this past summer the DEC was able to
streamline the process for issuing DMPs, making them available at the point of
sale where hunters purchase their licenses. The system also provides faster
accounting of DMPs so that DEC can quickly identify wildlife management units
where permits are still available. The DEC has issued more than 660,00 DMPs
during the initial application period.
Beginning on November 6th, applications will be accepted for DMPs in the
following WMUs (wildlife management units) located in the western part of the
State:
8A, 8G, 8H, 8J, 8M, 8N, 8P, 8R, 8T, 8X
9A, 9F, 9G, 9H, 9J, 9K, 9M, 9N, 9P, 9R, 9S, 9W, 9X, 9Y
In addition, the following "archery only" WMUs also will have
DMPs available:
1C, 3S, 4J, 8C
For locations of these WMUs, check the 2002 Hunting Regulations
Guide or the DEC's website at
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Make sure that you get out and Vote!
Depending upon which one of the political pundits you’re listening to it’s anyone’s guess who may be the winners on this election day -- state wide or regionally. The bottom line is the individual voter and how well informed they are -- that is if information can make a difference. To some folks it just doesn’t matter -- they’ll continue to vote along party lines no matter what the issues may be.
Each and every vote counts. Some local elections can be determined by just a few votes.
This year’s race for governor should have special meaning to regional and state wide voters who are concerned with public hunting land availability and our civil rights as far as firearms are concerned. Pataki couldn’t have hurt gunowners/sportsfolks more than with his 2000 Five Point Anti-gun Legislation and his stance regarding the development of parts of the Stewart Buffer Lands and the Drury Lane/Interstate 84 Interchange Project in the Town of Newburgh. As far as most outdoors folks are concerned Pataki is a strike out. McCall appears to be another anti-gun politico stating that Pataki’s 2000 Five Point Anti-gun Plan should have been more stringent.
The Independence Party candidate Tom Golisano will get my valuable vote for NYS Governor this election day.
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The opening day for the Southern Zone firearm season for deer is Monday November 18. The Catskill Zone Black Bear season opens Saturday November 23 (please note the difference). As always read your copy of the Hunting and Trapping Guide before going afield.
If you’re hunting out of a tree stand be extra careful. Make sure that you use the proper safety harness.
Hunt safely, respect the property of others and I hope that you have a successful and bountiful hunting season.
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PS (Pot Shots) -- How did that boatload of 200 foreigners make its way to the State of Florida shoreline without being detected? Where’s the Homeland Defense Department? How many others are making their way into the United states illegally each day is anyone’s guess. It seems as though our borders are still wide open to invasion even in broad daylight.
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Outdoor Liaisons appears every other week in the Times - Frank can be reached
at the Times or email forthebirds39@earthlink.net or 845-562-0941. Please
visit my website at www.outdoorliaisons.com