(published 11/21/01)
Written by Frank Carbone Jr.

"The Best Homeland Security -- Armed Americans"

By the time many of you read my column this week many hunters will have already been afield for several days into the 2001 Southern Zone Firearm’s Season for Deer. Remember also that in the Catskill Region the Bear Firearm’s Season opens on Saturday November 24th. Always be sure to read and be familiar with your Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide 2001-2002. For many folks it is a complex document that is subject to change each year and some benefits may not be listed such as special/extra antler-less deer permits for some areas such as the Stewart and Ten Mile River Co-ops.

Locally, the Big Game Archery Season has been open since October 15th. From everything that I’m [seeing] and hearing it‘s going to be another record year for deer hunters. The dry, warm weather that we have been experiencing may be affecting the harvest numbers. Many hunters don’t even begin to get serious about hunting until cold weather arrives. If a hunter is lucky to tag a deer early or during warm weather then the deer will need to be processed quickly or taken to a cooler where it could hang and season before cutting and packaging for the freezer.

Recent reports from hunting buddies who have been successful are Tom Waite who tagged a large (170 lb.) Adirondack 4 pointer. The rack wasn’t the typical fork-horn that we see here in our region, but more like a Mule Deer rack that is typical to the west. The buck may have been an older deer that may be in its later years or last year’s hard Adirondack Winter may have taken had an impact. Friends Tony Schembri and Asaf Ahmet also got lucky and filled their archery tags recently -- while bow hunting locally.

And Ray Carney of Fishkill was really surprised to encounter a covey of Quail, that his best hunting partners [aka Beagles] flushed, while hunting the Stewart Buffer Lands Hunting Co-op in Orange County. Ray proudly stated in his email to me -- “who needs a bird dog” when your beagles do it all -- rabbits, pheasants and now quail. Ray was also hunting with his long time hunting partner and my neighbor Rich Maserjian of the Town of Newburgh. Ray also said that this is the first time that he has seen quail afield since hunting at Fort Bragg. Quail and pheasants are being stocked at Stewart this year due to the efforts of the Orange County Federation of Sportsmen Clubs and grants from the Orange County Legislature. The NYSDEC has been stocking Stewart with Pheasants for many years. About 500 Quail will be stocked this year and with a little help from Mother Nature we may have a good quail population in the making for future hunters and bird watchers on the Stewart Co-op and the surrounding environs.

President Bush recently appointed ex-Governor Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania to head the newly formed “Homeland Security” cabinet position. From my vantage point I’m not sure yet what his job description fully entails. We’re all waiting to see just what his plans are for “Homeland Defense” of America. It is my opinion and that of many others that the best Homeland Security is “Armed Americans.”

I recently read of a meeting that took place in the early 60’s between Japanese and American military folks. One high-ranking American Officer asked a high ranking Japanese military official why the Japanese never invaded the United States mainland during World War II -- his answer was that the Japanese felt that Americans were very well armed and it would be impossible to overtake America. The good part is that we Americans are even more armed/prepared than we were during WW II.

I’ll never understand Governor Pataki and his decision making processes. Last year he was responsible for pushing through the “most intrusive gun laws” in the nation (according to the NRA, others and me). Then, after the [9-11] terrorist attacks, he deployed NY Guard troops to all NYS airports. But they were ordered not to keep a live round in the chamber of their rifles. We soon found out that they weren’t allowed to have a loaded clip in the rifle either. Then we saw on TV that many of the troops who were deployed at the airports and in the cities weren’t carrying a rifle at all. Are we playing “tidily winks” or are we at war? Each time that I read the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution the word “militia” has an even more important and salient meaning to me today -- more than it ever has before. It is evident that resident, citizen firearm-owners are the true militia in this state and the rest of the 50 states. The sales of firearms, ammunition and applications for full carry concealed handgun at this time has definitely increased.

* * *

“A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” Article 2 of the Original Ten Amendments to the Constitution. In force December 15, 1791.

“The 2nd Amendment does protect all of the rest.”

Hunt safely, wear fluorescent material and always be sure of your target. Have a safe, bountiful hunting hunting season and a Happy Thanksgiving.

* * *
Outdoor Liaisons appears every other week in the Times - Frank can be reached at the Times -- email forthebirds39@earthlink.net or 845-562-0941.