Outdoors in Whitehall with Gene Terry: End of another deer season

As you read this, northern zone is over with for another year and Black Powder season in the southern zone closed on Dec. 18.

It’s been a long non-productive season for many. There was no feed in the woods for the deer. Where they went to have lunch and supper is beyond me. My success was very limited, very limited.

Several of us went down to Dutchess County for a few days and we had a ball. Harvested a few deer, chased some around, and swore at the shot gun for missing the deer. Of course, it wasn’t the hunters’ fault.

I received a nice letter from a former Whitehaller, Jim Parrott. Jim informed me that the first Whitehall Fish and Game club was formed in December 1942. President was Jesse Sexton, Vice President was Fred Rondeau, and Second Vice was Emerson Beckwith and secretary/treasurer was Bill Williams. The rest of the group that was present were: Frank Kingsley, Bernie Wheeler, Bob Bascom and Jim Parrott. Some of these names sure bring back memories.

Did you know that Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas tried to pass legislation to put you in a jail if a criminal steals your gun and uses in a crime? Rep. Carolynn McCarthy of New York City tried to shut down our gun shows and put a blanket ban on private firearm sales, even between family and friends.

Rep. Peter King of New York tried to pass a bill that would empower unselected federal officials to deny your right to buy firearms with no due process.

And Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey tried to enact a law that would regulate ammunition just like firearms, ban internet arms sales, and report you to the government anytime you purchase 1,000 rounds or more in a five-day period. None of these bills became law last year, mainly because we have some very good political people in office who still favor hunting and fishing. Mostly it’s the NRA keeping pressure on Congress to stand up to the gun ban lobby and protect our Second Amendment rights. Thank god for the NRA. Every sportsman and woman should be a member of the NRA.

John Rozell’s deer processing will hit 300 again this year. John said he’s lucky Vermont is only a few steps away because most of his business comes out of Vermont. Could it be they’re better hunters than the New York boys? Nah! Merry Christmas everyone!