Fort Drum to require hunters to register firearms, bows

FORT DRUM — Hunters will need to abide by a new regulation to hunt on the 70,000 acres of land on post open for recreational use.

Beginning Saturday, those who wish to hunt on Fort Drum must have all firearms, crossbows and bows that will used during the season registered with military police.

This regulation, while new to Fort Drum, has been required on other U.S. military posts. It will be required for all hunting firearms and bows that are brought on o the military base.

Joseph F. Margrey, Director of Emergency Services, said the policy was handed down by the Department of Army this year.

“This is just another ongoing attempt to get a handle on the weapons that are on the installment,” he said.

Although the regulation is an attempt to create a safer environment on Fort Drum, some hunters are concerned. Joseph E. Lamendola, a retired state Department of Environmental Conservation wildlife biologist said the new regulation is an impediment to hunters.

“This is the first time ever in New York state that we have to do something like this,” he said. “We’re not used to this. We don’t like the regulations because, one, we don’t know what the government is going to do with the information and two, because how much safer is it really going to make things?”

Mr. Margrey said the information will be kept in a database used to keep track of all sports related activities. It will also help keep track of who is bringing what types of firearms on post.

Those wishing to register a firearm must fill out a form with information such as Social Security and driver’s license numbers, make, model, type of finish, caliber and serial number of the guns. If hunters wish to share a firearm during the hunting season, each person must fill out a form with the firearm information. Hunters under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal guardian fill out the form, but the registration card must be carried by the youth while hunting.

The form must be brought, in person, to the Military Police duty desk and each form can be used for up to four weapons. A weapons registration card will be issued and must be carried by the hunter while on base.

There is no limit on how many firearms can be registered.

Once a firearm is registered with Fort Drum, hunters will not have to re-register — there is no expiration date.

If a hunter without a registration card is stopped by military police on base, a fine will be levied and recreational privileges will be suspended until the fine is settled. For a second offense a fine will be issued and recreational privileges will be forfeited for one year; a third offense will result in a permanent loss of privileges.

The staff of Fort Drum Fish & Wildlife Management will host a meeting at 6 p.m. tonight at Gander Mountain at Salmon Run Mall.

Raymond E. Rainboldt, a Fish & Wildlife Management Program biologist for the Environmental Division of Public Works on Fort Drum said he would like to see a large turnout from interested people.

“The meeting is another attempt to reach out to the nonmilitary public and let them know about what is going on at Fort Drum for recreational purposes,” he said. “Over 50 percent of people who recreate on Fort Drum are from the general public. This will be a chance for them to ask questions and get information about recreation access passes, the new gun policy and hunting and fishing opportunities on Fort Drum.”