THERE is a dangerous trend spreading across the country, one in which state politicians are being allowed to tap into funds ostensibly dedicated to land and wildlife preservation.

The latest rip-off happened in Massachusetts, where the state’s designated wildlife and land acquisition funds have been gobbled up by the legislature and deposited into the general fund.

That money, similar to New York’s Conservation Fund, is established from the sale of hunting, fishing and trapping licenses, from the sale of hunting permits and special state wildlife stamps, and in some cases from voluntary check-offs on state tax returns.

The money is used to restock fisheries, manage game and wildlife and acquire lands for the recreational use of the residents. Now that money’s use will be subject to the politicians’ whimsy.

This could cause real damage to Massachusetts wildlife and fisheries. We have to be vigilant to make sure this doesn’t happen here in New York. It’s important that we keep a close eye on what’s going on in Albany – and I’m not talking about hunters and anglers alone. Anyone who enjoys the outdoors – hikers, campers, kayakers and canoers – should be concerned about this troubling trend.

* Gov. Pataki continues to take heat for his vetoing a bill that would’ve put an end to so-called canned hunts. Several Web sites being put up by animal-rights groups, such as wedrecallhimifwecould.com, show you how mad the antis are with the governor.

To be sure, shooting exotic animals in small, fenced-in areas is not hunting – and it disgusts most hunters I know. But the bill should not be written by animal-rights groups and drafted in in a way that it closes down all hunting preserves.

Most preserves are large land expanses measuring 500 or more acres, and the majority offer upland bird hunts. They offer true hunting experiences and contribute close to $40 million to New York’s economy. In New York State, canned hunts on 10 acres or less are illegal.

* Nick Orfanos has gone from being a dedicated hunter to a dedicated fisherman. Bay Ridge, Brooklyn’s auto-mechanic whiz takes every chance he gets to sneak away from the cars and get on his boat “No Time.” He already has a number of big stripers to his credit and, fishing this past weekend in the Bight, loaded up on porgies.

“In just one hour I had 40 of the biggest kind of porgies,” said Nick. “It was unbelievable fishing.”