HuntingNY-News

<p> Tryouts will be held this summer to recruit candidates for the U.S. Olympic bobsled and skeleton teams. Stay tuned. </p> <p><br />I've been working his week on a story about how Lake Placid is "the hub" for the U.S. Olympic slider sports program, which includes the luge, bobsled and skeleton.</p> <p>It's a good follow to this week's news from Sochi that Erin Hamlin, of Remsen, a product of the Lake Placid program, won the bronze medal in the women's luge.</p> <p>I found out there's a total of five local youngsters in the program right now up at Lake Placid, hoping to make the U.S. team for future Olympiads (four in the luge, one in the bobsled program).</p> <p>In addition, tryouts will be held sometime this summer in Syracuse for those who think they have the right stuff.</p> <p>Stay tuned!</p> <p><strong>ANYTHING ELSE READERS OF THIS REPORT WOULD LIKE TO SEE ME WRITE ABOUT? </strong><br />The effectiveness of this report is two-fold. First, it lets readers know what's coming up story-wise. It also allows readers a chance to affect coverage and provide sources for upcoming stories. Bottom line: Keep in touch and give input. You could make a difference as to what appears week to week on the outdoors page! Email me at <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> or call 470-6066.</p> <p><a href="http://update.syracuse.com/adv_syracuse/newsletters/syracuse/subscribe.htm">If you want to join The Post-Standard's Outdoors Group and get this emailed directly to you, subscribe here.</a>.</p> <p><strong>FIGURA ON FACEBOOK:</strong><br />For those who are on Facebook, I also have a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/PostStandardOutdoors#!/PostStandardOutdoors#!/photo.php?fbid=3369108872206&set=a.1178365985003.2028364.1403751639&type=1&theater&notif_t=like">PS Outdoors page</a>, which I check several times daily for feedback and story ideas. I also post personal fishing and hunting and other outdoors-related photos from time to time and I ask members to do the same. When you join, please be sure and hit the "like" button. </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><br /></p> View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

It happened near a campground in the town of Windsor. Windsor, N.Y. -- A trapper from the Southern Tier area died Monday after falling through the ice on a frozen lake near a campground in the town of Windsor on Monday. "According to State Police, Richard McKee Jr., 39, of Windsor was trapping in the Forest Lake Campgrounds area when he walked onto a section of ice above open, running water," according to WBNG.com. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Without explanation, honesty and openness in its content, what purpose do the news media serve? A 2013 graduate of Syracuse University who is pursuing a master's in Information Management, Brittany Legasey is currently working as a volunteer press assistant for the International Olympics Committee at the XXII Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. By Brittany Legasey | Contributing writer Less than 24 hours of being posted, my short piece on dating athletes had 49 comments and 208 Facebook likes. More than a week after being posted, my introductory piece on the philosophies of my Olympic experience had one comment and 96 likes. The comment was from my boyfriend's grandmother. The writing that I have been contributing to Syracuse.com was not intended to be journalism. It was intended to be first-person explanation and reflection. It was intended to share my experiences here on the ground in Sochi with those interested back in the States. The news media have and will continue to post human interest stories like the one that I wrote about dating athletes because people will read it. People will comment on it. In the age of online journalism, eyeballs on a page equals dollars because news agencies generate revenue from advertisers and advertisers pay based on the number of eyeballs. My suggestion to those who disapproved of my writing and/or my behavior: stop buying into the system if you don't like what you're reading. You can't expect a news organization to produce content of a different nature if you are encouraging it with comments and helping the organization profit all the while. This social content is obviously what the masses prefer reading about - the traction it received compared to my first piece is evidence enough. The story was written with the intention of explaining how people my age are meeting each other. Tinder and other similar apps are not only how people are meeting each other here at the Olympics, but everywhere. Tinder is an extremely popular smartphone application - so popular that a Forbes article reported that Tinder users swipe 350 million times a day (a swipe is how you demonstrate whether or not you are interested in someone or not). I'm not an isolated user, so to speak. I wouldn't be able to use the app if other people weren't using it as well, because then there would be no one to swipe! Let's be realistic. Let's not judge one young woman for dating using a smart-phone app - because in this day and age dating begins with an online presence. Let's not enforce gender stereotypes by passing judgement on what one young woman does while volunteering abroad - because shouldn't men and women be held to the same dating standards? Let's not judge one woman for being open about her experiences upon the request of her local newspaper - because ultimately the news media exists to provide the public with information, information from which we can collectively discuss and make decisions. Without explanation, honesty and openness in its content, what purpose do the news media serve? View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Chili, chicken noodle soup, hot chocolate and chili will be served at the finish. This weekend's Central New York running schedule again offers one race - the Feel the Love 5K Saturday at the Cortland Regional Medical Center in Cortland. The race starts at 11 a.m. There will also be a 3K walk. Proceeds go to the Cortland Memorial Foundation. Chili, chicken noodle soup, hot chocolate and chili will be served at the finish. For more, see feelthelove5k.org. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"Great horned owls will incubate frozen food until it thaws and can be eaten," according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The following are among the more interesting, funny and bizarre outdoors stories and items I've come across lately: 1). Here's a memorable fishing trip. During a Costa Rican swordfish outing, the fish was reeled in so fast it ended up jumping right into the boat. The frightened anglers responded by jumping off the boat into the ocean. Check out the video above provided by Crocodile Bay, a fishing resort in Costa Rica. 2). It always pays to be careful and on guard when hunting - even on Christmas Eve. A Louisiana hunter became the hunted when a buck he had just shot through the neck 15 minutes before ended up attacked him on Dec. 24, according to the Shreveporttimes.com. The hunter was airlifted to a Baton Rouge hospital and nearly bled to death after the deer gored him through his left thigh. 3). The decrease in the numbers of monarch butterflies that annually migrate to a handful of forested Mexican mountains during the winter months has scientists alarmed, according to the New York Times. . "The migrating population has become so small - perhaps 35 million, experts guess - that the prospects of its rebounding to levels seen five years ago are diminishing," The Times reported. 4). Great horned owls are cool birds. Occasionally, when one of the birds kills more prey than it can eat, it stores the remains away for a later meal. "Great horned owls will incubate frozen food until it thaws and can be eaten," according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Read more about these birds. 5). I don't make this stuff up. You can buy raccoon or a red fox penis bone toothpick on E-Bay. Who knew? Check it out. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He said the pike weighed 20.3 lbs and measured 45 1/2 inches. Fred Marty, of Elbridge, holds up a monster northern pike he caught recently through the ice on Cayuga Lake. Marty said at the time he was jigging for perch, using 6-pound test line. He said the pike weighed 20.3 lbs and measured 45 1/2 inches. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"So will I ever meet up with the Austrian snowboarder who keeps inviting me to his place?Only time will tell." A 2013 graduate of Syracuse University who is pursuing a master's in Information Management, Brittany Legasey is currently working as a volunteer press assistant for the International Olympics Committee at the XXII Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. By Brittany Legasey | Contributing writer What do you need to meet athletes during the Olympic Games? A smart phone, an internet connection and an attractive profile picture. Oh, and most importantly, a dating app like 'Tinder.' It's a pretty simple process. You're shown the picture of someone of the gender that you are romantically interested in who is located within a predetermined distance from you, their name, and their age and you can either say that you're interested or that you pass. If someone that you said you were interested in also said that they were interested in you, the app gives you the ability to message them. And it goes from there. I first started using applications like this after I arrived in the hopes of meeting other volunteers and staff. At the least, I figured that I would be able to save myself some money on drinks. But early last week I started to notice that there was a new variety to the selections provided to me by the app. They were athletes! At first it didn't seem real. An Olympic athlete was messaging me? But after looking him up on the official Olympic website which provides a register of all the competing athletes by country, reality sunk in. At the moment, I'm messaging with about 15 different athletes. Most of them are Austrian, some Dutch, Italian, French and a few smaller countries that I won't name because their teams are quite small. Lately, I seem to be the interest of the Austrian men's hockey team. Last week I went on a date with a Dutch speed skater and got a behind-the-scenes tour of the athletes' Coastal Olympic Village. Many other athletes have tried to make plans with me, but work, training and competition schedules make things somewhat complicated. The snowboarders and skiers also live about an hour away from the coast in the mountain village, meaning if we were going to make plans it would take a certain amount of coordination. So will I ever meet up with the Austrian snowboarder who keeps inviting me to his place? Only time will tell. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

I was particularly impressed by the folks who were using a snowblower and shovels to clear space for an ice skating rink on the ice. I slapped on a pair of cross country skis for the first time this season and decided to take an afternoon stroll today on Skaneateles Lake's northern end, which is frozen over and covered with snow. The temperature was in the high teens, the wind was blowing a little. That didn't stop the ice fishermen, the skaters and the walkers who wanted to check out the scene. The ice fishermen I talked to said the ice was seven to eight inches thick. I was particularly impressed by the folks who were using a snowblower and shovels to clear space on the ice for an ice skating rink. I've heard reports that the lake is almost completely frozen over. With the continued cold weather, that should happen soon -- if it hasn't already. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He received in excess of $1,000 in cash and prizes," WHITNEY POINT, N.Y. -- The New York State Crappie Derby at the Whitney Point Reservoir Saturday drew more than 1,300 anglers. AZ total of more than $14,000 in cash and prizes were awarded. The overall winner was Brian McMullen, of Oneonta, who received more than $1,000 in cash and prizes for his 12 1/4 inch white crappie. "It was a very cold day. It was minus-20 degrees at5:30 a.m., and minus-15 at 8 a.m. (the start of the event)," said David Hughes, the tournament director. "It quickly rose, though, in the teens by late morning," he said. He estimated the total attendance was about 3,500. There was activities for fishermen and non-fishermen alike. There was free public skating offshore near the North Pavilion, and several displays and stands from Ross Park Zoo, Finch Hollow Nature Center, Broome County Underwater Dive Team and the Amigo Search & Rescue K-9 dog training organization. The overall winners: Biggest Crappie: (Since the top three fish all measured the same length, the winner was determined by which one was caught first.) 1). Brian McMullen, Oneonta, 12 1/4 inches 2). Michael Townsend, Willet, 12 1/4 inches 3). Gary Billins, Marathon, 12 1/4 inches "McMullen caught his between 8:30 and 8:45 a.m," Hughes said. Biggest fish: Kole Schierderi, Vestal, (walleye), 25 3/4 inches Biggest perch: David Glezen, Lisle, 13 5/8 inches Biggest bullhead: Joshua Ramzie, Brooklyn, 15 1/4 inches Biggest walleye: Kole Schierderi Biggest carp/sucker: Joshua Ramzie, Brooklyn, 18 3/4 inches Biggest northern pike/pickerel: Chris Carle, Swedesboro, NJ, 23 3/4 inches For complete results, see crappiederby.com View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Lunch is a hearty meal. Typically it consists of some Russian soup, a vegetable salad, a grain like pasta or barley and a heaping of meat. The boiled sausage is delicious. A 2013 graduate of Syracuse University who is pursuing a master's in Information Management, Brittany Legasey is currently working as a volunteer press assistant for the International Olympics Committee at the XXII Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Today she gives some insight to the food she's eating over there. By Brittany Legasey | Contributing writer I the Volunteer Village where I live, there are two cafeteria tents. When I first arrived, everyone ate at the smaller tent. The food was fantastic and very Russian Cabbage soup, meat with pasta, compote juice, sour cream, it goes on and on. But then the second cafeteria tent opened right next to the first and our meals were relocated and redesigned. Breakfast every morning is now the same: Russian 'pancakes' which are flat and doughy rolled up with cheese in the center and instant kasha' which is somewhat like oatmeal but a lot less flavorful and to be made by adding hot water to a pre-packaged mixture of oats and other grains. I am usually at my work venue during lunchtime and the lunch there is hearty. Typically it consists of some Russian soup, a vegetable salad, a grain like pasta or barley and a heaping of meat. The boiled sausage is delicious. And of course lots of tea, or as the Russians call it, "chai." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The Korzeniewskis are members of Hobie Cat Sailing Fleet 204, which is headquartered at Lower South Bay on Oneida Lake. Tom and Susan Korzeniewski, of Liverpool, competed last week in the 20th annual Hobie 16 World Championships in Australia. The two raced in the masters division (45 and older), finishing 36th overall. Susan Korzeniewski teamed up with Steve Leo in the grand masters competiton (55 and older) for a 23rd place finish in that division. A Hobie Cat is a twin-hull sailboat with fabric connecting the hulls. It was invented by Hobie Alter of Dana Point, Calif. The lightweight, fast, catamaran-type boats come in various hull sizes: 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20 feet. The Korzeniewskis are members of Hobie Cat Sailing Fleet 204, which is headquartered at Lower South Bay on Oneida Lake. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The tournament is scheduled for Aug. 21-24. A total of 108 of the best bass anglers in the country are expected to compete. Cayuga County will be the epicenter of this summer's prestigious Bassmaster Elite Tournament on Cayuga Lake, a B.A.S.S. official confirmed this week. The tournament is scheduled for Aug. 21-24. A total of 108 of the best bass anglers in the country are expected to compete. Each day, the anglers will launch from Frontenac Park in Union Springs. Weigh-ins will take place there the first two days and will then be moved to the parking lot at the Finger Lakes Mall on the last two, said Cara Clark, communications manager at B.A.S.S. The awards ceremony will also take place there. Initial plans called for using Stewart Park down in Ithaca for a launch and weigh-in site. That plan was scrapped. "B.A.S.S. and the city partners in Ithaca mutually agreed that the timing of the tournament during college move-in weekend wasn't advantageous," said Michael Mulone, director of event and tourism partnerships for B.A.S.S. " We truly think the Ithaca would be a great host for an Elite Series Tournament in the future, and we look forward to those discussions." On Aug. 20, the day before the tournament starts, the anglers will register and get briefed on the tournament rules at the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn. A tournament social is also scheduled there. The anglers will be competing for a $100,000 cash prize. The field will be cut to the top 50 for Saturday and down to 12 on Sunday. The tournament waters, according to Clark, will include "Cayuga Lake and all rivers, creeks and canals connected to Cayuga Lake. Only water open to all public fishing will be considered tournament waters." The anglers will be banned from the lake starting July 21 until the first practice day on Aug. 18. They can start getting a feel for the waterway that day, along with Aug. 19 and 20. Clark said "The Governor's Challenge," which will feature Gov. Andrew Cuomo and other state and local public officials fishing for bass, will be held on Saturday, Aug. 23 on Owasco Lake. "As we get closer to the event, more details will be announced," she said. Cuomo plans to invite state legislative leaders and members of the public to attend the event. During last his State of the State address last month, Cuomo said, "I once again hope that (Senate Republican Leader) Dean Skelos and (Assembly Speaker) Sheldon Silver and (Senate Independent Democratic Conference Leader) Jeff Klein are there for the competition. "It will be all in good sport. We'll have some fun and we'll promote some tourism," he said. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The grants are going to 13 shooting ranges to revitalize and improve their operations and public access and promote the responsible use of firearms. The state Department of Environmental Conservation announced this week grants totaling nearly $135,000 that will go to shooting ranges across the state to revitalize and improve their operations and public access and promote the responsible use of firearms. A total of 13 ranges will receive money, including the Baldwinsville Rod and Gun Club, which is getting $9,573 for "rifle and handgun range improvements for shooters with disabilities." The grants will further efforts "to develop familiarity with firearms and archery proficiency necessary for safe and ethical hunting, while promoting the careful use of firearms and archery equipment," DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said in a press release. "Ranges are key outlets to help develop necessary firearms and archery skills to promote the responsible use of equipment before heading out to the field." Funding for the program will come from the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration program, based on a federal tax on firearms and ammunition made available to state fish and wildlife agencies for their sportsman education activities. This year, DEC solicited applications up to $15,000 for range improvement projects. Each successful applicant provided a match of at least 25 percent of the total project. These grants allow recipients to enhance their existing ranges or to build new facilities, including ranges, storage units, accessible restrooms, roads, parking areas and hunter education classrooms. In addition to the Baldwinsville club, the DEC awarded grants to the following organizations: (Includes organization, county, amount and how money will be used) - Freeport Revolver and Rifle Association, Nassau County, $15,000. "American Disabilities Act compliance and drainage on outdoor 25-yard range." -Tonawanda Sportsmen's Club, Niagara County, $15,000, "Replace safety shot screen on trap and skeet fields and post safety signs." - Seneca Waterways Council, BSA, Seneca County, $15,000. "Construct a shooting platform for archery and BB gun range." - Painted Post Field and Stream Club, , Steuben County, $15,000. "Construct a ground level/elevated archery range." - Tioga County Sportsmen's Association, Tioga County, $15,000. "Convert an outdoor pavilion into an enclosed heated structure." -Hawkeye Bowmen Inc., Erie County, $11,366. "Improve clubhouse infrastructure." -Milford Fish and Game Club, Otsego County, $8,542. "Drill water well and connect it to the clubhouse." - Sprite Club, Fulton County, $6,958. "Construct a 100-yard rifle range." - Middleburgh Rod and Gun Club, Schoharie County, $6,956. "Replace trap machine." -Lima Gun Club, Livingston County, $6,732. "Upgrade rifle/pistol range access road, handicap access of range house and upgrade lighting." - Constableville Fish and Game Club, Lewis County, $4,988. "Renovate exterior of clubhouse." - Old Hickory Long Gun of Newark Valley Historical Society, Tioga County, $4,650. "Construct a shooting shelter and storage shed." The 2014 Shooting Range Small Grants Program application will be available March 1. For the most updated information on the goals and eligible projects within the program and to obtain the program guidelines and application packet, visit the "Shooting Range Small Grants Program" page on DEC's website at dec.ny.gov. For more, contact Cornell Cooperative Extension's Melissa Bailey at [email protected] or call 315-793-2515. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The rumors circulating here are that the Russian band t.A.T.u. will perform at the opening ceremony as a show of Russia's tolerance to homosexuals. A 2013 graduate of Syracuse University who is pursuing a master's in Information Management, Brittany Legasey is currently working as a volunteer press assistant for the International Olympics Committee at the XXII Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. By Brittany Legasey | Contributing writer The day before the opening ceremonies here in Sochi was bizarre. They completely changed up the security protocols and were having trouble staying organized. For instance, they moved all of the private bus stops for workforce/volunteers/athletes so that you now need to go through a security check point to get on the bus. Many of the main bus routes were delayed yesterday for special reasons My two hour commute home took me 4 hours. My bus and the rest of traffic was stopped on the main route from the Gorky media center back to Olympic park. After 20 police cars and several fancy black Audis drove by us, traffic picked up again. My theory was that they shut down the entire road because ( President Vladim) Putin had arrived. Putin has a home up in the mountains near Endurance Village, so there is an incredible amount of security up and around there. Here's five interesting funny things to know on the eve of the opening ceremony: 1. A number of athletes have been using dating applications to meet people. I know this because I've been using them and have been talking to about six of them. I was really surprised that they would be using them and be so interested in hanging out with non-athletes. 2. The Fisht Olympic Stadium seats 47,000 people. During the opening ceremony the audience will be given these special pendants that will light up or have some special effect. This will include the audience in the presentation. During the rehearsal I went to last weekend they handed out the pendants but did not employ the special effect. 3. The rumors circulating here are that the Russian band t.A.T.u. will perform at the opening ceremony as a show of Russia's tolerance to homosexuals. t.A.T.u. is one of the most famous Russian bands and it has been publicly participated in gay pride demonstrations in the past. Even if t.A.T.u doesn't perform their music will still be featured in the ceremony. During the rehearsal when all of the teams were presented the Russian team went last. t.A.T.u.'s song 'Not Gonna Get Us' was the soundtrack for the incredibly hyped up presentation of the Russian team. 4. There were a number of errors in translation during the rehearsal that I attended. The speeches to be given by Putin and other officials were explained quite differently in English and French than the meaning inherent in their original Russian. During the rehearsal the French pronunciation of 'Putin' was incredibly wrong, so wrong that it sounded like the French word meaning 'whore', putain. A number of French volunteers sitting close to me thought this was quite amusing. 5. A surprisingly few number of the staff who work at the Games speak English. In my experience, transportation workers, food service workers and even some of the hospitality staff speak little to no English. The opening ceremony will be delivered in three languages: Russian, French and English. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

This year's show, which begins Wednesday and lasts until Sunday, will occupy three buildings at the fairgrounds, featuring more than 500 models of water vessels and personal watercraft. SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The 2014 Central New York Boat Show kicks off next week at the State Fairgrounds with a large variety of boats and other watercraft, displays and attractions for young and old alike. This year's show, which begins Wednesday and lasts until Sunday, will occupy three buildings at the fairgrounds, featuring more than 500 models of water vessels and personal watercraft. New attractions this year includes a mini-boat demonstration, watercraft inspection education and wine tasting. The U.S. Power Squadron will be using remote-controlled mini-boats to demonstrate how navigational buoys enable boaters to avoid hazards, while New York Sea Grant Launch Stewards will be talking with show visitors how voluntary watercraft inspection helps reduce the spread of aquatic invasive species, said Drew Wickman, the show's manager. Since Feb. 14 is Valentine's Day, wineries from the Finger Lakes region will offer samples and sales from 4 to 8 p.m. that day in each of the show's buildings. Visitors can also check out the 2014 Discover Clean and Safe Boat equipped by New York Sea Grant with all the gear required and recommended for clean, safe, and legal boating on New York waters. The show will include boating safety, maritime law, and boating destination exhibits by U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, New York State Canal Corporation, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and the U.S. Coast Guard and the Onondaga Sheriff's Department. Also on the schedule is cold water survival CME-credit safety training for first responders, a young boaters safety certificate course and daily in-water demonstrations of life jackets. For more information, contact New York Sea Grant at 315-312-3042. Finally, New York State Sportsman Hall of Famer Captain Tony Buffa will share his 38 years of walleye fishing expertise at a seminar beginning at 6:30 pm, Wednesday in the Fremac Waterfront Booth 9 in the Center of Progress Building. Show hours are 1 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10; children 13 and younger, free. For more, see cnyboatshow.com. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The program enhances opportunities for pheasant hunting in New York State through a partnership between DEC and the sporting community, 4-H youths and landowners interested in rearing and releasing pheasants. The following is a DEC press release: The application period is now open for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC) cooperative Day-Old Pheasant Chick Program. The program enhances opportunities for pheasant hunting in New York State through a partnership between DEC and the sporting community, 4-H youths and landowners interested in rearing and releasing pheasants. In 2013, DEC distributed 41,500 day-old pheasant chicks across the state to qualified 4-H and sportsmen applicants. The Day-Old Pheasant Chick Program began in the early 1900s. In the early days, pheasant eggs and chicks were distributed to farmers and rural youth. Adult pheasants at the Jamesville Correctional Facility.The program, which is run by the Onondaga Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs. The birds started off as chicks that came from the DEC.Dick Blume | [email protected] Today, day-old chicks are available at no cost to participants who are able to provide a brooding facility, a covered outdoor rearing pen, and an adequate release site. Approved applicants will receive the day-old chicks in April, May or June. No chicks obtained through the Day-Old Pheasant Chick Program can be released on private shooting preserves. All release sites must be approved in advance by DEC and must be open for public pheasant hunting opportunities. The program is funded through the state Conservation Fund from license fees paid by hunters, trappers and anglers. Daily care is necessary to monitor the health of the birds and to ensure that there is adequate feed and water for the rapidly growing chicks. The pheasants may be released beginning when they are eight weeks old and no later than December 1. Interested? Contact the nearest DEC regional office. In Central New York, it's in Cortland. Call (607) 753-3095 x 247. Applications must be filed with a DEC regional wildlife manager by March 15. A "Pheasant Rearing Guide" and additional information on the Day-Old Chick Program is available on the DEC website at dec,ny.gov. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

After dinner, guests can enjoy horse-drawn sleigh rides, a colorful bouquet of flowers and a bonfire. They can also remain at the lodge and dance the night away to live music. FABIUS, N.Y. -- Highland Forest County Park in Fabius is once again offering 'Valentine's in the Forest' dinner/dances with live entertainment on four different nights at the park's picturesque Skyline Lodge. The event, a fundraiser for the volunteers at the park's Nordic Ski Patrol, is scheduled for Feb. 14, 15, 21 and 22. Currently, the first two dates (Feb. 14, 15) are sold out. Reservations are still being taken for the remaining two nights. Each evening will begin with a cheese and vegetable platter and live entertainment, followed by a candle-lit dinner, featuring carved roast prime rib of beef, oven roasted chicken, and riggies with vodka sauce. After dinner, guests can enjoy horse-drawn sleigh rides, a colorful bouquet of flowers and a bonfire. They can also remain at the lodge and dance the night away to live music. The cost is $85 per couple. The event each night runs from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"They're like cockroaches. They're going to survive no matter what we throw at them," said one wildlife biologist. By Michael Rubinkam / Associated Press WAYNESBURG, PA. -- From their perch 100 yards away, the coyotes seem to stare at Jim Cowell as they brazenly case his beef cattle. "It seems like they're getting awful brave. They're not intimidated by people anymore," said Mr. Cowell, who carries a .22 when he's working his farm outside Waynesburg in southwestern Pennsylvania. "It is a little unnerving." Not to mention something of an economic threat. Mr. Cowell once lost four calves to coyotes, whose population has soared since the 1980s. So when the state House late last year passed legislation that would pay hunters and trappers $25 for each coyote they kill, Mr. Cowell and other farmers cheered. "It's a problem that needs to be taken care of," he said. The bill is currently before the state Senate's Game and Fisheries Committee. It would authorize the Pennsylvania Game Commission to set the bounty The state's second-largest predator after the black bear, the coyote has been documented in Pennsylvania since the late 1930s. No one knows for sure how or why they showed up, or how many there are now, but the crafty canines have been blamed for a wide assortment of atrocities -- from killing livestock to depleting whitetail deer to stealing into suburban neighborhoods and making off with Fido and Fluffy. Yet wildlife experts say coyote bounties have never worked anywhere they've been tried, raising questions about whether the $700,000 that lawmakers voted to spend on the bounty program would be money well spent. The measure has been sent to the Senate for consideration. "Bounties have been used to control coyote populations in North America for over 150 years, despite a lack of evidence that they lead to long-term reductions in populations," Utah State University researchers wrote in a 2003 study. While it hasn't taken an official stance on the bounty bill, the Pennsylvania Game Commission also takes a dim view of bounties. "No measurable good ever resulted from the Game Commission's predator bounties in the 1900s. They truly were a waste of money," the agency says on its website. Coyote predation has been more of an annoyance than a serious problem for Pennsylvania livestock owners. Since 2000, losses ranged from a high of 247 animals in 2008 to a low of 114 in both 2001 and 2002, according to state statistics. Even sheep -- among the most vulnerable of livestock -- are killed in relatively low numbers, dozens per year out of about 100,000 statewide. Some farmers have had more trouble than others, though. George Wherry said he once lost 234 sheep, valued at more than $100,000, to coyotes over a particularly bad 9-year period. In recent years, Mr. Wherry has been paying hunters and trappers $100 for each coyote they kill on his farm in Scenery Hill, Washington County. He's still lost about 18 head this year. "I'm in favor of anything that would help control the number of coyotes," he said. The coyote population is hard to track with any precision. Pennsylvania's coyote harvest, one potential indicator, has exploded from roughly 4,000 in 1992 to 40,000 last year, according to game commission statistics. But there's also been a dramatic increase in the number of people hunting and trapping coyotes. In general, biologists believe that coyote numbers are stable in the rural northern half of Pennsylvania, where "they've hit carrying capacity, the maximum number the habitat can support," said Tom Hardisky, a wildlife biologist with the Pennsylvania Game Commission. But coyotes are gradually increasing in southwestern and especially southeastern Pennsylvania -- in Philadelphia and its suburbs -- where garbage and even pets can make for easy pickings, he said. Mr. Hardisky said localized control measures can work. Hunters and trappers can clear an area for a time. Farmers can make sure their ewes give birth in barns and not in open fields. Mr. Cowell, the cattleman, even uses donkeys to ward off coyotes. But Mr. Hardisky said any statewide attempt to control coyote numbers would be fruitless. The game commission estimates that 70 percent of the coyote population would have to be killed each year in order to make a dent. And coyotes have the ability to produce larger litters to counter population losses. "Basically, we're going to have to cope with coyotes," Mr. Hardisky said. "They're like cockroaches. They're going to survive no matter what we throw at them." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The father never told his children about it, until shortly before he died. SKANEATELES, N.Y. -- Many Central New Yorkers will get into the Olympic spirit Friday morning with the opening ceremonies of the XXII Winter Olympiad in Sochi, Russia. Paul Jones Jr., of Skaneateles, is among the few who have a personal connection to the Winter Olympics - particularly with the opening ceremonies. He's reminded of it every time he looks at a picture hanging on the dining room wall at his Skaneateles home. Jones said he first saw the photo about four years ago when he and his wife, Sue, were walking through the Lake Placid Olympic Museum. "Sue was the one who spotted it. She saw it on the wall and said, 'Hey, that's you!' "Jones recalled. Paul Jones Jr. at his Skaneateles home with the photo of his father .David Figura | [email protected] His wife was pointing to a photo from the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid. It showed a young boy carrying the "United States" sign on a pole. He was marching in front of the U.S. flag bearer, Billy Fiske, of Illinois, a bobsledder. The rest of the American delegation followed as they made their way around the speed skating oval for the winter Olympic opening ceremonies. The resemblance to the young boy in the picture to Jones, then in his mid-50s, was uncanny. "Holy smokes, that's not me," he told his wife. "That's my father." Jones immediately contacted the museum director to get copies of the photo. They then drove right over to see Jones' father, Paul Jones Sr., who lived in Lake Placid. The father confirmed it was him in the photo. Jones, who was born and raised in Lake Placid, was incredulous. Neither he, nor his four other siblings had ever been told. Why? "I thought I did," the father said. "I said, 'But Dad, you're in the museum!" the son said. The father responded: "Well, that's nice." The elder Jones told his son what had happened. He told the story again -- with more detail -- on his death bed this past September when he died following a short illness at age 97. Jones recalled those conversations earlier this week during an interview at his home. "It was a loosey, goosey Olympic opening ceremony and it was as simple as that," he said. His father, then 17, was a member of Lake Placid Boy Scout troop and the Scouts were told they would have to help out in the opening ceremonies because there weren't enough volunteers from the community. "The young Scouts didn't know what they were going to do. They didn't know if they were going to direct cars, direct athletes or what," Jones said. "All they were told was to gather that morning at the American Legion Hall at 9 a.m." At that Legion Hall, the Scout leader made a surprise announcement. He told the boys that they would be carrying placards noting the names of each of the different countries. They were told that they should get over to the start of the procession -- immediately. The first ones there, he said, would have their pick of which signs they would carry. The start of the procession was a good mile away from the Legion Hall. "My father ran like a rabbit," Jones said. "He got there first, beating his friend, George Hart, who ended up being a well-known doctor in Lake Placid. My father took the United States sign. George grabbed the Canadian sign." To sweeten the deal, the Olympic officials gave each of the Scouts identical jacket and hats. "My father said he got to keep his. He said they kept him nice and warm," the son said. Paul Jones Sr. was proud of being a World War II vet and a Lake Placid resident. However, for most of his life he never told his kids that he participated in the opening ceremonies of the 1932 Olympics.photo courtesy of Jason Jones Jones said shortly after the Olympics his father, the eldest of nine children, had to drop out of high school to help support his family during the depression. He eventually served in the military, got married and earned a GED. The elder Jones and his wife Esther, spent the rest of their lives in Lake Placid. He worked a variety of jobs and was a long-standing member of the American Legion and Knights of Columbus. When the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid rolled around, the father was again called into action. This time, he helped out as auxiliary police officer, directing traffic, doing crowd control at various athletic events and other duties. For security and logistical reasons, all traffic in and out of Lake Placid was banned during the day. Locals were limited to driving in and out between midnight and 6 a.m. and needed special parking passes to get through the security that ringed the community. "My Dad sent me his parking pass in the mail," Jones said. "I drove up there and stayed for about a month and had a ball. I saw a lot of the events. I didn't see the 'Miracle on Ice' (when the U.S. hockey team beat the Russians in the semi-finals), but I was there for the gold medal game." Jones said he was outside the rink, at the Olympic Center when the U.S. team beat the Russians. "It was like people a mile thick this way, a mile that way," he said. "You think Syracuse had a yippie ki-yay moment after the Duke game last weekend? You should have seen this one. It was wild." As for the 1932 Olympic picture, Jones said his wife Sue secured 10 copies from the Olympic museum - including the one that hangs today in their dining room. The others were framed and passed out to other family members as Christmas presents. "It's something I've passed on to my kids and hopefully they'll do the same to their kids... that their grandfather, their great grandfather, was in the 1932 Olympics," he said. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

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<p> Owasco Lake is completely frozen over. Reports of nice lake trout being caught on shiners around Ensenore. </p> <p><strong>CNY FISHING REPORT</strong></p> <p><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=100355764367821392533.00048c1449e56444f07e7&z=7">Bait stores (list and map).</a></p> <p><strong>SALMON RIVER</strong><br />The river is low. The frigid temperatures and snow continue to make fishing difficult, with slush ice forming on the river and shelf ice along the shore. Anglers braving the cold are still getting a few steelhead in the deeper pools in the upper river between Pineville and Altmar.</p> <p><strong>OSWEGO RIVER </strong><br />Cold and snow continues to make fishing the river difficult. Nothing new to report.</p> <p><strong>ONEIDA LAKE</strong> <br />The entire lake continues to be frozen over, with thickness varying from a foot up to 18 inches. Anglers on snowmobiles or ATVs are catching nice perch north of Dunham's and Frenchman's islands. Big Bay continues to hot for bluegills, crappie and sunfish. Walleye fishing around Chapman Park has slowed down recently. Most of the good walleye action this past week has been northwest of the islands.</p> <p><strong>CAYUGA LAKE </strong><br />Reports of anglers getting out on the north end, where ice thickness is a reported 8 to 10 inches. Be cautious, though, around pressure cracks. Lots of perch and sunfish are being caught, but many are on the small side. Use fathead minnows.<br /> <br /><strong>SENECA LAKE</strong><br />Some brown trout and Atlantic salmon are being taken trolling stickbaits or streamers near the surface. Still no word on the perch bite.</p> <p><strong>OWASCO LAKE</strong><br />Entire lake is frozen. Reports of nice lake trout being caught on shiners around Ensenore. Anglers are also taking some nice perch on large buckeye minnows or fathead minnows all around the lake. Some nice northern pike have been caught recently at the southern end.</p> <p><strong>OTISCO LAKE</strong><br />Entire lake is frozen over. Reports of some nice perch being taken. Northern end continues to be a hot spot for bluegills, but many are on the small side. Reports of a few small tiger muskies being taken on tipups and large minnows. No big ones reported yet.</p> <p><strong>SKANEATELES LAKE</strong><br />Both ends have fishable ice. Reports of perch being caught. Be aware of pressure cracks in the ice. An angler went through earlier this week. </p> <p><strong>SODUS BAY</strong><br />There's 13 to 14 inches or more of ice on the bay. Reports of some nice perch and bluegills being caught, along with a few northern pike.</p> <p><strong>ST. LAWRENCE RIVER</strong><br />Lots of thick ice, with some bays having ice up 36 inches thick. Popular spots continue to be Eel Bay, Lake of the Isles, Round Island , Chippewa Bay and all the nearby inland lakes. Continued reports of especially good perch fishing on Chippewa and Chaumont bays. Anglers are also catching walleye in Mud Bay. Live bait (fathead minnows, shiners and spikes) continues to be the ticket.</p> <p><strong>WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR</strong> <br />There's 13 inches of good ice, with about 10 inches of snow on the reservoir. The New York State Crappie Derby is set to go Saturday.<br /></p> View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

<p> I'm working on an update for the new state law requiring boater safety courses. </p> <p><br />Winter is here with a vengence.</p> <p>Snow, ice, sub-zero temperatures some nights. Many of the lake's are frozen over. The skiers, <a href="http://blog.syracuse.com/outdoors/2014/02/state_snowmobile_association_e.html#incart_river">snowmobilers</a> and <a href="http://blog.syracuse.com/outdoors/2014/02/nys_crappie_derby_on_whitney_p.html#incart_river">ice fishermen</a> appear to have a good month ahead of them. </p> <p>Meanwhile, the opening ceremonies for the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia is scheduled for Friday morning. Olympic-related stories I'm working on include:</p> <p>-How a Skaneateles man's father (he was a 17-year-old Boy Scout at the time) got to carry the placard for the United States in the opening ceremonies procession in Lake Placid back in 1932.</p> <p>- How Lake Placid is an incubator for Olympic competitors in the sliding sports (skeleton, luge, bobsled) and that there's a strong Central New York connection to the program.</p> <p>-Insights from an SU grad who's over at Sochi right now as a volunteer for the IOC.</p> <p><strong>Other topics, include:</strong></p> <p>- An update on the new state law requiring boater safety courses.</p> <p>- An update, and implications of the statewide Wild Boar War.</p> <p>- Update on joint city/county deer task force...</p> <p><strong>ANYTHING ELSE READERS OF THIS REPORT WOULD LIKE TO SEE ME WRITE ABOUT? </strong><br />The effectiveness of this report is two-fold. First, it lets readers know what's coming up story-wise. It also allows readers a chance to affect coverage and provide sources for upcoming stories. Bottom line: Keep in touch and give input. You could make a difference as to what appears week to week on the outdoors page! Email me at <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> or call 470-6066.</p> <p><a href="http://update.syracuse.com/adv_syracuse/newsletters/syracuse/subscribe.htm">If you want to join The Post-Standard's Outdoors Group and get this emailed directly to you, subscribe here.</a>.</p> <p><strong>FIGURA ON FACEBOOK:</strong><br />For those who are on Facebook, I also have a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/PostStandardOutdoors#!/PostStandardOutdoors#!/photo.php?fbid=3369108872206&set=a.1178365985003.2028364.1403751639&type=1&theater&notif_t=like">PS Outdoors page</a>, which I check several times daily for feedback and story ideas. I also post personal fishing and hunting and other outdoors-related photos from time to time and I ask members to do the same. When you join, please be sure and hit the "like" button. </p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><br /> </p> View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Events include the Sportsman Show in Oneida, the Crappie Derby at the Whitney Point Reservoir and a Black Powder Shoot at the Elbridge Rod and Gun Club. CNY outdoors calendar The Central New York Sportsman Show: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Kallet Civic Center in downtown Oneida. The show, sponsored by Holy Cross Academy in Oneida, will feature more than 45 outdoor businesses and clubs from throughout Central New York. Highlights include coyote trapper Mark Zagger, well-known mountain hunters Pat and Tony Salerno and wildlife photographer Eric Dresser. Admission is $6, 12 years and under free. For more, see holycrossacademy.com. New York State Crappie Derby: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Whitney Point Reservoir. More than $13,000 in cash and prizes for anglers and non-anglers alike. For more, see crappiederby.com. Snowmobile Club Winterfest: Starts at noon Saturday, Manhattan Moon Restaurant, Route 49, Constantia. Hosted by the Vanderbilt Snowmobile Club. here will be raffles, 50/50, food, beverages , scavenger hunt, kids games, face painting, a meatball cookoff and fishing derby. Register for the fishing derby at the Sand Bar in Bernhards Bay, or Buckets Grill in Constantia. $10 entry. Black Powder Rendezvous: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Elbridge Rod and Gun Club, 6275 Laird Rd, Jordan. The shoot is open to the public and prizes will be awarded to high scorers. For more, call 689-7339. Tuscorora Lake Ice Fishing Derby: starts at 5 a.m. Saturday. Sponsored by the Blue Canoe Grill, North Lake Road in Erieville. Final weigh-in is at 4 p.m. at the Blue Canoe Grill. Cash prizes, raffles. Cost is $10 adults; $5 for children 12 and under. For more, call 662-8040. CNY Boat Show: Feb. 12-16 at the state Fairgrounds in Geddes. This event will showcase hundreds of new model power boats and sail boats, including cruisers, pontoon boats, sport boats, personal watercraft with a few luxury motor yachts on display. Hours are 1 to 9 p.m. Wednesday to Friday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more, see cnyboatshow.com. Winona Forest Tourathon: Starts at 8 a.m. Feb. 22, CCC Camp in Mannsville with the 37.5K and 50 K races, and continues at 8:30 a.m. with the 12.5 K and 25 K races. Hosted by Winona Forest Recreation Association. For more, see winonaforest.com. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

This gets added to a blue marlin Doug caught in Puerto Rico and a striped marlin he caught in Matzalan, Mexico. Douglas G. Russell, of Liverpool, caught and release this 250-pound, 14-foot black marlin while trolling off the coast of Panama using bonito as live bait. According his nephew, Michael Juskow: "This was Doug's first black marlin and was brought to the boat in 15 minutes. About 20 minutes later, Doug hooked a second, but that one got off. "Each marlin put on a great show of acrobatic dancing on their tails trying to get free from the circle hook. Doug's marlin like most others were released and lived to be caught again. "Additionally Doug caught several white tip sharks, cubera snapper as well as rock and mutton snappers. "Although this is considered a trip of a lifetime, Doug has fished Panama waters twice before but getting this black Marlin makes it special. This gets added to a blue marlin Doug caught in Puerto Rico and a striped marlin he caught in Matzalan, Mexico. "Doug uses two electric reels as he is disabled." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

None of the showers have shower curtains, which makes for interesting showers. A 2013 graduate of Syracuse University who is pursuing a master's in Information Management, Brittany Legasey is currently working as a volunteer press assistant for the International Olympics Committee at the XXII Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. I asked her to list several things that might surprise folks back in Central New York about the Olympic Village in Sochi. By Brittany Legasey, contributing writer Of course, prior to the opening ceremonies there are many things that would surprise people about the Olympic Village. 1). There are actually a number of Olympic Village complexes that house athletes, staff, volunteers and others working here. The athletes are housed in the villages near their competition venues. 2) There is no alcohol allowed within the villages hosting athletes and smoking is restricted to a few select areas. (These rules don't apply to the Volunteer Village 'Omega' where I'm living. There is a market very close to my shared apartment within the village that sells both alcohol and cigarettes. 3). The security is not surprising, but I did have an interesting experience with their rules and regulations. I bought a hookah to send back to the states because they are extremely inexpensive and commonplace. When I first brought it back in its box the security didn't look twice at it. I tried to send it at a post office not too far from my apartment but found out that the post office was only for domestic mail, so had to return to the village with the hookah which I had taken out of its original box so that I could send it more easily. Going back through security the security staff had a fit. I couldn't understand much because of the volume and tone they spoke with but I did hear 'narcotika.' Apparently hookahs are prohibited and these security staff thought it was some contraption for narcotic drug use. Ultimately, they let me back into the village with the hookah as Natalya explained that I was sending it to the states. The next day there was a special notice posted that residents are not allowed to smoke hookahs within the residences. 4). None of the showers have shower curtains, which makes for interesting showers. Besides the shower curtain, the bathroom fixtures don't seem to be affixed properly, as our sink which appeared brand new and completely functional started leaking water out of the pipe the other day. We haven't been able to use it and instead need to use the spout in the tub for all things water-related. Since we don't have a shower curtain, the first couple of days the bathroom was a pretty wet place - especially since we weren't provided any bathmats or shower mats. We had to go out and buy one. 5). We have to check the keys to our apartments whenever we leave and the reception office has a tendency of losing the keys. They've lost the key to my apartment three times now and I've been here for a little more than a week. It's somewhat amusing, but when it happens after a 10 hour work day and factoring in the four- hour commute, it's extremely frustrating. 6).There are actually a number of Olympic Village complexes that house athletes, staff, volunteers and others working here. The athletes are housed in the villages near their competition venues. Is there anything you'd like me to ask Brittany? Send your questions to [email protected]. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog