HuntingNY-News

What's on your outdoors bucket list for 2014? Send your "must do" items to [email protected]. For the past several years, I've given readers a glimpse into my personal outdoor aspirations for the coming year. Here's my "Outdoors Bucket List" for 2014: 1). I'm a work in progress on the ice fishing scene. I have several ice-fishing poles, a portable shanty and a small propane heater. I'd like to purchase some tip-ups and catch my first tiger muskie through the ice on Otisco Lake. 2). I want to participate in building an igloo, and then spend the night in it. Here I am starting a biathlon in which I finished dead last, primarily because I couldn't shoot straight. I know I can do better.Courtesy of Rita Jardin 3). Participate in this winter's ice golf tournament on Lake Como. (I'm signed up.) 4). I'd like to improve upon my last place finish last year in a local biathlon. 5). I'd like to participate in a winter orienteering event. I've seen them take place at Bear Swamp, where I often cross country ski, and I think it would be cool to do. 6).I don't own one, but I'd like to ride in a snowmobile and participate in a "poker run." 7). I recently bought a used, compound bow. It needs some modifications. Once that's done, and I'd like to get proficient in using it and go bowhunting for deer next fall. . I'd like to get back into fly tying . I took a lesson years ago and have all the stuff. I would like to tie all my flies for the coming fishing season, instead of buying them like I usually do. 9). Several years ago, a friend gave me a blank for a fly rod. It's sitting in my basement. I'd like to learn how to make a useable rod with it. Here I am trying my luck on Nine Mile Creek.Stephen D. Cannerelli [email protected] 10). I'd like to catch some suckers spawning this spring on a nearby Finger Lakes tributary and afterward try my hand at making sucker fish cakes. 11). I'd like to be a co-angler in a bass fishing tournament. I've written about these competitions many times, but I've never actually participated in one. 12). I'd like to try my hand at starting a fire from scratch using only what I can find in the woods. I've seen it done on such TV shows as "Survivor Man" and I want to have that skill. 13). I'd like to go out on a relatively windy day on Oneida Lake on a Hobie Cat with a member of Hobie Cat sailing Fleet 204 -- and feel the rush. 14). One of my childhood passions was to look for fossils. I'd like to go out with someone who really knows their stuff about fossils and find a few in Central New York. 15). I'd like to go out on a mushroom hunting outing with members of the CNY Mycological Society and come back with a paper bag full of tasty mushrooms. 16). One of my childhood passions was to look for fossils. I'd like to go out with someone who really knows their stuff about fossils and find a few. 17). I'd like to call in a wild turkey myself, and harvest one in both the spring and fall seasons. Pheasants are pretty birds. Here I'm shown holding one at the pheasant rearing facility at the Jamesville Correctional Facility. I'd really like to go hunting for some this fall.Ellen Blalock | [email protected] 18). I'd like to hunt pheasants in the fall with the assistance of a good hunting dog. I've only done that only once and I really enjoyed it. 19). I'd like to limit out on walleye while fishing from shore during the fall on either Oneida or Otisco lakes during the fall. I keep writing about that, but never seem to make the time to do it. 20). I'd like to shoot, then process a deer myself. What's on your outdoors bucket list for 2014? Send your "must do" items to [email protected]. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Don't be a couch potato. Take a hike, put on a pair of snowshoes, slap on some cross country skis. This New Year's Day, forget about the football. Instead, start a new tradition of getting outside and doing something active. Take a hike, put on a pair of snowshoes, slap on some cross country skis. Unsure where to go? Check out these Central New York locations: In this 2010 photo, Dave Schubert, on the staff at Beaver lake Nature Center, snowshoes on one of the trials there. Publish History: Dick Blume | [email protected] GUIDED OUTINGS New York State Parks has latched on to this idea, offering free, guided "First Day Hike" excursions at selected parks across the state. Several are scheduled in our area: - Clark Reservation: The hike, which starts at 1 p.m., will be about one mile and is appropriate for all ages. Those who like to snowshoe or cross country ski should bring their own equipment. Hikers should wear good, sturdy boots. The hike will be led by members of the Council of Park Friends. Hot drinks will be provided. Meet at the park's large shelter. Pre-registration suggested, but not required. The park is located at 6105 E. Seneca Turnpike, Jamesville. For more, call 492-1590. - Taughannock Falls: Join the park's naturalist on this outing that starts at 1 p.m. in the parking lot at the start of the gorge trail by Route 89. The walk will go through the gorge, then up the South Rim trail to the overlook, across the street to the multi-use trail and back to the start of the Gorge Trail. The full hike will be a little more than five miles. Plan on being outside for at least three hours, so dress for the weather and wear appropriate footwear. Participants can also do just the first mile and half on the gorge trail. The hike will be followed by hot drinks and light snacks. Pre-registration suggested, but not required. For more, call 607-387-7041. - Chenango Valley: Hike starts at 1 p.m. in the beach parking lot. All ages are welcome for a moderate, 4-5 mile (with occasional breaks) hike. The outing is expected to last about two hours. Bring your own water and snacks. Pre-registration is not required, but suggested. The park is located at 153 Chenango Valley State Park in Chenango Forks (Broome County). For more, call 607-648-5251. For more on these and other "First Day Hikes" across the state, see parks.ny.gov. ON YOUR OWN - Highland Forest: This "Adirondack-like" county park in Fabius offers a variety of mostly groomed ski trails and separate snowshoe trails for all abilities. There's also a big lodge with a fireplace. Parks hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Park fees are $5 for a cross country ski day pass, or $1 to hike to snowshoe (with your own snowshoes). Ski and snowshoe rentals are available. For more, see onondagacountyparks.com or call 683-5550. - Beaver Lake Nature Center, 8477 E. Mud Lake Road, Baldwinsville. More than seven miles of cross country ski trails, in addition to more than three miles for snowshoeing. Warming hut. Snowshoe rentals available. Trails open 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parking is $4 per car. For more, seeonondagacountyparks.com or call 638-2519. - Oneida Shores Park: 9248 McKinley Ridge Road, Brewerton. Free. Lots of wide open space to hike, cross country ski or snowshoe. For more, see onondagacountyparks.com or call 676-7366. - Bear Swamp, off Route 41A, Sempronius (the western side of Skaneateles Lake). Miles and miles of state reforestation land. A host of trails used by cross country skiers, snowshoers, snowmobilers. For snow conditions call the Colonial Lodge, a restaurant/bar on its edge, 496-9401 or 497-1316. - Baltimore Woods Nature Center, Bishop Hill Road, Marcellus. Free. Six miles of hiking trails are open every day from dawn to dusk. No skiing, snowmobiles or dogs allowed, though. Snowshoes encouraged. The center's building will not be open New Year's Day. For more, see baltimorewoods.org, or call 673-1350. - Other local State parks popular with hikers, snowshoers and cross country skiers include Green Lakes in Fayetteville, Verona Beach, Fair Haven Beach and Selkirk Shores in Pulaski. Free. - Syracuse's Sunnycrest Park, in the Eastwood neighborhood, offers 2 1/5 miles of groomed trails. The park is located on Caleb Avenue, off of Hicock Avenue. For more information, see.syracuse.ny.us/parks/ or call 473-4330. - Montezuma Audubon Center, 2295 State Route 89, Savannah. Free. Open for cross country skiing and snowshoeing dawn to dusk. The center's offices will be closed New Year's Day. For more, see ny.audubon.org or call 365-3588. - The Osceola Tug Hill Cross County Ski Center, 1486 Osceola Road, in Camden, is a resort for all skill levels. On weekends and holidays, adults pay $17; seniors, $12; juniors 6 to age 15, $9 to use the 25 miles of groomed trails. Lower rates on regular weekdays. Rentals are also available. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more, see uxcski.com or call 599-7377. - Winona Forest Recreation Area, state-owned land in northern Oswego and southern Jefferson counties in the towns of Boylston and Mannsville. Free. Features 70 miles of trails, many of which are groomed. For more, see winonaforest.com or call 286-0375. A gathering of 60 people, braved waters of Cayuga Lake in village of Aurora in the annual Polar Bear swim in 2010. Kathy Dec of Skaneateles (center) runs out of the cold Cayuga Lake waters as quickly as she can.Dennis Nett | [email protected] And for the truly adventurous... POLAR BEAR PLUNGE Welcome 2014 with an invigorating plunge into Cayuga Lake. The annual Aurora Polar Bear Plunge is scheduled for 11 a.m. on New Year's Day on the eastern shore of Cayuga Lake, behind St. Patrick's Church in Aurora. Donations will be accepted at the event for the Philip A. Murphy Memorial Fund for use by the Aurora Volunteer Fire Department. For more, call Nancie Tengi at 730-0086. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!! Here's what I'm working on: - I'm proposing a new tradition -- getting outdoors on New Year's Day. Don't be a couch potato. Consider a hike, or maybe a cross country ski or snowshoe outing. I'm assembling a list of locations. - My outdoors bucket list for 2014. What's on your list? Send ideas to me at [email protected].... HAPPY HOLIDAYS!! Here's what I'm working on: - I'm proposing a new tradition -- getting outdoors on New Year's Day. Don't be a couch potato. Consider a hike, or maybe a cross country ski or snowshoe outing. I'm assembling a list of locations. - My outdoors bucket list for 2014. What's on your list? Send ideas to me at [email protected]. - An update on the Wild Boar War. The DEC wants to ban the hunting of them. Seen any lately in CNY? Send your comments and photos to me at [email protected]. - A profile on Steven Fland, a sculptor who specializes in wildlife... - A follow to the story about the Peterboro woman who was ticketed by the DEC for keeping a fawn as pet. - Extreme Outdoors winter adventures. Folks do all sort of daring and dangerous things each winter around Central New York and the Adirodacks. - The special Tompkins County deer hunting season that spans the month of January. What worked, what didn't work about it last year and why. - A Q&A with Stephen Wowelko, departing president of the Onondaga Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs. ANYTHING ELSE READERS OF THIS REPORT WOULD LIKE TO SEE ME WRITE ABOUT? 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 [email protected] or call 470-6066. If you want to join The Post-Standard's Outdoors Group and get this emailed directly to you, subscribe here.. FIGURA ON FACEBOOK: For those who are on Facebook, I also have a PS Outdoors page, 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. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

This year's heroes were nominated by readers or the groups they represent. Watch video When it comes to the outdoors, Central New York has plenty of heroes. There are those who give countless volunteer hours, sweat and often money out of their pockets to maintain or to restore the area's woods, fields and waterways for all to enjoy. Their work benefits the area's diverse fish and wildlife populations. In addition, we have individuals who freely pass on their knowledge and skills so that others may enjoy Mother Nature as much as they do. They do it in many ways, including youth activities, education, publicity and mentoring. syracuse.com | The Post-Standard is again honoring such individuals with its annual feature, "Heroes of Conservation." This year's heroes, nominated by readers or the groups they represent, are: NICK CASE He keeps the shoreline clean For years, Nick Case, 31, of Syracuse, was upset about trash piling up on the Lake Ontario shoreline near his grandparent's camp in Sterling. At every family gathering, he'd collect garbage in bags and show it to the rest of the family. For the past three years, he has removed hundreds of pounds of trash, taken pictures of dead fish and wildlife (noting their conditions) and paid to have water samples analyzed. This year, Case spent nearly $4,000 to create the Lake Ontario Preservation Council. The non-profit's mission is to create awareness and to spark action concerning the lake's pollution issues on the shoreline stretching from Sodus Bay to Selkirk Shores. The group has a cleanup outing planned for this spring. DOROTHY CRUMB She has ignited the winged passions of many Dorothy Crumb, 90, of Manlius, is a legend among the Onondaga Audubon. A member of the chapter for more than 40 years, she has written or participated in the writing of four books on the birds of New York State and Central New York. She has held every administrative position in the group, with the exception of president; "I didn't want that responsibility," she joked. Crumb has been active in the chapter's annual Christmas and spring bird counts and has led countless bird-watching outings for the club, igniting the birding passions of many. Her favorite bird is a boreal chickadee. "It's hard to find, and has a beautiful shade of brown," she said. ED O'SHEA He clears the trails, the old-fashioned way Ed O'Shea, 76, of Marcellus, said about 12 years ago he was looking for something to do to keep active. An Adirondack 46er with a passion for hiking, O'Shea found his niche in the Onondaga Chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club. He joined a group of retirees from the club that go each week during the spring and summer months to groom and clear local hiking trails. They remove brush, fallen trees and branches, along with doing drainage work. O'Shea bristled at the use of chainsaws and need to carry gas and oil on these outings. Four years ago, he suggested using an old-fashioned, two-person saw, which has been used by the trail team ever since. He purchased 20 of these saws, which he keeps in his garage. He sharpens them himself, a skill he learned by watching a video on the internet. SPIDER RYBAAK He's fishing it forward Spider Rybaak, an author, blogger and photographer who specializes in fishing, has been a fixture on the local outdoors scene for years. Rybaack, 64, off Canastota, of said he became dismayed by the growing numbers of youngsters who are "nature naïve" and never seem to get outdoors to enjoy the area's natural resources. For the past 10 years, he has offered free bait fishing and fly fishing clinics, often supplying the tackle and bait for participants. The sessions are held at Wellesley State Park on the St. Lawrence River, Neawantha Lake in Fulton, outdoors shows and elsewhere. His blog, "Fishing and Hunting Oswego County," appears on that county's tourism website. He was recently honored with the "Pass It On Award," sponsored by the New York State Outdoor Writers Association and Bass Pro Shops. Lance Robson He's advocating for conservation Lance Robson said when his youngest son turned 18 he backed away from his involvement with the Boy Scouts and his local church youth group. He decided instead to re-focus his efforts to helping outdoors sportsmen and pushing for conservation issues. Today, Robson, 57, of Sennett, is chairman of the state Fish and Wildlife Management Board, which advises the state and landowners on fish, wildlife and habitat management issues, and seeks to protect and expand access for fishing, hunting and trapping across the state. Robson also spent two years on the state's Conservation Fund Advisory Board, which advises the DEC on how the money collected from hunting, fishing and trapping fees should be spent. "Somebody had to do it and I had the passion," he said. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"It was a true beast, it scored 174 5/8 and dressed out over 200 pounds," he said. Brian Young, of Clay, sent me this photo of what he described as a 'giant 10 pointer' he shot in Truxton on Nov. 21. He wrote: "His rack was just about perfectly symmetrical. And he held his mass all the way through. "It was a true beast, it scored 174 5/8 and dressed out over 200 pounds. "He's a buck we've watched for three years and that has dodged several bullets, but that day was his unlucky day. " Hope you enjoy the pics. I'll send several of them. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Readers are constantly asking me questions about the outdoors and wildlife. Sometimes I can supply the answers myself. Other times I go to experts. The two questions answered this week are from a guy who wants to target shoot on state lands, and from a reader who's heard a rumor about timber wolves being released south of Ithaca. Q:... Readers are constantly asking me questions about the outdoors and wildlife. Sometimes I can supply the answers myself. Other times I go to experts. The two questions answered this week are from a guy who wants to target shoot on state lands, and from a reader who's heard a rumor about timber wolves being released south of Ithaca. Q: "I've been trying to find out if it's legal to target shoot on state lands during the off season of hunting. The DEC website is pretty vague about this. Basically, I'm new to hunting and I want to safely fire off some rounds without joining a club. I've heard Three Rivers allowed target shooting, but again, I've just heard that. Basically I just want to safely and legally fire my gun in a designated space. Any information you could provide would be most appreciated." -Adam Lutwin, Syracuse A: Lt. David McShane, an environmental conservation officer at the DEC's Syracuse office, said the rules and regulations for target shooting vary from state-owned property to property, and it behooves shooters to check beforehand. Many of the restrictions are posted at the entryways or trail heads of the properties. For example, he said hunting or target shooting is not allowed on land designated as "unique areas," but is allowed on most state reforestation lands. In regard to the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area in the town of Lysander, hunting and target shooting is generally allowed on most of the land, but banned in two areas. Both are posted as a "Restricted Area" or have a sign that says, "No Target Shooting." One, has a maintenance building and other state-owned structures; the other, beyond Potter Road, it too close to a golf course. McShane said target shooters should always try shoot in areas where they know there's a "safe backstop" of land or trees in case the bullet or slug travels through the target. Shooters should also pick up after themselves and not leave empty shell or bullet casings on the ground -- or leave their tattered targets. Some shooters in the past have left things like shattered TVs and broken bottles on the landscape. "These are things we don't want to encourage," he said. Finally, he noted it is illegal for shooters to nail, or fix targets to live trees on state land. "It ends up killing the trees," McShane said. For additional questions, McShane recommended contacting a local environmental conservation officer . Their cell phone numbers and the areas they cover are listed in the DEC's hunting and fishing guides. Finally, McShane said if a shooter is going to get out more than a couple of times to test or use his or her firearm, the best bet is to join a local sportsmen's club, where it can be done in a safe and controlled area. Q: There is a rumor running around that DEC and Cornell has released six timber wolves at Connecticut Hill (State Game Management Area), south of Ithaca. Could you please run it down? -SaltCuse A: "No," said Steve Joule, head regional wildlife biologist at the DEC's Cortland office. "We don't do that. We haven't done that. We have no plans to do it." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

There were some lucky Central New York hunters who really cashed in. Was it a good or bad year for deer hunting? Many wrote or called me during the past month saying it was a tough one, that they weren't seeing the deer they usually do. Maybe it was how the rut went down, maybe it was the weather. Maybe it was just a matter of where they were hunting. I don't have any answers. Meanwhile, there were some lucky Central New York hunters who really cashed in. Throughout the season, they submitted photos of their successful hunts to this blog. Check out this photo gallery recapping highlights from the Southern Zone firearms and muzzleloader seasons and see why these men, women and teens are smiling. I'm already looking forward to next year. See more big bucks taken by local hunters during this fall's bowhunting season. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

I'm working on my outdoors bucket list for 2014? What's on your list? Send your goals to me at [email protected]. Are there wolves on the loose south of Ithaca? Not true, says the DEC.AP Well, the nominations are in and five Central New York individuals have been selected for this year's annual "Heroes of Conservation' story, which will run in Sunday's newspaper. Other things I've been working on this week: - An 'Ask the Outdoors Guy' column that answers questions from readers on the topics of target shooting on public lands and about a rumor that wolves are being released by the DEC and Cornell on state land south of Ithaca (Not true). - An update on the duck hunting scene on Onondaga Lake, particularly access to at the unofficial Solvay boat launch. - A photo slide show of more than two dozen big bucks shot during this year's regular firearms and muzzleloader seasons. - A follow to the story about the Peterboro woman who was ticketed by the DEC for keeping a fawn as pet. - A story that encourages folks to start a New Year's tradition this year by getting outside and hiking, cross country skiing or snowshoeing on the first day of the year. - My outdoor bucket list for 2014. What's on your list? Send your goals to me at [email protected]. - Extreme Outdoors winter adventures. Folks do all sort of daring and dangerous things each winter around Central New York and the Adirodacks. - Small, community ski slopes and the expensive need to have snow-making equipment to stay open. A new trend. - The special Tompkins County deer hunting season that spans the month of January. What worked, what didn't work about it last year and why. - A Q&A with Stephen Wowelko, departing president of the Onondaga Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs. - My outdoors bucket list for 2014. ANYTHING ELSE READERS OF THIS REPORT WOULD LIKE TO SEE ME WRITE ABOUT? 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 [email protected] or call 470-6066. If you want to join The Post-Standard's Outdoors Group and get this emailed directly to you, subscribe here.. FIGURA ON FACEBOOK: For those who are on Facebook, I also have a PS Outdoors page, 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. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Anglers are out this week "probing the edges" of Big Bay, according to one bait shop source, but no reports yet of safe ice on Oneida Lake. Possibly by next week. CNY FISHING REPORT SALMON RIVER The river is low. Steelhead are still being taken throughout the river, with most of the fishing pressure still taking place in the upper river (from Pineville to the Upper Fly Zone). Bottom bouncing or float fishing with pink, blue or chartreuse egg sacs and bright-colored egg patterns is catching steelhead. Other good baits have been Oregon cheese glo-bugs, flesh flies and tangerine beads. (The Upper Fly Section closed for the season on Nov. 30. It will re-open on April 1.) OSWEGO RIVER Anglers in drift boats are still enjoying good action for steelhead and a few brown trout. Good baits are egg sacs (pink, white or chartreuse mesh), egg-imitating flies and plastics, and trout beads. Remember, the bridge to Leto Island is closed, and there are mandatory personal flotation device (PFD) zones on the river. ONEIDA LAKE Anglers are out this week "probing the edges" of Big Bay, according to one bait shop source, but no reports yet of safe ice on the lake. Possibly by next week. CAYUGA LAKE No reports yet of safe ice anywhere on the lake. SENECA LAKE Anglers still getting out in boats are catching a mixed bag of Atlantic salmon, brown trout, and some lake trout. Fishing near the surface with stickbaits, spoons or streamers is working for the salmon and brown trout. OWASCO LAKE There's coating of snow on the water at the southern end, but no safe ice at this point. OTISCO LAKE The north end has a coating of snow and ice, but it doesn't appear to be safe yet. SKANEATELES LAKE No safe ice yet at southern end. The DEC launch is closed for the season. Anglers fishing from shore for rainbow trout with marshmallow and worm rigs are still getting some fish. SODUS BAY Maybe two to three inches of ice, but not enough to call it safe. It's getting close, though. ST. LAWRENCE RIVER Anglers are getting out on the river. Eel Bay and Lake of the Isles has about six inches of ice. Chaumont Bay is frozen over, but no reports yet of safe ice. WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR There's two to three inches of ice on the reservoir's "park side," as mid-week. Ice is still questionable. *** From Nov. 1 to May 1, all persons aboard a pleasure vessel less than 21 feet regardless of age must wear a Personal Flotation Device while underway. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He got one with during the regular firearms season; the other during the muzzleloader season. Dentist Bob Clark said he was only able to get out a little bit this past hunting season -- estimating he spent only about seven hours total during two separate outings. He used his time well, bagging two 8-point bucks on separate days in the town of Van Buren. He shot them with his TC Muzzleloader. Clark, who lives in Baldwinsville and has a dental office in Liverpool, said he hunted six hours on the opening day of the regular firearms season in the Southern Zone before he shot his first buck. He took the second one this past Sunday after hunting only an hour during the muzzleloader season. Clark with Deer No. 2, shot after only an hour in the woods. Not bad for a hunter who's only shot three deer in his entire hunting career. Both deer were shot with three miles of each other, he said, and both were eating apples at the time he aimed at them. His plans for the deer? "We're going keep some of the venison for the family, and we're going to give some to some friends who've been asking," he said. He said he's going to have a trophy mount made from the second deer. "Based on my hunting history," he said. "Chances of me getting another like that are pretty darn slim." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The season opener is tied to the close of the big game hunting season, which closes at dusk tonight with the end of the muzzleloader season. This week's cold, snowy weather is a godsend for Central New York snowmobilers, with the season kicking off Wednesday. The season opener is tied to the close of the big game hunting season. The regular firearms season for deer/bear in the Southern Zone ended Dec. 8, and the late muzzle-loader season concludes at sunset today. Jim Rolf, of Cicero, trail coordinator for the 62,000-member, New York State Snowmobile Association, this week answered several questions about the coming season:. Will snowmobile trails throughout Central New York be open Wednesday? I'd like to say they will be, but I can't. Hopefully, many will. It all depends on each individual club. The clubs have the final say on their trails. Statewide, there are 226 snowmobile clubs and 15 municipalities that maintain some 10,400 miles of trails. Each club maintains their section of the trail system and is responsible for securing permission from landowners, making sure their part of the trail is safe and cleared, clearing culverts, building bridges when needed and having the trail properly signed. It's all done on a volunteer basis. Volunteers also make sure the trails are groomed throughout the season. So, how can I check which trails will be open and which will not? Clubs use a variety of methods, from using their websites to social media (Facebook) - or using emails or even phone calls to members and other interested persons. Apart from that, our association has a website, nysnowmobiler.com, where you can look up specific areas and clubs, and get contact information that way. Keep in mind, though, this is still pretty early in the season. Some trails may not be finished or properly signed yet. If a sign says the trail is closed, please respect that. What's the minimum standard for opening a trail? We generally like to see at least 3 inches of packed trail base, which you get with about nine to 12 inches of excellent snow. That's probably the minimum. Any new laws or regulations that snowmobilers should be aware of? There is an update on the long-standing regulations concerning snowmobile exhaust noise. In the past there was a decibel level. A sled's noise can't exceed 78 decibels, which is about the sound a car would make if you were standing 12 feet away. A sled can't be modified to be any louder. The problem in the past was how law enforcement officers tested it. They didn't have the proper equipment. This year they will. Every year, the association pushes for snowmobilers to join a club. Why? Like I said, it's the individual clubs that keep the trail system safe and enjoyable for everyone. The whole system is supported by the snowmobile registration fees, which go into a state fund and then get distributed to the clubs after the season ends to help cover costs. But in reality, only about 50 percent of those costs get covered by the fund. The current state registration fee for snowmobiling is $100 per sled. If you join a club, the state will reduce your registration fee by $55 per sled as an incentive. Having more club members increases the amount of money in each club's coffers, thus helping with their expenses. The volunteers that each club taps into is from their membership. How many snowmobilers were registered last year? It wasn't the best of winters for snowmobilers. Last year, there were 132,000 registered snowmobilers in the state, which was better than the year before when there were only 92,000. With the early winter, we're hoping more will register this year. Where did you snowmobile last year? I rode the hills of Madison County, up through northern Oneida County. I traveled from Florence to Rome, all the way up to Penn Mountain, through Forestport, and up to Old Forge - and into the Adirondacks. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

A Southern California angler landed a great white shark while fishing from shore. The following are among the more interesting, funny and bizarre outdoors stories I've come across lately: - Looking for an alternative energy source -- or at the very least a unique fire starter? Try moose poop. (Hint: It helps to have a cookie sheet.) See a video of interviews with a stepbrother who was there and a neighbor who came to help out The attack was precipitated by the fact that Bombay got between the bear and its cubs. It was scared off by Bombay's stepfather who fired several rifle shots into the air. By the way, the bear was never found. It's still out there. - My brother-in-law, who lives in Pennsylvania, figures he's hit nearly 20 deer in the past 20 or so years -- and has often taken the deer home afterward and butchered it and put the venison in his freezer. Brendan Bueller, a writer for modernfarmer.com, wrote a story entitled "On Eating Roadkill, the Most Ethical Meat." She calls it "manna from the mini-vans." Her piece is real food for thought. - Into ice fishing, steelhead fishing - or maybe doing a little waterfowl hunting during the holidays? You'd better get your fishing or hunting right now. The state Department of Environmental Conservation is closing down its system that handles license purchases for several weeks beginning Dec. 26. It's putting a new system into place. Seen a story recently that merits mention in this occasional feature? Give me a heads-up at [email protected] and put "Oddities in the Outdoors" in the subject line. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The proposal is designed to ensure maximum effectiveness of DEC's statewide eradication efforts New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner (DEC) Joe Martens announced Friday the proposal of new regulations that would prohibit hunting or trapping of free-ranging Eurasian boars in the state. Joe Watkins stands next to a wild boar that he shot in 2010 near his home in the Cortland County town of Scott. The boar had one-inch tusks and weighed about 475 pounds. It's being held up by a backhoe.Submitted photo The proposal is designed to ensure maximum effectiveness of DEC's statewide eradication efforts, the commissioner said. Public comments on the new regulations will be accepted until Jan. 25. "Eurasian boars are a great threat to natural resources, agricultural interests, private property an public safety wherever they occur," Martens said. "It's important that we do all in our power to ensure that this invasive species does not become established in the wild anywhere in New York State." Eurasian boars were brought to North America centuries ago and wild populations numbering in the millions now occur across much of the southern U.S. In recent years, wild boar populations have been appearing in more northern states too, often as a result of escapes from enclosed shooting facilities that offer "wild boar hunts." Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation on Oct. 21 that immediately prohibited the importation, breeding or introduction to the wild of any Eurasian boars. Furthermore, the law prohibits possession, sale, transport or marketing of live Eurasian boars as of Sept. 1, 2015. However, there are already small numbers of Eurasian boars on the landscape in New York. Since 2000, wild boars have been reported in many counties across the state, and breeding in the wild has been confirmed in at least six counties (Tioga, Cortland, Onondaga, Clinton, Sullivan and Delaware) in recent years. DEC is working closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services program to remove any Eurasian boars that are reported in New York, and to date more than 150 animals have been captured and destroyed. However, eradication is expensive, time consuming and requires a great deal of manpower. "Many hunters have offered to assist our efforts by hunting for boars wherever they occur, but experience has shown this to be counter-productive," Martens said. "As long as swine may be pursued by hunters, there is a potential conflict with our swine eradication efforts. "Eurasian boars often join together to form a 'sounder', the name for a group of pigs sometimes numbering 20 or more individuals. Shooting individual boars as opportunities arise is ineffective as an eradication method, and this often causes the remaining animals to disperse and be more difficult to remove." Hunters pursuing wild boars in locations where baited traps have been established by DEC or USDA can also undermine these costly and labor-intensive capture efforts. Shooting may remove one or two animals but the rest of the sounder scatters and rarely comes back together as a group, thereby hampering eradication efforts. In addition to prohibiting take of free-ranging swine by hunters, the proposed regulation would prohibit anyone from disturbing traps set for wild boars or otherwise interfering with Eurasian boar eradication activities. Hunting wild boar can be done at hunting preserves until 2015. The proposed regulations provide necessary exceptions for state and federal wildlife agencies, law enforcement agencies, and others who are authorized by DEC to take Eurasian boar to alleviate nuisance, property damage, or threats to public health or welfare. Anyone who observes a Eurasian boar (dead or alive) in the wild in the state is being asked to report it as soon as possible to the nearest DEC regional wildlife office or to: [email protected] and include "Feral Swine" in the subject line. Report the number of animals seen, whether any of them were piglets, the date, and the exact location (county, town, distance and direction from an intersection, nearest landmark, etc.). If you have a photograph, send that as well. The full text of the Proposed Regulation change and instructions for submitting comments can be found on DEC's website. Comments on the proposed regulations can be sent by email to [email protected] or mailed to: Kelly Stang, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4754. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He said the antlers had a gross green score of 161. Kyle Merrill, of Elbridge, poses with an impressive 10-point buck he shot Nov. 30 in Elbridge. He said the antlers had a gross green score of 161. "I saw it 4 times prior," he said. "I viewed it three times with the bow, and one other time with the gun. The deer never presented a good shot -- until Nov. 30." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

<p> Martens said DEC will undergo a change from the current computerized licensing system to a newly developed system, and the blackout is expected to last about one to two weeks. </p> <p><br />State Department of Environmmental Conservation Comissioner Joe Martens today announced a "temporary blackout period" beginning Dec. 26 at which time the public will not be able to purchase hunting, fishing or trapping licenses, or secure a recreational marine fishing registration or report their harvested game.</p> <p>Martens said DEC will undergo a change from the current computerized licensing system to a newly developed system and that the blackout is expected to last about one to two weeks. </p> <p>"In order to transfer the most current data and transition to the new system, we need to completely shut down license sales and game harvest reporting," said Commissioner Martens. "The ability to purchase a sporting license, associated stamp or permit, or report a harvested deer or bear will be temporary (shut off).</p> <p>"The public will be notified as soon the new system is accessible," he said.</p> <p>Deer and bear season in Westchester County and deer season in Suffolk County will be open during at least a portion of the blackout period. Small game and waterfowl hunting seasons and many fishing seasons will also remain open during this time.</p> <p>Hunters are required, by law, to report deer, bear, and turkey harvested pursuant to a hunting license within seven days of taking the animal. </p> <p>During the blackout period, hunters will not be able to report their harvest; however, they will be given a seven-day grace period to report their harvest once the new system is up and running, Martens said.<br /></p> View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

<p> Either lake was ready as of this afternoon. They should probably both be good by next week. </p> <p><br />After hearing concerns about whether local waterways were ready yet for ice fishing, I headed out this afternoon to Otisco Lake to see for myself.</p> <p>I arrived at the lake's northern end shortly after 4 p.m. All the northern end was covered with snow, but the edge along the eastern side by the guard rail looked like it had only a thin layer of ice. I saw water in some places. I'd be surprised if it was more than an inch thick.</p> <p>Rob Goffredo, of Bartel Bait and Tackle in Brewerton, said he drove to Big Bay about 4:30 p.m. He said he could see snow covering the bay.</p> <p>"I chopped through about an inch and a half of ice by shore. I'm not saying it's good, because it's not yet. I would think it would be a good bet that we'll be on fishing next week," he said.</p> <p>"Any time we get before Christmas is a bonus for me. I'm excited."</p> <p><br /></p> View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

What are you seeing out there? Send your comments to me at [email protected] and I'll let others know. A bitter cold snap has hit the area. Local waterways are freezing up. Is there fishable ice in Central New York yet? I'm not sure, but I do know they don't hand out medals for being the first out on a waterway. See the DEC website for more on ice fishing safety and safe ice. Meanwhile, I'm hearing there is good ice up north, but local waterways are extremely questionable. I'll let you know more when I know more. I was emailed the following this morning from Rob Goffredo, a bait store owner in Brewerton at the western end of Oneida Lake: "I believe it is extremely important you do an article on ice safety. I'm already getting a bunch of calls at the shop looking for ice conditions.I won't quote Oneida conditions till I see them myself. I can tell you a good chunk of the lake is locked up. I feel we will be fishing Big Bay (on Oneida Lake) by the middle of next week. They are already fishing on Black Lake , Lakeview Marsh. Chippawa Bay (on the St. Lawrence River) and most of the northern lakes. I'll be going over to Big Bay to check later today. And this came from a DEC staffer. "I wanted to alert you to an area of Otisco Lake that may not develop solid ice. Many people fish the small northern bay for bluegill. If you walk south of the bay on the ice, you have to cross the narrows, and I know from experience that the ice there is thin enough to fall through, even well into the season." I'm thinking of checking Otisco Lake later this afternoon to see if anyone is out. Stay tuned. What are you seeing out there in regard to safe ice on Oneida, Otisco and elsewhere? Send your comments to me at [email protected] and I'll let others know. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"I live on the South shore of Oneida Lake. Last night around 10:00 p.m., a snowy owl flew "into" my picture window facing the lake," said one reader. The presence of migrating snowy owls at the Hancock International Airport has drawn a lot of attention lately. But so has the appearance of these magnificent birds, with wingspans of four to five feet, in other locations around Central New York. The following is a sampling of sightings from readers: "On Monday Nov. 25, we had a snowy owl visit our yard in Bridgeport and stayed for most of the day. I first spotted him a little after 7 a.m. sitting under one of the bird feeders near the house. This snowy owl was spotted on a rooftop in Eastwood on Thanksgiving Day.Scott McDonald photo "He then flew to a fire pit we have next to the water and remained there until about 4:15 in the afternoon. He left shortly after a missed attempt to have a mourning dove for dinner." -Dan Millert, Bridgeport "I live on the South shore of Oneida Lake. Last night around 10:00 p.m., a snowy owl flew "into" my picture window facing the lake. "I had my outside light on and the owl flew onto my deck and walked around a little. I'm sure I scared him trying to take a picture of him. Boy, was he large! I thought you might be interested to know that he was exploring my lakefront. -Barbara Rivard, Brewerton "Two weeks ago I was out jogging at around 2 p.m. and I heard what sounded at first like a crow. I looked up at a tree next to Minoa Elementary School and saw what I initially thought was a cat, and then realized it looked like an owl. I googled owls when I got home, and discovered it was a snowy owl. "On Tuesday, I heard one, then saw it in a tree in front of a house on my block in Minoa. I stared at it for about 3 or 4 minutes as it continued to make its unique sound. I jog outside everyday and have seen many different birds and animals, we live near the woods, but never a snowy owl before. Pretty cool. -Jeff Goldstein, Minoa "On Monday Nov. 25, we had a snowy owl visit our yard in Bridgeport and stayed for most of the day. I first spotted him a little after 7 a.m. sitting under one of the bird feeders near the house. "He then flew to a fire pit we have next to the water and remained there until about 4:15 in the afternoon. He left shortly after a missed attempt to have a mourning dove for dinner." -Dan Millert, Bridgeport "A snowy owl sat on the roof of my house in Eastwood all Thanksgiving morning and part of the afternoon -- even though it was being harassed by up to a dozen crows taking turns diving on it and clawing at its head. "The owl sat there and never moved. The crows finally gave up and moved on. The owls persistence won out and enjoyed the peace and quiet for quite a while before finally flying off." - Mrgrumpo, Eastwood This snowy owl has been sighted by several readers at the Fuccillo Kia dealership in Clay.Nick Capria "Hello! Just wanted to let you know that the snowy owl is still in the vicinity of the Kia dealership in Clay on Route 31. According to the salespeople, the bird has been walking near the pond that is located in front of the building, as well as roosting in trees and on top of the light fixtures. "They said I was about the 10th person to stop by today to see the bird. The owl looks good, and seems very tolerant of people being in close proximity. All in all, a magnificent experience for me. -Diane Massie, Baldwinsville "Yesterday morning I was at Fucillo Kia. When I walked outside I saw an owl sitting on the light pole being harassed by some very noisy black crows that were dive bombing it. I stood there for a few minutes, and someone from inside came out to take a picture of it, and said that it's been there for a few days. It flew off the light pole and went to sit on a car but slid off, and still the crows were trying to attack it. "Poor thing, I believe it is hurt, or something. It's been bothering me since yesterday morning. Wouldn't know who to call. :(" -Shelly Rogers "There is one (snowy owl)that has been seen various times on new Wal-Mart site in Clay this past week. He/she has about a 3-4 foot wing span." -Steve Hannon Baddnuzz photo " While hunting in the Chateaugay State Forest recently, I had an opportunity to observe a snowy owl. " The sun was shining very bright while I was hunting on the edge of a dense stand of hemlock trees in a swamp. All of a sudden I observed a large bird fly down and catch something to eat. "The next thing you know, this large bird flew into a tree that was two trees over from me. It turned out to be a very large snowy owl. " Instead of watching for deer, my attention was now going to this amazingly beautiful bird. I watched it turn its head 360 degrees (This might be a slight exaggeration, but that is what it seemed.) one way and then back the other way for about 10 minutes or so. I was chuckling to myself the whole time because the movement of its head was like a washing machine with an agitator going one way and then back the other way. " The next thing you know, it flew to the tree next to me, landing about 15 feet away. Finally, it decided that it didn't like what it saw, said "Who, Who" and flew away." - Jackie Coon, Fulton Greg Craybas snapped this photo of a snowy at the airport this week.Greg Craybas photo Finally, Syracuse dentist/wildlife photographer Greg Craybus has taken some beautiful pictures of the birds at the airport in recent weeks. He's beginning to wonder, though, if they're following him. He wrote: "I must be leaving a food trail. I guess it helps to photograph owls. I was driving by Home Depot In Camillus on way to work and caught this snowy owl out of the corner of my eye. It was pretty dark out and all I had was iPhone. Pretty cool to see the owls spreading out and not concentrating at the airport. Of course my camera is nice and warm at home. " Greg Craybas snapped this photo of snowy on top of the Home Depot building in Camillus with his iPhone.Greg Craybas photo View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Watch the video. You will be stunned with the result. The following story was written by Todd Masson, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune in New Orleans. Very interesting. Fire ants are pretty cool creatures -- I mean, aside from the fact they crawl all up your leg and give no warning of their presence until the team leader sends out the signal to rain down simultaneous, Sodom and Gomorrah-style fire and brimstone on your pink, exposed skin. That kind of sucks, but ants actually do some good. For instance, they clean up the mess left behind when you accidentally run over an opossum, turning to energy the scraps the buzzards leave behind, and they also help aerate your soil. And those little suckers have quite the work ethic. Still, there are few things more fun than exacting a little revenge by spraying them with a slow-acting toxin, and giving them a taste of their own medicine. Or better yet, you can do what these guys have discovered and pour molten aluminum into their colony. Watch the video. You will be stunned with the result. This is a piece of art that I would love to display in my house, and I think my wife actually would as well. Trust me. This is the coolest thing you'll see all day. Watch the video. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

They were both caught within two days of each other last week! Two huge muskies - both with world record potential - were caught within two days of each other last week on the St. Lawrence River. The record the anglers are hoping to get is the International Game Fish Association's "All Tackle Length" record which focuses on the fish's length (as opposed to weight) and stresses that the fish be released alive after being measured. "I knew mine was big when I got him," said Mark Carlson, of Rockford, Ill., who caught the larger of the two fish, which measured at least 56 inches. "I initially couldn't get the rod out of the rod holder. When he turned to swim behind the boat, I was just about pulled out of the boat." The first muskie caught -- an impressive, 54-incher -- was landed Dec. 2 on the St. Lawrence River by Matt Forjohn, of Ambler, Pa. He was aboard a charter boat, Water Wolf Charters, with Capt. Bob Walters of Skaneateles Falls. Matt Forjohn's 54 incher.Submitted photo The fish was measured using an official IGFA measuring device. Per IGFA rules, it was measured from the front lip to the "v" of its tail (not the outer tip). Using that technique, it measured 130 centimeters (51.18 inches). That's two centimeters longer than the current record set in 2011 by Mark Carlson, who caught that fish in the Ottawa River in Canada. Forjohn caught his fish on a 12-inch, Swim Whizz lure, which was painted to resemble a small walleye. The fish hit while Walter's 31-foot Cherokee boat was trolling near a shoal at Carleton Island, which is about where the river begins on Lake Ontario. The catch, measurement and release were captured on the boat's video camera. Walters said bigger muskie have been caught and released in the river and elsewhere. He noted, though, that IGA rules require an official measuring device, pictures, samples of the line and leader and the proper paperwork to be filled out -- along with a 60-day wait to see if there's any challenges to the catch -- before it's declared a record. "We did everything that was asked," he said. Jack Vitek, the IGFA's record coordinator, confirmed Wednesday the application had been received and that "everything seems in order." Barring any unforeseen problems, he said a world record certificate would probably be issued to Norjohn by early February. But it appears that record won't last long. Carlson, who was interviewed Wednesday evening, said "I had no clue" that Norjohn's fish broke his 2011 record. He was was out fishing Dec.4 in the Gananoque area of the river. "I was out trolling with IGFA muskie expert Mike Lazarus when the fish struck a Legend perch bait," he said, adding the fish was netted after a 15-minute battle. Carlson said the fish measured "over 56 inches on the bump board and IGFA ruler without pinching the tail." He said he hasn't submitted his paperwork yet to the IGFA. Carlson said the fish was so big and was wiggling so much that he didn't measure the fish squarely on the official IGFA measuring device. He participates in a Canadian fisheries fish tagging program and cut the measuring session short to get the tag on the fish, and to make sure the fish was alive when it was released. "It was hard to position. I settled on 132 centimeters, but it was probably 134," he said. BIG MUSKIES The IGFA's "All Tackle" world records are determined by weight instead of length. The Florida-based group's All Tackle record for a muskie is held by Carl Johnson. It weighed 67 pounds, 8 ounces and was caught in 1949 on Lake Court Oreilles in Hayward, Wisc. The IGFA's special All Tackle Length category was created in 2011. Matt Forjohn's muskie weighed nearly 50 pounds. Mark Carlson said his fish weighed more than 55 pounds. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Winter is here and I've already started going through my ice fishing equipment in my garage. The regular deer hunting season with firearms in the Southern Zone is over, but the muzzleloader scene still has a few days to go. (Keep sending those deer photos in!) Meanwhile, the local ski slopes have been open the past two weekends and with the cold and snow this week it appears they will continue to be open. Winter is here and I've already started going through the ice fishing equipment in my garage. I have the portable shanty and the portable propane heater all set up and ready to go. Meanwhile, here's a list of the stories I've been working on this week: - An Elite Series bass tournament will be held this coming summer on Cayuga Lake. The event will features a separate contest, 'The Governor's Challenge,' in which Gov. Andrew Cuomo will fish, along with other local and state officials. - Snowy owls. Snowy owls were linked to five bird/airplane incidents down at several NYC area airports last week and by the weekend several were actually shot down at JFK...cooler heads have prevailed and the approach has been changed trapping and relocating the birds. Meanwhile, folks at Hancock here in Syracuse say they haven 't been a problem. - Snowy owls2 -- I've received about 5-6 pics and a number of comments reporting sitings from readers on snowy's elsewhere in Central New York. Hope to post story later this week. - Big Bucks 2013: Hope to post a photo slideshow by the end of this week or beginning of next on more than a dozen buck bucks shot by hunters this fall. - The Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area: Interview DEC official Mike Putnam about a new plan for the popular hunting area. - Duck hunting on Onondaga Lake. So, with all the dredging and stuff that took place this summer, what's the story for duck hunters on Onondaga Lake this winter? - Heroes of Conservation: The nominations are in. Picking top 5. Stay tuned. Feature will run Dec. 22. Next week and beyond: - New Year's Day hikes. A number of people take a hike to kick off the New Year (either in boots or snowshoes). I come up with 15-20 great locations to start the New Year off right. - Extreme Outdoors winter adventures. Folks do all sort of daring and dangerous things each winter around Central New York and the Adirodacks. - Small, community ski slopes and the expensive need to have snow-making equipment to stay open. A new trend. - The special Tompkins County deer hunting season that spans the month of January. What worked, what didn't work about it last year and why. - A Q&A with Stephen Wowelko, departing president of the Onondaga Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs. - My outdoors bucket list for 2014. ANYTHING ELSE READERS OF THIS REPORT WOULD LIKE TO SEE ME WRITE ABOUT? 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 [email protected] or call 470-6066. If you want to join The Post-Standard's Outdoors Group and get this emailed directly to you, subscribe here.. FIGURA ON FACEBOOK: For those who are on Facebook, I also have a PS Outdoors page, 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. - View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

An Elites Series tournament held this past summer at Waddington on the St. Lawrence River had a million-dollar impact on the local economy. ... The best professional bass fishermen from across the country will be on Cayuga Lake this summer. Add to that, Gov. Andrew Cuomo along with other local and state officials are expected to wet their lines there as well -- or on some other nearby waterway. It's all part of a Bassmaster Elite Series fishing tournament scheduled for Aug. 21-24. The winning pro will walk away with a $100,000 check. The Elite Series schedule, announced on Bassmaster.com, notes Cayuga Lake is the 8th stop on the prestigious series tour. The news of an Elite Series tournament on a Finger Lake was first announced this summer by Gov. Andrew Cuomo at the Elite Series Evan Williams Bourbon Showdown held Aug. 8-11 at Waddington on the St. Lawrence River. At that time, Cuomo also noted the event would include a separate contest, the "Governor's Challenge," featuring the governor, elected officials from New York State and some of the biggest names in professional fishing." The location for that event has not been announced yet. As part of this partnership with B.A.S.S., Cuomo added, the professional bass fishing organization agreed to provide "a promotional media campaign that will feature its Elite Series tournament, the Governor's Challenge and other New York fishing opportunities and destinations." The news of the Cayuga Lake tournament and Governor's Challenge is good news for the local economy. The Bassmaster Elite Series fishing tournament held this summer at Waddington on the St. Lawrence River had a substantial economic impact with attendees spending $1 million to $3 million in St. Lawrence County, a recent survey found. That tournament, the Elite Series Evan Williams Bourbon Showdown, was held Aug. 8-11. The economic survey was conducted by six Clarkson University MBA students. They gave their report recently to the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce and the county's Board of Supervisors. According to a story in northcountrynow.com, 96 percent of (the expenditures) at the Waddington event came from U.S. visitors and 4 percent from Canadian guests. The survey determined about a quarter of the total expenditures were on "non-fishing related shopping." Also, that "a little less than a quarter each were on accommodations, and on food and beverages; about 17 percent on fishing gear, and 11 percent on gas station expenses." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He got him on his third time out. Tim Smith, 49, poses with his first deer -- a 10-point buck he shot in Lafayette. He wrote: "I never hunted as a child, but many of my friends did. My father hunted as a teenager, but chose not to after starting a family. I always wanted to, but circumstances prevented me until this year. "I attended the hunters safety course, (and passed), so I got my sportsmans license. Finding someone to teach me to hunt was difficult to say the least. I spent the summer practicing my marksmanship at the Bridgeport rod and gun club, but finding a mentor was proving difficult. "A new employee at my place of employment agreed to teach me to hunt. His name is Master Sergeant Pete Palumb, U.S. Army, retired. This is a picture (above) of my first deer, my third timeout -- of my first season ever. "I am happy to say that this buck died instantly, with a shot just behind and below his right ear. The last thing I want is for an animal to suffer needlessly. Without the help and guidance of Pete, I never would have had the opportunity to harvest this trophy. "P.S. Did I mention that I used a borrowed shotgun from Pete? Sarge said it was dead on at 100 yards, and boy was it!" View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The study, into its second year, starts up again in January. The following is a DEC press release: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens today announced the kickoff of the second year of a research project on wild turkey survival to help improve the management of this popular game bird. "Wild turkeys are the most popular small game species in New York among hunters afield," Commissioner Martens said. "The data generated by this study will provide valuable information on turkey survival rates and population size to help guide future management of this important game species. I encourage landowners that have wild turkey on their property this winter to consider participating in this study." Over the past 10 years wild turkey populations have declined in many parts of New York State. In an effort to better understand the factors influencing population changes and how these changes affect turkey management, DEC is beginning the second year of a four-year study. This project will provide wildlife managers with current estimates of harvest and survival rates for female wild turkeys, or hens, in New York and guide future management efforts. Beginning in January, DEC will embark on a statewide effort to capture wild turkey hens and fit them with leg bands to obtain accurate data on survival and harvest. A small number of these birds will also be tagged with satellite radio-transmitters. All of the work will be done by DEC personnel on both public and private lands from January through March. The research will be concentrated in DEC Regions 3 through 9 where turkey populations are largest. From 2006 through 2009, DEC staff worked with landowners from across the state to assess harvest and survival of male wild turkeys (gobblers). Hundreds of landowners participated in that study or provided reports of winter turkey flocks. With that important project completed, DEC is once again looking for landowners interested in helping with the new study focused on hen survival. DEC is looking for landowners in DEC Regions 3 through 9 interested in allowing birds to be trapped on their land, as well as alerting project coordinators when they see turkeys on their property on a regular basis. Once turkeys are trapped and banded, they will immediately be released at the same location. Not all locations are suitable for deploying capture equipment, so landowners should contact their regional project coordinator to discuss the suitability of their property. Observations of turkey flocks during January through March can be reported to the project coordinator for that region or can be reported using the Winter Flock Survey form found on DEC's website. For more information on this project, contact the regional project coordinator or DEC by e-mail at [email protected]. ("Turkey Study" should be listed as the subject line in any e-mails.) The regional coordinator for Region 7 is wildlife biologist Lance Clark at the DEC's Cortland office. He can be reached at (607) 753 3095. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

She suffered severe bites on her arms and shoulders, and a deep cut on her head. MILL HALL, Pa. (AP) - A black bear attacked a teenager in central Pennsylvania as she hunted deer on a family farm, state police said Tuesday. Camille Marie Bomboy, 18, of Mill Hall, suffered severe bites on her arms and shoulders, and a deep cut on her head, authorities said. She was hunting with a large group Monday in Porter Township, about 75 miles northwest of Harrisburg, when three black bear cubs ran past her. Troopers said the girl turned around to see a large black bear charging her and that the victim's stepfather was able to scare it off. The girl underwent surgery at a hospital. The Pennsylvania Game Commission was investigating. The black bear population in Pennsylvania has increased from about 4,000 in the 1970s to about 14,000 today, according to the commission. In October 2011, a married couple was injured when a bear followed the family dog into their central Pennsylvania home. That encounter took place about 60 miles south of Mill Hall. At the time, state officials said there hadn't been a fatal bear attack in Pennsylvania for more than a century. Authorities say black bear attacks are rare, but in 2002, a 5-month-old girl was killed by one in New York's Catskill Mountains. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog