HuntingNY-News

"He's now at the taxidermist," he said. Jody Tourtellotte, of Baldwinsville, poses with a nice, 8-point buck he shot opening day in Lysander. He wrote: "I went out a half hour before light opening morning in order to let the woods settle down. "Ten minutes after light I was watching a deer walk in front of my son, Dean, in the field opposite me. I heard him shoot and the deer dropped. It was a button buck. "I caught movement out of the corner of my eye so I turned to see him sneak out 10 yards behind me. I shot and he dropped. The closer I got the bigger he got, no ground shrinkage "He's now at the taxidermist. We were back to the house by 7:30." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He shot it with his grandfather's gun Hunter Wojslaw, of Central Square, shot this 11-point buck with his grandfather's shotgun on Nov. 17 in Monroe County. The deer weighed 165 pounds after being field dressed. He was hunting at the time with his father, uncle and cousin. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"My practice is when the game is in my sights so to speak. I ask my maker and my father and grandfathers to guide that arrow or bullet to its intended destination. To do its job swiftly and to minimize the animal's pain," said one hunter. I've done it. I've seen others do. Others have told me about it. I'm talking about hunters who pause to give thanks or say a prayer after shooting a deer with their bow or firearm. I recently asked for comments from readers about this topic and the following were among those received: "I have always taken a moment to pray after harvesting a deer. I view it as a solemn moment, a moment that further binds my soul to the spirit of the earth and the creature I have killed. Excepting photosynthesis, it is the natural cycle that one dies so that another one eats. I take a moment to appreciate that cycle, the beauty of the natural world and my place in it, and the strange, wonderful connection that all living creatures share. Then I take care to dress and process the deer as efficiently as possible. Careless handling and processing of the meat is wasteful, inefficient, and dishonors the deer." -William Morey, of Solvay . "My practice is when the game is in my sights so to speak. I ask my maker and my father and grandfathers to guide that arrow or bullet to its intended destination. To do its job swiftly and to minimize the animal's pain. When the animal is retrieved, during the clean out process I always thank God for the healthy animal he has enabled me to harvest to feed my family, and my forefathers for their teaching me the love and respect for the outdoors." -Curtiss Hey, of Baldwinsville "I am definitely one who takes a few moments after each harvest to thank and pay respect to the animal. This is a very spiritual and meaningful experience for me and I do not take this loss of life lightly. I am thankful for the deer's life and the nourishment it will provide for my family. I am thankful for the opportunity and the experience. I am thankful to be more directly connected to the reality of life and death as an omnivore. Most non-vegetarians, especially, non-hunters, are so deliberately disconnected from this concept. They want to believe, or at the very least, choose not to think about and definitely don't want to be reminded of the fact that the meat they consume was indeed alive. And when it comes to conventional commercial meat production it is a particularly horrible existence for that animal, from start to finish....anyway, I digress." -Matt DeRin, of Marcellus "Yes, I always stop a moment, say a prayer and give thanks to God for the opportunity to harvest a deer. Sometimes I go off the beaten path where no one will see me and pray. I see the foliage as living in a beautiful garden with all the colors. My prayer goes like this: 'Merciful father I humbly thank you for the opportunity to be outdoors and enjoy your wonderful creation. 'I thank you for this deer 'I always ask your blessings and guidance in everything I do "This I ask in Jesus name." -Migell Wedderburn, of Pennellville View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Danchak said proceeds from the coyote hunt go toward a wide variety of the Federation's activities, including paying for fishing derbies and sending youngsters to the state Department of Environmental Conservation's summer camp. The 7th annual, statewide Coyote Hunt was announced recently by the Federation of Sportmen's Clubs of Sullivan County. Included in the announcement was the $2,000 grand prize for the hunter who turns in the heaviest coyote during the three-day competition set for Feb. 7-9. The tournament directors also noted steps they're taking to ensure fairness and keep cheating to a minimum. Tournament spokesman Dan Danchak said all coyotes, regardless of where were shot, have to be weighed at the White Sulphur Springs Firehouse near Liberty. Dranchak said coyote hunters come from all over the state to compete. Liberty is about a three-hour drive from Syracuse. Last year, the hunt had 755 hunters. The biggest turnout in the hunt's 7-year history was in 2010, when 1,066 hunters signed up. The coyotes must be taken by hunting only. No coyotes killed by trapping are allowed. The use of dogs to hunt is permitted. "All state hunting regulations must be followed. All coyotes must be taken by fair chase/stalk methods," Danchak said. Hunters must have a current small game hunting license. There's no daily take limit to how many coyotes a hunter can kill and they can be hunted day or night, according to the DEC hunting guide. The season lasts from Oct. 1 to March 30. Danchak highly recommends bringing in coyotes the day they were killed. "All coyotes will be body temperature- tested," he said. "A temperature below 68 degrees is a disqualification." The idea, he said, is to eliminate any cheater who would kill the coyote outside of the three-day tournament, freeze it and then try to enter it. Danchak's suggestions for those who have to travel great distances include: "Use whatever means necessary to keep the body temperature about the 68 degrees," he said. "Wrap the coyote in bag, tarp, blanket or put it in an ice chest. Do not expose the coyote to the elements before weigh-in." He said the winning coyote usually averages between 45 and 55 pounds. One year, the winner weighed 75 pounds. It was shot near Grahamsville in Sullivan County. "It taken on farm where there was a lot butchering going on and there was entrails from the cows and hogs that were being tossed out (and accessible), Danchak said. "That coyote was eating pretty good." Danchak said proceeds from the coyote hunt go toward a wide variety of Federation's activities, including paying for fishing derbies and sending youngsters to the state Department of Environmental Conservation's summer camp. For more, see the Sullivan County Federation's website at sullivancountysportsmensfederationny.com or call Danchak at 845-482-4987. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Next time something like that happens, call 911 and report it. These guys are not the norm. It's individuals like them who give hunters, the vast majority of whom are law-abiding and responsible individuals, a bad name. 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 concern deer antlers and the topic or reckless hunters. Question: Several readers who are non-hunters have noted I am constantly referring to the number of points on a buck's antlers. Just what exactly is a point and how long does it have to be to be considered one? Answer: I called Robert Haff, of Fleming, who's an official measurer with the New York Big Buck Club. Haff said a deer's antlers generally have two main beams. Any solitary growth off the main beam is called a tine. A tine has to be at least one inch long to be counted as a point. Nubs or growths less than an inch don't count, Half said. When he measures a tine, he said, he holds a measurer's cable (about 1/8 of an inch thick) flush to the main beam at the base of the tine. "I draw an indicator line with pencil on the tine from the tine's tip at its base (using the cable as its end point). I then measure that distance. If it's at least an inch, I consider it a point," he said. For more on the Big Buck Club or to contact an official measurer, see nysbigbuckclub.com. nysbigbuckclub.com. There's no cost to have your deer's antler's officially measured. If the buck qualifies for entry in the club's record book, there is a $20 fee to have it included. If the buck qualifies for entry there is a $20 entry fee to have the buck placed in the record book., but it costs $20 to have your deer included in the club's annual publication of big bucks across the state. Question: About a week ago my wife and I were on Old State Road, a stretch that runs from west of southwest Oswego into the village of Fair Haven. In front of us were two guys in the back of a pickup truck, legs hanging over the back, laughing and possibly sloshed, with their rifles pointing directly at us. Yes, maybe the safeties were on. Nevertheless, do you have an opinion about this? Is this OK behavior? -Bob, from Oswego Answer: . Bob, all I know is what you've told me. No, it's not OK. Sounds like these two individuals were being stupid and reckless. It's a basic tenant of gun safety to neverm ever point a firearm at something unless you intend to shoot it. I can understand why you and your wife were upset. Whether they were intentionally or unintentionally pointing it your way doesn't matter. It's an absolute no-no. You mentioned you didn't know if the guns were loaded. If they were and the vehicle was stopped by a police officer or environmental conservation officer, the individuals would have faced misdemeanor charges of riding in a moving vehicle with a loaded firearm. In addition, pointing a loaded firearm your way could have resulted in an additional charge of reckless endangerment. Next time something like that happens, call 911 and report it. These guys are not the norm. It's individuals like them who give hunters, the vast majority of whom are law-abiding and responsible individuals, a bad name. sis an absolute no-no. and I can understand and sympathize with you and wife. off the main beam is considered and points are the parts of the a Basically when you have a frqame ofa rack, you have the main beams and any point that comes off the main beans. Have to be an inch or greater is considred a point. You have a point that's 8 inches and you can have a point coming off that, but it still has to be an inch long to be considered a point. Robert Haff, of Fleming,, an oficials scorer for the New York State Big Buck Club. Point is measure.. if cut ppoint off main beam. That would be distance you would use.. cut aoff with a saw and measure.. put some maksing tape around the point and then lay a cable flush to the main beam and then you draw indicator lines on the masking tape and then we measure it. Tine is length of a point coming off the main .. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Environmental conservation officers were told before the hunting season began to check with the local district attorney's office first before writing any tickets. With the local deer hunting season for firearms nearly half over in the Southern Zone, there's been no public reports or news releases concerning a hunter being charged with a SAFE Act-related violation in Central New York. The state Department of Environmental Conservation press office in Albany today declined to confirm that there's been no tickets issued locally by environmental conservation officers, or comment on the matter after being given two days to research the situation. Oneida County District Attorney Scott D. McNamara isn't surprised. He noted that "hunters by nature are law-abiding people. Deer hunting is typically not the activity where someone is violating the SAFE Act. "No one has called me yet that we have a guy with an assault rifle mowing down deer," he added. The season opened Nov. 16 and lasts until Dec. 8. Read about SAFE Act arrests in other situations. However, some do hunt with semi-automatic firearms, which the firearms industry calls "modern sporting rifles," with magazines capable of holding multiple rounds. Prior to the passage of the SAFE Act, DEC hunting regulations allowed hunters to have no more than six rounds in a magazine. That restriction remains in effect. DEC environmental conservation officers across the state were given instructions about enforcing the SAFE Act before heading out for this year's hunting season. "DEC enforcement officers are police officers who are expected to enforce the laws of New York State. They have not been ordered to check for anything; they are expected to have a knowledge of, and enforce all laws that would apply to a licensed hunter," said Lisa King, a DEC spokeswoman. " Specific charges for people committing felonies, and especially crimes under the SAFE Act, will be considered after discussion with the district attorney in the county in which the infraction occurs." The reason for checking with the local district's office is a valid one. Why write a ticket or make an arrest if the district attorney is going to ignore it, or not prosecute it? Earlier this year, the Columbia County district attorney announced he would not prosecute a case involving a violation of the SAFE Act involving an individual charged with having too many rounds in the magazine of his gun. The Orleans District attorney also announced he would not prosecute any SAFE Act violations unless the gun was used in committing a crime. A survey of five Central New York district attorney offices revealed that everyone is committed to enforcing the laws of the state and the country , and that the SAFE Act is no exception . Interviews were done with district attorneys or their chief assistants in Onondaga, Oswego, Cayuga, Madison and Oneida counties. However, all said stressed the facts of each case would be looked at closely.None said they had received calls from the DEC seeking their stance on the SAFE Act. "It is the law of New York State and we intend on upholding the law," said Rick Trunfio, first chief assistant district attorney in Onondaga D.A. William Fitzpatrick's office. "Like every other violation presented to us by police, the DEC or whoever, we'll look at the facts and the law and make a determination based on the facts and the law." Some pointed out, though, that a district attorney's duties and powers include discretion, and that prosecuting a case doesn't always mean seeking the maximum penalty, or that even a minimum penalty for that matter. "Part of the purpose of laws is to educate," said Robert Mascari, chief assistant for William Gabor, Madison County's district attorney. "Our constitutional charge is to prosecute appropriately and to seek the ends of justice. "New laws can be confusing. Our goal is to punish when a violation has a negative effect on the community," he said. Jon Budelman, Cayuga County's district attorney, said he understands the governor's intent to address the problems with semi-automatic firearms in a "meaningful fashion. However, the way it was addressed was not in a meaningful fashion." He said he plans to prosecute SAFE act cases, but added the law is full of loop holes and that enforcing some aspects of it, such as when a large capacity magazine was purchased, will be difficult. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

See a poacher? Call the DEC at 1-800-TIPP-DEC. Thanks to the help of Capt. Matt Revenaugh, who heads the state Department of Environmental Conservation's Region 7 law enforcement team headquartered in Syracuse, here's the latest in an on-going series entitled, "Keeping Watch." The idea is to give readers insight to the final disposition of tickets issued by our local environmental conservation officers from the state Department of Environmental Conservation. The cases that appear here are cases where the defendant has either pleaded guilty or found guilty after trial. This is not intended to be all-inclusive list of cases handled, but is representative of dispositions received by the Region 7 law enforcement office. Click on the link below to see the most recent cases: R7 Fine 11-20-13.pdf View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"It bit on a chartreuse trout bead," he said. Kevin Buttenschon, of Weedsport, caught this steelhead recently below the Compactor Hole on the Salmon River. "It bit on a chartreuse trout bead," he said. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

One was a nine pointer; the other, eight points. It was a great opening day this season for Michael Juskow and his hunting buddy, Tim Macko Jr. The two were hunting Nov. 16 on private land in Chenango County. Juskow, of Pennellville, (left) shot a nice, 9-point buck. A couple of hours later, Macko, of North Syracuse, got an 8-point. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

A race is a good way to get some exercise in before sitting down to a big Thanksgiving meal. There's five running events scheduled Thursday morning for those who want to get in a little exercise before sitting down to a big Thanksgiving meal. 1). 45th Annual Turkey Day Races: At C.W. Baker High School (East Oneida Street), Baldwinsville. Scheduled includes a ½ mile kids run at 8:30 a.m., a 5K at 9:15 and a 10K at 10. For more, see baldwinsvillekiwanis.com. 2). Turkey Trot 5K Run - YMCA Race: Starts 9 a.m. at Cortland YMCA, 22 Tompkins Street, Cortland. Runners are encouraged to b ring nonperishable food for the local food pantry. For more cortlandymca.org. 3). Annual Turkey Trot in Skaneateles: Starts at 9 a.m. in front of the Sherwood Inn. The course is a little less than a 5 K. There's no cost and participants either run or walk in this informal race. Donations will be solicited for the local food pantry. For more, see skaneateles.com. 4). Fayetteville-Manlius Turkey Trot: Starts at Fayetteville-Manlius High School track and cross country trail. The schedule includes a 800 meter run at 10 a.m., followed by 4K and 8K runs at 10:15. The winners will all be awarded pumpkin pies. For more, see fmpopwarner.org. 5). Jordan Turkey Trot (5K): Starts at 9 a.m. at the Jordan Masonic Lodge, Main Street, Jordan. The cost to enter is a non-perishable can of food, which will be donated to the food pantry. . For more, contact Ken Bush III at [email protected]. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The resorts will be closed, though, during the night time. "We'll be running the snow guns full bore then," said one resort spokeswoman. Local ski slopes will be open for business the day after Thanksgiving. "We're calling it White Friday," said Peter Harris, Song Mountain's owner/ operator. "We will be open this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. all three days." Harris said the resort's snowmaking machines were turned on Saturday afternoon and were just turned off early this afternoon. In addition, the slopes saw some 8 to 10 inches of lake effect snow Sunday and today. Add to that, there's a nor'easter expected to hit the area tomorrow and tomorrow evening. "I've been here 14 years and this is the first time we've been skiing on Thanksgiving weekend," Harris said. Last year, the resort opened Dec. 15. The story is the same at Labrador Mountain in Truxton, Toggenburg Mountain in Fabius and "tentatively" at Greek Peak in Cortland. "We'll be open from 9 to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday and as long as the weather continues doing what we want it to do," said Amelia Wilson, administrative assistance at Labrador Mountain. Greek Peak's website and a saleswoman at the resort said this afternoon the resort is "tentatively opening" Friday." Toggenburg is a definite, said Cyndy Sisto, office manager. She said Tog will be open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 9 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Like the other resorts, Toggenburg will be closed for night skiing this weekend. "We'll be running the snow guns full bore then," Sisto said. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"I was surprised," her father said. "It was quite a shot." Anna Spin, of Auburn, shot spin shot her first regular season doe on Sunday, just as she turned 16, her father said. Scott Spin said she was hunting with him on private land in Fleming. "Anna shot the doe at 90 yards with her single shot, .223-caliber rifle. "I was surprised," her father said. "It was quite a shot." This is Anna's third deer, he said. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The buck weighed about 175 pounds. The father said, "I could hardly drag it out of the woods with my son's help." He shot it in Lakeland. Anthony Andrews, 14, is all smiles as he poses with an 8-point buck he shot last week in Lakeland. It was his first deer. Anthony, a freshman at West Genesee High School, was hunting at the time with his father, John Andrews. The boy was sitting alone in a ground blind at the time near a field. The deer came across his sights at about 40 to 50 yards away. His father was texting him, telling him it was getting late and time to go home. Evidently not. The buck weighed about 175 pounds. The father said, "I could hardly drag it out of the woods with my son's help. "What a way to start out your hunting career," the father concluded. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

It was his first deer. E.J. Falcone, of Lakeland, 15, poses with a nice, 9-point buck he shot on opening day of deer hunting season in the the Southern Zone. His father wrote: "He is the son of Manny and Mary Falcone. He was hunting with his uncle Scott Falcone . He shot the deer with a Remington 870 wing master slug gun. "The gun was formerly owned by our neighbor Rich Kohler, who owned the gun for 30 years and gifted it the E.J. EJ used the gun on opening day and the gun shot its first deer. "The location is my father's camp where he also shot his first deer. Dad is deceased so the deer has a lot of sentimental feelings being at dads camp. The camp is on Cross Lake, near Jordan." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"Many of these wetlands are filling in, becoming congested 'cornfields' of cattails with little or no open water," Howe said. A new proposal to regulate Lake Ontario's water levels is long overdue and desperately needed, according to environmentalists, outdoor sportsmen and other supporters. The proposal, Plan 2014, is currently before the International Joint Commission, a panel of U.S. and Canadian officials, and it would change the way the lake's water levels have been regulated since the late 1950s. The lake's current levels have made the lake's 63,000 acres of surrounding wetlands unhealthy; wildlife, native plants and fish are suffering, supporters of the plan said. Jim Howe, executive director of the Central and Western Chapters of the Nature Conservancy, stressed that wetlands act as a nature filter for great stretches of the lake's watershed and have other positive impacts on the lake. "These wetlands needed these exaggerated highs and lows to kill off certain plants. That's not happening now. Many of these wetlands are filling in, becoming congested 'cornfields' of cattails with little or no open water," Howe said. The current state of affairs, he said, has resulted in the near absence of endangered birds such as the black tern and least bittern, which are "indicators of unhealthy wetlands." Waterfowl hunters, who remember the "good old days' are frustrated by the increasing lack of birds to shoot. The lack of open water spaces within these areas has drastically lowered the numbers of muskrats, labeled a "keystone" species because they directly affect the environment by eating cattails and helping to clear waterways. That's not happening now, Howe said. It's also been a sucker punch to fish like the lake's northern pike, a top- of- the- food chain predator, that depend on the wetlands to spawn. One study noted the pike population in the Eastern Basin has declined by as much as 70 percent in recent years, Howe said. Supporters of Plan 2014 include the Nature Conservancy, N.Y. Audubon, Ducks Unlimited, Trout Unlimited, and the Business Council of New York State. Many in the upper St. Lawrence River area also support the plan because they foresee higher water levels in the river during the fall, which would help the recreational boating and fishing scene there. Read the main story about this issue. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Environmentalists, supported by outdoors sportsmen, insist it's a "once-in-a-generation" opportunity to fix the lake. Just how high should Lake Ontario's water levels be? It's an emotional debate raging among those who live on and use the lake. Let the lake go up and down more, say environmentalists and outdoors sportsman. The current levels have made the lake's 63,000 acres of surrounding wetlands unhealthy; wildlife, native plants and fish are suffering, they say. They favor a new plan being considered by a joint American/Canadian commission to let the lake rise and fall more. View full sizeTwo Nature Conservancy interns attempt to navigate through a wetland at NYS DEC's Lakeview Wildlife Management Area along the Lake Ontario shoreline. This wetland system, like others along Lake Ontario, is now dominated by cattails due to stabilization of water levels under the current water level regulation plan for Lake Ontario.Courtesy of the Nature Conservancy Keep the lake stable, say fearful shoreline property owners, municipalities and some businesses. They scoff at the idea of putting "muskrats and cattails above property values." The new plan could result in unacceptable extremes, they say, including erosion from high water or dried-up dock slips and shorelines. Decision time is near. A commission of American and Canadian officials could rule early next year. "This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to restore the health of a great lake. It's in everyone's best interest to have a healthy lake," said Jim Howe, executive director of the Central and Western New York chapters of the Nature Conservancy. Jack Steinkamp, of Sodus, founder of LORA (Lake Ontario Riparian Alliance), a citizen's group opposed to the plan, is quick to note many have "no clue what an extra foot or lack of a foot means to the people living along the lake's shore or doing business in its marinas or harbors." View full sizeJack Steinkamp poses with one of his black labs at his Sodus Point property. Steinkamp founded the Lake Ontario Riparian Alliance, which is opposed to Plan 2014.Stephen D. Cannerelli | [email protected] D. Cannerelli [email protected] Read how Lake Ontario's water levels are currently controlled by a dam on the St. Lawrence River. The debate concerns Plan 2014, which is currently before the International Joint Commission, a panel composed of representatives from the U.S. and Canada whose mission is to prevent and resolve conflicts over the shared use of waters on the countries' borders. A six-year study on the lake's water level began in 2000 and ended in 2006. The study included more than 200 experts from both sides of the border and cost some $20 million, said Frank Bevacqua, a spokesman for the International Joint Commission. Several proposals were forwarded, none were accepted. Plan 2014 was released this May. It added two inches to the upper range of what's occurring now, and an extra eight inches to the lower range, Bevacqua said. In addition, the most current plan includes "triggers" that allow the IJC to take emergency action during high water or low water conditions. These were put in place to allay the concerns of shoreline property owners, Bevacqua said. Lake Ontario was described earlier this year as the most "environmentally stressed" of the five Great Lakes, according to a study led by researchers at the University of Michigan. The environmentalists, bolstered by support from outdoor sportsmen, say the critics exaggerate the negatives, noting Plan 2014 is long-over due and needed. They concede there should be more financial aid and help available to those individual property owners, businesses and communities affected, but that Plan 2014 needs to be approved first. When the lake's current water plan was put in effect back in the late 1950s, officials had no idea what its ecological impact would be, Howe said. Over the years, the absence of variable highs and lows ended up killing off certain native plant species in the wetlands, resulting in congested "cornfields" of cattails with little or no open water. Wildlife such as ducks, black terns and muskrats have decreased, and northern pike spawning areas have been disappearing. Read more about this. Critics like Steinkamp, and many elected officials -- particularly those representing counties along the lake's southern shore from Niagara to Oswego -- point out Plan 2014 does not include any promises or built-in provisions for more federal or state aid problems it might cause. They say the estimated $2.23 million amount in annual negative impacts projected by the plan is "grossly under-estimated." They favor keeping the status quo. Read more about the critics say about this. A series of hearings and a public comment period for the plan started July 1 and ended Aug. 31. The commission is expected to reach its decision sometime in early 2014, at which time the plan will be handed over to the U.S. State Department and the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs. New York State and Gov. Andrew Cuomo, have stayed clear on the fray and not taken a stance on Plan 2014. The Canadian providence of Ontario has voiced its approval, but Quebec has remained mum at this point, Bevacqua said. The U.S. and Canadian utility interests, which include the New York Power Authority on the American side, would see a total projected $5.26 million in increased profits, according to the plan's economic impact study. They have not taken a position on Plan 2014. The Canadians for the most part are in favor of the plan, Bevacqua said, and would face fewer negative impacts. There's geological and wind direction differences for the shoreline on the Canadian side, in addition to more land use planning in place on the northern shore, he said. Steinkamp said he can't foresee a plan that would work better than the current one, and said that maybe a different tact should be taken. Instead of working to get money for property owners affected, maybe the cash should just be handed over to the environmentalists to fix the ecological problems, he said. View full sizeSunset on the southern shore of Lake Ontario looking northward from Oswego.Jim Commentucci | [email protected] Howe said that doesn't work. It's a natural process and there's no easy, inexpensive way to replicate the process. It's been estimated that it would cost some $17 million to dig out and fix the wetlands around the lake "but that's not sustainable. The processes that would keep them fixed are missing." Bevacqua said it's highly unlikely to get a plan that everyone will agree upon. "My interpretation is that some just aren't willing to give up on any protection they have now," he said. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Steinkamp points out the impacts of low water were felt this summer. Imagine it getting worse, he said. Jack Steinkamp, of Sodus Bay, can't foresee a better water regulation plan for Lake Ontario than the one now in existence. A new proposal, Plan 2014, is currently before the International Joint Commission, a panel of U.S. and Canadian officials, and it would change the way the lake's water levels have been regulated since the late 1950s. "You know, somebody can pull up here, look out and say it looks so beautiful and tranquil," he said. "They'll have no clue, though, what an extra foot or lack of a foot in the lake's depth means to the people living along its shore or doing business in its marinas or harbors." Steinkamp, founder of the Lake Ontario Riparian Alliance (LORA), a non-profit citizens activist group, is angry about Plan 2014 and quick to rattle off the negatives. He cites increased erosion from high water events, decreased access from shore into the lake for boats and the anticipated need for more dredging of harbors and marinas due to low water conditions. He stresses there's no commitment or mention in the plan that provides for either the U.S. or Canadian governments or the state of New York to help pay landowners for the estimated nearly $2.23 million in annual negative impacts - a figure Steincamp says is "grossly underestimated." His feelings are shared in full or in part by a number of counties and municipalities up and down the lake, including Cayuga and Oswego counties, that have passed resolutions against or expressing deep concerns about Plan 2014. Steinkamp points out the impacts of low water were felt this summer. Imagine it getting worse, he said. "This past summer the season ended some 6 to 8 weeks early in Sodus Bay because of low water levels. Imagine the money our community didn't get...the restaurants, the property rentals," Steincamp said, noting lakefront properties by their nature are assessed at values. Those along Lake Ontario's shore are taxed at rates that are among the highest in the Upstate area, he said. Opponents of Plan 2014 include landowner groups like LORA, most of the counties and municipalities along the lake's southern shore stretching from Niagara to Oswego, a number of businesses and commercial interests along the south shore, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp.and a number of Canadian maritime associations and Canadian shipping interests. Read the main story on this issue. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"If the dam had not been in place, the lake's natural fluctuation would have been eight feet during the past few decades," an official said How is the water level of Lake Ontario and the upper St. Lawrence River controlled? Historically, Lake Ontario water levels change in 30-year cycles, with fluctuations as much of nearly seven feet, according to Frank Bevacqua, a spokesman for the International Joint Commission, a panel with representatives from both counties that resolve conflicts over the use of shared waters. That changed with the construction in the 1950s of the Moses-Saunders Power Dam on the St. Lawrence River, which straddles the border between the United States and Canada at Massena in New York and Cornwall in Ontario. Constructed lasted between 1954 and 1958. The dam is part of a larger project called the St. Lawrence Seaway. Aside from providing significant amounts of hydro-power for power/utility companies on both sides of the river, the dam regulates the St. Lawrence River. It allows for easy passage through the river of large ships as a result of raising the water level behind it though and a series of locks downstream. Stretches of low water and rapids prevented that from happening previously. Hearing complaints early on about the ever-changing lake water levels and how it played havoc with development around the lake, the IJC in 1956 approved a formula, using the dam to carry it out, with target highs and lows within a 4 foot range. Mother Nature failed to cooperate. Over the past few decades, the lake level has varied as much as 6.2 feet, resulting in a growing dissatisfaction by shoreline residents and the recreational boating industry in the Upper St. Lawrence River. The result was a cry from property owners and environmentalists alike that something had to be done. "If the dam had not been in place, the lake's natural fluctuation would have been eight feet during the past few decades," Bevacqua said. See the main story on this issue. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"They were really hitting while I was out," he said. David Rusczyk, of Brewerton, said the walleye bite on Oneida Lake continues to be good. He's pictured here holding up a pair, measuring 25 1/2 and 22 inches. He said he caught them recently off the north shore from his boat casting Husky Jerkbait lures. "They were really hitting while I was out. I caught these two about 11 a.m. in the morning," he said. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

It's the annual George Dickel Cup Regatta, held in the Inner Harbor of Onondaga Lake on Thanksgiving morning. Watch video Steve Woiler, of DeWitt, controls his remote controlled sailboat at the Inner Harbor. Stephen D. Cannerelli [email protected] It all started 12 years ago when three sailing buddies decided to scale things down on the size boats they were using. The result was the Inner Harbor Model Yacht Club - a small group that today consists of a dozen guys who race remote controlled sailboats. The boats are built from kits and measure three feet long, and four feet high from the tip of the keel to the top of the mast. The club's favorite racing areas are the Inner Harbor area of Ononodaga Lake, and at the Henderson Harbor Yacht Club on the shore of Lake Ontario, where many are members. "A lot of us either sail or race bigger boats, ranging from my son's 28-footer to my 39-footer," said Lee Cagwin, 67, a real estate appraiser from Fayetteville, the group's leader. "With these small boats, we use a small radio box -- the same unit the guys use who fly the remote controlled airplanes. With the control box, one part works the sails; the other, the rudder." The highlight of the The Inner Harbor Model Yacht Club's sailing season is the annual George Dickel Cup Regatta held each Thanksgiving. Members gather with their boats at 10 a.m. at the dock on the Inner Harbor off Kirkpatrick Street. They set up marks in the water beforehand using a kayak. They then hold several races. The overall winner gets his name inscribed in the George Dickel Cup, which he gets to keep for the year. The cup was obtained in the early going from Cagwin's mother. It stands about a foot tall and "looks like large martini pitcher," he said. It snowed the first year the regatta was held. The sailors compete for the George Dickel Cup and finish each year's competition with a shot of George Dickel Tennessee Whisky.Stephen D. Cannerelli [email protected] "Who cares what the weather is? It doesn't matter. We go, have a good time, sail, come back home and have a good Thanksgiving dinner," said Cagwin, whose grown sons, Tyler and Todd, both participate. Tyler won last year. Todd holds the club's record for most wins (3). Who is George Dickel? It's actually a whisky these sailors savor. The initial three club members ended the first regatta back in 2002 with everyone taking a shot from a bottle of George Dickel Tennessee Whisky. It's been a tradition ever since. The original members were Cagwin; Steve Woiler, of Dewitt and Art Bronstein, of Syracuse. Bronstein is no longer a member. Cagwin noted the sport of sailing remote-controlled sailboats is not unique to the Inner Harbor club. There's a National Model Yacht Association, and numerous clubs exist across the country. He said there's a wide variety of sizes and classes for radio-controlled sailboats. Hotbeds for racing include Marblehead, Mass., Annapolis, Md. and San Diego, Calif. "Three years ago, my son, Todd, was fifth at the national championships at Annapolis," Cagwin said. All the members of the Inner Harbor Model Yacht Club race the CR 914 model sailboat, which they bought in a kit for $495 from a distributor in Annapolis. Everything comes with it. For those who want the boat completely assembled beforehand, the cost is about $900, Cagwin said. "It takes a while to get the hang of it," Cagwin said. "When the boat is sailing away from you, you work the sails one way. When it's coming back, you do just the opposite. "And you're just using the wind. Anyone who sails would find it intriguing to do." For more information or to join the club, email Cagwin at [email protected]. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He took it with a 30-yard shot. Marc Therrien, of Solvay, poses with a nice buck he shot with his bow. He wrote: "I shot this 10 pointer at 30 yards in Steuben county, town of Howard on Nov. 7. "He grossed 140 and weighed 182 pounds," he said. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"Since Homer was not in school, he decided he wanted nothing more than to spend his birthday in the woods," his mom said. Tristin Brown, of Truxton, poses with his first deer. His mom, Jennifer Brown, wrote: "Good morning, I thought I would share with you a picture of my son, Tristin Brown. On the third day of the 2013 hunting season, Nov. 18, he turned 14. This means for him, it was opening day! "Since Homer was not in school, he decided he wanted nothing more than to spend his birthday in the woods. He harvested his first buck." Congrats, Tristin and belated Happy Birthday. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He looked enormous. Kyle Holbritter poses with a nice, 10-point buck he shot on opening day of the Southern Zone deer hunting season. He said he took it with his 300 Savage, Model 99 on land south of Utica. "This one is a big 10 point that green scored 141 inches (on its antlers)," Holbritter said. "The deer weighed 165 pounds after being field dressed. We could hardly believe it because he looked enormous. "He must have lost a lot of weight chasing does," he said. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

This was Riley's first time ever bow hunting. Riley LaFrance, 12, of Otisco, poses with his first bow buck, a 5-pointer, that he shot while hunting in Otisco. Riley and his dad were hunting out of a field blind. This was Riley's first time ever bow hunting. He arrowed the deer from approximately 10 feet away. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"The idea of not climbing trees and being out of the elements suited me just fine. I quickly found that I didn't feel like I was a part of the outdoors when I was inside my cozy hunting house," she said. Jackie Coon, of Fulton, sent this picture of an 8-point buck she harvested recently with the following story: She wrote: ":For many years, I have been hunting from a treestand. At 65 years of age, my husband and I decided it was time for me to have a hunting house so I didn't have to climb trees unless I just wanted to do it. "The idea of not climbing trees and being out of the elements suited me just fine. I quickly found that I didn't feel like I was a part of the outdoors when I was inside my cozy hunting house. "The worse thing about it was that I couldn't hear sounds very well and, those that I did hear, I couldn't tell what direction the sound came from. After three days of hunting and not seeing any deer, I decided to move to a tree stand. As it turned out, it was a good idea to move because I had the opportunity to harvest my largest antlered deer since I have been hunting. "The attached picture is the buck I harvested, this year, while he was with a doe. I harvested the buck on Nov. 19 in Town of Volney. His inside spread is 20.5 inches and weighed 160 pounds dressed out." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog