HuntingNY-News

William Crain admitted to refusing to return to an area set up for protesters in Fredon, N.J. A judge assigned him to 10 days in jail.... View the full article

William Crain admitted to refusing to return to an area set up for protesters in Fredon, N.J. A judge assigned him to 10 days in jail. View the full article

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with leaders to discuss carbon emissions, Canadian women’s golf got a shot in the arm and history was made on a telecast....View the full article

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with leaders to discuss carbon emissions, Canadian women’s golf got a shot in the arm and history was made on a telecast.View the full article

The annual hunt of turr, a migratory seabird, dates back to the days when Newfoundlanders needed to supplement meager winter diets, and it continues despite conservation efforts....View the full article

The annual hunt of turr, a migratory seabird, dates back to the days when Newfoundlanders needed to supplement meager winter diets, and it continues despite conservation efforts.View the full article

An Alaskan native turns to the fashion world to send a message about hunting, history and haute couture.View the full article

Are we fighting thousands of years of evolutionary history and the best interests of our bodies when we sit all day?View the full article

Area ski resorts are working to open a limited number of slopes and lifts this week. Two Central New York ski resorts have announced plans to open their slopes this week, barring any dramatic warm-up in the weather. Song Mountain ski resort in Tully plans to open Wednesday at 10 a.m., and operate until 4 p.m., said Peter Harris, owner and operator of Song Mountain in Tully and Labrador Mountain in Truxton, in Cortland County. Greek Peak Mountain Resort in Virgil plans to open Friday, although that could change if the weather warms up, said Jessica Sloma, speaking for Greek Peak and Toggenburg in Fabius, which are now jointly owned. After the most "horrific winter" since 1965, officials at both ski resorts said they are thrilled to be open this week. "We lost five weeks of skiing last winter,'' Sloma said. "We weren't even open on New Year's. This snowfall is definitely what we want, and we are very fortunate." Song Mountain opened Christmas Eve in 2015, but it was in the 70s and people were skiing in T-shirts, Harris said. Labrador and Toggenburg have not yet set an opening date, but hope to open soon, officials said. Four Seasons Golf & Ski Center said they are "very close," but not ready to open yet. This is the earliest Central New York ski resorts have opened in some time. "I am just tickled by all this snow,'' said Harris, who runs Song and Labrador. "We had two feet of natural snow by afternoon today, and it's still blizzarding here." Harris said officials will decide Tuesday what lifts and trails to open. "The ground is still warm, and there are a million things that can affect us so early in the season,'' he said. "We need it a little bit colder to make snow." About 24 degrees is ideal for snow-making, officials said. Greek Peak has about a foot of natural snow, and began supplementing that by making snow starting last night, Sloma said. A beginners' train and two intermediate trails are slated to open, and four to six lanes in the snow-tubing center will open. Toggenburg is working on its slopes, but does not have an opening day yet, nor does Labrador. Other upstate ski resorts are working to open this week as well. Officials tell skiers to call or check the resorts' websites for updates. View the full article

Police were investigating the 80-year-old Ray Schuh's cause of death. An elderly hunter died on the first day of firearms deer hunting season in Upstate New York. The man was identified by friends as Ray Schuh, a minister at the Hornell Church of Christ in Dansville, WHAM-TV reported. Schuh is in his 80s. A Livingston County 911 caller reported a "hunter fallen out of a treestand" on Saturday, the opening day of deer season for much of Upstate NY, according to the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle. Schuh was hunting in the woods in West Sparta near Mountainview Christian Camp, which he helped open in 1960s. Deputies were on the scene investigating Schuh's cause of death on Saturday, and declined to release more information Watch the WHAM-TV video report below. More than 40 animals a hunter can legally kill in Upstate NY View the full article

It's a "world class deer, no doubt," said the taxidermist. One of the most impressive Upstate New York bucks taken so far this fall was not downed with a hunter's bow, crossbow or firearm. It was hit by a truck. James Murphy, 27, of Fabius, said he was driving his truck home back from a day of deer hunting up on Boonville Sunday evening when a 15-point buck darted in front of him on Route 173 just outside of the village of Manlius in Onondaga County. He said he was going about 40 miles per hour. It was about 5:30 p.m. "It was probably chasing a doe. Hit him square on. He went underneath my truck and trailer and died quickly," he said. Murphy called the Manlius police, and then his wife to tell her he'd be home late. Murphy told the officer he wanted to keep the deer and got the proper tag. He field dressed it, brought it home and hung it up his barn overnight. The following morning, he brought it to G & B & Sons Deer Processing in East Syracuse, where it was cut up and processed. "We didn't weigh it. Our scale is broken," said Barbara Wurster, owner of G & B & Sons. "That rack was really big. We've been in business for 38 years and I've never seen a rack as big as that." "The body, though, was average size. He did get a lot of meat from it." Gary Wurster caped out Murphy's buck for a trophy mount and posted this photo of himself with the deer on the G & B & Sons Deer Processing Facebook page.Special to NYup.com Her son, Gary, "caped it out" for a shoulder mount and posted pictures of it with himself on the G&B Facebook page. Today, Murphy said he brought the cape with the antlers up to Converse Taxidermy in Booneville. Converse will handle the shoulder mount. He also contacted an official antler scorer and said he would have to wait some 60 days for the antlers to dry before they were officially scored. The taxidermist, Bob Converse, said the gross rough score of the antlers using the Boone and Crockett scoring system is nearly "200 inches." It's a "world class deer, no doubt," he said. "It may be the biggest deer taken this year in the entire state," he said. The photos of Murphy and Gary Wurster with the huge buck have drawn a lot of attention on a number of Facebook pages that tout big bucks. "It's gone viral," Murphy said. Murphy said he's been humbled by all the attention, congratulations and comments online about what many would consider a deer of a lifetime. He insists, though, he did nothing impressive and is just some guy who hit a deer with a truck. "I grew up hunting. It was never about the animals we brought home. It was always for me about being together and enjoying time together," he said. He posted the following statement on the New York Antler Outdoors Facebook page: "This isn't another hunting story... "People often forget that hunting is about the HUNT not what you bring home. Think of your own hunting stories you love to share. If the were just an endings would they even be considered stories? Good stories are full of content; challenging terrain, less than ideal conditions, but most importantly the people who were there to enjoy it with us. "We should appreciate and respect the wildlife we seek. I have always been a responsible and ethical sportsman. That fact that I hit and killed the remarkable and extraordinary animal seems like an undeserving outcome for both of us. "We must honor an animal of this magnitude. His intelligence and instincts allowed him a long and notable life. This beautiful deer will be preserved not as a trophy but as a tangible reminder that life is not a guarantee. "Things can happen in a instant beyond anyone's control. We must appreciate and enjoy life and the people in it. "To my fellow hunters: remember that hunting is a privilege, not a right. I would like to thank Gary Wurster of G and B sons deer processing for being my stand in for the viral photo. "His impressive beard is a better match for a rack of this clout." Western NY school district offers unique hunting, fishing class for credit View the full article

People have learned to be responsible with their dogs. Why not their cats? Peter Marra says it's time that cats in this country started getting treated like dogs. "They should not be allowed to roam freely outside. If they are outside, they should either be put on a leash or let out in an enclosed patio," he said. "Do we allow packs of chihuahuas to run free on the countryside? What about allowing a pitbull to run about? "No, people have learned to be responsible with their dogs. Why not their cats?" Marra, a bird conservationist with the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center in Washington, D.C., is co-author of a new, controversial book, "Cat Wars: The Devastating Consequences of a Cuddly Killer." The book, he said, puts all the research and studies together to show the complete story about how outdoor pet and free-ranging feral cats pose a threat to bio-diversity, the environment and to public health. Marra will be holding a seminar about this topic and a book signing event at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, in Ithaca. The event will be streamed live on the allaboutbirds.org website. For more, call 1-800-843-2483. Marra was interviewed this week by NYupcom. The following are excerpts from that interview. I understand this book is controversial. You say there's been a lot of research on this. Why don't people just accept what you're saying as fact? People have attacked me online with comments. I've received death threats. You have people that keep pushing to allow cats to roam freely outside, that it's a good thing. It's not. It's a propagation of misinformation. It's just another case, like those who don't believe climate change is real, of a denial of science. I've decided to not hold any punches in this book and tell the whole story. You say that outdoor cats are a threat to bio-diversity. How? Free-ranging cats are killing birds and other animals by the billions, bringing as many as 63 species of birds, small mammals and reptiles to extinction globally, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. How are cats roaming around outside a public health hazard? Cats carry several diseases - but I'll highlight two. Our cats are not as innocent as many think. The diseases they're transmitting to other animals and to us are significant. First, there's Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that breeds inside of cats that's transmitted through the animal's feces. Rats, mice, small birds that come in contact with it get toxoplasmosis and end up exhibiting changes of behavior - in short become attracted to cats, becoming easier prey. Some humans also exhibit symptoms if they become infected with this parasite. There have been scientific studies linking toxoplasmosis to less fearful, curious behavior, in addtion to bipolar disorders, schizophrenia, suicide. Pregnant women are instructed to stay clear of cat litter boxes because Toxoplasma gondii causes miscarriages. Second, you have rabies. At one point, dogs were the number one pet contracting rabies. Not any more. People have their dogs under control. You have these feral cat colonies out there interacting with raccoons and skunks and other animals that carry rabies. That's not good. Peter MarraSpecial to NYup.com How did all these pet cats get here? Where are they from originally? All the domesticated cats in this country came here starting about 600 years ago with the colonists. They were all originally from the Middle East or Asia. The so-called feral cats are not naturally wild. They're not part of the environment. They're an invasive species. I refer to them as "unowned" cats. There are estimates of 80 to 90 million pet cats in this country; 60 to 100 million unowned cats. That's a lot of cats. There are folks who are against euthanizing feral cats, preferring instead to raise money to have them sterilized and released back into the wild. Thoughts on that? It doesn't work. They're still out there preying on other wildlife, spreading disease. They're not a natural part of the ecosystem. On top of that they're getting killed by cars, coyotes, disease. That's inhumane. Are you proposing euthanizing all the feral cats out there? No, let's be clear. I'm not arguing for the eradication of cats. I'm asking for responsible, sensible ownership. For those feral cats, I proposing looking at the areas where they're having an impact on important and sensitive wildlife areas, or areas that there is, or could be a problem with disease transmission. You can't allow those cats to exist. Those cats need to be removed, captured. Then, they should be adopted out, or put in a sanctuary. If that's impossible, then euthanized. What would you proposed making cat owners be more responsible with their pets? You have licensing and leash laws in this country for dogs. Do the same with cats. Have you ever owned a cat? Did you let it run around outside? Yes, a while back I owned a cat, Tookus, which is Yiddish for butt. It lived its whole life indoors and died a long time ago. What you need to know if you hit a deer with your motor vehicle in Upstate NY this fall View the full article

It follows 11 years of negotiations and delays following a punitive action by the state against Niagara Mohawk. Following 11 years of negotiations and various delays, the state Department of Environmental Conservation is expected to take ownership soon of 2,800 acres of National Grid land along the lower Salmon River and the Salmon River Reservoir. The development is a big deal because the land the DEC is getting along the river, which makes up the majority of the transaction, will ensure continued public access for fishing. No other plans have been released at this point by the DEC. The annual salmon and steelhead fishing scene - particularly in the fall -- is a huge and crucial part of the economic scene in the greater Pulaski area, drawing tens of thousands of anglers from throughout the state and beyond. The 2,800 acres is being turned over to the state by the utility company as part of a 2005 consent decree reached with Niagara Mohawk. The agreement followed serious health and environmental violations by two of Niagara Mohawk's coal-fired power plants in the western part of the state - the Huntley Station near Tonawanda, and the Dunkirk Station in Dunkirk. Both released harmful emissions of nitrous oxides and sulfur dioxide into the air in violation of air emission standards. The consent decree noted its terms would be binding upon Niagara Mohawk and its successors. National Grid, which acquired Niagara Mohawk in 2002, assumed responsibility for the actions and the terms of the agreement. The land that the state will acquire "is in the vicinity of the Salmon River and Salmon River Reservoir in the towns of Albion, Orwell, Redfield and Richland, and the villages of Altmar and Pulaski, in Oswego County." In late 2004, the land was appraised and said to have a market value of $2.56 million. The 2005 agreement included terms that Niagara Mohawk pay a $3 million civil penalty, in addition to putting $3 million in a "Niagara Mohawk Environmental Mitigation Project Account." The latter was to be used for projects approved by the DEC involving "energy efficiency and/or pollution reduction in Western New York, including but not limited to the weatherization of low income housing and the retrofitting of pollution controls on school buses." Both the payment of the civil penalty and the setting up of the mitigation project account have been taken care of already, according to Virginia Limmiatis, a National Grid spokeswoman. The last piece of the deal, "the gift agreement," has been delayed for various reasons. When the ownership of the land is finally transferred, National Grid's responsibility in regard to satisfying the terms of the consent decree is finished, Limmiatis said. Fishing is a multi-million dollar business in Oswego County, said David Turner, the county's director of community development, tourism and planning. He cited a 2015 stuydy of state fishing license purchases in the county - specifically, the annual "river fishing period," beginning in mid-September and continuing through to March. He said license sales to out-of-staters alone amounted to more than 22,000 licenses. Also, that the anglers came from every single state in the country and "33 provinces and countries from around the world." "These anglers aren't up here ice fishing. They're fishing on the river," he said. Big bucks arrowed by Upstate NY bow and crossbow hunters this fall (photos) View the full article

The regular bow season in the Southern Zone ends Nov. 18. Send photos to [email protected]. View the full article

The large amounts of gizzard shad in the lake are also contributing. The bass and walleye fishing on Oneida Lake, one of Upstate New York's premier angling destinations, was "off this summer," according to creel reports collected by the Cornell Biological Field Station at Shackleton Point. Angler catch rates for both fish were down about "40 percent" compared to years past, said Randy Jackson, senior research associate and associate director at the field station. In addition, the fall walleye bite on the lake has likewise been "hit or miss," according to several veteran anglers interviewed. What's going on? The population explosion of round gobies on the lake, an invasive bait fish is one big factor. An additional reason is a banner reproductive year for gizzard shad, another bait fish on the lake. It's not a matter of shortage of fish in the lake. They just have an ample food supply. "You can't make them eat if they're not hungry," said Brian Hammond, of Cicero, a veteran Oneida Lake angler and tournament walleye fisherman. Hammond, who preferred to call the lake's walleye fishing "inconsistent," noted the last big walleye tournament on the lake in August featured 20 teams of experienced anglers. "They were good fishermen. Only four teams had limits of five fish caught," he said. Jackson said "the gobies played a factor" in the subpar bass and walleye fishing, particularly during June and July. He noted the catches in the B.A.S.S. Northern Open that finished on July 2 -- particularly at the bottom on the standings - were lower than usual for that level of competition. Jackson and David Lemon, the regional fisheries biologist for the state Department of Environmental Conservation, said goby invasions on other waterways have followed similar patterns. Their numbers will continue to rise for a couple of years and then fall off and stabilize at a lower level once their food supply dwindles. On Oneida, they said, the gobies are feasting on zebra and quagga mussels. In the meantime, fishing on Oneida will be more "challenging," requiring different techniques, particularly for those anglers who are used to fishing with jigs and worms on the lake's bottom. The gobies, which carpet many areas of the lake's bottom, tend to pick hooks baited with worms clean. The reason for the fall walleye bite being on and off is the result of copious amounts of gizzard shad in the lake this year, said one charter boat captain. "These walleye are just gorging and their bellies are packed with gizzard shad," said Capt. Tony Buffa, who has guided on Oneida Lake for several decades. Buffa said in years past he said he could count on "an immense school of walleye on the lake's eastern end." He said he's just park near the same area each day and his clients would catch fish. Not so this year. "It's day to day," he said. "They may be there a couple of days in a row - and then they're gone. I feel it's because they have plenty of feed. And when they bite, during the day it doesn't last that long - maybe as long as 2 1/2 hours. The night bite has also been inconsistent." One other Oneida Lake fish is dining voraciously on gobies - yellow perch. Buffa said when his clients reel in yellow perch "the gobies are projecting out of their mouths." "You wait. You're going to have some huge perch on this lake. They love the young gobies," he said. Adirondack $23 million dollar 'Rails to Trails' plan in legal limbo View the full article

For both, it was their first deer. The bowhunting season for big game has been underway for more than a month in the Southern Zone and two Upstate NY teen deer hunters have cashed in with memorable, trophy bucks. Ridge Coon, 13, of Van Buren, recently arrowed a massive, 10-pointer while hunting with his father out of double tree stand setup in a single tree in Baldwinsville in Onondaga County. "I'm so jealous and proud," said his father, Al Coon. "It was his first arrow ever shot at big game." On top of that, the father added that his son just won a Lifetime Hunting License thru the Hardwoods Strutters Wild Turkey Federation. Meanwhile, in southern Onondaga County County, 16-year-old Morgan Long, of Fabius, arrowed his first buck ever -- a 12-pointer. He got his deer with a crossbow. "I was hunting with my friend Rick Weslowski on his property," the teen said. "He field dressed it and i'm having it processed and having a shoulder mount done." SEND US PHOTOS OF YOUR BIG UPSTATE NY BOW BUCKS Photos should be sent to outdoors writer David Figura at [email protected]. Photos should be tasteful with minimal blood, no tongue hanging out of the mouth. Include the full name of hunter pictured, where he or she lives, when and where the deer was arrowed -- and any particulars including number of points on the antlers and weight. Veteran's Day is 'Free Fishing Day' across New York State View the full article

At the annual East Coast Lumberjack Roundup in Syracuse, the competition is in logging. Watch video Nine colleges met this weekend in Syracuse in one of the more unusual sports around: timber sports. The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse hosted the annual East Coast Lumberjack Roundup Saturday at its Tully Field Station. Eight Upstate colleges competed, as well as a team from Penn State. The ESF women's and men's teams each placed second. Along with saw and axe events, there's a fire-building competition. Each team member races to boil water with just an axe, a block of wood and three matches. The winner this year was a boil in less than three minutes. Created in 1912, the ESF Woodsmen Team is the oldest student organization at the College of Environmental Science and Forestry. The tradition of the team originates from the old-time logging techniques which are now practiced as a sport. The ESF Woodsmen compete six to eight times per year, traveling across the Northeast and Canada. Here's a video from an October competition: View the full article

He often talked about how man plays a crucial role in wildlife management and conservation. Those who knew Al LaFrance knew of his love for animals and nature, and his common sense approach to wildlife management. Those who didn't know him, distained, condemned -- and at times -- harassed him. Count me among those who knew and appreciated him. LaFrance, 68, of Manlius, died of cancer last month doing what he loved. He passed away underneath a tree while on a bear hunting trip in Canada. LaFrance's place on the Central New York outsdoors scene was long-standing and well-deserved. He was the long-time owner Al's Critter Solutions, a nuisance animal removal business. According to his obituary, "he was an avid outdoorsman who received several awards for his professional and expert knowledge about wildlife, specifically bats, earning him the nickname of "Batman." He was a trapper training instructor for more than 35 years and past president of the Independent Fur Harvesters of CNY. He was named the NYS Wildlife Trapper of the Year and was inducted into the NYS Outdoorsman Hall of Fame in 1999. "Al did his best to promote trapping and trappers in a positive light," said Leo Maloney, president of the NYS Outdoorsman Hall of Fame. Maloney said LaFrance for years made his way across the state speaking to various groups, emphasizing the role of trapping in wildlife management and how it kept rabies in check and reduced negative human/animal interactions. LaFrance's activities didn't stop at trapping. "Al LaFrance was a dedicated volunteer sportsman," said Stephen Wowelko, former president of the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen. "He gave a tremendous amount of his time fighting for sportsmen's issues and working on teaching youth about hunting and fishing. A sportsman with his dedication to helping others is impossible to replace." In recent years, he organized the Bob Evans Memorial Predator Calling Hunt in Pompey. Proceeds from the event each year go to toward Advance Strategies, an organization that provides hunting and fishing experiences for physically challenged sportsmen and women. In 2015, the hunt raised $2,700 for the group. This past winter it was cancelled due to lack of entrants. Animal rights groups claimed credit, but LaFrance, who had battled against their criticisms wouldn't concede that, chalking the lack of participation up to hunters ignoring the signup deadline and naively expecting to enter the day before the competition. LaFrance's son, Jason LaFrance, said his father was cordial and friendly, but "always laid it all out there. He let everyone know who he was and what he was about. He put all his cards on the table." The blow back he received at times was intense, the son said. In the late 1990s when he stood up and spoke out about animal rights advocates, his wife received a letter from anti-fur trapping activists laced with razor blades inside designed to cut a finger upon opening them. Those who opposed LaFrance's stance on trapping conducted candle light vigils outside of his home. In 2014, vandals armed with a chain saw ravaged the inside of the CNY Indepndent Fur Harvesters clubhouse at Pratt's Falls County Park. They also set fires in two places in the building, but extinguished them before they consumed the structure. In addition, the vandals ripped most of the club's trophy mounts, plaques and antique traps that were hanging on the walls and threw them over a nearby fence. The club's kitchen utensils, coffee pot - even the club's refrigerator -- were tossed into a deep gorge just behind the clubhouse. The vandals were never found or arrested. LaFrance refused to say the damage was caused by animal rights advocates. Undaunted, he and other club members cleaned the mess up and months afterward and resumed their meetings there. When I first started as an outdoors writer nearly a decade ago, it was LaFrance who took me out checking traps he set to take care of nuisance beavers in a stream and in various road culverts in Madison County. At his invitation, I also attended several raw fur auctions during which local trappers sold their furs to buyers. I soon learned that LaFrance was the guy that many called when they had bat, beaver, skunk, raccoon and coyote problems. The feedback I got indicated he always handled nuisance animals professionally, humanely and with the intent of reducing an animal's suffering as much as possible. He often talked about how man plays a crucial role in wildlife management and conservation and that simply leaving things alone for Mother Nature to handle is often an unrealistic and naive stance. Those who condemned LaFrance, his son said, refused to acknowledge that "life's circle is not all sweet and peaceful. "They see Disney movies and think that's how things are out there," he said. Veteran's Day is 'Free Fishing Day' across New York State They're not. LaFrance taught me that and I'll miss him. View the full article

For centuries, the men of the Basque Country have hunted wild pigeon. Their weapons of choice: paddles and nets.View the full article

A 333-pound American black bear with damaged forepaws like those of Pedals was killed during the state’s annual bear hunt.View the full article

The American black bear, who became an internet sensation for strolling around neighborhoods on his hind legs, was believed to have been killed during a five-day hunting season.View the full article

Threats to a hunting tradition emerge as animal rights activists, buoyed by their growing clout, say the time has come to put an end to boar hunts.View the full article

The state updated a law in a bid to attract more women and girls to a sport dominated by men.View the full article

Why do we still single out these creatures for destruction?View the full article

The furor after a trophy hunter killed Cecil the Lion last year hasn’t slowed the catastrophic decline in lion populations.View the full article