HuntingNY-News

The group launches at about 8:30 a.m. and fishes until 1 p.m., when they'll return for the weigh-in followed by a BBQ style luncheon and prizes. The following is a news release: The NY BASS Chapter Federation (NYBCF) announces the 2013 Take a Soldier Fishing event scheduled for Saturday on Oneida Lake with activities based out of Oneida Shores Park near Brewerton. his marks the fifth year of this event and 135 Soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) stationed at Fort Drum NY are the invited guests of honor. The NYBCF assembles volunteer boaters from across the north east region from as far away as Ontario, Canada and Maine to take the Soldiers (men and women) out for free day’s fishing. This year Bass Pro Shops of Auburn NY has committed to donate 135 Rod & Reel combinations for the Soldiers and the Onondaga County Parks is dedicating the Oneida Shores Park for this event. Along with these great contributions, the Region 7 NY Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in conjunction with the DEC Commissioner’s office has designated this as a free fishing day for participating Soldiers. The day begins with participant registration at 6:30 a.m. then a safety brief, followed by pairing of soldiers with the boaters. Soldiers are provided all tackle and life vests for the day. The group launches approximately 8:30 a.m. and fishes until 1 p.m. when they'll return for the weigh-in, followed by a BBQ style luncheon and prizes awarded for the biggest fish caught in one of five categories: 1) common carp, 2) blue gill/perch/crappie 3) drum/sheep head 4) white bass / rock bass and 5) bowfin Throughout the day additional prizes are awarded to participants via free random raffle drawings. The entire day is provided free of cost to participants due to generous donations from our event sponsors. Soldiers can sign-up by contacting their unit chain of command, for additional information call the Fort Drum Family and MWR - Community Recreation Division at 772- 6071 or 772-500. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The fish caught were in the 14-15 inch range. Harry Norcross and his catch. Here's three photos submitted by successful anglers who recently caught nice brown trout in the 14-15-inch range on Nine Mile Creek.1). Harry Norcross proudly holds up his brown, which he caught using a worm. Nice fish, Harry! 2). Tom Kennedy, a co-worker of mine at The Post-Standard, caught his nice trout using a salted minnow on an Eagle Claw treble hook. Tom Kennedy and his catch. 3). Doug Selover, caught his 14-incher behind the paper mill in Marcellus on Nine Mile. "He caught it on a #2 gold Panther martin with a heavy split shot 18" up above the lure," said Joseph Selover, his son. Doug Selover and his catch. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"The DEC recommends adding one additional hazing day each week during September to boost the program's effectiveness." The following article appeared in the most recent newsletter of the Oneida Lake Association: "David Lemon, DEC Fisheries’ Manager- Region 7, informed the OLA Board in February that some changes should be in the offing. "Among these are the following: "The DEC recommends adding one additional hazing day each week during September to boost the program’s effectiveness. "Statistics show that migratory cormorant numbers have been increasing during this month, making additional harassment prudent. "Manager Lemon and his colleagues also recommend extending their hazing calendar into October, if bird counts spike during that month. Larger numbers of migrant birds have been observed in October in recent years. "Previously, the DEC’s harassment program avoided dates in this month, in deference to the lake’s waterfowl hunters, but the presence of significant cormorant flocks creates an urgency that must be addressed. "If diet studies show that 90% or more of cormorant consumption is gizzard shad, the DEC proposes eliminating hazing altogether during late September and October. Massive shad hatches buffered Oneida Lake’s game fish populations during the past two autumns. Shad effectively provided cormorants sustenance so that the birds did not destroy walleyes and yellow perch. "Lake area residents may hear more “banging” during this year’s hazing program because federal regulations over the type of pyrotechnics used during the past three years have eased. The DEC proposes that harassment volunteers be allowed to purchase, store, and use these “pyros,” and their launchers, during this year’s program. "During that golden time when the United States Fish and Wildlife Services protected Oneida Lake, personnel from that agency found that the “fireworks effect” was extremely effective in making cormorants leave the lake. "In addition to hazing, DEC technicians will remove cormorant nests on Oneida Lake’s islands. In the era prior to harassment, cormorants produced hundreds of young on the isles, compounding their devastation of the lake’s walleyes and perch. Up to 360 nesting pairs of cormorants used the lake’s islands by 2000; this no longer occurs because of Wildlife Services’ and DEC efforts. "Never forget the magnitude of cormorants’ impact on Oneida Lake in the recent past. In 1995, Cornell Field Station biologists began tabulating the number of fish killed by cormorants annually. In 1996 alone, the birds consumed around 4,113,000 Oneida Lake fish, including nearly 190,000 walleyes and slightly over 2,000,000 yellow perch. About 82,000 of the walleyes were age one or older fish that, in cormorants’ absence, would likely have reached adulthood, enriching the lake’s fishery and, consequently, the lake area’s economy," the newsletter concluded. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"She caught it using squid bait. It took her about 20 minutes to reel in." Eve Hughes, 13, of Marcellus caught this huge, 30-pound grouper during a recent fishing charter trip in the Caribbean.Her father, Larry Hughes, wrote: "She caught it using squid bait. It took her about 20 minutes to reel in." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The trip is hosted by the Montezuma Audubon Center in Savannah, in cooperation with the Onondaga Audubon Society. Space is limited and registration is required. A bald eagleDavid Spier A van trip to watch migrating hawks and eagles at Derby Hill is set for 10 a.m to 4 p.m. Thurday.The trip is being hosted by the Montezuma Audubon Center and the van will leave from, and return to the Audubon Center, located at 2295 State Route 89, Savannah. According to a press release about the event: "Visit Lake Ontario for the spectacular spring raptor migration and leave the driving to us. Travel in the Montezuma Audubon Center van to witness hundreds and perhaps thousands of broad-winged hawks, red-tailed hawks, bald eagles and many more! "If weather conditions do not cooperate, the program will be moved to Friday. This program is offered in cooperation with the Onondaga Audubon Society. "Pack a lunch. Fee: $15/child, $20/adult. Space is limited and registration is required. Please call 315-365-3588 or e-mail [email protected]. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The SPC is a "bullseye pistol shooting club" with nearly 500 members, and offers both 12 position indoor and 50 position outdoor ranges. The Syracuse Pistol Club will hold its annual Spring Open House, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Facility tours will start at that time. A brief overview of the club, membership requirements, and a Q &A session will be presented at 7 p.m. The club is located at 8042 Henry Clay Blvd. in the town of Clay, approximately 1 mile North of Wetzel Road. For more information, visit the club;s website. John Berry | [email protected] The SPC is a "bullseye pistol shooting club" with nearly 500 members, and offers both 12 position indoor and 50 position outdoor ranges. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Licensed junior hunters (ages 12-15) can go afield to hunt turkeys if they're accompanied by a licensed adult hunter. The annual youth wild turkey hunt is being held across most of the state this weekend. The state Department of Environmental Conservation each year provides this special hunting opportunity for junior hunters (ages 12-15). The regular turkey hunting season begins May 1. Licensed junior hunters can go afield to hunt turkeys if they’re accompanied by a licensed adult hunter. Both must have turkey hunting permits. Only the youngster can carry a gun and hunt. The bag limit for this weekend is one bearded bird . The bird becomes part of the youth's regular season bag limit of two bearded birds. A second bird can be taken during the regular season beginning May 1. Frankly, of all the hunting I’ve tried, I find spring turkey hunting among the most challenging and aesthetically pleasing. Whether you’re successful or not, there’s nothing like seeing and hearing the woods wake up on a beautiful spring morning. Send your pictures and stories to [email protected]. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

These gruesome-looking creatures are actually quite edible and savored by Europeans. There’s two sides to sea lampreys, according to Lars Rudstam, director of the Cornell Biological Field Station in Bridgeport. On the one hand, they attach themselves using their mouths to the sides or bellies of fish and use their raspy tongues to drill a hole and suck out their host’s bodily fluids. State Department of Environmental Conservation officials noted recently these parasitic, prehistoric-looking aquatic creatures are causing big problems for Cayuga Lake’s trout fishery. Adult lampreys attach themselves to host fish with their sucker-like mouths. Mike Greenlar | [email protected] On the other hand, these gruesome-looking creatures are very edible, Rudstam said. “They have a different taste, like squid. The French eat them with delight. England’s Henry I died while eating a large meal of lampreys,” Rudstam. “And some of the Native American tribes out on the Pacific Coast eat lamprey and are concerned about their decline there. “They’re not a bad food fish. They hardly have any bones. You cut them into chunks,” he said. Rudstam, who teaches a course in fishery ecology and conservation at Cornell University, every year brings his students up to the Bridgeport field station for a day to learn research netting techniques on Oneida Lake. This year’s outing is scheduled for next weekend. He said it always ends with a dinner featuring several fish dishes – including “Lamprey Bordelaise,” which Rudstan takes delight in preparing. “I make this wine sauce and then boil it down,” he said. “I then add the chunks of lamprey and add various spices. Sea lampreys, which manage to survive in both salt and freshwater, are found throughout the Eastern and Western seaboards. In this state, they are in Oneida, Cayuga and Seneca lakes, the Seneca, Oswego and Oneida rivers, along with Lake Champlain. They're also found in Lake Ontario and all the Great Lakes, as well as the St. Lawrence River. As larvae and juveniles, the freshwater ones stick to the stream or tributary where they were hatched and burrow in the mud and "filter feeding" off passing organic materials, staying put anywhere from 3 to 4 years. It's only during the last year to 18 months of their lives that they develop their teeth-coated suckers and go out into the larger waters in search of prey. An adult lamprey, which can measure anywhere from 12 to 20 inches, can kill up to 40 pounds of fish during its lifetime. They don’t always kill the fish, though. A lot of times you see fish with scars on them. At a recent state of the Eastern Finger Lakes meeting, state Department of Environmental Conservation officials noted the lamprey situation in Cayuga Lake is the worst it’s been in several decades. Some 80 percent of lake trout landed by anglers last summer on the lake either had lamprey attached or show lamprey scars. Shawn Fox of the Cortland DEC office transfers lampreys at the Cayuga Lake inlet fish way near Ithaca in this photo taken in 2008. Mike Greenlar | [email protected] Next year, the DEC is planning to treat the Inlet, where most of the lake’s lampreys spawn, with lampricide. In addition, DEC staff each year uses the Cayuga Inlet Fishway, which provides an unpassable barrier in normal water conditions, to trap and remove spawning lampreys. They are then deposited the local landfill. Rudstam got his lampreys for his upcoming dinner at the DEC-run fishway. They’re currently being kept in his freezer at home. He said the Great Lakes Fishery Commission kicked around the idea of trying to develop lamprey as a food fish, but dismissed the concept because lampreys are on the top of the food chain in most waterways. They’re most likely full of contaminants, he said. Marc Gaden, a spokesman for the Fishery Commission, there’s been talk since the 1940s about commercializing and selling lamprey for food, but said that they proved difficult to catch in bulk quantities and difficult to process and transport. They taste best fresh, he said. In addition, being at the top of the food web, they have a propensity to accumulate mercury in their system. “The end result is that there’s a lot of other valuable fish in the Great Lakes that we should are working to protect – trout, salmon, walleye and perch,” he said. “Lampreys are an incredibly noxious, destructive pest that that knocked the stuffing out of fish in the Great Lakes. We’re now in the business of minimizing their presence.” John Gaulke, a fishing guide on Cayuga Lake, backs up Rudstam. Lamprey are extremely edible, he said. “I never would have done it, but one my clients wanted to keep and eat a lamprey that came up attached to a lake trout,” Gaulke said. “Later, he raved about it, and said he’d eat them by the pound if he could. So I decided to try one. Gaulke said he beheaded it, gutted it, rinsed it and cut it into pieces. He said he sautéed it in butter with salt and pepper. “It was very pleasant. Firm, yet not chewy. It reminded me of eating scallops, but sort of with a clam taste," he said. “Once you take off the nasty-looking head, they are much easier to prepare on a mental, psychological level." LAMPREY RECIPES: The internet is full of lamprey recipes. There’s beer-battered fried lamprey, lampreys simmered in wine sauce, poached lamprey -- even lamprey pie. Rudstam's recipe for "Lamprey Bordaise" follows: Lamprey Bordelaise • Bleed the lamprey by hanging it by the head and cutting the tail over and container to collect the blood. When there's no blood dripping anymore, dip the lamprey in boiling water for 1 minute. • Take it out and peel it. Cut in 4 cm-thick (1,57 inches) slices. Put the slices in the container of blood. • Cut the white part of the leeks into 7-8 cm-long (2,76-3,15 inches) whistles and them in butter. • Add the diced ham, the shallots and onions. Sprinkle with flour and . • with the wine and broth. Add the cloves and bouquet garni. Add pepper, salt a little. Add two crushed garlic cloves. Bring to a boiling point, then cook for 45 minutes over low heat. • 45 minutes later, add the pieces of lamprey in the sauce, cover and cook again for 45 minutes. •Remove the slices of fish, and them in another pan or skillet with Armagnac. •Pour the equivalent of a glass of warm sauce over the blood in order to dilute it, and poor in the skillet. Stir well. Put back the lamprey, season and cook for 10 minutes with the lid on. Beat the sauce with butter. •Meanwhile, toast the bread and rub it with the remaining garlic.Put the lamprey in a shallow dish, on the slices of bread. Put the leeks all around, with the sauce. Links to other lamprey recipes: Beer-battered fried lamprey Lamprey pie Lamprey eel Minho Style View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Looking for something to do for Earth Day other than planting petunias or building a compost heap? Look no further. Here’s the best of Syracuse’s Earth Day events. Syracuse Earth Day Festival 2013, Sunday, April 21, Noon-5 p.m., Thornden Park Amphitheater This event is free and open to the public. It’s family oriented and features speakers from Syracuse University and... Looking for something to do for Earth Day other than planting petunias or building a compost heap? Look no further. Here’s the best of Syracuse’s Earth Day events. Syracuse Earth Day Festival 2013, Sunday, April 21, Noon-5 p.m., Thornden Park Amphitheater This event is free and open to the public. It’s family oriented and features speakers from Syracuse University and other organizations, music from local and national musicians, and activities and crafts for the kids. Environmental groups, such as the Green Party of Onondaga County, will be present at the event. The event is sponsored by the Green Campus Initiative and Earth Week Committee of SUNY ESF and the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG). Find out more on the event’s website. Climate Change: Impacts and Solutions in CNY, film screening and panel, Monday, April 22, 6 p.m., The Palace Theater The Palace Theater will show the film "Chasing Ice," which follows National Geographic photographer James Balog as he documents melting glaciers in Alaska, Iceland, Greenland and Montana. Immediately following the film screening, a panel of local meteorologists and climate change activists will discuss the film’s implications from a local perspective. Green and energy related will be tabling in the lobby during the event. Advanced sale tickets for adults are $7, while at the door prices are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, and free for children 12 and under. Visit their website for more information, or contact Sam Gordon at 315-422-8276 or [email protected]. Onondaga County Earth Day Celebration, Saturday, April 20, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Onondaga Lake Park Onondaga County, the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County and the Onondaga County Soil and Water Conservation District invite the public to help plant new Emerald Ash Borer trees at the park. Tree seedlings will be available for purchase. The Cornell Cooperative Extension will make a presentation on Emerald Ash Borers and the importance of trees to the environment at 11 a.m. There will be craft activities and displays for children inside the Salt Museum at Onondaga Lake Park. This event is free. OCCRA Electronics Recycling Days Saturday April 20, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. St. Joseph's Church Saturday, April 20, 8 a.m.-Noon, Coast to Coast Electronic Recyclers Inc. Saturday, April 27, 9 a.m.-Noon, Caitlin Clark Centre of Dance Come dispose of your electronic waste the healthy way for free at any of these electronic recycling sites. They take everything from laptops, TVs, lab equipment and car parts. Please do not bring anything that contains Freon. Just drop in and drop off! Contact each site for directions and more information. Party for the Planet, Saturday, April 20, 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Rosamond Gifford Zoo Join the zoo in learning about how to protect the planet from harmful human influence. Learn how families can make a difference in everyday living. Enjoy endangered animal demonstrations and keeper talks, crafts, tours, and puppet shows. Free for members and with paid zoo admission, which is $8 for adults and $4 for children. Earth Day Celebration, Saturday, April 20-Monday, April 22, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Beaver Lake Nature Center Enjoy tons of activities as Beaver Lake Nature celebrates Earth Day for the entire weekend. There will be games, crafts and interactive exhibits for the kids, presentations by local organic farmers, and a live raptor demonstration by Wild Wings rehabilitation and education organization. There will be a bird walk at 8 a.m. on Monday morning. Admission is free with park admission ($3 per car) except for the raptor presentation, which is $7 per person. Contact Beaver Lake Nature Center for more information. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Ten shooters hit 25 out of 25 clays in the league opener. CENTRAL NEW YORK TRAP LEAGUE RESULTS The Central New York Trap League kicked off Tuesday, with 11 local rod and gun clubs competing. Northern Division: - N. Sportsman(188) at SOUTHERN SHORE(195) - Toad Habor (197) at Central Square (184) - Pathfinder (bye) Southern Division - Dewitt (171) at Skaneateles (193) - Camillus (191) at Pompey (196) - Three Rivers (183) at Bridgeport (187) Shooters hitting 25 out of 25 clays were: Bridgeport--None. Camillus--Chris Pollicherni. Cen.Square--None. Dewitt--None No.Sportsman--Gary Rizzo. Pathfinder--Bye. Pompey--Bob Faller, Mike Latocha, Jim St.Pierre and Preston Wiley. SOUTH SHORE--Harvey Stone, Mark Dittly, Ray Kubacki. SKANEATELES--Urb Wormer. Three Rivers--None Toad Harbor--Tyler Izzo, Dave McCrea, Craig Chesbro, Keith Chesbro, Vern McGrath *Results courtesy of Dick Masterpole View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Reminders: Northern pike, pickerel, tiger musky and walleye season is closed until May 4. Finger Lakes Tributary fishing is from sunrise to sunset through May 15. CNY FISHING FORECAST * Reminders:Trout season began Monday (April 1). Northern pike, pickerel, tiger musky and walleye season is closed until May 4. Finger Lakes Tributary fishing is from sunrise to sunset through May 15. INLAND TROUT STREAMS: Stocked streams at this point include: Cayuga County: North Brook, Owasco Inlet, Salmon Creek and Fall Creek; Cortland County: Otselic River; Madison County: Stonemill Brook, Beaver Creek, Canastota Creek, Limestone Creek, Payne Brook, Chittenango Creek, Canaseraga Creek, Chenango River, Cowaselon Creek, Old Chenango Canal, Oneida Creek, Sangerfield River, and the Otselic River; Onondaga County: Nine Mile Creek, Onondaga Creek; West Br. Onondaga Creek, Tannery Creek, Spafford Brook, Furnace Brook, Fabius Brook, Limestone Creek, West Br. Limestone Creek, Geddes Brook, Carpenters Brook, Butternut Creek, and Skaneateles Creek. (Hotline number is (315) 689-0003) Tompkins County: Enfield Creek, Virgil Creek, Buttermilk Creek, Salmon Creek, Fall Creek and Sixmile Creek.. LAKE ONTARIO When the wind isn't blowing too hard and anglers can get out, they are getting some brown trout in 10 to 15 feet of water on stickbaits. Natural colors like black and silver, blue and silver and goby imitating have been working well. Look for the warmest water or flumes of off colored water coming out from tributaries or bays. SALMON RIVER The steelhead bite has been slow recently. Fish are still being found throughout the river, with the area between Altmar and Pulaski continuing to see the most pressure. Good baits are egg sacs, beads, pink worms, night crawlers and streamers. OSWEGO RIVER The water flow is up from last week making shore fishing extremely difficult, except for maybe behind the hotels. Before the high water, anglers were getting steelhead and some nice brown trout with egg sacs working well. ONEIDA LAKE Bullhead action is going strong with the recent warm weather. Good areas include off shore around Muskrat Bay and Oneida Shores Park. Other anglers are fishing around the Caudenoy Dam on the Oneida River. CAYUGA LAKE Anglers trolling stickbaits or spoons near the surface are catching brown trout on the south end. Lake trout are being taken by anglers vertical jigging in 125 to 150 feet of water. Anglers fishing the north end are getting yellow perch on minnows or spikes. A lot of small perch are being caught for every "good" one. The heavy rains this week have brought the tributaries up and white suckers are now running. The sucker run usually indicates that the rainbow run is winding down. No reports on the smelt run. SENECA LAKE Brown trout and Atlantic salmon are hitting on spoons and stickbaits trolled near the surface, or below the surface with lead core. Lake trout are hitting spoons and flasher and flies fished 60 to 150 feet down. Anglers fishing off the pier are catching yellow perch, bluegills and a few black crappies. The panfish are hitting on fathead minnows and waxworms. Reminder: catch limit on western Finger Lakes, beginning with Seneca Lake, is one rainbow a day. OWASCO LAKE Anglers getting out in boats are catching a lot of perch, using fathead minnows. Some anglers are catching bullhead in the Inlet. Others getting out in boats are catching lake trout and brown trout on medium-sized shiners. OTISCO LAKE No new fishing activity to report. SKANEATELES LAKE The DEC launch has been opened and docks are in. Some anglers are getting out to fish for perch. A few lake trout are also being taken by the perch anglers. SANDY POND: Little activity to report on the pond, but yellow perch, bluegill and bullhead should be biting. ST. LAWRENCE RIVER Reports of good perch fishing around Kring's Point. Use fathead minnows and worms.Reports of good bullhead fishing. Try night crawlers. SODUS BAY Anglers continue to catch crappies and bluegills off the bridge, using jigs and spikes and minnows. Bullheads are being taken off the bridge at night. WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR High and muddy. No fishing activity to report, apart from shore anglers picking up a few bullheads and channel catfish. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The Syracuse Gun Show is expected to be packed both Saturday and Sunday this weekend. CNY Outdoors Calendar: Syracuse Gun Show: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 21., Center of Progress Building, state fairgrounds in Geddes. Hosted by the New York State Arms Collectors Association.. Cost is $6 per person, seniors $5 and children under 12 free. Children must be accompanied by an adult. For further information, call Sandy Klinger at 607-748-1010. Annual Sportsman’s Flea Market: 9 to 2 p.m. April 27, Pompey Rod and Gun Club, Swift Road, Pompey. Adults $2; Kids free. For more, call 683-5453 or 435-7529. Friends of NRA banquet: 5:30 p.m. May 3, Traditions at the Links, 5995 North Burdick St., East Syracuse. To order tickets contact James Middleton at 315-695-3981 or by email [email protected]. Walleye derby: Annual Cicero-Mattydale Lions Club Walleye Derby on Oneida Lake. Begins at midnight May 4 and ends with award ceremony at 3 p.m. May 5 in the parking lot at the Gander Mountain store in Cicero. More than $7,000 in cash and prizes. The cost to enter is $10. Tickets are available at 23 businesses around and near the lake. Frey said anglers can sign up until midnight May 4 at Gander Mountain and Marion Manor in Canastota. For more, call 699-3187. Youth Trout Fishing Derby: 7 to 11 a.m. May 11, Altmar Hotel Pavilion. Sponsored by Stillbrook Fish and Game Club. Barbecue from noon to 3 p.m. Cost is $2 for the derby, $10 for the barbecue. All proceeds go to Steven Esposito Memorial Scholarship Fund. Two age classes: 2 to 9 for pond fishing; 10 to 18 for river fishing. For more, call 298-6945 or email [email protected]. SAFETY COURSES: Bow: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nedrow Rod and Gun Club, Route 20 at Hogback Road, Navarino. Pre-register by calling 432-8422, extension 11. Gun: 6 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, Nedrow Rod and Gun Club, Route 20 at Hogback Road, Navarino. Pre-register by calling 469-1820 or 469-4784. Gun: 6 to p.m. April 25, 26, and 8:30 a.m. until completed April 27, Bridgeport Road and Gun Club, Eastwood Road and the corner of Bull Road, Cicero. Register by email, using [email protected]. Gun: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 27, Camillus Rod and Gun Club. Some of the course will be handled online. Register in person 10 a.m. to noon, April 13, Camillus Town Hall, 4600 W. Genesee St. Gun: 6 to 9:30 p.m. May 21, 23, and 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Fayetteville Manlius Rod and Gun Club, 4545 Whetstone Road, Manlius. Register in person at the club from 10 a.m. to noon May 18. Gun: 6 to 9:30 p.m. Aug. 13, 14, 16, Nedrow Rod and Gun Club, Route 20 at Hogback Road, Navarino. Pre-register by calling 469-1820 or 469-4784. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"Ducks, especially mallards, are especially promiscuous. If you took blood samples of mallard ducklings, it's very possible that the male hanging out with the female was not the only father. Male and female goldfinches at the Beaver Lake Nature Center. Goldfinches are among the species of birds that mate late, compared to other local birds. David Lassman / The Post-Standard The mating season for birds of all shapes and sizes is in full swing as spring unfolds in Central New York. Though some birds still haven't returned yet from the south, there's plenty that have and more than enough avian romance to go around. Laura Erickson, author and former science editor of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, was asked this week what she's seeing out there this year and other questions about this seasonal bird behavior. How does this spring compare to last year's, when we had a relatively snowless winter and early thaw? "Spring migration is much later this year. But some birds, like robins and waterfowl, respond to temperature and other weather conditions, and came back earlier than other species." Generally, which birds mate the earliest? Which birds are doing it right now as we speak? Which ones mate the latest in the season? "Great horned owls are among the very first to nest—they often start mating around Valentine's Day. Right now, great blue herons, ducks and geese are mating and laying eggs. Cedar waxwings and American goldfinches don't mate until July." Which birds pair and mate for life? And what happens if one of them dies? "Canada geese and swans mate for life and stay together year round. If one partner dies, the other one will eventually find a new mate, but it could take as little as a few weeks or up to several years." Which birds are the most promiscuous? "Ducks, especially mallards, are especially promiscuous. If you took blood samples of mallard ducklings, it's very possible that the male hanging out with the female was not the only father." Which birds are the most prolific and have the largest number of young? "Ducks and grouse have a large number of chicks--sometimes as many as 14 or so." Which birds are the most picky when it comes to selecting a nest site? "All birds are very selective about their nest sites. Each species has its own habitat needs -- some quite broad, others quite narrow. They are "picky" within these habitat constraints." Which birds don't seem to care where they do it? "Ducks are the birds most often observed mating. Birds are exceptionally vulnerable during mating, and try to find somewhat hidden areas for this." In the coming weeks, if you happen upon a young bird that's fallen out of its nest what should you do? Many believe that once you touch it and put your scent on it, the mother will have nothing to do with it? True? "Birds recognize their young as we do, by sight and sound, not by odor. So birds can be put back into their nest if they're true nestlings that have fallen out by accident. "Many of the baby birds people find are fledgings—young that have left the nest on their own, but aren't quite able to fly yet. Blue Jays and robins are among the most often found as young fledglings. "If you find one of these in a quiet, safe area, leave it alone. It's parents are busy with a few other fledglings at the same time but will return. If the bird is in an unsafe area, place it in the nearest safe spot—a bush or tangle. "Taking a baby bird home to raise is illegal, violating the Migratory Bird Act. Unless you are trained in wildlife rehabilitation, it will be very harmful to the fledgling." To learn more about CNY birds, visit Cornell Ornithology Lab's website. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

<p> “We’ve sold out all 1,000 tables. I’m looking forward to it,” said Sandy Ackerman, show manager. </p> <p>Organizers of this weekend’s Syracuse Gun Show at the state fairgrounds, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, are expecting big crowds on both days.</p> <p>“We’ve sold out all 1,000 tables. I’m looking forward to it,” said Sandy Ackerman, president and show manager of the New York State Arms Collectors Association, which is hosting the event.</p> <p>The show will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Cost is $6 per person, seniors $5 and children under 12 free. Children must be accompanied by an adult.</p> <p>Ackerman noted the show has been dogged by rumors that it would not happen.</p> <p>“Ever since the Safe Act passed, we’ve had people say it was going to be cancelled because we’re on state property,” she said. “Not true. The governor was asked (earlier this year) and he said we have a contract, we have a right to be there. The show is happening.”</p> <p>The show, being held in the Center of Progress Building, will feature exhibits and displays by firearm collectors and dealers from across the county and Canada.</p> <p>Ackerman, repeating what she’d told me several weeks ago, noted that “all state and federal firearm laws will be strictly observed. <br />“<br />She said her group has signed off on a “model gun show procedure” developed by the state Attorney General’s office. She described it as a “tweaking of things of things that we’ve been doing for 14 years, including background checks of those purchasing guns and a tag system for firearms going in and out of the building.”</p> <p>This year, signage will be up throughout Center of Progress building saying, “NYS law requires that an NICS (federal) background check be completed on all firearms sales or transfers, including rifles and shotguns. To avoid this background check is a crime. To offer to sell a firearm and then transfer it at another location to avoid a NICS check is also a crime.”</p> <p>Dealers at the show will be available to do the required background checks at “a nominal cost,” Ackerman said.</p> <p>I told her I’d recently written a story about the widespread shortage of ammunition at local sporting goods stores and statewide in the wake of the Safe Act and talk of increased federal gun control measures.</p> <p>“I’ve talked a couple of our regular ammo guys. They do have ammo. I’ve been told there’s going to be .22 caliber rounds. I don’t know how many they’ll have, how long it’ll last or what they’ll be charging. Whatever they’ll be charging, I do know that people have paid the price (at other gun shows). I know they’re gearing up for a crazy weekend,” she said.</p> <p>The show will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Cost is $6 per person, seniors $5 and children under 12 free. Children must be accompanied by an adult.</p> <p>For further information, call Ackerman Klinger at 607-748-1010.</p> View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

I'm looking to connect with someone going out with a youngster this weekend for the youth turkey hunt. Please call me at 470-6066, no later than 4 p.m. today (Wednesday). A female and male bluebird at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. Dave Lassman |[email protected] Interesting week. I've been working, along my Syracuse University intern Sarah Taddeo, on a number of stories and column ideas. The list includes:- The upcoming gun show this weekend. - Frisky birds...specifically that spring is the time that birds are in high gear when it comes to mating. - Climate change (variability, is a better word), and how it's affecting ice fishing, skiing/snowboarding...along with wildlife (birds, insects and plant life). This is part of an Earth Day package we're working on for Sunday's newspaper. - A story about a Cornell prof and fishing guide who savor the taste of ....sea lampreys. - The upcoming Oneida Lake Association meeting (April 28) and whether a certain congressman should make an appearance. Stuff I'm working on: - The upcoming youth turkey weekend. (Please send your photos to [email protected]) Editor's note: I'm looking to connect with someone going out with a youngster this weekend for the youth turkey hunt. Please call me at 470-6066, no later than 4 p.m. today (Wednesday). Also: - Bullhead fishing - A walleye fishing season precede. - An update on crossbow legislation. Other "stuff" I'm working on: - The early spring brown trout bite on Lake Ontario. - An update on the Governor's "gag order" on the DEC. - Commercial gill net fishing for perch on Lake Ontario There's still a few individuals who are licenced by the state to do this and I hope to get out with one of them soon. - DEC study on wild turkeys - A proposal to turn Onondaga County into a rifle county for deer hunting. 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

Rick McDermott is the founder of the New York State Crossbow Coalition, a group dedicated to getting the crossbow categorized as a legal hunting implement in New York State. Rick McDermott Peter Chen | [email protected] Crossbow advocate Rick McDermott and the Baldwinsville Rod and Gun Club were honored at Friday's annual banquet of the Onondaga Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs at the Spinning Wheel Restaurant in North Syracuse.McDermott, of Albion, was honored as "Conservationist of the Year," and the Baldwinsville club was given the Club of the Year award. The President's Award went to Bob Dankiw, of the Camillus Sportsment's Club. "Bob has stepped in and participated in many projects and committees that helped me run the Federation," said Stephen Wowelko, president of the Onondaga Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs. "Bob volunteered to take over as Federation Secretary when our elected secretary was out of town," McDermott's written nomination for the "Conservationist of the Year Award," drafted by Federation President Stephen Wowelko, read: Rick’s recent and past activities in the Outdoors and for our Federation are numerous. Each echoes the theme of - "IT’S NOT WHAT YOU TAKE, BUT WHAT YOU GIVE”. Rick has given back a monumental amount to time, energy and money. Some of Rick McDermott’s activities include: Youth Activities – coordinated the joint youth pheasant hunt with CANY, Oswego Federation, NWTF and our Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs. I think coordinated is an understatement – Rick got permission from landowners to allow the kids to hunt, arranged for dogs and their handlers, promoted the event, took care of the registrations, obtained pheasants, rented port-a-johns, cooked lunches and instructed over 100 kids on safe pheasant hunting. A very successful program for a number of years. Hunter Safety instructor – a dedicated instructor teaching our sportsmen and children on conservation and gun safety for many years. Crossbow crusader – Rick was the founder of the New York State Crossbow Coalition. Digging into his own pocket he up fronted the money to form this organization. Rick has spent hundreds of hours working on getting the crossbow categorized as a legal hunting implement in New York State. He has taken much of his vacation time to travel to Albany again and again to meet with legislators and testify before the Environmental Conservation Committees. Rick has presented at our Federation meetings and arranged for legislators and DEC personnel to meet with our sportsmen. When asked – do you hunt with a crossbow? Rick responded no I do not, when asked then why do you do it? – he responded because I feel it is the right thing to do for our sportsmen and women. Participated in our Federation’s Sportsmen’s Days at Carpenter’s Brook Fish Hatchery – when BassPro Shops was not able to do the crossbow demonstration, on a short notice, Rick got a bunch of volunteers together and came to our rescue. They put over 600 people – men, women and children, through the crossbow demonstration last year. Conservation Alliance of New York –; for several years Rick has been an officer on the Board of Directors of the Conservation Alliance of New York – who’s Mission is to secure hunting, fishing, trapping, and other sustainable activities which use New York's renewable natural resources, and to collaborate with others who share their vision. Buses to Albany – for several years, Rick has single-handily arranged buses for our Federation to go to Albany. This February, on a short notice Rick arranged buses for over 225 sportsmen from Oswego and Onondaga County to travel to Albany to let the governor and legislature know how we felt about the NY Safe Act. Rick negotiated with 3 different bus companies, handled reservations, arranged the logistics of pickup and drop-off, and provided information from the New York Rifle and Pistol Association along with SCOPE on the issue. With donations from clubs, federations, sportsmen and money left over from the busses, Oswego and Onondaga County jointly donated $2000 to help in the lawsuits against the NY Safe Act. Most importantly Rick can be considered a bridge builder – building good relationships between our Federation, the Oswego Federation and other sporting organizations. Rick McDermott has dedicated a lifetime of giving back to the outdoor sports. He has been a tremendous asset to our Federation – even though he lives in Albion in Oswego County. He is a prime example of what an Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs Conservationist of the year should be. The nomination for the Baldwinsville Club, written by Thomas G. Merrill, a club spokesman, read: The Baldwinsville Rod and Gun Club (BRGC) would like to be considered this year by the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs (OCFSC) for the “Club of the Year” award. Our club continues to improve and make progress, and we have a long list of accomplishments this year. Our club’s support of the OCFSC is matched by few other member clubs. In 2012, that was evident by our participation on OCFSC committees, at OCFSC meetings, and OCFSC events. The BRGC can always be counted on to host a delegate's meeting and we will be hosting the March 2013 meeting. Our members regularly attend the President’s Dinner, the Sportsmen’s Award Banquet, and the Delegate's Picnic. When the Federation holds an event, BRGC members are eager participants, helping with the work load and making donations. Our members did their part to support last year’s OCFSC gun raffle. Three of our members are on the Federation’s Board of Directors. Our club members are active on the OCFSC Women in Nature (WIN) committee and participate as volunteers at the WIN event and set up and tear down, as well as, the club providing equipment and wild game donations. Our members truly enjoy introducing people to the shooting sports. For a second year, as part of WIN, the BRGC held a sporting clays clinic for women at our facility. We will be hosting similar events this year. Our members are active participants on the Sportsman’s Days committee. We participated in the OCFSC Sportsmen’s Days by setting up and manning a trap shooting booth, as well as helping set up tents and transport equipment for other participants. We had between 10 to 15 members supporting this booth over the two day event, and it is always one of the most popular attractions at the show. Our members also fill in many other roles as required (ie. setting up, cleanup, parking, cooking and serving at the Saturday dinner for volunteers). In addition to supporting the Federation, our club supports many other organizations, and the BRGC rarely misses an opportunity to open our doors to other clubs, the public, and in particular to youth and women’s groups. Our club traditionally allows organizations outside our regular club membership the use of our club facilities in an effort to promote the shooting sports and the outdoor sportsman’s way of life. We always try to accommodate requests to use our club's facilities and equipment. We routinely loan tables, chairs, etc. to our neighbors for weddings, graduations, etc. We opened our doors to the Greater Ithaca Activities Club, a youth group from Ithaca. This group has come to use our club for the last five years, and this past year they visited our club on two occasions. We held a New York State Hunter Safety course. Syracuse University held three field labs for their forensics classes to gain hands on firearms experience on our club’s grounds. This class is the most popular class in the entire science department on campus and we will be allowing SU to use the club again in 2013. Rochester Personal Defense puts on at least one class every month at our club. In 2012, the BRGC sponsored three youths to attend DEC camp. This year, we anticipate sending two youths to DEC camp. The BRGC held two charity shoots to benefit local organizations. The shoots benefited the Military Courtesy Room at Syracuse Hancock International Airport, and the Ruffed grouse Society. We also hosted shooting events for the Madison County Friends Of NRA Committee, WIN committee, Ducks Unlimited, and the Central New York Wildfowlers. Over the years, we have opened our facilities to several outdoor groups for their use. We also hosted two groups of new shooters who were coworkers of our members. In addition to events held at our own club, BRGC also sends large contingents of our members to support other events such as the CNY Ruffed Grouse Society's fund raising shoot at Kadat Sports Farm, in Georgetown, NY; the cancer fundraiser to benefit Mike Graham (president of the Federated Sportsmen's Clubs of Madison County), at Vernon National Shooting Preserve; the Women and Youth shooting event at Vernon National Shooting Preserve, sponsored by the Federated Sportsmen's Clubs Of Madison County; several members shooting for several different teams in the Central New York summer trap league; and we field a team competing in the Tri-County Trap League every summer. The BRGC is open to the public weekly for events. Every Saturday we have skeet and trap shooting, both are open to the public. During the spring and summer months, our club is open to the public on Thursday for sporting clay shooting and on Monday for trap shooting. For the sixth straight year, we have held a sight-in day where the public was invited to sight in their rifles and shotguns for upcoming hunting season. The BRGC supports the New York State Conservation Council (NYSCC). The club participates in the Buck-a-Member program. In 2012, we gave over $500 toward that program. Fred Neff, a BRGC member, is the Federation’s delegate to the NYCC and Tom Merrill, also a BRGC member, is the NYSCC alternate. Fred was the 2012 Chairman for the Region 7 Conservation League. Tom Merrill is the Vice-Chairman for 2013. The BRGC is a big supporter of the local Friend’s Of NRA groups. Our members are very active in the friend’s group and our members support them with their fund raisers. Our members actively recruit new members for the NRA. Our club members also support other fund raising banquets, including, but, not limited to, CNY Ruffed Grouse Society; CNY Pheasants Forever; CNY Wildfowlers; National Wild Turkey Federation, CNY Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation; and Ducks Unlimited. Our members actively fight for gun-owner’s rights. At a recent Rally in Albany to protest New York State's SAFE Gun Act, our club sponsored 10 members to attend on the Federation bus and several more attended on their own when they found that the buses were filled to capacity. During that rally, our members met with several Senators and Assemblymen (11 total) to voice our concerns. Two of our members spoke publically at a recent Onondaga County Legislature session to support a county resolution calling for a full repeal of the NYS SAFE Gun Act. Last year, we made several improvements to our club. Our members built a large, two story storage building with two traps on the second floor for the sporting clays field, and we are putting the finishing touches on our archery range which includes a raised shooting platform. We also built an eight foot tall earthen berm separating the rifle range from the archery range, so that both may be safely used without having to worry about a cease fire on both to facilitate down range activities on one or the other. This year, we hope to add on to our rifle range with handicap access. The BRGC continues to grow. Last year, we surpassed our record year set in 2011. We finished the year with well over 500 memberships sold, which makes for a total of nearly 1000 members, after family memberships are accounted for. This year our members competed in the BRGC third annual shotgun championship in which participants shoot 25 targets each trap, skeet, and sporting clays. It is great fun for our members who work hard all year making our club great. In summary, our club was very busy again last year, and this year will be even busier. Our club seeks out opportunities to educate and promote shooting sports to those who may have never held a gun. We believe our members and our facilities make our club one of the best in the area. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

It's being sponsored by The Nine Mile Creek Conservation Committee. Volunteers are needed for an upcoming float box trout stocking event scheduled for May 8 on Nine Mile Creek. The stocking is being hosted by The Nine Mile Creek Conservation Committee and the fish will be provided by the Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery. The fish are put in float boxes, paddled downstream and released. Canoeists, kayakers and shore volunteers are needed to help distribute trout along Nine Mile Creek from Camillus to the Erie Canal. Meet at Munro Park in Camillus at 5 p.m. For more information contact Maude Morse at [email protected], call 488-0487 or visit the Conservation Committee website. "This is the only Nine Mile Creek float stocking event." Morse said. " I passed a lot of fisherman last weekend as I scouted the creek for downed trees that will need to be removed prior to the stocking event. "I have fished and kayaked the creek often." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The two caught five pickerel on lures on the canal in Camillus. Joe Selover, of Marcellus, and his father, Doug, caught five pickerel recently while fishing the Erie Canal in Camillus. Selover wrote: I caught 4 of them on a #2 silver w/a yellow and red tail Panther Martin on 6-pound test line, along with a small splitshot 12 inches above the lure. "My father also caught one on a lure that had mostly silver as well. He was also using 6-pound test line." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He caught a 29-pound, 8-ounce mirror carp -- a personal best. Jason Bernhardt with his 29-pound, 8-ounce mirror carp. Jason Bernhardt, of Baldwinsville, holds up a huge mirror carp that he landed while fishing a lake called Dale Hollow in Byrdstown, Tenn. He said it weighed 29 pounds, 8 ounces."I'll be here for 3 more days and I might even catch a better fish to send a pic of (especially a better quality pic), he said, adding he was fishing recreationally at the lake with some pros of Romanian descent from Chicago. Bernhardt is tournament director of Wild Carp Companies, which is hosting the Wild Carp Week Triathlon May 18-24 on the Seneca River. The competition will feature $18,500 in prize money. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"I white-knuckled the tiller in my left hand, pushed the throttle forward in my right. The engine roared louder as a fresh level of terror rose in my chest," she wrote. Debbie Snook, a reporter with the Cleveland Plain Dealer, wrote an interesting story recently about renting a boat from Mid-Lakes Navigation in Skaneateles and traveling the Erie Canal. Included in the story is mention of traveling through Montezuma. She wrote: "I white-knuckled the tiller in my left hand, pushed the throttle forward in my right. The engine roared louder as a fresh level of terror rose in my chest. "I was now in charge of a 34-foot, 12½-ton boat on New York state's Erie Canal." Read the full story. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He did it on spring break with his family. Michael Delvecchio, 15, of Liverpool, (center) reeled in this impressive 6-foot, 6-inch sailfish while fishing on a charter boat It was caught off the coast of Florida. He was down on spring break with his family at the time, said his mother, Renee Delvecchio. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

“Numbers of dead redpolls have been observed at birdfeeders throughout New York,” said DEC’s Assistant Commissioner for Natural Resources Kathleen Moser. Common redpoll Kathleen Bartels DEC news release:New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has confirmed that salmonellosis, an infection with the bacteria salmonella, has been the cause for mortality in common redpoll birds throughout the state during the last few months Salmonellosis is among the most common diseases associated with birdfeeders. The organism can be spread from bird to bird through direct contact, or through ingestion of food or water contaminated with feces from an infected bird. “Numbers of dead redpolls have been observed at birdfeeders throughout New York,” said DEC’s Assistant Commissioner for Natural Resources Kathleen Moser. “Redpolls are especially susceptible to salmonellosis during late winter months. This winter, we’ve seen particularly large numbers of redpolls in New York that moved south from Canada during cold winter temperatures. This mortality incident will abate once the remaining redpolls migrate north with the warmer weather.” During the last few months, numerous homeowners reported dead or dying redpolls at birdfeeders. DEC wildlife biologists collected specimens in the Western New York area and submitted the specimens to DEC’s Wildlife Health Unit for necropsy. Analysis indicated that lesions and culture on the affected specimens were consistent with salmonellosis. Since then, reports of salmonellosis have been documented in numerous locations around the state. Common redpolls and pine siskins are particularly sensitive to salmonella infection; however it can also affect other feeder birds including american goldfinches and other finches. Salmonellosis can spread among birds through contact with the feces of infected birds. Birdfeeders and the seed on the ground around them can easily become contaminated with feces which results in the spread of the pathogen. Sick birds can be identified by their lack of activity and reluctance to fly. New Yorkers can help to curtail the spread of salmonellosis in redpolls by removing, emptying and disinfecting feeders with a 10-percent bleach solution. Seed on the ground beneath feeders should be cleaned up and discarded. Because salmonellosis is a pathogen that can affect other species (including humans and pets), it is especially important to practice good hygiene when cleaning feeders or handling dead birds. Dead birds should only be handled with gloves, then double-bagged and discarded in the garbage. If a sick or dead bird is found at home birdfeeders, it should be reported to the local DEC office. Pets should be kept away from feeder areas where sick or dead birds have been observed. Common redpolls (Acanthis flammea) are small songbirds that are members of the finch family. They travel in flocks and are an occasional winter visitor in New York. This winter we experienced a large influx of redpolls and they have been a common visitor to backyard bird feeders. Their summer months are spent in Canada and areas north of New York. Learn more about this bird. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The program, which continues each Saturday until the end of May, offers youngsters and adults alike an opportunity to fish for the fun of it. Everything caught gets released. Owen Lynch, 3, of North Syracuse, reels in a nice trout he caught this morning in the fishing pond at Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery in Elbridge. Sarah Taddeo I [email protected] Syracuse—"I got one!" screamed Owen Lynch, 3, of North Syracuse, as his dad helped him reel in a large rainbow trout from the fishing pond at Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery this morning. The county-run hatchery in Elbridge was hosting the first in a series of public fishing Saturdays for this spring. The program, which continues each Saturday until the end of May, offers youngsters and adults alike an opportunity to fish for the fun of it. Everything caught gets released. About 25 people showed up for the first hour of the program. Most children came with dads or grandfathers who taught them the ropes of reeling, casting and baiting a hook. John Hluchyj, president of Friends of Carpenter's Brook, said these are the kind of events he really enjoys. The Friends group assists in funding and coordinating events for the hatchery. "We support the hatchery in a number of different ways," Hluchyj said. "Holding these events helps kids have an easy connection with nature. It's very rewarding." Fishing at the hatchery was the first freshwater fishing experience for Faith Weaver, 10, of Clay. "I go to the Jersey shore a lot and fish in the saltwater," she said. "It's cool to see all the different kinds of fish there are around." Weaver caught several fish, but didn't want to take any off the barbless hooks—"I let my dad do that part," she said. It was also Justin Pier's first time out at the hatchery's fishing pond. Pier, 10, of Elbridge, said his favorite part about fishing is "catching the big ones." What's his secret technique? "Waiting," he said. But he didn't have to wait for long.The pond was so well-stocked with rainbow trout that kids were catching fish every couple of minutes. Carpenter's Brook Superintendent Eric Stanczyk said he hopes these fishing days will instill a lifelong love for fishing in the youngsters. "It doesn't matter how old you are, you can always fish," Stanczyk said. "Once they get involved now, they're going be involved in it for the rest of their lives. We've got this space and these ponds, might as well do something with them that will help these kids learn a new sport." Fishing sessions will be held from 9:30-11:30 a.m each Saturday. Cost is $5 per person with bait, rods and reels provided. Reservations are required. Call 689-9367. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The contest kicks off at midnight May 4 on Oneida Lake. The winner with the largest fish (length-wise) will get $1,000. Last year's winner was Daniel Van Meter, of North Syracuse, with his fish that measured 24 3/4 inches. This years’ walleye fishing season, which begins May 4, kicks off again with the 35th annual Cicero-Mattydale Lions Club Walleye Derby on Oneida Lake.Tournament director Carol Frey said the tournament will offer more than $7,ooo in cash and prizes. The angler with the biggest fish (length-wise) will earn $1,000. After that, the top 24 fish will be awarded a total of $3,500. The tournament begins at midnight May 4 and will feature seven weigh stations around the lake. It will end with an awards ceremony and raffles at 3 p.m. May 5 in the parking lot of the Gander Mountain store in Cicero. In addition, Frey said, staff at the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s Oneida fish hatchery in Constantia on Friday tagged and released three specially tagged fish into the lake. A lucky angler who catches one of them during the tournament stands to earn $1,000, $500 or $250, depending on the fish caught. “All the tags says is ‘Fishtagger.com’ and a serial number,” Frey said “If anyone catches any of them after the tournament ends, the club will give them $100, $50 and $25, respectively, right up until Labor Day.” The cost to enter is $10. Tickets are available at 23 businesses around and near the lake. Frey said anglers can sign up until midnight May 4 at Gander Mountain and Marion Manor in Canastota. Last year’s tournament drew nearly 1,900 anglers. The winner was Daniel Van Meter, of North Syracuse, with his fish that measured 24 3/4 inches. He caught it on a jig. For further information, call Frey at 699-3187. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

A guided walk to search for waterfowl and migratory songbirds will follow the lecture. The American black duck was once the most abundant duck in Eastern North America. Dave Spier The following is a press release: The Montezuma Audubon Center is pleased to welcome New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Wildlife Technician Frank Morlock beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday for a presentation about the American black duck. Once the most abundant fresh-water duck in eastern North America, the black duck population declined steadily for three decades and reached an all-time low in the 1980s. Mr. Morlock will discuss the physiology and history of the Black Duck, historic population levels, and management efforts taking place at the Montezuma Wetlands Complex and across the Atlantic Flyway, focusing on the winter banding program. A guided walk to search for waterfowl and migratory songbirds will follow the lecture. Fee: $3/child; $5/adult, $15/family, FREE for Friends of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex. Space is limited and registration is required. Please call 315-365-3588 or e-mail [email protected]. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog