HuntingNY-News

The stocking will continue well into May. This year, the county intends to stock a total of 74,000 trout. Watch video Eric Stanczyk admits to feeling a bit like Santa Claus this time of year. The superintendent of the Carpenter’s Brook Fish Hatchery oversees and directly participates in the stocking of 20 Onondaga County streams and several lakes and ponds It’s an endeavor he knows will bring fun, joy and good will from local anglers – particularly those planning to get out Monday for the opening day of trout fishing season. Stanczyk said the county’s waterways have been stocked so far with nearly 20,000 brown, rainbow and brook trout from the hatchery The stocking will continue well into May. This year, he said, the county intends to stock a total of 74,000 trout. . “This is the fun part of the job,” Stanczyk said. “It’s as close to fishing as I can get at work.” Stanczyk said local streams “look fantastic for opening day.” He said the water is up and clear. Stream temperatures vary from 37 to 42 degrees. “The snow has been melting slowly, which is a good thing,” he said. Hatchery staff began this spring’s stocking efforts on March 18, assisted by volunteers who show up at the hatchery in the morning on stocking days. The fish – one- and two-year-old browns, one-year-old rainbows and brook trout -- are netted in the hatchery’s circular and rectangular-shaped cement ponds and then emptied into 300-gallon water tanks on the back of two trucks driven by Stanczyk and Travis Stanek, the hatchery’s operations supervisor. Wednesday morning, volunteers included Kelsey West and Scott Austin, both SUNY ESF student, along with their teaching assistant, Alex Kulakowsi. Others helping out were Pat Ryder, of Syracuse, and Jerry Brown, of Mottville. The two hatchery staffers then drove the trucks to Limestone Creek and Pool’s Brook. Volunteers followed Stanek. Stanczyk went alone, netting brook trout from the tank himself into a five-gallon bucket and then dumping into Pool’s Brook at various public access points, usually near bridges. “C’mom boys, swim, swim,” Stanczyk shouted out as he dumped a pail full of fish into the brook. At one point, Stanczyk pointed to an area near a submerged log where a friend pulled out a 20-inch brown trout a couple of years back. “A trout that’s 20 inches on a small stream like this, that’s winning the lottery.” he said. Onondaga County waterways this year will most likely be the best stocked in the state. Stanczyk said the county-run hatchery aims to hit 100 percent of its stocking goals. The goals are set by the state Department of Environmental Conservation using angler surveys to determine fishing pressure, along with biological analysis of food naturally available to figure out how many fish each stream can support. Surrounding Central New York counties – such as Oswego, Madison, Cortland and Cayuga counties – get their fish from state-run hatcheries. The DEC this year recently announced it was cutting back its stocking goals of yearling brown trout (averaging 8-10 inches) across the state by 15 percent as a result of disease problems that killed fish at its Rome hatchery last year. Last year, the state hit on the average 87 percent of its own stocking goals, according to a DEC spokeswoman. Stanczyk said each year the state gives Onondaga County some 60,000 brown trout fingerlings in the fall to stock in county streams the following spring. This year, the county got 12,000 less. “We’re making up for that by stocking extra brook trout,” he said. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"We have five active pairs that are currently on their nests with the potential to lay eggs," said Scott Stipetich, a fish and wildlife biologist at the 9,000-acre refuge. The eagles have landed and are on their nests at the Montezuma National Wildlife Preserve, “We have five active pairs that are currently on their nests with the potential to lay eggs,” said Scott Stipetich, a fish and wildlife biologist at the 9,000-acre refuge. Staff photographer Mike Greenlar this week caught several on film, along with other birds and wildlife, along the refuge's wildlife drive. Stipetich said Immature bald eagles are completely chocolate brown colored. “It takes bald eagles four to five years to reach sexual maturity,” he said. “As a general rule, you can tell when they hit it when they get that white head and tail feathers – a characteristic of both the males and females.” In the past, Stipetich said, a popular viewing area of a nesting pair of bald eagles has been at Mud Lock, at the northern end of Cayuga Lake. Those eagles are still in the same general area but have moved their nest back a bit and aren’t as visible. On the refuge, he said there’s a nesting pair on Maple Island, an island surrounded by water in the refuge’s main pool. The island can be seen along the refuge’s wildlife drive. Bald eagles begin nesting toward the end of February and eggs hatch in about 35 days. The Maple Island nest is visible. Visitors can see the eagles, which take turns sitting on the nest, with a good pair of binoculars or a spotting scope, Stipetich said. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

I'm trying to get together Monday with three generations of anglers for the trout opener. Know anyone doing this? Call me no later than 5 p.m. Thursday at 470-6066, or email [email protected]. March is going by in a blink of an eye. The bald eagles at Montezuma are nesting and opening day of trout fishing season is Monday Have several stories planned this week, including: - A short story to go along with an eye-opening photo slide show of bald eagles at Montezuma taken by staff photographer Mike Greenlar. On the trout fishing front: - How to prepare for opening day (and not wait until the last minute) - Update on the stocking scene - Opening day weather-wise for the past 20 years (with an assist from meteorologist Dave Eichorn). - Update on rules and regulations I'm also looking for reader help on the following: - I'm trying to get together opening day with three generations of anglers. Know any family groups like this going out? Get back to me this ASAP -- no later than 5 p.m. Thursday. - Your best trout recipe. I'd like to give readers some suggestions of what to do with with their trout once they bring them home. - Pictures and short stories about individuals (young and old, men and women) who catch their first trout on opening day. Send stories and photos to [email protected]. Questions? Call me at 470-6066. Other "stuff" I'm working on: - I've been interviewing local gun/ammo dealers along with sportsmen/gun enthusiasts about what's currently going out there recently concerning firearms and ammunition sales. - I'm working on an update on the Governor's "gag order" on the DEC. - Commercial gill net fishing for perch. 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 - The over-abundance of gizzard shad in Oneida Lake and what that means for this spring's walleye fishing. - 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

Send your responses to [email protected] or call 470-6066. I need some help from readers in covering the opening day of the trout fishing season Monday. I'm looking for: 1). Three generations of anglers who plan to go out together Monday morning to wet their lines. 2). Your best trout recipe. Send your responses to [email protected] or call 470-6066. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Ice fishing anglers are still getting out and catching fish on Otisco Lake. CNY FISHING FORECAST * Reminders Trout season opens Monday. Bait stores (list and map). SALMON RIVER Lots of fish continue to be caught throughout the river. The steelhead are spawning and brown trout are coming in from the lake to eat their eggs. Anglers continue to have luck using egg sacs, trout beads, flies and pink worms. Bright-colored flies or bait works best. OSWEGO RIVER Anglers fishing behind the downtown hotels continue to catch nice brown trout and a few steelhead using egg sacs and white, bucktail jigs (3/8 ounce). Make sure bring to bring a long-handled net, advised one angler. ONEIDA LAKE Ice fishing season is over. Some are getting out in boats to fish open water for perch and panfish. Others are fishing from shore in the Three Rivers area. CAYUGA LAKE Some anglers are fishing down by the power plant in Lansing on the eastern side, catching trout from shore using large shiners as bait. A few are getting out in boats to fish for perch and crappie. SENECA LAKE Brown trout and Atlantic salmon are hitting on weighted salmon flies trolled on the surface. Anglers fishing on the inside of the pier are catching yellow perch and bluegills. The yellow perch are hitting on fathead minnows and the bluegill are hitting on waxworms or spikes. The bluegill bite has been better late in the day and continues for a few hours after dark. OWASCO LAKE Anglers are fishing from boats on the west side at the north end have been catching bluegills and perch. Anglers out in boats are also catching lake trout using medium-sized shiners around Ensinore. OTISCO LAKE The whole lake remains frozen, with 8-10 inches of ice. Ice fishing anglers continue to get out. SKANEATELES LAKE The DEC launch has been opened and docks are in. Anglers are starting to get out in boats to fish for boats. ST. LAWRENCE RIVER Some anglers continue to go out on the ice, but conditions are questionable. SODUS BAY Anglers are catching crappies and bluegills off the bridge, using jigs and spikes and minnows. SANDY CREEK/WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR No fishable ice. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

See listing of upcoming gun and bow hunting safety courses. CNY Outdoors Calendar: Free fishing seminar: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 6, Calvary Baptist Church, Brewerton. For childen and adults. All sorts of seminars and hands-on learning opportunities. For more, contact Michael Riordan at [email protected], or at 668-9790 or 374-2997. Annual sportsmen's banquet: 6 to 9 p.m. April 12, Spinning Wheel Restaurant, North Syracuse. Hosted by the Onondaga Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs. Cost is$17 per person with reservations; $20 at the door. For tickets, contact Ed Pugliese before April 5 by emailing him at [email protected]. Fishing program: Begins April 13 and continues on successive Saturdays until May 25 at Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery. Families and individuals will be able to enjoy a morning of fishing at the facility. Sessions will be held from 9:30-11:30 a.m, Cost is $5 per person with bait, rods and reels provided. Reservations are required. Call 689-9367. Annual sportsmen's banquet: 5 p.m. April 13, The Oasis at Thunder Island in Fulton. Hosted by the Oswego Federation of Sportsmens' Clubs. Cost is $25 per person. Tickets can be purchased by contacting Eric Madura at 315-676-3486 or via email at [email protected]. Cabin Fever Shoot: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 14, Otisco Rod and Gun Club.in Marietta. Event is similar to the club's fall Turkey Shoot, with a wide variety of shooting games available for all rifles, pistols, and shotguns.This event is open to the public. For more, call 430-6913. 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] SAFETY COURSES: Gun : 6 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday; 8:30 to 2:30 p.m. (or when completed) April 6, Liverpool Rod and Gun Club, 7902 Henry Clay Blvd. Register in person 9 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday (March 30) at the club house. Gun: 6 to 9:30 p.m. April 4, 8, and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 13, Otisco Lake Rod and Gun Club, 3015 Otisco Valley Road, Marietta. Register in person 5 to 8 p.m. Monday (April 1) at the clubhouse. Bow: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 13, Fayetteville-Manlius Rod and Gun Club, 4545 Whetstone Road, Manlius. Pre-register in person at the club, 10 a.m. to noon April 6. Bow: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 20, 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. April 23, 24, 26, 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

For those who can't wait, there are stretches of three local streams open for year-round trout fishing: Chittenango, Limestone and Butternut Creeks. (See stories, videos and maps of these streams.) Preparation is essential in trout fishing. Here I am with a nice Nine Mile Creek brown that I caught on a nymph and released afterward. Stephen D. Cannerelli [email protected] Old man winter is extending his stay this week. Don’t be down. A few snow flurries and a blast of cold here and there never hurt anyone.The cure for those suffering from cabin fever comes Monday. It's the opening of the trout fishing season. A bit of advice, though, from a long-time procrastinator. Don’t wait until the last minute. Start getting ready for the opener today. Make sure you get your fishing license and read through the DEC fishing guide to update yourself on the updated regulations on the waterway(s) you plan to fish. Check out your waders or hip boots. Slip them on and wade in a local stream or pond, or fill up the stationary tub in your basement and hold your boots underwater and check for bubbles. Find out if there are any leaks and patch them. Nothing is worse than leaky boots and cold, wet feet. Believe me, I’ve been there. Whether you have a fly rod or spinning outfit, get it out and look it over. Clean it off, give it a little oil. Make sure everything is in proper working order. For that matter, line up a backup rod and reel. Nothing is worse than a reel that suddenly goes on the fritz when you’re out on the stream, or breaking your rod tip off by accidentally slamming it in the car door – leaving you with nothing else to fish with. Believe me, I’ve been there. If you have a fly rod, put on a new leader and have a couple of spares just in case. Also, get ready a good supply of nymphs and streamers. Leave the dry flies at home. It’s too early for them. Make sure you also stock up on split shot sinkers to get your flies down because that’s where the fish will be. Those taking to the stream with spinning outfits should change their lines. Take off the 8-pound test line. You’re not targeting bass or carp. Good, 4-pound monofilament test line will do. It's less visible to trout and more sensitive. You can feel the bites better. While you’re at it, stock up on hooks, split shot sinkers and lures. Bring at least three each of your favorite lures. Nothing is worse than catching a fish on a lure that you only have one of, and then losing it on the next cast to an unexpected snag or on a nearby tree limb while casting. Be prepared for the weather. Get together warm clothes, a pair of gloves, a hat and socks. Always pack rain gear just in case. Have I forgotten anything? Yes, one more thing. Don’t wait until Sunday evening to start thinking about all this. Believe me, I’ve been there. Robert Risley, of North Syracuse, fly fishes at Butternut Creek last year. Peter Chen | [email protected] FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T WAIT:There's three local trout streams with stretches open to anglers for year-round trout fishing. Click on the following for stories, maps and videos:- Butternut Creek - Limestone Creek - Chittenango Creek View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The fish measured 36 inches and weighed more than 42 pounds. It appears to be a new world record. For angler Otwin Kandolf, his first predicament after landing a gigantic brown trout recently in New Zealand was finding a scale big enough to officially weigh it. Kandolf described the fish as, “Very ugly. Small head, big belly. Just amazing,” according to a story posted on outdoorshub.com. Measuring at over 36.6 inches and weighed 42 pounds and one ounce, the lunker tops the International Game Fish Association’s record of 41-pound, 8-ounces. That fish was caught in Lake Michigan. Read the full story. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Sessions will be offered each Saturday, 9:30-11:30 am, through May 25. The cost to fish is $5 per person with bait, rods and reels provided. The following is a press release: Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery has been busy gearing up for trout fishing season and County Executive Joanie Mahoney is pleased to announce the return of the popular Public Fishing program. Beginning Saturday, April 13, families and individuals will be able to enjoy a morning of fishing at the facility. Sessions will be offered each Saturday, 9:30-11:30am, through May 25. The cost to fish is $5 per person with bait, rods and reels provided. Reservations are required. Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery, an Onondaga County Park, is located on Route 321 in Elbridge. For more information, call 689-9367 or visit the county parks' website. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

A 75-year-old program finances wildlife projects with revenue collected from a federal excise taxes on firearms. The recent rush by gun enthusiasts to buy firearms ammunition could have a surprising consequence: millions more dollars to protect pheasants, deer and other wildlife, according to a recent story the Pew Charitable Trust's website covering state and consumer initiatives. "A 75-year-old program finances wildlife projects with revenue collected from a federal excise taxes on firearms. The Wildlife Restoration Fund has sent billions of dollars to states over the years, helping them buy, develop and maintain land for wildlife management. "Now, at a time of major belt-tightening for state environmental programs, the surge in gun sales across the U.S., spurred by fears of a legislative crackdown on some firearms, represents one bright spot for wildlife officials," the story notes. New York State is slated to receive more than $10 million from the federal fund. Read the full story.. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

New York’s black bear population will be on the move and coyotes are setting up denning areas for soon-to-arrive pups. Marianne Angelillo The following is a DEC press release: The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today issued guidance on preventing conflicts with coyotes and nuisance bear encounters. With the onset of warmer weather, New York’s black bear population will be on the move and coyotes are setting up denning areas for soon-to-arrive pups. Conflicts with people and pets may result as coyotes become territorial around den sites and increase the frequency and intensity of foraging to provide food for their young. COYOTES People and coyotes can usually coexist if the coyotes’ natural fear of people is maintained. Below are some steps you can take to reduce/prevent coyote problems from occurring: • Do not feed coyotes. • Do not allow pets to run free or to be outside unattended. • Do not feed pets outside. • Make any garbage inaccessible to coyotes and other animals. • Fence or enclose compost piles so they are not accessible to coyotes. • Eliminate availability of bird seed. Coyotes are attracted to the concentration of birds and rodents that come to feeders. If you feed birds, clean up waste seed and spillage. • Fencing your yard may deter coyotes. The fence should be tight to the ground, preferably extending six inches below ground level. • Teach children to appreciate coyotes from a distance. • If you see a coyote, be aggressive in your behavior - make loud noises, wave your arms, throw sticks and stones to scare it away. • Ask your neighbors to follow these same steps,. The Eastern coyote is a firmly established wildlife species in New York, and is an integral part of our ecosystems, from rural farmlands and forests to populated urban and suburban areas. In most cases, coyotes avoid people as much as possible. Coyotes provide many benefits to New Yorkers through observation, photography, hunting and trapping; their calling at night can provide a haunting but harmless reminder of wildlife in our midst. However, if coyotes learn to associate people with food (e.g., garbage, pet food), they may lose their natural fear of humans, and the potential for conflicts increases dramatically. It is important to keep pets safe. Cats allowed to roam free are at risk from many different factors including domestic dogs and cars. To protect your cat, keep it indoors, or allow it outside only under supervision. Coyotes view other canines such as domestic dogs as a threat to their young during the spring denning season. Both a dog and a coyote believe that one’s backyard is their territory. Coyotes avoid confrontations with most medium to large-sized dogs, but small breeds may be at risk in some situations. For this reason, do not allow dogs to roam unattended. If coyotes are seen repeatedly during the daytime in a populated area in close proximity to residences, please report this to the local DEC office, as this may indicate that some individual coyotes may have lost their fear of people and could pose a threat to unattended pets or small children. For additional information, visit DEC’s website. BLACK BEARS Black bears will take advantage of almost any readily available food source, including bird feeders and garbage. To prevent encounters between bears and humans, people should never intentionally feed bears and should take every precaution to discourage bears from seeking out food sources in neighborhoods and other residential areas. Typically, black bears are timid and will avoid all contact with humans. However, bears will become a nuisance and can cause significant damage if they believe they can obtain an easy meal from bird feeders, garbage cans, dumpsters, barbeque grills, tents, vehicles, out-buildings or houses. It is not only illegal to intentionally feed bears, it is also illegal to inadvertently feed them. Specifically, after written notice from DEC, the incidental or indirect feeding of bears through food attractants such as garbage, pet food or bird seed is illegal. DEC has the authority to require the removal of these and other food attractants when bears become problematic. It is in the best interest of both bears and people for bears to get their food solely from wild sources. Once a bear learns to associate certain structures with food, it can become a serious nuisance to people and a threat to itself. Bears that lose their natural fear of humans are much more likely to be illegally shot, hit by an automobile or destroyed under a DEC nuisance permit. Some studies suggest that when a bear is fed, either directly or indirectly, its life expectancy is cut by as much as 50 percent. Once a bear becomes a problem, DEC is often asked to relocate the bear. Contrary to popular belief, bear relocations are rarely effective at solving the problem. Bears are extremely mobile and have excellent homing abilities. Relocated bears often return to their original capture site or may continue their bad habits at a new location. If the circumstances that led to the original problem are not corrected, other bears will quickly be attracted to the site and the bear/human conflicts will persist. In addition to being ineffective, bear relocations are extremely time consuming and often dangerous. The heavy door on the bear traps, although not dangerous to bears, presents a potential danger to curious humans and pets. The simplest way to avoid a nuisance encounter is to remove all food sources. Removing the food source will remove the bear. Because virtually all nuisance bear problems are the result of hungry bears being attracted to human food, pet food, bird food or garbage, these problems can be minimized by taking these simple precautions: • Never feed bears. It is illegal. • If you believe that bears are being fed, please report it to DEC. • Stop feeding birds as soon as the snow melts. Birds do not need supplemental food in the summer, when natural foods are most abundant. • Clean up all seed fragments and shells left over from winter feeding as the smell will attract bears. • Dispose of garbage as frequently as possible and store in a secure building prior to disposal. • If garbage is picked up at the curb, put the garbage out just before the scheduled pickup or place it in a roadside bear-resistant container. Do not put garbage out the night before pick-up at the curb. • Clean garbage cans frequently with ammonia. • Do not burn garbage, it's illegal and it attracts bears. • Do not add meat scraps, bones or melon rinds to your compost pile. • Clean up barbecue grills before night fall, and after they cool down store them inside. • Feed pets indoors and store pet food indoors. If pets must be fed outdoors, take in all uneaten food and dishes before dark. • Turn off kitchen exhaust fans that vent to the outside whenever possible. • When camping, keep food out of sight and secured in the trunk of a hard topped, locked vehicle if one is available. If a vehicle is not available, hang food and garbage from a tree at least eight feet off the ground. Keep picnic tables, utensils, fireplaces and the surrounding areas clean. To learn more about black bears, look for DEC’s DVD Living with New York Black Bears at your public library or visit the DEC website. Everyone is asked to respect bears as wild animals - from a distance. For more information about bears in your area, contact the nearest regional DEC office. For listings of regional DEC offices, visit the DEC website.. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

<p> DEC's environmental education camps have a long tradition of providing fun and educational experiences to young people and inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards. </p> <p><strong>The following is a DEC press release:</strong></p> <p>The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is launching a new online registration system for its summer environmental education camps for the 2013 season, DEC Commissioner Joe Martens announced today. Online registration opened at 10 a.m today (March 25).</p> <p>"DEC's environmental education camps have a long tradition of providing fun and educational experiences to young people and inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards," said Commissioner Martens. "This new registration system will make registration faster and easier for families and sponsors to sign up kids for a great summer outdoor adventure. Governor Cuomo asked agencies to improve processes for the public and customers we serve. Online camp registration will speed up the process for parents and sponsors, improving customer service and streamlining the registration process."</p> <p>The new online registration system will allow those registering campers to determine which camp sessions have openings, sign campers up directly, and pay by credit card or e-check. Paper applications and paper checks will no longer be used. For the 2013 camp season, the fee remains a very reasonable $350 per one-week session per camper. In addition to being able to immediately select which camp session their child will attend, parents will also be able to sign their camper up for the optional Sportsman Education program offered at each camp.</p> <p>A link to the online application can be found on DEC's website in the "Environmental Education Summer Camps" section on DEC's website. Step-by-step instructions will detail how to complete the form to register a child.</p> <p>Campers ages 11 through 17 enjoy week-long adventures in conservation education at DEC's residential summer camps, entering their 66th year in 2013. They participate in a wide variety of outdoor activities including fishing, bird watching, fly-tying, archery, canoeing, hiking, camping, orienteering and optional hunter safety education. Campers also learn about fields, forests, streams and ponds through fun, hands-on activities and outdoor exploration. DEC counselors teach youth conservation techniques used by natural resource professionals, such as measuring trees and estimating wildlife populations.</p> <p>All four camps serve children ages 11 through 13: Camp Colby in Saranac Lake, Franklin County; Camp DeBruce in Livingston Manor, Sullivan County; Camp Rushford in Caneadea, Allegany County; and Pack Forest in Warrensburg, Warren County. Pack Forest and Camp Rushford also host week-long Teen Ecology Workshops, which are more in-depth environmental studies programs for ages 14 through 17. In 2013, Pack Forest will host five Teen Ecology Workshops and Camp Rushford will host two.</p> <p>All four camps will operate for seven one-week sessions (Sunday to Saturday), beginning June 30. Campers may attend camp for more than one week during the summer but will not be able to stay at camp on Saturday night. Parents must make alternate arrangements if two or more consecutive weeks are selected.</p> <p>In addition to inviting parents to register their children to participate in the DEC environmental education camp program, sporting clubs, civic groups and environmental organizations are encouraged to sponsor one or more children for a week at camp. Groups who sponsor six paid campers will receive a scholarship to send a seventh child to camp for free. Information about becoming a Summer Camps sponsor is available on DEC's website.</p> <p>For more information please <a href="http://www.dec.ny.gov">visit the DEC's website </a> call 518-402-8014, visit "NYS DEC Summer Camps" on Facebook or write to DEC Camps, 4th Floor, 625 Broadway, Albany, New York 12233-4500.</p> View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

An incentive program in Utah to curb the coyote population has provoked enthusiasm from hunters and concern from environmentalists. View the full article

Some 80 percent of lake trout landed by anglers on Cayuga Lake last summer either had lampreys attached or showed lamprey scars, DEC officials said. Some 80 percent of lake trout landed by anglers on Cayuga Lake last summer either had lampreys attached or showed lamprey scars, DEC officials said. Mike Greenlar [email protected] Cayuga Lake is having one its worst sea lamprey infestations in years and the state Department of Environmental Conservation plans to ask anglers this summer for their opinions on whether walleyes should be stocked again in Owasco Lake. Those were among the topics covered at Monday evening’s “State of the Eastern Finger Lakes” meeting hosted by the DEC at Bass Pro Shops in the Fingerlakes Mall. An identical meeting was held Wednesday evening at Groton High School. The meeting featured presentations on the current state of fisheries in Otisco, Skaneateles, Owasco and Cayuga lakes. Fisheries staff from the DEC’s Cortland office spoke about how they use gill netting, electro-shocking from boats and in tributaries, data from spawning fish and lamprey caught at the Cayuga Inlet Fishway on the Cayuga lake Inlet – along with information passed on by anglers -- to get a handle on how fish are doing in these waterways. Highlights included: Cayuga Lake: Cayuga is facing a number of challenges from invasive species, including spiny water fleas (which foul angler’s lines during the warm months), hydrilla (an invasive plant discovered in the lake’s inlet) and sea lamprey, said Emily Zollweg-Horan, a DEC aquatic biologist. DEC staffers remove lampreys from the water at the Cayuga Inlet Fishway. . Mike Greenlar | [email protected] The water fleas are here to say, she said. A multi-agency task force (which the DEC is a part of) is attempting to deal with the hydrilla. The lamprey situation, though, 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 showed lamprey scars, Zollweg-Horan said. The DEC uses the Cayuga Inlet Fishway each spring to catch and remove spawning lamprey. However, high water conditions in 2007 allowed the spawning lampreys to bypass the fishway. Funding problems and DEC staff cuts that year prevented the DEC from using lampricide (a chemical treatment in the water) to deal with the problem. The result was a bumper crop of lamprey in the lake. It’s too late to do anything about that, Zolliweg-Horan said. However, another highwater incident in the spring of 2011 resulted in a similar situation. Since the young lamprey take up to four years to migrated back into the lake, a lampricide treatment is planned in 2014 in the inlet, where an estimated 90 percent of the lake’s lamprey spawn each year, Zolliweg-Horan said. Owasco Lake: During the 1980s, the lake’s brown and rainbow trout population and angler catches on Owasco Lake were noteworthy, according to angler reports. But during the 1990s, the catch rates of these two trout species began to slide. Meanwhile, Owasco’s lake trout population grew steadily and a walleye stocking effort led by the Owasco Lake Association began in 1996. Huge brown trout caught by Gary Rule on Owasco Lake last Memorial Day. “The stocking of walleye were not solely responsible for the drop in brown and rainbow trout,” said Dan Bishop, regional natural resources supervisor, but he added that it appeared they were a substantial contributing factor. The DEC, which picked up the stocking of the fish in 2001, discontinued walleye stocking in 2006. In addition, the DEC cut back on the stocking of lake trout in Owasco. Should the DEC resume walleye stocking or should its emphasis continue to be on improving the lake’s trout and salmon fishery? Currently, the DEC’s emphasis is on the trout and landlocked salmon, and no change is planned. Nevertheless, Bishop said, the DEC is conducting an angler survey at the end of this summer to see what anglers want. Skaneateles Lake: One of the deepest and clearest of the Finger Lakes, Skaneateles suffered problems in 2006-07 with VHS, a fish killing disease, which took out sizeable numbers of rock and smallmouth bass. The disease might have also been a factor in the scarcity of cisco and whitefish, two long-time, deep- dwelling fish in the lake that failed to turn up in the results of a 2012 gill-netting survey. Chris Stahl, of Marcellus, holds up a 21-inch smallmouth bass he caught and released on Skaneateles Lake. Topics discussed included a nagging beaver dam problem on state-owned property on Grout Brook; that the lake is stocked with two types of rainbow trout and that there’s a transition underway to introduce a new strain on landlocked salmon (the Segbago strain from the state of Maine) into the lake -- and that the lake’s smallmouth bass population has improved in recent years to the point that 3- 4-pound smallmouth are commonly caught by anglers. Bob Werner, a spokesman and treasurer for the Skaneateles Lake Association, said after the meeting that the milfoil eradication effort by his group has been successful and that “95 percent” of it had been removed from the lake’s bottom. His group’s efforts are now in the “maintenance phase” of removing new patches as they arise. Tom Boise's muskie, caught during an ice fishing derby on Otisco Lake (Feb. 14-15, 2009), broke the world record for a tiger muskie caught through the ice. It weighed 27 pounds, 5 ounces. Otisco Lake: The DEC this fall increased the size limit for anglers to keep a tiger muskies from 30 top 36 inches, a change which it says will increase the potential for more trophy-sized fish from the lake. One one angler at the meeting questioned whether that would negatively impact the fishery and noted that ice fishing derbies are being affected by the lack of “keeper” tigers. Dave Lemon, the DEC’s regional fisheries manager said letting the tigers grow more would not negatively affect the fishery and asked that anglers “be patient,”noting that in a year or two there will be more larger fish to catch. Other topics discussed included a proposed DEC-run boat launch at the county park on Turtle Bay (it’s still at the talking stage); the presence of water chestnuts (an invasive species) in Turtle Bay and how the lake’s shallowness and low oxygen levels on the bottom during warm weather makes it difficult for stocked brown trout to survive each year. The later was an impetus by the DEC last fall to reduce the minimum size limit for anglers from 15 to 12 inches. Following each presentation, DEC staff emphasized participants in its Angler Diary program for the Eastern Finger Lakes, which the department relies on for important data, has dropped in recent years. To learn more about the program, check out the DEC website at www.dec.ny.gov, or contact the Region 7 Fisheries office at (607) 753-3095 ext. 213. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The task forces will meet in April, and DEC plans to announce tentative duck hunting season dates in June. The following is a DEC press release: Hunters are invited to submit recommendations to regional Waterfowl Hunter Task Forces for the dates of the fall 2013 duck hunting seasons by April 5, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens today said. DEC will evaluate the task force recommendations in setting waterfowl seasons, which must comply with federal rules. “Through Governor Cuomo’s NY’s Open for Hunting & Fishing Initiative, DEC is looking for ways to expand opportunities for both in-state and out-of-state sportsmen and women,” Commissioner Martens said. “The public’s input will help us do that for the waterfowl hunting season in a manner that is most advantageous for sportsmen and women.” New York is divided into five waterfowl hunting zones: Western, Southeastern, Northeastern, Lake Champlain, and Long Island. DEC recently appointed task forces for each zone (except Lake Champlain) to solicit recommendations for the fall 2013 hunting seasons, including opening and closing dates, split seasons and a special hunting weekend for junior hunters (hunters ages 12-15). Each task force includes representatives from the New York State Conservation Council, established waterfowl hunting organizations and individual waterfowl hunters who provide input from diverse points of view. The recommended dates must be within federal guidelines established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). For fall 2013, DEC expects the USFWS to allow a 60-day duck season, split into no more than two segments per zone, opening no earlier than Sept. 21, 2013, and closing no later than Jan. 26, 2014. Waterfowl hunters can participate in the season-setting process by providing duck season suggestions to any task force member on or before April 5, 2013. Names and contact information for all task force members are listed in alphabetical order on the DEC website. Comments can be provided by mail, telephone or e-mail, with e-mail being the preferred method. The task forces will meet in April, and DEC plans to announce tentative duck hunting season dates in June. Input on hunting seasons for other migratory game birds, including Canada geese, snow geese, brant and woodcock, may also be submitted to any member of DEC’s season-setting team (see list on the DEC website). However, due to greater uncertainty about federal regulations for those species, decisions and tentative dates will probably not be known until later in the summer. Waterfowl seasons in the Lake Champlain Zone will continue to be set by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Management Board, with input from DEC and waterfowl hunters in New York and Vermont. Although there is no formal task force for this zone, hunters can send their suggestions to any DEC season-setting team member. Governor Cuomo’s NY Open for Hunting and Fishing Initiative is an effort to improve recreational activities for in-state and out-of-state sportsmen and sportswomen and to boost tourism opportunities throughout the state. This initiative includes the streamlining of hunting and fishing licensing and reducing license fees, improved access for fishing at various sites across the state, and increasing hunting opportunities in various regions. Descriptions of New York State’s waterfowl hunting zones can be found on the DEC website (www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/28497.html) and are listed in DEC’s Waterfowl Hunting Seasons and Regulations brochure. The final waterfowl hunting season dates will be posted on the DEC website and announced by news release in late August. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Gibbs' research on snow leopards has taken him to the Altai Sayan region of southern Russia 10 times. A snow leopard caught on a trail camera photo. James P. GIbbs Syracuse, N.Y.—"There are still seats on the floor in the front here," said SUNY ESF Department Chair Donald Leopold, who acted as master of ceremonies for Wednesday's lecture on endangered snow leopards, given by ESF professor Dr. James Gibbs. All seats in ESF's new Gateway Center were filled 20 minutes before the lecture, and students were asked to give up their seats to outside visitors and to sit in the aisles and in front of the platform. At the start of the lecture, titled "On the Brink: Saving Russia's Last Snow Leopards", there were over 200 people waiting to hear Dr. Gibbs speak. Dr. Gibbs is a professor of vertebrae conservation biology as well as the director of the Roosevelt Wild Life Station, a historical research center within ESF. His lecture kicked off ESF's new Dale L. Travis Public Lecture Series, which is free and open anyone interested in ESF's research and conservation efforts. Gibbs' research on snow leopards has taken him to the Altai Sayan region of southern Russia 10 times. The lecture focused on his findings on these trips, and what the future holds for endangered snow leopards. "There's something special about snow leopards," said Gibbs, who has worked with many types of endangered species. "What keeps me coming back is that we can actually make a big difference in this place where the people revere this land and the animals who live there." The Altai Sayan is a mountanous region between Russia and Mongolia, but many nomadic peoples still call it home. James P. GIbbs The Altai Sayan is a mountanous region between Russia and Mongolia, but many nomadic peoples still call it home, Gibbs said. Although they have religious connections to their environment, most locals struggle with poverty, and snow leopard pelts can be sold for over $200. Snow leopard populations were destroyed between 1970-1990 by poaching snares, and Gibbs and his team spend a lot of time cleaning up remaining snares that have been set throughout the region. At the moment, there are seven to nine leopards in Gibbs' research area in the Altai Sayan, but he said $40,000 per year over the next five years could restore a healthy population—about 30 to 40 animals—to the region. Caitlin Gordnier, a new zookeeper at the Rosamond-Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, said it's important that these topics are brought to students' attention through lectures like this one. "You have to continue to learn about the animals you work with," Gordnier said. "If this is the field they want to go into, it's always important to learn from the people who have the experience and are out there researching." Sponsor Dale Travis, who was able to attend Gibbs' first lecture in this series, was "proud and pleased" to see such a crowd at ESF. "The public deserves to know what this school and the people at this school are doing," Travis said. Gibbs said he hopes that students at the lecture learned that it's possible for them to have a huge impact in their field. "I look at the students and I really see myself there," Gibbs said. "Everyone can make a difference if they commit to it." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The following is a press release: Mexico, NY- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County is accepting registrations into its Shooting Sports Program. This program is open to all girls and boys ages 12 to 19 who are interested in archery, shotgun, air rifle and muzzleloading rifle. The program will be conducted as a five-week course concluding with a field... Shooting Sports participant caps a muzzleloading rifle under the guidance of Michal Cali, Oswego County 4-H Shooting Sports Instructor. Cornell Cooperative Extension The following is a press release: Mexico, NY- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County is accepting registrations into its Shooting Sports Program. This program is open to all girls and boys ages 12 to 19 who are interested in archery, shotgun, air rifle and muzzleloading rifle. The program will be conducted as a five-week course concluding with a field day. Each discipline meets once a week at an Oswego County sportsman club. Archery will be held on Monday nights, 6-8 pm, at Deerslayers Bowmen Association on Route 104 in southwest Oswego. Shotgun will be held on Wednesdays, 6pm- 8pm at North Sportsmans Club in West Monroe. Air rifle will meet on Wednesdays also at North Sportsmans Club from 6pm- 8pm. The last discipline, muzzleloading rifle, will be held on Wednesday nights from 6-8 pm at Lock Stock and Barrel Club in Volney. Youth do not need to have previous experience or own firearms to participate in this hands-on learning experience. The Oswego County 4-H Program and its instructors, certified through the New York State 4-H Shooting Sports Program, will provide all firearms and necessary equipment. The instructors are volunteers who are chosen for their ability to teach and their skill at relating to youth. The 4-H Shooting Sports’ courses will meet a minimum of five times beginning the last week of April/first week in May and end with a field day in early June. A program fee of $30 will be charged to cover the cost of materials and eye and ear protection. Partial scholarships are available through a donation from the Oswego County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs. There is a minimum class size of eight. Therefore, registration is necessary and parental or guardian permission is mandatory. The 4-H Shooting Sports Program is valuable for helping youth develop self-confidence, personal discipline, responsibility, teamwork, self-esteem and sportsmanship. The program also provides a positive experience for youth and promotes firearm safety. Please note the Oswego County Shooting Sports program is not a hunter safety education program. If you are interested in the Oswego County Shooting Sports Program, contact the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County 4-H Program for more details and enrollment forms, 963-7286 or email at [email protected]. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Big events this weekend include the Big East Camping/Outdoors Sports Show at Turning Stone and the fly-tying event at Barbagallos Restaurant in East Syracuse. CNY Outdoors Calendar: Big East Camping/Outsdoor Sports Show: 2 to 8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Event Center at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino, Verona. Cost is $8; children ages 6-12, $3 and children 5 and under free. Show your Turning Stone Diamond Card or Price Chopper Advantage Card and receive $1 off admission. For more, call 315-794-0695 or visit the event's website. Fly-tying rendezvous: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Barbagallos Restaurant, East Syracuse. Program is entitled, “Tie One On.” Hosted by the Iroquois Chapter of Trout Unlimited and Sparse Grey Matter. The event will feature fly-tying vendors, guest speakers and fly tiers from throughout the Northeast, covering a variety of topics. Admission is $5; children under 16 free. Proceeds will benefit Iroquois Chapter of Trout Unlimited and Project Healing Waters. For more, the chapter's website.. Free fishing seminar: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 6, Calvary Baptist Church, Brewerton. For childen and adults. All sorts of seminars and hands-on learning opportunities. For more, contact Michael Riordan at [email protected], or at 668-9790 or 374-2997. Annual sportsmen's banquet: 6 to 9 p.m. April 12, Spinning Wheel Restaurant, North Syracuse. Hosted by the Onondaga Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs. Cost is$17 per person with reservations; $20 at the door. For tickets, contact Ed Pugliese before April 5 by emailing him at [email protected]. Annual sportsmen's banquet: 5 p.m. April 13, The Oasis at Thunder Island in Fulton. Hosted by the Oswego Federation of Sportsmens' Clubs. Cost is $25 per person. Tickets can be purchased by contacting Eric Madura at 315-676-3486 or via email at [email protected]. Cabin Fever Shoot: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 14, Otisco Rod and Gun Club.in Marietta. Event is similar to the club's fall Turkey Shoot, with a wide variety of shooting games available for all rifles, pistols, and shotguns.This event is open to the public. For more, call 430-6913. 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] View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

I will be at the Eastern Sports Camping and Outdoors Show this weekend from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the Turning Stone Casino Resort in Verona. See you there! Jimmy Riffle, veteran alligator wrestler and star of the "Gator Boys" TV show on Animal Planet, will be at the Turning Stone Resort Casino this weekend. Usually, March is a pretty slow month. Not this year, There's a lot of outdoor issues and events to deal with lately.Here's what I've been working on (along with my intern Sarah Taddeo) this week: - I attended one of the "State of the Eastern Finger Lakes" meetings held Monday at Bass Pro Shops. - I interviewed Jimmy Riffle, ace alligator wrestler and star of the new Animal Planet TV show, "Gator Boys." Riffle will be on hand Saturday and Sunday at the Eastern Sports Show at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona. ((I will also be at the show, meeting with readers from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday. See you there!)) - I've been interviewing local gun/ammo dealers along with sportsmen/gun enthusiasts about what's currently going out there recently concerning firearms and ammunition sales. - I'm working on an update on the Governor's "gag order" on the DEC. - I hear the taxidermy program at FInger Lakes College, the only one offered at a community college in the state, has been discontinued. - I'm preparing stories for the upcoming trout fishing season opener on April 1. - Commercial gill net fishing for perch. 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. For next week and beyond: - DEC study on wild turkeys - The over-abundance of gizzard shad in Oneida Lake and what that means for this spring's walleye fishing. - 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

His offenses included unlawfully setting 15 snares for coyote, multiple counts for unlawful use of body gripping traps on land and multiple counts of failing to tag traps. The following is a DEC press release: A Franklin County man pleaded guilty last week to 31 violations of Environmental Conservation Law related to illegal trapping, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced today. On Feb. 11, DEC Environmental Conservation Police charged Terry J. Hurteau, 56, of Tupper Lake, for offenses including unlawfully setting 15 snares for coyote, multiple counts for unlawful use of body gripping traps on land and multiple counts of failing to tag traps. He was issued appearance tickets for the Town of Tupper Lake Court. DEC Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) initially responded to complaints about a coyote running through the yards of some Tupper Lake residences. The callers reported that the coyote appeared injured and tangled in what appeared to be wire. ECOs located the coyote by tracking it through the snow. Due to the extent of its injuries and its entanglement in the snare, the animal was euthanized. However, the ECOs were able to use the snare to begin the investigation which led them to Hurteau. Hurteau’s activities were extreme and flagrant violations of trapping law and regulation. They do not reflect the behavior of the vast majority of ethical trappers. Hurteau appeared in court on March 6, and pleaded guilty to all charges. He was ordered to pay total of $3,875 in fines and surcharges. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Seasons for walleyes, northern pike, pickerel and tiger muskie closed March 15. They reopen the first Saturday in May. CNY FISHING FORECAST * Reminder: Seasons for walleyes, northern pike, pickerel and tiger muskie closed March 15. The season reopens the first Saturday in May. Bait stores (list and map). SALMON RIVER Lots of fish continue to be caught throughout the river. The steelhead are spawning and brown trout are coming in from the lake to eat their eggs. Anglers continue to have luck using egg sacs, trout beads, flies and pink worms. Bright-colored flies or bait works best. OSWEGO RIVER Anglers fishing behind the downtown hotels continue to catch brown trout and a few steelhead using egg sacs and white, bucktail jigs (3/8 ounce). Make sure bring to bring a long-handled net, advised one angler. ONEIDA LAKE Ice fishing scene appears to be finished, though a few anglers are still gettting out on questionable ice. Others are fishing from shore in open water along the Seneca River. CAYUGA LAKE Some anglers are fishing down by the power plant in Lansing on the eastern side, catching trout from shore using large shiners as bait. A few are getting out in boats to fish for perch. SENECA LAKE Brown trout and Atlantic salmon are hitting on weighted salmon flies trolled on the surface. Anglers fishing on the inside of the pier are catching yellow perch and bluegills. The yellow perch are hitting on fathead minnows and the bluegill are hitting on waxworms or spikes. The bluegill bite has been better late in the day and continues for a few hours after dark. OWASCO LAKE Anglers are fishing from boats on the north end, catching bluegills and perch. Anglers out in boats are also catching lake trout using medium-sized shiners around Ensinore. OTISCO LAKE The northern end was still frozen at mid-week. A few anglers continue to get out to try their luck for panfish. SKANEATELES LAKE No fishable ice. The DEC launch ramp is still closed and will remain so until conditions improve ST. LAWRENCE RIVER Anglers continue to get out ice fishing on Eel Bay, Lake of the Isles, Goose and Chippewa bays for perch, crappie and bluegills. SODUS BAY/SANDY CREEK/WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR No fishable ice. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Following her gold medal at this year's Empire State Games in Lake Placid, Elaine Supp was ranked third in the nation among pro-class, female racers. Elaine Supp has been competing in boardercross competitions for three years and is headed to the nationals in the women's pro division set for April 4 at Copper Mountain in Colorado. David Lassman/The Post-Standard Boardercross competitor Elaine Supp, of Fayetteville, has been named the Catskill Mountain Series 2013 regional champion and is headed to the nationals early next month. "I just found out I was awarded a small scholarship from the USASA (United States of America Snowboard Association) to help get me there," she said. The 30-year-old snowboarder has been competing in regional and national boardercross competitions for three years. Her sport involves speeding down a steep snow course riddled with obstacles while trying to beat three to four other racers to the finish line. Supp is a competitor to be reckoned with. Earlier this year, in a regional boardercross competition at Windham Mountain in the Catskills, she hit a big jump and landed on her face, breaking her nose. Others would have called it a day. Not Supp. She stopped the bleeding and was determined to continue -- and she did, winning her race. Last month, she won a gold medal at the Empire State Games in Lake Placid. Following that victory, she was ranked third in the nation among pro-class female racers. The 2013 USASA Championships are scheduled for April 4 at Copper Mountain in Colorado. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Proceeds will benefit the Iroquois Chapter of TU and Project Healing Waters. Bob Rock of Oswego ties a soft hackle fly in the basement of his home. John Berry | [email protected] The following is a press release: Iroquois Chapter of Trout Unlimited & Sparse Grey Matter are hosting "Tie One On," the 2nd Annual Fly-Tying Rendezvous from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Barbagallos Restaurant in East Syracuse. Admission is $5; kids under 16 free. The event will feature fly tying vendors, guest speakers, and fly tying experts from throughout the Northeast. They will cover a variety of topics including fly fishing and fly tying for trout, pike, bass, steelhead and salt water fish. There will also be a fly tying contest, silent auction, 50/50, raffles and a kids' tying table. Proceeds will benefit the Iroquois Chapter of TU and Project Healing Waters. For more, see the Iroquois Chapter website or email [email protected]. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

SUNY ESF Professor James P. Gibbs,will lecture Wednesday evening on efforts to save Russia's rare and endangered snow leopards. The free talk is the first in the Dale L. Travis Public Lecture Series and will begin at 7:30 p.m. at ESF's new Gateway Center. A dessert reception will follow the lecture. Gibbs, director of the Roosevelt Wild Life Station... SUNY ESF Professor James P. Gibbs,will lecture Wednesday evening on efforts to save Russia's rare and endangered snow leopards. The free talk is the first in the Dale L. Travis Public Lecture Series and will begin at 7:30 p.m. at ESF's new Gateway Center. A dessert reception will follow the lecture. Gibbs, director of the Roosevelt Wild Life Station and associate chair of the Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, will discuss his conservation work with Russian and US partners to save the last snow leopards in Russia's Altai Republic, according to a SUNY ESF press release. "The Altai Republic is in southern Siberia, bordering China, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan in central Asia and distinguished by its remote mountain landscape and ancient herding-based culture," according to the release. "Snow leopards are one of the most endangered species in Russia, where the species' distribution is generally limited to where the Altai-Sayan Ecoregion a portion of which falls within the Altai Republic's borders. According to recent surveys, less than 100 leopards inhabit the area." Free parking will be available on the ESF campus. The public lecture is timed to also celebrate installation of the Roosevelt Wildlife Collection display in the Gateway Center's main concourse. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Muskrat has jumped up $6 in price compared to last year...and fox is way up. The Independent Fur Harvesters of Central New York has scheduled a raw fur auction beginning at 9 a.m. March 30 at the Pompey Rod and Gun Club on Swift Road. The auction comes on the heels of recent news reports that fur prices have risen noticeably this winter, due largely to increased demand from buyers in China, which has experienced its coldest winter in nearly 30 years. "Muskrat has jumped up $6 in price compared to last year...and fox is way up. Some of the fur prices, such as raccoon, have not moved," said Al LaFrance, president of the Independent Fur Harvesters Association. "Overall, though, prices are much better than last year." Check-in at the auction will begin at 8 a.m. For further information, call La France at 440-9789. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog