HuntingNY-News

"I don’t get the feeling fish and wildlife management will be further ahead with this proposal in the long run," he said. Gary Will, of Hamilton, shared the following in an email he sent me this weekend. It deals with what he sees as problems with the governor's proposed license restructuring proposal. He said he related his concerns at recent DEC meetings concerning the plan at meetings in Cortland and Utica, and has also sent a letter to the governor's office. My name is Gary Will. I live, hunt, fish and trap in southern Madison County between Hamilton and Earlville. I also fish in Otsego County and have a camp in Oswego County. I do not belong to any group or club, however I am a volunteer to the DEC Southeast Zone Waterfowl Season Setting Task Force. A 365 day license is proposed. I have the feeling people will forget specific dates of previous purchase. Isn’t it possible the fishing license purchase can become confusing with other licenses issuing dates? How many people have been surprised to learn their NYS Vehicle Inspection had expired when stopped by an officer? Unlike a sporting license this inspection sticker is visible every time a person gets in the vehicle. Here’s an idea start all licenses Jan 2 and end Jan 1 in essence a calendar year license. What a marketing ploy for a parent to get a license for a young person for a Xmas gift. Perhaps a better question is, “why are we changing the sport license time period”. Next, I see there is no Marine angling license yet more than 2 dozen fisheries people, environmental protection staff and law enforcement officers are assigned to Coastal shores and waters. Apparently it is acceptable for freshwater fisherman to pay downstate expenses. On the other hand, I’m sure a new fee won’t fly considering a bulging Conservation Fund … speaking of which…. My major concern in this proposal is the omission of the fact there is 40 million dollars of surplus or balance dollars in the Conservation Fund. I understand reducing fees will eat into the surplus and after a few years that balance will be gone. Although programs will probably be maintained we deserve additional programs, ample opportunity to hunt & fish and at the same time better conserve our F&W resources. So, I’m against lowering the hunting, fishing and trapping fees. Keep them the same and let the Division of F&W do more work through the surplus in the Conservation Fund. One of the goals mentioned in this presentation is to “generate sufficient revenue to sustain fish & wildlife programs”. How do you do that with $5million dollars less? The answer is drain the surplus from an earmarked account until it is gone. The bottom line is, the Governor’s administrators really don’t want to enhance F&W programs and will be back to us around 2018 for a license fee increase. Wouldn’t we rather see a portion of this 40 million dollar balance be used on an annual basis to fund additional staff, refurbish hatcheries and the remaining pheasant farm, new equipment and most importantly new projects? Wasn’t this promised during the last license fee increase in 2009? Now, what a great opportunity to enhance F&W resources as well as hunting, fishing and trapping. I realize trying to utilize surplus funds is going against the Governor’s office and more specifically the Division of Budget because this is their proposal. But, that’s too bad and this kind of irresponsible fiscal management needs to change. They work for us through one of the oldest and best dedicated funds in the nation, that is, the Conservation Fund which was established in 1925. Another issue is combining license types. I don’t have a major problem with this section, however this may not be all that efficient. A trapper’s best interest is at stake when biologists want to conduct a furbearer survey or a trapper survey. It will be more difficult and costly to sort a much smaller group of people, say 3,000, when they are lumped with 600,000 hunters. The frequency of surveys may also be more limited due to costs. Boasting this proposal will save trappers $21 is absurd and insulting. I’m a trapper and very willing to pay for my trapping experiences. This year I sold one muskrat for $19, or if you prefer, the sale of one small beaver pelt has paid the license. I suggest removing the trapper’s license from the proposed hunting license. I don’t think DEC, CFAB and especially the Governor’s office has any idea what the sporting public thinks on this issue. Making decisions based on the desires of only a few is not right and at best limited. By the way, I cannot find the details of this proposal on either the DEC or CFAB websites. I might add the similarity between the less than ample time in regards to announcing these meetings is very close to the enactment of the SAFE Act. In this regard I have a suggestion. Since we have a computerized licensing system that includes communication with 1500 licensing issuing agents, how about designing a short survey consisting of 5 or 6 questions, email it to the these agents and ask them to hand out the survey when a person comes in to purchase a license. For those that want to complete the survey they can mail it back to Albany. DEC would have several months to collect the information from a wide group of anglers, hunters and trappers at a very reasonable cost. You may find out the constituents don’t want any change or less change than is being proposed. Finally, I have never heard of any corporation designing a fiscal plan that has a goal to reduce income. DEC is not in the business of making money, however they are charged with managing this State’s resources for recreation and perpetuation of fish and wildlife. It takes time, money and qualified people to do this. I don’t get the feeling F&W management will be further ahead with this proposal in the long run. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his administration have made a point of highlighting tourism and recreation in the Adirondacks, but their tight control of state worker communications is getting in the way of such promotion," writes one outdoors writer. "Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his administration have made a point of highlighting tourism and recreation in the Adirondacks, but their tight control of state worker communications is getting in the way of such promotion," according to a story Saturday in the Adirondack Press Enterprise. Reporter Mike Lynch interviewed outdoor writers from across the state for this story and I feel it hits the nail right on the head. The press policy restricts DEC staff from talking to reporters directly. More often than not, all questions and followup questions have to be submitted in writing. DEC commissioner Joe Martens insists it's his policy, but reporters across the state are indicating it's all coming from the governor's office -- and that applies to all state departments. Recently a DOT worker was forced to resign for stepping out of line in regard to this. One reporter recently in another story that the governor's office insists on being informed of every single press inquiry submitted, no matter how small or insignificant. And that a daily report has to be submitted to the governor's office of all queries. Saving taxpayers money isn't the priority, particularly when routine questions have to be submitted in writing and responded to in writing -- but only after going through several sets of eyes and scrubbed up for the best slant possible on the governor and this administration. I wrote about this issue back in January. I was told recently that my story seeking a response about a carcass that washed up the shore of Oneida Lake took about four hours of the DEC staff's valuable time -- in a situation that could been handled with a 5-minute phone call. Stay tuned. I will continue to write about this issue. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"This class is full and the listing has been pulled from the DEC website," Snyder said. "Only those who pre-registered (by phone) need come to the registration Monday." A hunter safety course slated for April 16 and 18 at Bicknell Hall on the SUNY Morrisville campus and 8 a.m. to finish April 20 at the Peterboro Conservation Club is currently filled to capacity. It is not accepting any new students, A calendar item in Sunday's edition of The Post-Standard noted there would be pre-registration for the course from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Bicknell Hall, Room 203. According to the original press release from organizers of the course, those who wanted to take the course had to initially call Bill Snyder, and then attend Monday evening's signup. "This class is full and the listing has been pulled from the DEC website," Snyder said. "Only those who pre-registered (by phone) need come to the registration Monday." For more information, call Snyder at 684-6237 or email [email protected]. , View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Meanwhile, the county run Carpenter's Brook fish hatchery in Elbridge will meet all its stocking goals, making Onondaga County's waterways possibly the best stocked in the state. Watch video Travis Stanek, who works at Carpenter's Brook fish hatchery in Elbridge, loads trout last year into a water tank on a truck bound to stock local Onondaga County streams. Dick Blume | [email protected] With the opening of the trout fishing season a little more than three weeks away, state Department of Conservation officials said this past week that the numbers of brown trout yearlings stocked state-wide will be down 15 percent this fishing season compared to last year. Meanwhile, Onondaga County waters, which get their brown, rainbow and brook trout from the county-run Carpenter’s Brook Fish Hatchery in Elbridge, will continue to get the usual numbers of fish. The end result is that Onondaga County this year will probably have the best-stocked trout streams in the entire state. “I’m not sure about anywhere else in the state, but I can say that we’ll be at 100 percent levels and actually will have more larger brown trout than usual in the 13-15 inch range (compared to previous years),” said Bill Lansley, county parks commissioner. The DEC’s stocking reductions will amount to about 320,000 less fish, the result of fish diseases that killed mostly young brown trout fry at the DEC’s Rome Hatchery last year. “We should be at about 73 percent (of our stocking goals) for brown trout,” said David Lemon, regional fisheries manager for the DEC’s Region 7. Lemon was speaking at Thursday evening’s “State of Lake Ontario” meeting held at the DEC training facility in Pulaski on the Salmon River The DEC’s brown stocking decrease does not actually work out to a 27 percent reduction, Lemon explained. Last year, the DEC ended up reaching 88.7 percent of its stocking goals. Brown trout are a favorite of anglers because of how big they can get, along with their wariness and scrappiness when hooked. The DEC’s stocking cutback will only involve the stocking of yearlings (9-11 inch fish). The stocking level of two-year-old fish (12-15 inches) will remain the same, Lemon said. The Rome hatchery’s woes are connected to two outbreaks of fish disease last year. Among those that died or that had to be killed to protect the hatchery’s healthy fish were 175,000 fingerling brown trout brought in from a Virginia hatchery. “Furunculosis (a bacterial disease) was the main culprit, but a parasite called Ich contributed to the mortality,” said Lori Severino, a DEC spokeswoman. DEC has since drafted a “hatchery mitigation plan” to address the fish disease problem at the Rome hatchery. That plan includes restrictions and safeguards concerning bringing other fish in from outside sources, biosecurity measures, and a new testing procedure to help hatchery staff determine whether the remaining fish are disease-free or not, according to a story in N.Y. Outdoors News. “That plan has been submitted and is under review,” Severino said. Volunteer Steve Stone of East Syracuse helps stock brown trout and brook trout from Carpenter's Brook fish hatchery into Limestone Creek in this 2010 photo. Jim Commentucci | [email protected] Both the DEC and Onondaga County staff and volunteers will begin stocking later this month, weather permitting. The Carpenter’s Brook hatchery in Elbridge will be stocking county streams, rivers, ponds and several lakes with 70,000 fish. The county hatchery’s stocking has for years equaled, and often exceeded recommended DEC stocking recommendations for local waterways. Lansley said the county hatchery this spring will stock more larger-sized trout in local waterways — specifically, two-year-old brown trout. In the past, the county has annually stocked about 17,000 fish that size each year. The county hatchery usually stocks some yearling trout after the season ends each year. Last fall it didn’t, Lansley said. Those fish that didn’t get stocked are now two-year-olds. The end result is that some 20,000 of the 70,000 fish to be stocked this spring will be two-year-olds. “We’ll be in an enviable position on opening day,” he said. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Fishing for trout and salmon continues to be record-setting. There continues to be questions, though, about what's happening with the lake's smallmouth bass fishery population. Doug Russell holds up a nice chinook salmon he caught last year while fishing on Lake Ontario with his nephew, Mike Juskow, off Fair Haven. Lake Ontario’s fishery is in fine shape, according to several presentations given at Wednesday evening’s “State of Lake Ontario” meeting at the DEC’s training facility in Pulaski. Speakers from state Department of Environmental and U.S. Geological Survey staff covered everything from last year’s record-setting catches of chinook, coho and brown trout -- to the effort to re- introduce a bait fish, the deep-water cisco (also called a bloater). If the fish takes hold, it will give game fish more to eat in the deep sections of the lake. Jana Lantry, a DEC aquatic biologist, noted last year’s angler boat survey by DEC staff, indicated the trout and salmon catch rate was the second highest catch rate on record. She said that charter boats averaged 8.6 fish per trip, while non-charter boats averaged 3.4 fish per trip. “It was the 10th consecutive year of high chinook catch rates. In addition, the length and weight of the chinooks were above average,” Lantry said. “The brown trout catch rate was the third highest and coho salmon and rainbow trout remained above average.” There was a different story, though, when it came to smallmouth bass, particularly along a stretch from Rochester to Oswego. Lantry said last year’s smallmouth bass catch on the lake “hovered at record lows.” However, she added that netting surveys in the Eastern basis revealed more smallies in the 4- to 5-pound range than last year’s outings. During the period stretching from 1999 to 2003, Lantry said, the percentage of fisherman targeting bass on the lake was about 32 percent. That number has since decreased to 12 percent. It’s still not clear what has caused the drop in bass being caught. Speculation has included that round gobies, an invasive species that’s taken hold on the lake, are ravaging the nests of spawning bass. Another explanation might be the unexplained drop in the crayfish population, a prey preferred by bass, along certain stretches of the lake’s southern shore. Meanwhile, a lake tributary angler survey revealed to no one’s surprise that the Salmon River continues to be the top attraction (68 percent) when it comes to the total number of anglers fishing for chinook and coho salmon and steelhead. DEC staff estimated fishermen put in a total of 1.1 million angler hours on the waterway last year, and that 60 percent of the fishermen were non-state residents. A total of 21 states were represented. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

<p> Proceeds will be use to help send needy children to the state Department of Environmental Conservation summer camp. </p> <p>The Eastern Lake Ontario Salmon and Trout Association (ELSOTA) is hosting a nautical and fishing tackle sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 16.</p> <p>The sale is being held at the South Shore Association building, 6690 South Bay Road in Cicero. Food and beverage will be available. Admission is $1. Proceeds will be use to help send needy children to the state Department of Environmental Conservation summer camp.</p> <p>For more information or to reserve a table, call (315) 252-6439 or (607) 756-7922.<br /></p> View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

<p> Owners that fail to remove their shanty by March 15 can be ticketed and face a maximum possible fine of $100. </p> <p><strong>The following is a DEC press release:</strong></p> <p>Ice anglers must remove all ice fishing shanties that they've been keeping on the ice overnight by March 15, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation said this week.</p> <p>Shanties that fall partially through the ice become hard to remove and create hazards to snowmobiles and other motorized vehicles on the ice. Shanties that remain after ice out (when the ice has melted away) become navigation hazards for boats. </p> <p>Owners that fail to remove their shanty by March 15 can be ticketed and face a maximum possible fine of $100.<br /> <br /></p> View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

<p> It was 38 1/2 inches long. </p> <div id="asset-12391755" class="entry_widget_large entry_widget_right"> <span class="adv-photo-large"> <img src="/static/common/img/blank.gif" class="lazy" data-original="http://media.syracuse.com/outdoors/photo/12391755-large.jpg" class="adv-photo" alt="otiscomuskie1.jpg" /> <span class="photo-data"> <span class="caption"></span> <span class="byline">Submitted photo</span> </span> </span> <!-- FIXME - temporary fix with nbsp; for MT-1365 --> </div> <p>Bill Ridley, of Savannah, hoists a 38 1/4-inch tiger muskie he caught Wednesday while fishing on Otisco Lake..</p> <p>The fish weighed 15.10 pounds, he said.<br /></p> View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He caught two that both measured 12 inches. Lynn Cayward, of Throop, holds up a pair of 12-inch crappie. He caught them recently while fishing on Otisco Lake through the ice. The photo was taken by Richard Jordan, also of Throop. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

I tried one for the first time Saturday at the Osceola Tug Hill Cross Country Ski Center in Oseola. It was a fund-raiser hosted by the Syracuse Biathlon Club. It was my first biathlon. I didn't know what to expect. Rita Jardin photo The biathlon last Saturday at the Osceola Tug Hill Cross Country Ski Center was billed as a fund-raiser. For me, it was an eye-opener. It was my first try at the Olympic sport, which combines cross country skiing and target shooting. Nearly everyone skate-skied, a style of cross country skiing that’s similar to ice skating. With each movement, the skis came off the ground. I shuffled along with a traditional cross country skiing style, trying to smile whenever someone passed or lapped me. I was way back in the pack of nearly 30 competitors. Afterward, I was tired, stiff and humbled. The event was organized by the Syracuse Biathlon Club to raise money for Ann Jardin, of Mexico, a former biathlete with the club who’s competing nationally and internationally in trap shooting. The Paul Smith’s College student has set her sights on making the U.S. Olympic trap shooting team for the 2016 Olympics in Brazil. Jardin couldn’t come because she was at college studying for mid-term exams. Her parents, Rita and Ron Jardin, were there, though, helping out. “I got a really nice email from Ann this week thanking us for supporting her Olympic dream,” said Kurt Donath, the club’s president, noting the event raised more than $500. The course’s overall distance was 6 kilometers, which is short for a biathlon course. Normally, the distances are 10 kilometers for the men; 7.5 kilometers for the women, Donath said. The targets, which were 50 meters away, were about 6 inches in diameter. Rita Jardin photo We did five loops of 1.2 kilometers, stopping to shoot four times at a shooting station with shooting mats. We took five shots each time at targets that were 50 meters away. The experienced competitors carried their 22 caliber, target shooting rifles on their backs while they skied. The event’s format had them taking two rounds of shots in a prone position, and two standing up. The novices, like myself, didn’t ski with a rifle. We were handed a firearm and a five-shot clip each time after we arrived at the shooting station. We took all of our shots in the prone position. A biathlon is all about time. In a regular competition, competitors who miss a shot have to ski a penalty loop to the side of about more than 100 yards for every miss. This race featured no penalty loops – just an extra minute tacked on to each competitor’s total time. The top finishers in the main event were Brian Halligan (27.43) and Shawn Cheshire (34:00). An additional 3.6-kilometer race was held for the top eight finishers. The top two male and female finishers were awarded home-made pies. So, how’d I shoot? Thank goodness we didn’t have to do penalty loops. I had trouble controlling my breath and heart rate. The small targets were jumping all over the place as I tried to sight them in. Ok, I hit a dismal two of 20 targets. With my poor time and poor shooting, I finished dead last. Total time: 1:19:50. Like I said, I was humbled. Would I do it again? You betcha. It was a blast. For more on the Syracuse Biathlon Club, see the club's website. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Big Bay on Oneida Lake is on fire this week, with anglers catching lots of bluegills and sunfish. CNY FISHING FORECAST Bait stores (list and map). SALMON RIVER Water level is up. Lots of steelhead continue to be caught in upper river, above the School House Pool and beyond. Anglers continue to have luck using egg sacs, trout beads, flies and pink worms. 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 The walleye/perch bite has slowed at Chapman Park and Lewis Point. Meanwhile, Big Bay is fire. Anglers catching lots of bluegills and sunfish at midweek. CAYUGA LAKE Anglers are getting on the ice at northern end, catching lots of perch and pickerel. Some are fishing down by the power plant in Lansing on the eastern side, catching trout from shore using large shiners as bait. 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 has continued for a few hours after dark. Casting red/white spoons on the outside of the pier has been working for northern pike with fish up to 12 pounds being taken. OWASCO LAKE Only about 3-4 inches of ice at the southern end. It’s getting to be a little shaky at this point. Anglers are fishing for perch, sunnies and northern pike. OTISCO LAKE Most of the lake is still frozen. Reports of 6-8 inches of ice at northern end. Lots of bluegills and sunnies being caught, along with a few perch and crappie, plus the occasional tiger muskie on tip-ups and minnows or suckers. Just a reminder that tiger muskie have to be at least 36 inches to keep. A couple measuring more than 40 inches were caught this past weekend. SKANEATELES LAKE No fishable ice. SANDY POND Reports of 6-10 inches of ice. Perch fishing continues to be slow, but anglers are still getting some northern pike on minnows. SODUS BAY The bay is sporting 5-6 inches of ice. Fishing is “fair,” according to one bait shop owner. Lots of small perch being caught. ST. LAWRENCE RIVER Anglers continue to get out on Eel Bay, Lake of the Isles, Goose and Chippewa bays to fish northerns and perch. Ice is about 8-10 inches thick in most places. WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR About 8 inches at ice at mid-week. The hot spot at this point is south of the island. Anglers are picking up some nice perch. Access is limited this time of year. A good place to park is Dorchester Park. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

There's a wildlife habitat workshop Thursday evening at the Montezuma Audubon Center in Savannah. CNY OUTDOORS CALENDAR Wildlife Habitat Workshop: 6 to 9 p.m. today, Montezuma Audubon Center. Presented by Pheasants Forever. Free. Learn about managing wildlife on private property, food plots, native warm season grass establishment, state and federal cost share/incentive programs for landowners. Call 570-490-0199 or email [email protected]. Sportsman’s Trader’s Day: 9 a.m.to 3 p.m. Saturday. Buy, sell and trade all outdoor items. Admission is $2, children 12 and under are free. The public is welcome. Otisco Rod and Gun Club, Rte 174, Marietta. Call 430-6913. Outdoors Sports Sale: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Dryden Fire Station, Dryden. Hosted by Crown City Bassmasters. Buy/sell/trade. Free. Vendors should contact Jeff at 607-659-7654. Wild Turkey Federation Banquet, 5 p.m. Saturday. Cortland County Music Park, 1824 Route 13, Cortland. Hosted by the Cortland Area Limbhangers. Call (607) 842-6260. Public hearing: 6:30 to 9 p.m. Monday, Harnett Elementary School gymnasium, Academy Street, Truxton. DEC is seeking public comment on two draft unit management plans for Hill and Hollow and Taylor Valley. The Hill and Hollow UMP (7,346 acres) consist of Morgan Hill State Forest, Kettlebail State Forest and Labrador Hollow Unique Area. The Taylor Valley UMP (10,267 acres) includes: Taylor Valley State Forest, Hoxie Gorge State Forest, Baker School House State Forest, Donahue Woods State Forest, Gee Brook State Forest and Papish Pond Multiple-Use Area. Copies of the plans are on the DEC website at dec.ny.gov. For more, call (607)753-3095, ext. 217. Bluebird seminar: 2 to 4 p.m. March 16, Baltimore Woods, 4007 Bishop Hill Road, Marcellus. John Rogers, co-founder of the NYS Bluebird Society. Following a 50-minute slideshow there is an optional build your own bluebird box project. Next box kits are available at $8 for members; $12 for non-members. Registration is required. Call 673-1350. Big East Camping/Outsdoors Show: 2 to 8 p.m. March 22, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. March 23 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 24, 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 www.bigeastshows.com. SAFETY COURSES: Hunter safety course: 6 to 9 p.m. March 12, 15 and 8 a.m. until finished March 16, at the Chittenango Rod and Gun Club, Lakeport Rd., Chittenango. Registration is 6 to 8 p.m. March 6 at the Great Swamp Conservancy, 8375 N Main St, Canastota. Hunter safety course: 6 to 9 p.m. April 16, 18 at Bicknell Hall, Room 203 at SUNY Morrisville; 8 a.m. to finish Peterboro Conservation Club. Preregister in person from 6 to 8 p.m. at Bicknell Hall, Room 203. For more, call 684-6237 or email [email protected]. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

I'm also attending the "State of Lake Ontario" meeting tonight up in Pulaski. Been an interesting week. I attended the big protest rally last week in Albany and happened to be in Assemblyman Al Stirpi's office at the tail end of a heated discussion with Stirpi and several constituents. I didn't personally hear any F-bombs uttered, but I was able to find six others who said the Assemblyman lost it and uttered at least two in their presence. On Tuesday, Stirpi admitted dropping one -- and only one. I filed a story today on syracuse.com and at last glance there were about 330 comments. Hmm..I think we're going to hear more about this.. stay tuned. Oh, and one more thing. I've heard that someone got the assemblyman on tape using more than one expletive. It may just be a rumor. Anyway, if you know a person who has such a tape, please get in touch with me ASAP. Other things I'm writing about: - My first try at a biathlon. Believe me, it's harder than you think. - Apps that outdoors enthusiasts can use. We pay particular attention to a couple of local guys whose hunting and fishing apps have gotten national attention. - I'm also attending the "State of Lake Ontario" meeting tonight up in Pulaski that's being given by the DEC and U.S. Fish and Wildlife staff. I'll report on the highlights. Other stuff I'm working on: - DEC study on wild turkeys - Five thing you probably didn't know about screech owls. - 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. - The state's only two-year college degree in taxidermy is being offered at TCCC. NEED SOME HELP: - Snow geese hunting. Anybody having any luck at this? I'd like to do a story. strong>ANYTHING ELSE READERS OF THIS REPORT WOULD LIKE TO SEE ME WRITE ABOUT? </strong> The effectiveness of this report is two-fold. First, it lets readers know what's coming up story-wise. It also allows readers a chance to affect coverage and provide sources for upcoming stories. Bottom line: Keep in touch and give input. You could make a difference as to what appears week to week on the outdoors page! Email me at [email protected] or call 470-6066. If you want to join The Post-Standard's Outdoors Group and get this emailed directly to you, subscribe here.. FIGURA ON FACEBOOK: For those who are on Facebook, I also have a PS Outdoors page, which I check several times daily for feedback and story ideas. I also post personal fishing and hunting and other outdoors-related photos from time to time and I ask members to do the same. When you join, please be sure and hit the "like" button. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

This short documentary follows a 15-year-old from Stamford, N.Y., in the Catskills, as he hunts his first deer in the state’s first Youth Firearms Deer Hunt. View the full article

The fish measured 65 inches and weighed 50 pounds. Submitted photo Wayne J. Nowakowski, of Clay recently caught this wahoo while fishing off a charter in Rincon, Puerto Rico. The fish measured 65 inches and weighed 50 pounds. The fish was caught on 30-pound test line and it took him 30 minutes to reel it in. Send submissions for "Catch (Trophy) of the Week" and wildlife photos to [email protected]. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The 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. March 23 at Barbagallos Restaurant in East Syracuse. Admission is $5; kids under 16 free. The event will feature fly tying vendors, guestg speakers, and fly tyings from throughout the Northeast. they will cover a variety of topics including dfly 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

Exams slated for April 19; exam applications due April 5. Ken Aubun with "Jade," one of the Harris's Hawks that he and his wife, Melissa, hunt with. Dick Blume | [email protected] The following is a DEC press release: Examinations for individuals seeking an apprentice license to practice the sport of falconry, to become a licensed volunteer wildlife rehabilitator or those interested in obtaining a license to use leashed tracking dogs to find wounded or injured big game animals are scheduled for Friday, April 19, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today. The exams will run from 10:00 a.m. to noon at DEC Regional offices across the state (exams will be offered from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Avon Office, Region . The list of Regional Offices can be found on the DEC website. The deadline for registering to take any of these exams is April 5. Falconry has a rich history and tradition throughout the world. In the United States, recognition and acceptance of falconry as a sport is promoted primarily through the efforts of dedicated enthusiasts. In New York State, the tradition is continued by more than 250 licensed falconers. Falconry is a demanding sport which requires a significant commitment in time and effort. The novice must be prepared to accept the responsibility that is part of falconry. For more information about falconry visit the DEC website. There is no charge to take the written falconry apprentice exam. To qualify for the DEC Apprentice Falconry license, applicants must be at least 14 years of age, possess a valid New York State hunting license which authorizes the hunting of small-game and maintain DEC-approved facilities for housing the raptors. Apprentices are limited to possessing one bird, either an American kestrel (a falcon also known as a “sparrow hawk”) or a red-tailed hawk. The cost of a five-year falconry license is $40. After two years as an Apprentice falconer, a licensee may qualify for a General falconry license. To become a Master falconer, the licensee must have a minimum of five years experience practicing falconry at the General falconry level. Wildlife rehabilitators provide the selfless service of caring for injured, sick and orphaned wild animals, with the ultimate goal of wildlife rehabilitation being to prepare the animals for their return to the wild. A wildlife rehabilitator study guide and examination manual are available to applicants for $15 a set. The study materials will also include the application necessary for registration. The materials were developed by wildlife rehabilitators, veterinarians and biologists to teach applicants about the practice of wildlife rehabilitation, including technical requirements for licensed volunteers. Wildlife rehabilitators applicants must be at least 16 years of age, submit two character references along with their application, have no convictions for violations of the State Environmental Conservation Law and be interviewed by a DEC regional wildlife staff person. They should understand that a degree of technical skill and a significant commitment in time, money and effort is required to be a wildlife rehabilitator. Prospective applicants are encouraged to gain experience by serving as an assistant to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. For more information on the wildlife rehabilitation program visit the DEC web site. For a Leashed Tracking Dog Handler License, a score of 80 percent or higher on the written exam and a valid New York State Big Game hunting license are mandatory requirements. There is a $50 license fee, and a $25 non-refundable processing fee associated with the license, which expires five years from the date of issuance. More information regarding the leashed tracking dog license can be found on the DEC website. To apply for any of these exams, contact DEC’s Special Licenses Unit by calling 518-402-8985 or emailing [email protected]. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

It was released unharmed. Stewart Wilson, of Chippewa Bay, caught this huge, 51-inch muskie on the last day of the season last year (Dec. 15). He was fishing out of Clayton. It was released unharmed after this photo was taken. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

It started off with a red-tailed hawk searching for prey Will Minney witnessed a little bit of the "Circle of Life" in his Liverpool backyard. The first photo shows a red-tailed hawk on the lookout for prey. The second photo shows the hawk after it succeeded in taking a squirrel. The hawk is holding the squirrel in the snow. Submitted photo View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The DEC is holding meetings in Oswego, Monroe and Niagara counties. Ample time will be provided at the end of the scheduled program for the audience to interact with the presenters. The following is a DEC press release: The annual State of Lake Ontario public meetings will be held in Oswego, Monroe and Niagara counties during March, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced. “In recent years, Lake Ontario anglers have experienced outstanding fishing on Lake Ontario and its tributaries, based on DEC’s science-based management of the fisheries,” said DEC Commissioner Joe Martens. “DEC’s goal is to maintain Lake Ontario’s high-quality angling opportunities and associated economic benefits. The State of Lake Ontario meetings provide an excellent opportunity for individuals interested in the lake to interact with the scientists who study its fisheries.” Lake Ontario and its embayments and tributaries support thriving populations of fish, including a variety of trout and salmon, bass, walleye, yellow perch and panfish. New York’s Lake Ontario waters comprise more than 2.7 million acres. A 2007 statewide angler survey estimated more than 2.6 million angler days were spent on Lake Ontario and major tributaries. The estimated value of these fisheries exceeded $112 million to the local New York economy. The meeting dates are as follows: Wednesday, March 6, 2013: 7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. at the DEC Training Academy, 24 County Route 2A, Pulaski (the former Portly Angler Motel), Oswego County. The meeting is co-hosted by the Eastern Lake Ontario Salmon and Trout Association. Tuesday, March 12, 2013: 7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. at the Carlson Auditorium, in the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science building (76-1125) on the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) campus, Rochester, Monroe County. The meeting is co-hosted by RIT and the Monroe County Fishery Advisory Board. Tuesday, March 19: 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Building, 4487 Lake Avenue, Lockport, Niagara County. The meeting is co-hosted by Niagara County Cooperative Extension and the Niagara County Sportfishery Development Board. DEC, United States Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources biologists will make a number of presentations, including updates on the status of trout and salmon fisheries, forage fish, stocking programs, and fisheries management plans. Ample time will be provided at the end of the scheduled program for the audience to interact with the presenters. Information summaries for a host of Lake Ontario fisheries assessment programs will be posted on the DEC website prior to the public meetings. Previous annual reports can also be found at this site. For further information contact Steven Lapan, New York Great Lakes Section Leader at Cape Vincent Fisheries Research Station, (315) 654-2147. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

It was looking for a duck breakfast. David J. Holihan sent me the following message and photos late last week. "Who said there's no coyotes in the burbs?" he said. "This guy was looking for a duck breakfast this a.m. on the Seneca River in Liverpool, and yes, I have seen tracks in the snow on the south side of the river." Cool shots. I especially like the shot of the great blue heron. David Holihan David Holihan View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

“We don’t think there’s enough Band-Aids in Albany to fix this bill,” said Stephen Wowelko, president of the Onondaga Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs. Rally at the State Capitol in Albany against the strict NYS gun law. Rich Redman of Moriah, N.Y. in Essex County holds a 'Don't Tread On Me' flag. David Lassman I [email protected] Thursday’s bus ride to Albany with local sportsmen and women who were protesting the NY SAFE Act was an eye-opener. The rally attracted more than 10,000 gun supporters from across the state. Locally, local sportsmen clubs organized nine busloads (four from Onondaga/Oswego; two from Cayuga and Madison counties and one from Cortland county). On the way up, I asked for a show of hands on my bus of 54 riders to see how many were taking a day off from work to attend. Twenty-one riders raised their hands. Whether you agreed or not with their position, their passion and their willingness to do something about it was undeniable. “This is just not about gun rights,” said Bob Geraci, a retired Onondaga County parks director and avid sportsman who I met inside the Legislature building. “This is about government getting off our backs, of having it stop tell us what to do. This is just a perfect symbol of how onerous government can be.” Rick McDermott, of Pulaski, was one of the local organizers. He said there were a total of 187 charter buses from across the state attending, not including a host of people who drove themselves or car-pooled. A criticism voiced over and over by attendees was that this law was pushed through by Gov. Cuomo and others without public hearings or debates, essentially circumventing the normal legislative process under the guise of an “emergency.” “We don’t like the NY Safe Act, we want it repealed. We don’t like the way it was done. We don’t like several of the provisions,” said Stephen Wowelko, president of the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs. “There are some good parts, but they were all thrown into a basket of dirty laundry. Now they all stink.” In addition to attending a protest rally outside during which David Keene, president of the NRA spoke, I tagged along with sportsmen and women from Onondaga and Oswego counties, who scheduled appointment s with local state lawmakers. <span class="adv-photo-large"> A group from Central New York meet with Assemblyman Will Barclay at the State Capitol in Albany after arriving by bus for a rally against the strict NYS gun law. Mr. Barclay who voted against the new law is talking with Willy Dottolo of Parish (left)./span> David Lassman I [email protected] The meeting with Assemblyman Will Barclay, R-Pulaski, who voted against the law, went smoothly. Barclay was preaching to the choir. “This bill showed how we have problems in Albany. It’s not right. We should have had hearings around the state. Gotten more input,” Barclay said, adding the best bet for change was to "diversify your ranks" and to contact friends and contacts downstate "and explain why it's such a bad bill, that it has nothing to do with Newtown, Conn... that this really doesn't serve any purpose." Asked if he felt the law would be overturned because it was an "infringement" on Second Amendment rights, Barclay said he hoped that would happen, but that it would be a challenge. He noted, for example, that there have been some infringements in the past that have withstood the legal test, citing the banning of taking firearms on airplanes. Barclay and others indicated it’s highly unlikely the law would be repealed legislatively, noting the best hope for revisions will come during the “amendment process,” which could take place in a couple of weeks, but most likely not until the state budget is passed. A session with Assemblyman Al Stirpe, D-Cicero, who voted in favor of the law, was bumpier. Shirpe did say he was in favor of amending the part of the bill that limits the amount of bullets in a clip for a semi-automatic firearm. He said he’d like to see it changed from 7 to 10. Prior to meeting with the Onondaga/Oswego county contingent, Stirpe’s voice level went up when he was insulted by members of a small group he was meeting with. Several of those in attendance angrily walked out. “We’ll attempt to make some changes, but it’s not going to be repealed,” Stirpe said to those remaining in the room. “We’ll do what we can. The thing with you guys is that you’ve taken all your worse fears and said they’ve already happened. They haven’t happened yet.” When told that this law was just another step in limiting Second Amendment rights, the assemblyman responded: “I’m sorry, but everyone who gives me the ‘slippery slope’ argument (does so) when they’ve run out of anything to say because everything they say has been shown not to be true. Then they go to the slippery slope position.” When told that these laws will prompt residents and others to buy firearms and weapons from outside the state, Stirpe agreed. “That’s the problem. One of the main reasons I voted for this freakin' bill was that so the federal government might actually do something. If everything gets voted down, none of these guys will vote for anything. It’ll be just like it is, with illegal guns floating around all over…You can just go out and buy whatever and just drive back in with it. It is a problem.” A member from the Onondaga County contingent asked Stirpe to look out his window, asking him if that’s the biggest rally he’s ever seen. "Are you kidding me? “ he said. “When the 99 percenters were in there it was packed for like a month or six weeks.” State Senator David Valesky, D-Oneida and Assemblyman Sam Roberts, D-Syracuse, also voted for the Safety Act, defending their vote by saying there were problems with it, but they both felt the law contained good elements that they support. Like Barclay and Shirpe, both pledged to work on changes in the amendment process, asking constituents to be specific in the changes they’d like to see. Wowelko and others, though, said they were counting on pending lawsuits by the NRA and others to overturn the law. “We don’t think there’s enough Band-Aids in Albany to fix this bill,” Wowelko said. “The standing joke is that the only lives the Safe Act is going to save is those of criminals.” View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

It involves maneuvering a semicircle-shaped kite that pulls the rider along land, ice or water at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour. Syracuse, N.Y.—Patrick Coyne of Westvale teaches kiting, but not the kind where you hold a roll of twine while a colorful diamond shape floats on the end of it. Coyne teaches power kiting, which involves maneuvering a semicircle-shaped kite that pulls the rider along land, ice or water at up to 40 miles per hour. Last week, Coyne took Kyle Ray and Mason Monahan, both 15-year-olds from Coyne's Westvale neighborhood, out on Onondaga Lake to power kite on the ice. Coyne has been teaching Ray and Monahan how to power kite for three to four years. He started their training in a large field at Westcott Reservoir during the summers, before moving on to the more difficult task of kiting on ice. "Both those guys are good," Coyne said, "but conditions that day were very windy so they were at the limit of what they know what to do." Coyne starts his pupils on very small training kites that are one to three meters in width. He owns 13 kites in all, and buys them from online used kite sellers and various kite stores, including Curtis Sports Connection in Hamburg and Kitty Hawk Kites in Nags Head, N.C. Coyne started power kiting seven years ago after watching others power kiting on Oneida Lake. "At the time I was doing a little hang gliding," Coyne said, "and I thought right then and there, 'oh my god, I know what I'm doing next.'" Coyne said learning to steer the kite is the very first step in the training process. "Technically, you're just telling them to push, pull, push, pull," Coyne said, "and that steers the kite. They have to get that down, and then you move on to other things." Ray, who has power kited on ice for two years, said the best and worst part about it is the speed. "I like going fast," Ray said, "but the hardest part on ice is the speed, because you're moving back and forth while the kite's pulling you." Coyne said any sport that involves speed also involves skill and safety. He and his students wear helmets at all times, and Coyne will occasionally wear hip pads, because that's the most likely place where he will land if he falls. "You're flying a big object in the air that can lift you up, so what goes up most come down," Coyne said. "It's a skill sport that if you do it fast and crazy enough, you're going to get hurt." Monahan, who has been kiting since he was 11, said as long as you know what you're doing, you'll have a good time. "You have to keep your kite up high and be really good with turning it," Monahan said. Monahan actually went through the ice in Onondaga Lake two years ago after a wind gust picked him up and then brought him down hard. "I was on miniature skis, and I went right through up to my waist in the ice," Monahan said. "I had to wait for another wind gust to pull me back out again." But Coyne and his students said it's the fun of the sport that gets them out on the ice in the middle of winter. "It was definitely a wild day," Coyne said, "but it's an addictive sport for those of us who really get into it. It's the perfect combination of skill and thrill." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The meetings are being hosted by fishery biologists from the DEC Region 7 office in Cortland, and being held at Bass Pro Shops at the Fingerlakes Mall and at Groton High School. Fishery biologists from the state Department of Environmental Conservation's Region 7 office in Cortland have scheduled two "State of the Eastern Finger Lakes" meetings this month. The waterways to be discussed will include Cayuga, Owasco, Skaneateles and Otisco lakes, The first meeting is set for 6:30 to 9 p.m. March 18 at the Bass Pro Shops at the Fingerlakes Mall. The second meeting will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. March 20 at Groton High School. The DEC staff will discuss the current status of the lakes and future plans to manage the fisheries on them, the Angler Diary Program and answer questions from those in attendance. For further information, call 315-426-7400 or Cortland 607-753-3095. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

It was 17 1/4 inches long! Hunter and his lunker crappie. Submitted photo Hunter Baciuska, 8, of Afton, holds up a 17 1/4 inch crappie he caught through the ice recently while fishing with his father, Lynn, on the Susquehanna River near Afton. The boy caught the fish using a jig tipped with a fathead minnow. What a fish! The state record for black crappie is 17 3/4 inches (3 pounds, 12 ounces) caught by Kenneth Kierst in Duck Lake in Cayuga County on April 17, 1998. Still, congratulations to Hunter. His father said the fish is currently in the family's freezer and headed to the taxidermist. Submissions for "Catch (Trophy) of the Week" and wildlife photos in The Post-Standard should be sent to [email protected]. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog