HuntingNY-News

Two are scheduled on Oneida Lake, one on Otisco. Kasey Fellows, left, of Marcellus ice fishes for bluegills and tiger muskies recently on Otisco Lake. Fishing with him is P-S Outdoors editor David Figura. Stephen D. Cannerelli | [email protected] Three different ice fishing derbies are set for this weekend: two on Oneida Lake, the other on Otisco lake. ONEIDA LAKE: - A two-day tournament, sponsored by the Northeast Ice Fishing Circuit, is being held Saturday and Sunday, based at the Big Bay Marina. This is a two-person team competition, with a $100 entry fee and an optional Big Fish fee. This competition is part of a series that taking place in three different states. The competition includes a free ice fishing clinic for kids on Saturday. For check out the event's website or call 585-322-0063. - Also on Oneida, the Sons of the American Legion ice fishing deby is set for Saturday. Weigh-in is at 4 p.m. at the American Legion Post 858 in Cleveland. Tickets are $10 for adults, and $1 for anglers under 16. Tickets are available at the legion. For more, call 675-8142. OTISCO LAKE - The Moondance Restaurant, off Route 20, in Marcellus is sponsoring its annual ice derby this weekend on Otisco Lake. The derby runs both Saturday and Sunday. Cost is $20; plus $5 for the lunker competition. Weigh-ins are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Saturday and 5 p.m. Sunday at the restaurant. Register at the restaurant. Further information, call 673-1135. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"Join us for a selection of this year's best outdoors films and follow adventurers at they journey to exotic locations, paddle through the wildest waters and climb the highest peaks," The popular 2013 Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour makes a stop at Syracuse University Tuesday evening. "Join us for a selection of this year's best outdoors films and follow adventurers at they journey to exotic locations, paddle through the wildest waters and climb the highest peaks," a press release on the festival reads. The event is being hosted by the Syracuse University Outing Club. The films will be shown beginning at 8 p.m. in the Grant Auditorium at the Syracuse University College of Law. Doors open at 7. Tickets are available at the Schine Box Office by calling 443-4517. Cost is $12 general admission, $10 wiith a student ID. For more information on the films, check out the Banff Center website . View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

<p> "Tell your readers when they catch them not to leave out on the ice. They're not hurting anything," one Cornell researcher said. </p> <div id="asset-12278715" 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/12278715-large.jpg" class="adv-photo" alt="Burbot.JPG" /> <span class="photo-data"> <span class="caption">The meat on a burbot fillet is white, flaky and tasty.</span> <span class="byline">Cornell University</span> </span> </span> <!-- FIXME - temporary fix with nbsp; for MT-1365 --> </div> The burbot is the Rodney Dangerfield of the Oneida Lake fishery. <p>Most anglers catching them through the ice during the winter just toss them aside, giving the gulls and other birds a free meal.</p> <p>“They look like a cross between a bullhead and an eel,” said Randy Jackson, associate director at the Cornell Biological Field Station in Bridgeport. “They’re yellowish, with rusty blotches – actually quite colorful.”</p> <p>“But their scales are tiny so they’ve very smooth and slimy. And they squirm a lot when you grab them. Aesthetically, they don’t have a whole lot going for them.”</p> <p>The fish are unique in several ways. They’re the only freshwater fish in the state ito spawn during the middle of winter, often in shallow water below the ice. They sport a single barbel (whisker) in the middle of the lower jaw. They prefer cold water and that’s when they’re the most active.</p> <p>During the warm summer months, when Oneida Lake’s temperature rises above 55 degrees, they find the coldest part of the lake “and hunker down,” living off energy stored in their liver, Jackson said.</p> <p>Burbot live in northern waterways around the globe and Oneida lake is in their southernmost range. The fish, which is a cousin to the saltwater cod, is also called an eelpout, dogfish or lawyer. Apart from Oneida, they are also found in this state in Canadaugua and Otsego lakes, along with Lake Champlain, and upper parts of the Alleghany and Susquehanna rivers, and tributaries of the St. Lawrence River, Jackson said.</p> <p>They were once plentiful in Oneida and anglers and wildlife biologist used to think of this aggressive feeder (once the water cools) as a threat to the lake’s perch, panfish and walleye populations. Their numbers took a hit, though, with the arrival of sea lamprey in the lake. Despite successful efforts in putting down the lamprey population in the 1980s, the burbot population never rebounded to its former levels and continue to decline, Jackson said.</p> <p>Presently, the steadily warming lake is their largest enemy.</p> <p>“They’re not endangered yet, but if this lake continues to warm for another 50 to 60 years they will be gone,” he said.</p> <p>Jackson said most local anglers consider burbot an untasty, trashy fish. Not true. </p> <p>When caught during the winter, their meat, (once the dark meat is cut away) is white and flaky, with a delicate flavor. They are excellent tasting, where they’re fried, baked or boiled, he said.</p> <p>Jackson told about how he caught one through the ice on Oneida and immediately filleted it and put it in a frying pan on a Coleman stove. It was quickly devoured.</p> <p>“Nobody was complaining about it,” he said.</p> <p>The state record for burbot, caught on the Black River Bay, is 16 pounds, two ounces. The larger ones in Oneida are much smaller, averaging a couple of pounds and usually measuring no more than 24 inches, Jackson said.</p> <p>Jackson said the best time to catch burbot is usually around now when they move from the deeper to the shallower water to spawn. They often get in “big congregations” underneath the ice. They can be caught easily with the techniques used for walleye – namely with a jig tipped with a fathead or shiner, or using with tip-up using the same bait.</p> <p>Is there anything to the long-held idea that burbot pose a threat to other fish in the lake? No, they're an important part of Oneida Lake’s healthy, native fish community.</p> <p>“Tell your readers when they catch them not to leave out on the ice,” he said. “They’re not hurting anything.”</p> <p>David Figura can be reached at <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>, by calling 470-6066, through Facebook at PS Outdoors and on Twitter at PSOutdoors.<br /></p> View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Surveys will be conducted at least three times per week, March through August; volunteers are asked to commit to doing a survey at least once per week during that time frame. The following is a press release: The Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge is in search of volunteers who would like to help collect information about the frogs and toads that depend on the refuge to survive. Volunteers will be trained to recognize frog and toad calls, and to collect and record data before heading out onto the refuge to conduct what we’re calling our FrogWatch Surveys. Surveys will be conducted at least three times per week, March through August; volunteers are asked to commit to doing a survey at least once per week during that time frame. Three information and training sessions will be held at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center (3395 U.S. Route 20 East, Seneca Falls, NY) in February: Tuesdays the 12th, 19th, and 26th; 5:30 – 6:30 PM. Refuge staff will talk with you about wetlands, the importance of frogs and toads to our ecosystems and our lives, train you on how to recognize their calls, and orient you to the survey locations. Attendance at all three trainings is highly recommended. (However, I talked to a refuge spokeswoman this week and she said although the first session was held, it'd be OK to only attend the last two sessions.) To sign up to volunteer and to register for the February trainings, contact Andrea VanBeusichem at the refuge at 315/568-5987, extension 228 or email [email protected]. This program is the first step in a larger phenology program planned for the refuge. Phenology is the study of the timing of natural and life cycle events (like when frogs start mating, when birds return to an area, or when buds burst open) and how they are affected by climate changes. Frogs and toads are considered indicators of an area’s environmental health. Over the years, this FrogWatch Survey data will help refuge managers better plan for Montezuma’s future and protect the habitats and wildlife we all appreciate. Montezuma’s FrogWatch Surveys are modeled after FrogWatch USA , a citizen science program that allows individuals and families to learn about the wetlands in their communities, and help conserve amphibians by reporting the calls of local frogs and toads. The data collected at Montezuma NWR will be submitted to the FrogWatch USA database. For more information, contact Andrea VanBeusichem at 315/568-5987, extension 228. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The Rogers Center includes six miles of nature trails with wildlife viewing areas, a Visitor Center with interpretive exhibits, a collection of NYS birds, trout ponds, an outdoor classroom and bookstore. Simon Millar Solomon Submitted photo The following is a press release: Friends of Rogers is pleased to announce that Simon Millar Solomon is joining the staff of Rogers Environmental Education Center in Sherburne as executive director on Feb. 18. Solomon comes to Rogers after serving as sports activities supervisor for the City of Oxford, Ohio for the past six years. Prior to Oxford, Solomon spent time in the Keys of Florida and northern Colorado guiding kayak tours and working for the Steamboat Ski Corporation. He is a graduate of SUNY Brockport and SUNY Delhi with degrees in Commercial Recreation and Natural Resource Management. Solomon, originally from Sherburne, along with his wife Karisha (Wilcox), and their son River, will be residing in South New Berlin. Friends of Rogers is a private, not-for-profit organization that took over operation of the Rogers Center from the NYSDEC in 2010. The hiring of an executive director begins a new phase of growth and activity at the center. The Rogers Center includes six miles of nature trails with wildlife viewing areas, a Visitor Center with interpretive exhibits, a collection of NYS birds, trout ponds, an outdoor classroom and bookstore. For information about upcoming events including a three-day children’s program during the upcoming break for President’s Day, call 607-674-4733 or visit the center's website. The center is located at 2721 State Route 80 Sherburne. For more, call (607) 674-4017 View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"We got a grant from the Onondaga Lake Partnership to create these kits, which circulate for three days and are very popular," said the library's executive director. With the recent news that the bald eagles have returned in force to Onondaga Lake during the winter, the executive director of the Liverpool Public Library this week noted the library offers assistance to those who want to view the birds. " Hi, loved the eagle photos in the paper on Sunday Feb 10. Could you let readers know that Liverpool Public Library offers wildlife watching kits featuring binoculars materials to help persons identify waterfowl, birds of prey and other birds," wrote Jean Armour Polly. "We got a grant from the Onondaga Lake Partnership to create these kits, which circulate for three days and are very popular. We also offer geocaching kits that feature a Garmin eTrex 20 units, and stargazing kits with special astronomy-specific binoculars. "Check out our website. You can search for the word "OnSafari" in the title to find all about all about the kits. We have eight sets of binocular kits and nine geocaching kits." "For more information, call the library at 457.0310. Polly said the idea of libraries lending out equipment for outdoors enthusiasts isn't unique. "Back in the day, libraries did circulate fishing poles and tackle, courtesy of the Izaak Walton League-- but people kept returning them with dead worms still on the hooks and things got a bit more gamy than we could manage," she said. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

She's now ranked third nationally in the women's pro division. Elaine Supp has been competing in boardercross competitions for three years and is now ranked third in the country in the women's pro division. David Lassman/The Post-Standard Syracuse, N.Y.-- Local boardercross racer Elaine Supp has bigger things to think about than a fall that broke her nose before a race two weeks ago. The 30-year-old Fayetteville resident took gold in her event at the 2013 Empire State Games last weekend. As of this morning, she's ranked third in the country in the women's pro class division. The Empire State Winter Games were held in Lake Placid, with the boardercross races being held at Whiteface Mountain. Boardercross racing involves four to five snowboarders navigating a steep, obstacle-ridden course while trying to beat each other to the finish line. After Friday's snowstorm, friends and family who had planned on accompanying Supp to Lake Placid on race weekend backed out because of the weather, she said. She drove to the games by herself for Friday's practice day, with the races beginning on Saturday. It was a difficult day for racing, Supp said. The races were delayed an hour because of the frigid, zero-degree temperatures, and the amount of heavy powder left behind from the snowstorm made the courses slow. But Supp said she enjoyed the setup of the courses--"They have bigger features like courses out West," she said. "These races are always really fun." All racers in each class compete in timed trials at the beginning of race day to determine which heat they'll be in later on, Supp said. Supp on a recent practice run at Toggenburg Mountain in Fabius. David Lassman/The Post-Standard "I actually fell in my timed trial", she said. "It wasn't anything traumatic, but I ended up with a really slow time." This meant that Supp raced in the "slow" heat later in the day but was still able to qualify for the finals. In the final race, Supp another boarders jockeyed back and forth for the lead. Supp pushed past her at the very end for the win. "It was a photo finish," she said. Supp competed in the Empire State Games last year, but didn't medal. "Last year the Games didn't even count towards our rankings," Supp said, "but this year they did." Supp checked the rankings this morning and saw that she is now ranked third in the nation among pro-class female racers. The pro class, or open class, is most advanced level in boardercross competition and welcomes racers of any age who feel they can compete at that level. Does this get her closer to Olympic trials? "We'll see," Supp said. "Again, the problem is that all the big events are out West." The Burton U.S. Open, which is normally held at Stratton Mountain in Vermont, was the lone national boardercross event held on the East Coast until it was moved to Vail, Colo. in 2013. But getting out to the Rockies costs money and takes time away from work and family, Supp said. However, if she wins or even makes it onto the podium at the United States of America Snowboard Association National Championships in April, she'll get noticed by bigger sponsors, Supp said. "But this is the pro class," she said. Although she won nationals last year, that was in a lower class. "There's a lot more competition out there in (the pro) class," she said. Given the kind of determination she has shown through a serious injury, her continued winning streak and her upward climb on the rankings board, it doesn't look like Supp will be slowing down anytime soon. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

I'm looking for submitted bird feeder photos from readers to go with a story I'm writing for Sunday. Deadline is noon Thursday. Send them to [email protected]. Been fighting a nasty sinus infection this week, so I've decided to cancel my plans for assisting at Thursday night's personal flotation device demonstration at the Central New York Boat Show, which kicks off today at the state fairgrounds. I will be at a table, though, in the Center of Progress Building at the boat show from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday. Stop by and say hello. Meanwhile, here's what I'm working on, along with my intern, Sarah Taddeo, for this week: - This Friday the Great Backyard Bird Count kicks off. I'm looking for submitted bird feeder photos from readers to go with a story I'm writing for Sunday. Please get them to me by noon Thursday.. Send them to [email protected] and include your full name, where you live, the type of bird, when and where it was taken. - Wild Boar War Update: U.S.D.A. officials release their 2012 report on its feral hog eradication efforts. Among the highlights, staff took out 40 wild boar in Onondaga County alone last year. - Last weekend was my first try at making chili. I opted to go with venison chili to put a dent in all the meat I got from the deer I shot this fall. - The state Conservation Fund Advisory Board and the DEC have been discussing a revised sports licensing fee schedule that if passed, could reduce licensing fees in some categories. - Update on boardercross competitor Elaine Supp, of Fayetteville, who competed in the Empire State Games last weekend up in Lake Placid. COMING UP: - Tying trout flies during the winter. - Looking to speak to some experienced winter campers. - Burning snowmobile Issues or suggestions about someone I should write a profile story on from the CNY snowmobile scene. - Looking to do a story on rabbit hunting. Anyone having any luck out there? - Anybody getting snow geese out there with the extended season? Please give me a call. 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

My wife was out of town and I have plenty of meat in the freezer from the deer I shot this fall. I thought it'd try it out. There’s a first time for everything. This weekend was my first attempt at making chili. My wife was out of town and I had plenty of venison in the freezer thanks to the deer I shot this fall. I wanted to serve it Saturday evening it to several of friends who were coming over to play cards. I called my friend Jeff for some advice. “Ok, this is chili. It’s easy. You can’t mess it up,” he said. First, he said, get your frying pan “real hot,” put a little oil on it and then add the venison, along with some chopped onions and peppers. Jeff cautioned to leave the venison a little undone, that it would finish cooking once I put it in the sauce. In a separate pot, I dumped one can of stewed tomatoes and one can of pureed tomatoes and started to heat that up. I also added four cans of beans – two each of chili and red beans. I also poured in one packet of chili sauce flavoring. I added the browned venison, onions and peppers into the pot and stirred. After a few minutes I gave it a taste. It was bland. I added another full packet of chili sauce flavoring. Still bland. I added about a half cup of chili powder that I found in the cupboard. I called another friend, Tom. He advised that I put in a couple tablespoons of garlic powder, and the same with cumin – and to add some taco flavor mix as well. He also said he likes to use white pinto beans. It was at that point that I realized a chili truism. No two chilis – or should I say chili makers -- are alike. Jeff had advised against too much cumin. It didn’t matter, though, because I didn’t have any. Finally, I called my wife. She suggested I add some curry, which I did. Also, some ground cayenne pepper, which made me sweat. I figured I was finally on the right track so I stopped there. The chili simmered for more than an hour before my buddies arrived. Everyone had a bowl, and most had two. “Not bad,” was the consensus. The following morning at church, I told another friend about my efforts. “You didn’t add corn? I always put that in. Some sugar, too,” he said. Hmm. Maybe next time. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Hot spots on Oneida Lake include Chapman Park, Lewis Point and Big Bay. CNY FISHING FORECAST Bait stores (list and map). SALMON RIVER Water level is up. Lots of steelhead continue to be caught in upper river, particularly above the School House Pool and beyond. Use egg sacs, trout beads, flies and pink worms. OSWEGO RIVER The water level is up. Anglers are catching lots of browns and few steelhead using white bucktail jigs (3/8 oz.). Make sure bring to bring a long-handled net, advised one angler. The bridge to Leto Island is closed, and there are mandatory personal flotation device (PFD) zones below the Varick Dam. ONEIDA LAKE Most of the lake was frozen. Upper north shore, though, is a little slushy. Hot spots include Chapman Park, Lewis Point and Big Bay. Anglers continue to catch lots of perch and panfish, along with some walleye. CAYUGA LAKE Anglers continue to get out on the 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 Yellow perch are being caught from the pier on fathead minnows, wax worms and spikes. After catching a few fish on one type of bait, if action slows down, switch types. This has been working to keep the bite active. OWASCO LAKE Anglers are getting out on the southern end. Still about 4-5 inches of ice at mid-week. They’re catching lots of perch, panfish, northern pike and the occasional brown trout. OTISCO LAKE Entire lake is frozen. Reports of 5 inches of ice at northern end. Reports of lots of perch and panfish being caught, along with a few nice tiger muskies. One angler pulled a 42-incher through the ice last weekend. SKANEATELES LAKE A few yellow perch and a few rainbow trout are being caught through the ice at the southern end, according to one bait shop owner. SODUS BAY The bay is sporting 5-6 inches of ice, along with about 3-4 inches of slush at mid-week. Fishing is “fair,” according to one bait shop owner. Lots of small perch being caught. ST. LAWRENCE RIVER Anglers continue to get out on Lake of the Isles, Eel, Goose and Chippewa bays to catch northerns and perch. Ice is about 8 inches thick in most places. WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR About 8 inches at ice at mid-week. Anglers fishing at the northern end are picking up some walleyes, along with a few crappie. Access is limited this time of year. A good place to park is Dorchester Park. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The area is located in Tompkins County. It's open during all the regular fall hunting seasons, along with one in January. Hunters complained recently about lack of access. There's certainly a lot of deer in communities within the special, 60,000 acre zone, such as in this photo taken with the village of Cayuga Heights. Getting access to hunt them, though, is another issue. John Berry/The Post-Standard A column I wrote earlier this month addressed complaints by hunters concerning the Tompkins County Deer Management Focus Area. The main issue was lack of access. The area has an over-abundance of deer, according to state Department of Environmental Conservation. With that in mind, the DEC this fall designated a special zone where hunters, with a special free permit, could take two antler-less a day, every day if possible, for all the regular hunting seasons this fall -- in addition to a special season in January. The area encompasses 60,000 acres of land in and around the city of Ithaca, NY and includes the city and town of Ithaca, the villages of Cayuga Heights and Lansing and parts of the towns of Danby, Caroline, Dryden, Lansing, Enfield, Newfield and Ulysses. Before running the column, I submitted a written request to the local State Department of Environmental Conservation for a comment. No response was received by my deadline. This morning, the DEC responded. I was emailed the following by the DEC's local press office, crediting Region 7 Wildlife Manager Steve Joule as the source: "As previously indicated, the objective of the program is to reduce total deer populations within the DMFA by providing more time and more tags to hunters who can gain access to huntable land. "The New York State Management Plan for White-tailed Deer was developed with extensive public involvement. Among the challenges identified by stakeholders and DEC biologist were: "1) hunter access limitations, and 2) a need for greater flexibility in antlerless harvest in highly developed areas with overabundant deer populations. "These two issues are not mutually exclusive; they are, in fact, often highly correlated with each other. "A basic tenet of wildlife management is that, in populations that are managed primarily through recreational hunting, if access is not limited, annual hunter harvest may be expected to help “regulate” the population. As the resource becomes more abundant, so too does hunter participation, harvest rate, and overall harvest; the converse of this equation holds true as well. "However, in such managed populations, if access is significantly limited, annual hunter harvest may be too low to prevent the population from continuing to grow above the carrying capacity. This is particularly so if hunter harvest is additionally restricted by the number of reproducing females that any one hunter can remove from the population each year (i.e. limiting doe tags). "When deer become overabundant they can cause significant damage to agricultural crops and natural ecosystems, and when these overabundant populations are in close proximity to people, deer can cause property damage and health and safety concerns. "In areas where traditional hunting methods and typical harvest management strategies are constrained, prohibited, or otherwise ineffective at managing local deer populations, the number of human-deer conflicts increases, as does the number of Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) permits Deer Damage Permits (DDP) issued. DMAP permits are issued to landowners for site specific deer management and are used during the open deer hunting seasons. "However, the number of DMAP tags that can be filled by an individual hunter is restricted. "Deer damage permits can only be issued outside of the regular hunting seasons and are used by landowners to help alleviate nuisance/damage situations by killing deer that were not harvested by hunters. "Prior to implementation of the Tompkins DMFA, more than 500 DMAP tags were issued annually for property in Tompkins County, and 25% of DDPs issued throughout the nine counties comprising Region 7 were issued for property in Tompkins County. "The DEC can only make deer management options like the DMFA available to municipalities, private landowners, and public land managers. However the agency does not have any control over whether or not a property owner/manager chooses to utilize the management option, nor does the agency have the authority to supersede any local ordinances that may restrict if/how the option may be used within boundaries of a given municipality/property. "As was also previously indicated, the establishment of the DMFA does not change the legal requirement that hunters must still comply with all state trespassing laws, as well as all applicable local ordinances governing the discharge of firearms." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Admission is $1, which the club uses to send kids to the DEC's summer camp. Tables are still available for a $25 fee for those who want to sell their stuff A Nautical and Fishing Tackle Sale is being sponsored by ELOSTA on March 16 at the South Shore Club, 6690 South Bay Road, Cicero ELOSTA stands for the Eastern Lake Ontario Salmon and Trout Association). . Eight-foot table are available for $25. Tables can be reserved by calling Jim at 607/756-7922 or Bill at 315/252-6439. Several fishing tackle dealers such as Bob Fuller of Fingerlakes Tackle, Dave Wilczak of R and R Spoons who also creates fantastic spinner blades, Oneida Lake walleye specialist Brian Hammond, and Fat Nancy's of Pulaski will have tables there. Last year's sale at the VFW in Mexico. See the ELOSTA website for more information. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The deadline for submitting photos is noon Thursday. Questions? Call 470-6066 or email me at [email protected]. Friday marks the beginning of the Great Backyard Bird Count. The count, which draws participants from across the country, lasts until Feb. 18. Have an interesting/funny photo that you've taken recently at your bird feeder. Send you photos to me at [email protected] for possible use a story about the count that's running this Sunday. Include a paragraph or two describing what's the photo, why you find it interesting, along with your name, community where you live and daytime phone number for further questions. The deadline for submitting photos is noon Thursday. Photos should be sent as jpg attachments at full resolution. Questions? Call 470-6066 or email me. Participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count is easy. All you have to do is count the number of individual birds of each species you see for at least 15 minutes. You can do this from any location you enjoy viewing birds, whether in your backyard or at a favorite park or wildlife refuge. Your bird checklist can easily be submitted through the GBBC website, or, new this year, through eBird online or in the field with the eBird BirdLog mobile app for Apple and Android smartphones. To learn more about the GBBC, get bird identification tips, receive downloadable participation instructions and more, visit the program's website View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

It weighed about 30 pounds. Some of the locals I talked to said this is very big; one saying he had never seen one that large. My buddy, Jack Haggerty, of Skaneateles, has a retirement home down in Costa Rica. When he goes there during the winter months, he likes to fish. He sent me this photo of a huge corvina that he caught last week. He wrote: It weighed about 30 pounds. Some of the locals I talked to said this is very big; one saying he had never seen one that large. "Don't know about all that, but it was fun to catch and we still have some left after feeding 14 people and giving some away. "Caught in near the islands just off Playa Danta, which is about a mile north of us. You can see the islands from our deck. I caught it with a Rapalla 14 Mag Dorado. Sounds like you are getting quite a storm (back in Central New York). "Pura Vida!" View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"It made 3 or 4 big runs before we could finally get him up thru that 7 - inch hole in the ice," said the angler's buddy. Conrad Scheider, of Liverpool, who has been ice fishing on Otisco Lake for several years, wrote me: "Tom Ricketson, of Newfield, was fishing the main lake Sunday (Feb 10) when he caught and released this beast of a tiger....42 inchs. "It took a large sucker on a tip-up. It made 3 or 4 big runs before we could finally get him up thru that 7 - inch hole in the ice. "Upon his release, his huge tail slapped the water so hard he plashed both of us " We also iced a smaller 24" later in the day and two weeks ago I landed a 28"er......love that lake in the winter!" View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Despite the lack of food, the Baptist church in New Woodstock continued with its scheduled program for those who stayed. It included a seminar on waterfowl and turkey hunting tips, along with a Christian message. The Madison County Health Department health department official who stopped by the annual 28th annual Wild Game Dinner at the Open Door Baptist Church Saturday had no choice but to shut it down, her boss said today. More than 200 people turned out for the free event at the New Woodstock church. Persons who brought food were told to take it out of the church, put it in their vehicles and to bring it home. Despite the lack of food, the church continued with its scheduled program for those who stayed. It included a seminar on waterfowl and turkey hunting tips, along with a Christian message. Geoffrey Snyder, director of environmental health for Madison County, said today that the dinner, which offered a wide variety of wild game dishes and more than 50 home-made pies, was a “blatant violation” of the state’s Sanitary Health Code. The church lacked the proper permit to hold such a function, he said, adding it would have been liable for any health problems that might have resulted. “A number of those dishes came from unapproved sources,” said Geoffrey Snyder, director of environmental health for the Madison County Health Department. He noted that the wild game dishes in particular were problematic, citing a wild game dinner in Oneida County several years ago where venison infected with Chronic Wasting Disease was served. In addition, the number and wide variety of pies made it difficult to determine which pies would be acceptable and which contained potentially hazardous ingredients, Snyder said. Our sanitarian and the pastor simply agreed that none of the pies would be served. “This wasn’t just limited to members of the congregation, a club or some fraternal group, which the law allows. It was a public event,” Snyder said, adding he and staff were unaware of it for the past 27 years. They found out about it, he said, reading an advertisement in the Cazenovia Republican just last week. A call was made, and an email was also sent Friday to the church, outlining the problem. No reply came, Snyder said. A message was left at the church’ s office early this afternoon by this reporter for the church’s pastor, the Rev. David DeLeon. As of 4:30 p.m., DeLeon had not called back. According to a story on the Cazenovia Republican’s website, Leon told a reporter said the church received an email from the health department last Friday, but after reading the department’s information brochure, which stated, “Some events do not require a permit. These include bake sales or covered dish suppers where people bring a dish to share with each other,” the church did not believe they were violating the health code. Jennifer Hyatt, the health department sanitarian who was on weekend duty for the county Health Department Saturday, stopped by the church shortly after the dinner began. Following a “lengthy conversation” she and DeLeon agreed “it wasn’t appropriate,” Snyder said. During the time the sanitarian was at the church, Snyder said, she received some verbal abuse from several people present. In addition “all sorts of” negative comments about her and the Health Department were posted on Facebook, Snyder said. Snyder said the pastor called today to apologize, emphasizing those who gave the woman grief Saturday were not members of his church congregation. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

More than 200 folks turned out to the Open Door Baptist Church in New Woodstock to taste a variety of dishes made of wild game, along with more than 50 pies the church's women had made. New Woodstock — The annual Wild Game Dinner at the Open Door Baptist Church in New Woodstock, a tradition spanning 27 years, came to a screeching halt Saturday evening, according to a story on the Cazenovia Republican website. More than 200 folks turned out to taste a variety of dishes made of wild game, along with more than 50 pies the church's women had made. Shortly after the event began, though, an official from the Madison County Health Department arrived. Church officials were told the dinner violated the county health code -- specifically the serving of home-made dishes without a permit. Church members were asked to take all the food out of the building or face getting ticketed for creating a public health hazard, the weekly newspaper's website reported. Geoffrey Snyder, director of environmental health for Madison County, told the Cazenovia Republican that the main issues were the wild game, noting the uncertainty of its origin; and the fact that dinner was open to the public, as opposed to being limited to the congregation. I have calls into both the health department and to pastor of the church. I'll file an updated story later today with more comments from these sources on this incident. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

There were two fatalities,though, that occurred during the deer season where the individuals were shot by members of their own hunting group. The following is a DEC press release: The 2012 New York hunting season had the lowest number of hunting-related shooting incidents on record, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens announced today. As the tradition of hunting continues, with numerous and expanding opportunities for sportsmen and sportswomen to go afield, hunting in New York continues to be safely enjoyed. “Governor Cuomo recognizes all the benefits the sporting community brings to New York’s economy and commends sportsmen and women for setting a record in hunting safety,” said Commissioner Martens. “The Governor and DEC are working to expand hunting opportunities in New York state and hunter safety is part and parcel to these efforts. These declining statistics prove that New York does have a safety-conscious generation of hunters, in great thanks to the committed efforts of more than 2,500 volunteer Sportsman Education Instructors.” DEC Environmental Conservation Officers conduct professional investigations of each hunting-related shooting incident. The 2012 season included 24 personal incidents with just over half being self-inflicted. Most unfortunate were two fatalities that occurred during the deer season where the individuals were shot by members of their own hunting group. Incidents involving two or more individuals stress the importance of one of hunting’s basic tenets: identifying your target and what lies beyond. There were no hunting-related shooting incidents reported during the first youth hunt for deer that took place this past Columbus Day weekend. Though the number of hunters is declining in the state, the hunting incident rate (incidents per 100,000 hunters) is falling much faster. Since the 1960s, the number of hunters has declined about 20 percent, while the incident rate has plunged more than 70 percent. The past five-year average is 5.3 incidents per 100,000 hunters, compared to 19 per 100,000 in the 1960s. Trained instructors certified by DEC teach safe, responsible and ethical outdoors practices and the important role of hunters and trappers in conservation. New York has an extremely safety-conscious generation of hunters, thanks largely to more than 60 years of dedicated efforts of more than 2,500 volunteer Sportsman Education Instructors. All first-time hunters and bowhunters must successfully complete a hunter safety course and pass the final exam before being eligible to purchase a hunting license. All courses are offered free of charge. While hunting is safer than ever, accidents happen and it is important to remember that every hunting related shooting incident is preventable. Many, if not all of these incidents could have been prevented, if only the shooter and/or victim had followed the primary rules of hunter safety. • Treat every firearm as if it were loaded • Keep your muzzle pointed in a safe direction • Identify your target and what lies beyond • Keep finger off the trigger until ready to fire • Wear hunter orange For more information, including the 2012 Hunting Safety Statistics, visit the Sportsman Education Program section on the DEC website. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Escape of swine from shooting preserves, breeding facilities and intentional releases by hunters interested in pursuing them need to be addressed if elimination efforts are to be successful, the report said. Feral swine have high reproductive capacity and populations can quickly expand to colonize new areas. USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services Federal officials said significant strides were made during 2012 to locate and trap or shoot wild boar in Onondaga County. Forty boars were removed from the landscape by USDA APHIS Wildlife Services staff. The department's 2012 Feral Swine Management Report, released late last week, indicated 35 being captured in corral traps and five were shot from treestands. Wildlife Service staff have acquired access to 35 properties, comprising more than 17,000 acres in Cortland, Onondaga and Tioga counties to conduct feral swine management. In all, wildlife services staff identified 43 individual feral swine, traveling alone or in groups. None were captured or killed in Cortland or Tioga counties, and three feral swine wer , according to The 2012 Feral Swine Management Report, released last were detected on trail cameras in Tioga County. Feral swine have high reproductive capacity and populations can quickly expand to colonize new areas, said Justin Gansowski, a wildlife disease biologist, who has been on the local scene dealing with the wild boar problem in Central New York since 2008. "We secured a federal grant an we'll be out there again this year," Gansowski said. "We have staff out in the field trying to locate feral swine as we speak." Gansowski said any sightings or shootings of wild boar by Central New York residents should be reported to the Region 7 state Department of Environmental Conservation office at 1-607-753-3095, ext. 247. According to the 2012 Management Report, "there are currently four breeding populations of feral swine, located in Onondaga, Cortland, Tioga, Sullivan, Delaware and Clinton counties. The populations are thought to be the result of escaped swine from shooting preserves and breeding facilities." The report noted "feral swine are highly mobile disease reservoirs and can carry at least 30 viral and bacteria diseases, in addition to 37 parasites that affect people, pets, livestock and other wildlife. Other impacts, the report adds, include ecological damage, agricultural damage, property damage and threats to human health and safety." Local hunters have submitted pictures in recent years of wild boar they've shot in the area -- some exceeding 400 pounds. A Scott man shot one weighing 475 pounds near his home in 2010 on the opening day of deer hunting season. Due to its wallowing behavior, one feral swine will "destroy 10 acres of wetland in its lifetime," the report said. The report said in Cortland and Onondaga counties, wildlife services staff documented "damage to apple orchards, and pastures, as well as to fields of corn, oat, soybean, pumpkin, wheat and hay. In Tioga County, damage to pastures and field of corn, oats and hay were documented." Corral-type traps are effective in capturing sounders, (whole families) of wild boar. USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services The report notes that the most effective and efficient way to eliminate feral swine is by managing whole sounder groups, which is different from hunting. "Several states have attempted to eliminate feral swine by encouraging hunting, which has proven unsuccessful in each instance," the report said. The report concludes with a legislative solution as well. "Escape of swine from shooting preserves, breeding facilities and intentional releases of swine by hunters interested in pursuing them in New York are factors that need to be addressed if elimination efforts in this state are to be successful," the report said. "With the proper legislation in place to prohibit sale, possession or transportation of feral swine, elimination is a feasible goal for New York State." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

See photo slideshow and video. Three races were held, with participants given the option to race or walk. The races included a 5K, a 10K and a 1K fun run/walk for the youngsters. Watch video Whether you were racing or just out walking the courses, it was a great day Sunday to snowshoe at Highland Forest. Three races were held, with participants given the option to race or walk. The races included a 5K, a 10K and a 1K fun run/walk for the youngsters. The weather for the races -- 32 degrees and sunny -- was "perfect", said Chary Griffin, the event's director. "I'll take a day like today any day." There were 16 participants in the 10K race; 31 in the 5K and six in the fun run, Griffin said. The male and female winners in the 10K were Cole Crosby of Cortland, with a time of 50:34, and Shannon Cutting, of Hamilton, finishing at 1:00:06. Scott Sears, of Clay, was the top male competitor in the 5K, running 32:05; with Rachel Jones, of Fairport, taking the women's category with her 33:53. Eight-year-old Willam Olson of Cazenovia, N.Y. won the 1K fun run/walk, finishing in 12 minutes. Anyone could participate in these races, Griffin said. Many of the racers rented snowshoes from Highland Forest, and Griffin and one of her sponsors lent out their collections of snowshoes to racers as well. Racers in the 5K and 10K race could qualify for the national snowshoe teams, said Griffin. There is an elaborate set of snowshoe rules for national qualification, she said, but all the winners and several other racers are now eligible to compete at the national level. Crosby said he competed in this race so he could qualify for the 2013 National Championships held in Bend, Oregon, in March. This was his first 10K snowshoe race and although the course was difficult, it suited his strengths, Crosby said in an email. He said he hopes to compete on not only the national snowshoeing team, but possibly the mountain and trail running teams as well. Jones, 14, may also compete in the national snowshoe championships. She was one of the youngest on the 5K course. "This is one of my favorite snowshoe races," Jones said. "It was so fun crossing the line out there...I felt very accomplished." Team Red, White & Blue joined the race as a veterans sporting group this year, and raced to raise funds to benefit veterans. Team Red, White & Blue is a national organization, and Syracuse's chapter competes in different sporting events throughout the year. All 12 Team RWB racers were sponsored by outside donors. Syracuse has put in a bid to host the 2014 Dion National Snowshoe Championships at Highland Forest. The winner will be announced in the next few months by United States Snowshoe Association officials. Syracuse last hosted the event in 2010. Complete results will be put up on the USSSA website within a week or so, Griffin said. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

<p> Otisco Lake has well-earned reputation for its big tigers. Ice fisherman Tom Boise, of Lakeland, set a a world record with his 27-pound, 5-ounce lunker in 2009 <span class="video_icon_left_small"><a href="http://blog.syracuse.com/outdoors/2013/02/tiger_muskie_fishing_through_t.html">Watch video</a></span> </p> <p>Kasey Fellows sat in a seat on his plastic sled on the Otisco lake ice Wednesday, jigging for bluegills and keeping a wary eye on five, nearby tip-ups he had set up.</p> <p>He’s been targeting the lake’s tiger muskies for years and he’s good at it. That morning he hooked and released four, the largest measuring nearly 34 inches.</p> <p>Fellows readily admits that getting out on the ice in sub-zero weather with a stiff wind blowing isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. However, Otisco Lake has well-earned reputation for its big tigers. Tom Boise, of Lakeland, landed a real big one here through the ice in 2009, setting a world record with his 27-pound, 5-ounce lunker.</p> <p>Boise's fish was 45 1/2 inches long, with a girth of 22 1/2 inches.</p> <div id="asset-12245314" 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/12245314-large.jpg" class="adv-photo" alt="boisefish.jpg" /> <span class="photo-data"> <span class="caption">Tom Boise and his world record, 27 pound, 5 oz. tiger muskie.</span> <span class="byline">Submitted photo</span> </span> </span> <!-- FIXME - temporary fix with nbsp; for MT-1365 --> </div> <p></p> <p><br />A tip-up is an ice fishing rig that is set up over a drilled hole in the ice, with a spool of line attached to the bottom. There’s no pole. Once a fish hits the bait below, a flag goes up as a signal to the angler.</p> <p>“It’s kind of addictive when you have one on the other end of the line, and the only thing between you and fish is the line. It’s quite a rush,” he said.</p> <p> </p> <p>Tiger muskies are a sterile cross between a muskellunge and a northern pike. The ones stocked in Otisco Lake are raised by the state Department of Environmental Conservation hatchery in South Otselic.</p> <p>Fellows and other tiger muskie ice fishermen mostly use 4- to 5-inch shiners or suckers purchased at local bait stores. Fellows said he also likes to use shiners caught in the lake as bait.</p> <p>“They tend to get much bigger ... 6, 8, 9..even 10 inches,” he said. “They seem to work the best.”</p> <p>Fellows said there’s “a photo floating around somewhere” of a huge tiger muskie more than 40 inches long that his grandfather caught on Otisco Lake back in 1986. Fellows was a toddler at the time.</p> <p>“The picture shows me standing next to that fish and my grandfather holding it up by his hip,” he said. “It’s much longer than I am.”</p> <p>His grandfather has since passed on. Fellows, 27, said the fish’s trophy mount is at his home.</p> <p>“One of the main reasons I’m into fishing as much as I am for tigers, is that if I get one 40 inches or over, I’m going to get it put on the wall so I’ll have a couple of them,” he said, adding his biggest to date through the ice is 36 inches.</p> <p>Angler techniques vary and Fellows said his methods aren’t embraced by all. He said some anglers let tigers run a bit with the line, letting them chew on it for a bit, before setting the hook.</p> <p>“Everyone has different quirks,” he said. “ I don’t like to watch him spool out line. That’s giving him a chance to get into some weeds. If that fish feels any tension at all, he’s going to try spitting out that bait.”</p> <p> </p> <p>Fellows said he’s “more pro-active.</p> <p>“If I see he’s pulling line, I’ll slowly pull out the slack first. If I feel a little tension, I’ll just give it a little pop to make sure I get a good hook set. If he’s there, he’s there,” he said.</p> <p>The smaller ones can often be pulled easily through the ice. The bigger ones, though, require a little help, said Kem “Gator” Blowski, of Marcellus, who was fishing alongside Fellows and sporting a gaff.</p> <p>“I’m the one who gaffed Tom Boise’s (record-setting) fish,” he said. “The paper made it seem like he caught it all by himself.”</p> <p>The DEC recently changed the size limit to keep a tiger muskie caught on Otisco from 30 to 36 inches. Fellows said anglers he’s talked to have had mixed reactions. Some say it will ruin the lake’s fishery for the other species, which the tigers feed on. Fellows said he likes the idea of catching larger fish.</p> <p>Fellows said Gaige, his 3 ½ year old son, always greats him at the door when he comes back from tiger muskie fishing on the ice.</p> <p>“Whenever I come home, he asks me if I caught a ‘lion fish.’ All he knows is that they’re big.’ “ he said.</p> <p> <br /> </p> View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

At 7 p.m. Thursday, I’ll be participating in a New York Sea Grant demonstration of various types of personal flotation devices in an above-ground, swimming pool in the Horticulture Building. The CNY Boat Show and Sale kicks off next week at the state Fairgrounds. This year’s five-day event will showcase more than 500 models of power and sail boats, including cruisers, sport boats, pontoon boats, and personal watercraft, along with a few luxury motor yachts. Boats will be on display in the Center of Progress, Horticulture Building, and the huge Toyota Exhibition Building. Show hours are 1 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Cost is $10, with children under 13 free. For more, see www.cnyboatshow.com. At 7 p.m. Thursday, I’ll be participating in a New York Sea Grant demonstration of various types of personal flotation devices in an above-ground, swimming pool in the Horticulture Building. I’ll also be sitting at a table from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday and meeting with readers in the Center of Progress Building. Stop by and say hello. Don't worry, I won't bite. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

I can't stand being cold. However, fishing from a heated ice shanty has changed my mind about this sport. It's nice to catch something through the ice. This northern really put up a fight before I pulled it through my hole. I got him on a small, perch-colored jig. Syracuse, N.Y. -- I’m managed to avoid ice fishing for most of my life. I can’t stand being cold. This year, though,my attitude has suddenly changed. I’m hooked on it. I grew up in Endwell, which is near Binghamton. My dad took me out ice fishing several times on the Susquehanna River when I was in grade school. I was too skinny, and obviously, poorly dressed for the cold. It was no fun. Dad would be setting up tip-ups for walleyes and I’d just be standing around. Several times he brought a snow shovel. He had me bring ice skates. He told me to keep warm by shoveling out a small rink and ice skating around. In no time, I’d get sweaty, then cold – then I’d want to go home. But that was years ago, and the clothing has drastically improved, putting the old-fashioned, cotton long underwear; jeans; cotton tube socks and uninsulated rubber boats I used to wear to shame. In addition, today many anglers use portable ice shanties. Bring along a portable propane heater and these fabric structures can heat up to about 40-50 degrees inside. Take away the cold factor, throw in a couple of comfortable, portable seats – along with a few drinks and munchies. Now you’re talking. Like anything else – regardless of whether your passion is birding, hiking or shooting ruffed grouse – if you really want to enjoy your outdoor passion, there’s no substitute for good, quality clothing and state-of-art equipment. Since getting my outdoors writing job, I've invested in good warm clothing, boots and gloves. A few weeks ago I took another big step. I broke down and bought a brand new, two-person Frabill Trekker ice shanty. It retails for about $450, but I got a deal on one from another angler. I tried it out last weekend on Delta Lake, just north of Rome. It was 22-24 degrees out. After about 10 minutes, I got my first bite. It was a small yellow perch. More than an hour went by. Nothing. I called a friend Jeff on my cell phone. Mid-way through the conversation, a felt a big tug on one of my small ice fishing poles. I jerked and set the hook. About five minutes later, I was holding a nice, fat 20-22-inch northern pike. After pictures were taken, I released him back into the hole. Unfortunately, during the battle the pike got wrapped around my other line and pulled my other, brand new, ice fishing rod and reel into its hole . I was upset. I had been careless and it cost me. However, I was blessed with beginner’s luck. About 20 minutes later, as I was jigging my remaining pole it suddenly felt like I’d snagged something, possibly a stick or a weed. I reeled it in. It was my other pole. After catching a few more small perch, I figured it was time to go. I felt relaxed. I had caught fish. It was a good outing. Yes, I’m still a little skittish about being out on the ice. I won’t venture out on a waterway unless there’s at least four inches of ice. Putting aside my fears, I’ve found that ice fishing in comfort in a heated shanty is the way to go. I finally get ice fishing. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

When the morning was over, the Marcellus resident he had caught and released four tigers, the biggest being about 32-34 inches. Watch video I went out this week with Kasey Fellows, an experienced tiger muskie fisherman, on Otisco Lake. I was impresssed. He set up five-ups, using nice- sized suckers or shiners (4-5 inches) as bait. While waiting for a flag to go up, he fished separately for panfish with a small jig and spikes. He was catching mostly bluegills -- nice-sized ones. When the morning was over, the Marcellus resident had caught and released four tigers, the biggest being about 32-34 inches. In the first video, Casey describes how he got into tiger muskie fishing and why he continues to do it. In the second one, he shows how he sets up this tip-ups. All good stuff. For more on this story, see Sunday edition of The Post-Standard. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

<p> The "Unite for our Rights" rally in Albany, set for Feb. 28, is being attended by those opposed to the state's new gun control law. </p> <p>Sportsmen's groups from Onondaga, Oswego and Madison counties are chartering buses to attend the Feb. 28 "Unite For Our Rights" rally, scheduled for the well of the Legislative Office Building in Albany.</p> <p>The rally is being held to show opposition to the state's new gun control laws.</p> <p>Stephen Wowelko, president of the Onondaga Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, said his Federation is chartering buses, along with the Oswego County Federation.</p> <p>"Cost for the bus will be $25 per person. This is the most important trip any of us have ever made to Albany," Wowelko wrote in a press release. "With the all out attack on our Second Amendment rights, no gun owner, sportsmen or target shooters can afford not to come and make their voice heard.</p> <p>He added: "If you absolutely cannot make this trip, please consider making a donation<br />to the trip, any money in excess of the cost of the bus will be donated to<br />the legal actions that are being filed to overturn the NY SAFE ACT.</p> <p><strong>The schedule is as follows:</strong><br />Buses will depart Tractor Supply in Pulaski at 5:45 am<br />It will stop at Gander Mountain Cicero with departure scheduled for 6:30 a.m<br />The buses will leave Albany for the return trip at approximately 2 p.m.</p> <p>"The Onondaga County Federation will be scheduling appointments with our<br />legislators," Wowelko said. "If you are interested in being on one of the teams that goes<br />along on the visit, please send me a note. Teams will be by invitation only and a dress code will be enforced."</p> <p><strong>FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO RESERVE A BUS SEAT:</strong></p> <p>Rick McDermott<br />491 Albion Cross Rd<br />Pulaski, NY 13142<br /><a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a><br />(315) 882-1540 cell</p> <p>Meanwhile, a contingent of Madison County outdoors sportsmen and gun owners are chartering a bus as well.</p> <p>According to a press release, "This bus is in addition to ones from various other counties surrounding us, and hopefully be more convenient for many of you. Cost is anticipated to be around $20 per person. </p> <p>The bus will depart the Tractor Supply parking lot in Hamilton at 6:30 AM, travel to Oneida and do another stop/pick up at the Oneida Glenwood Plaza (near Herb Phillipson’s) at approximately 7 AM, and proceed to Albany via the thruway. </p> <p>The $20 fee should take care bus costs if the bus is filled. The contact person is Ned Lamb (315-691-5521).</p> <p>The release noted that Lamb will need your reservation/commitment/payment prior to the meeting of the Affiliated Conservation Clubs of Madison Co. Inc. meeting on 7 p.m. Tuesday (Feb. 19) hosted by the Chittenango C.C. on Gee Rd.</p> <p>" You will be able to set that process up with him. Madison Co. Chapters could also collect money and make arrangements with Ned to pay at that meeting (bus needs to be reserved before that date)," the release said.</p> <p>The release concluded: "Anyone that may be switching buses, please make sure to cancel your original reservation so we don't save you a seat that someone else could take advantage of."</p> <p> </p> View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog