HuntingNY-News

Meanwhile, the Syracuse Chamber of Commerce and Highland Forest have once again teamed up to put in a bid to hold the National Snowshoe Racing Championship in 2014 at Highland Forest. The Highland Forest Snowshoe 5K and 10 K Run/Walk is scheduled for Sunday (Feb. 10) at the county park in Fabius. "We will be banking on additional snowfall forecast for Friday and Sat, but there is enough now to run the race on snowshoes," said Chary Griffin, the race director. "This year we are lucky to have Team Red White and Blue join us and will be donating proceeds to this veterans group. Team Red White & Blue assists veterans by involving them in sporting events as a group. "Additionally, we have Team T2 Multisport who has paid the entries for additional veterans who wish to participate. John and Anne Austin have generously made entries and snowshoes free to children . Griffin said there will be a 5k and 10k race, as well as a fun run/walk for children and those who want to enjoy a walk on the trails. She said juniors can qualify for Nationals on the 5k course and seniors will use the 10k race as a qualifier for Nationals in Bend, Oregon this year. "However, anyone can also race the 5 & 10k courses for enjoyment," Griffin said. She noted Bikeloft East, in Manlius is the event's primary sponsor and entries can be picked up there – they also donate gift certificates to the overall winners and you can pickup registration numbers there as well on Friday. There will be day of race registration at Highland - $20 in advance - $25 day of race. Registration starts at 9 a.m. and the races start at 10. There are snowshoes available at the rental shop and Dion Snowshoes will have loaner race shoes available for $5 for the event. Griffin said the course will be a mix of single and groomed track in the forest and hills of Highland. "Our course designer Derek Perry and his son have been hard at work creating a memorable course," Griffin said. "Handcrafted finisher medallions will be awarded to the first 60 finishers." Very exciting news for the future – stay tuned – The Syracuse Chamber of Commerce and Highland Forest have once again teamed up to put in a bid to hold the National Championship in 2014 at Highland Forest again, Griffin said. The winning bid will be announced in the next month or so by USSSA officials, she added. Highland Forest hosted the nationals in 2010. A registration form for Sunday's event can be downloaded from the Bikeloft website. For more information, contact Griffin [email protected]. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The 18-hole tournament on this tiny Cayuga County Lake is set for Feb. 23. The registration will close after 20, four-person teams are entered. If you haven't signed up yet for the Lake Como Inn Ice Golf Tournament, you'd better get your application in quick. This year's 18-hole tournament, weather permitting, is set for Feb. 23. Lake Como is a small lake in southeastern Cayuga County. As of today, there's more than five inches of ice on the lake, according to Joan Puttle, owner of the Inn. Puddle said she's only signing up 20, four-person teams. Afterward, she's closing the registration. Puttle said the tournament was held last year, despite the relatively warm winter. A total of 20 teams competed. The lake, because of its altitude and small size, keeps its ice longer than many other Central New York bodies of water. "Yep. We didn't have as many holes, but we held it," she said. Puttle said the golfers will be required to be at the Inn at 9 a.m. Feb. 23 for a final sign-in, and the first team will tee off at 10 a.m. It's a captain and crew format. Prize money will be awarded to the first, second, third and last place teams, she said. "We use an auger to dig the holes in the ice and put up flags," Puttle said. "The golfers use colored golf balls. "If you used a plain white ball, you'd have trouble finding it out there," she said. For further information, call the Inn at 315-496-2149. Outdoors editor David Figura can be reached at [email protected] or by calling 470-6066. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Among the most eye-catching -- the bald eagles, of course. Staff Photographer Michael Greenlar spent the last few days in freezing temperatures to shoot this amazing series of winter-time birds on Onondaga Lake. Among the most eye-catching -- the bald eagles, of course. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The weekend will also include a free clinic and contest for the kids on that Saturday. A new competitive ice fishing series is making a stop at Oneida Lake Feb. 16-17. The North East Ice Fishing Circuit is holding a tournament based at the Big Bay Marina. The contest is part of a seven-part series for two-person angling teams that began Jan. 20 at Black Lake and includes waterways in three different states (New York, Vermont and Pa.). For the Oneida Lake contest, there’s a $100 entry fee (plus an optional $20 fee for the big fish category). Tournament sponsors promise an 80 percent payout on entry fees and 100 percent on the big fish competition. The weekend will also include a free clinic and contest for the kids on that Saturday. For more, call 585-322-0063 or see the series website. . David Figura can also be reached at [email protected], by calling 470-6066, through Facebook at PS Outdoors and on Twitter at PSOutdoors. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

<p>. It's a new world with The Post-Standard only being delivered three days a week. However, I've been doing my best (along with others on staff) to give you more -- more online and more on the days when the paper is being published. Here's what's on tap for this week: THURSDAY: Main story: Intern Sarah Taddeo interviews Elaine Supp,...</p> <p>.<div id="asset-12225375" class="entry_widget_large entry_widget_right"><br /> <span class="adv-photo-large"><br /> <img src="/static/common/img/blank.gif" class="lazy" data-original="http://media.syracuse.com/outdoors/photo/12225375-large.jpg" class="adv-photo" alt="2013-02-05-dl-snoboard2.JPG" /><br /> <span class="photo-data"><br /> <br /> <span class="caption">Elaine Supp</span><br /> <span class="byline">David Lassman/The Post-Standard</span><br /> </span><br /> </span><br /> <br /> <!-- FIXME - temporary fix with nbsp; for MT-1365 --><br /> <br /></div></p> <p></p> <p>It's a new world with The Post-Standard only being delivered three days a week. However, I've been doing my best (along with others on staff) to give you more -- more online and more on the days when the paper is being published. Here's what's on tap for this week:</p> <p><strong>THURSDAY:</strong><br />Main story: Intern Sarah Taddeo interviews Elaine Supp, nationally ranked boardercross competitor. Boardercross, which has become popular in such events as the Winter X Games, pits five snowboarders against each other as they go down a challenging source at the same time.. kind of like roller derby on a ski slope. </p> <p>Column : Local bass angler Michael Kelly does well at last weekend's Bassmaster Southern Open in Florida, winning the co-angler division.</p> <p><strong>SUNDAY:</strong><br />Main story: I travel to Otisco Lake for a lesson in fishing for tiger muskies through the ice. This will be a sort of tiger muskie fishing 101 type of story.</p> <p>Column: I write about my first ice fishing excursion this year with my new Frabill ice shanty and borrowed heater. Life is good.</p> <p><strong>Other things I'm working on:</strong><br />- I've put in written requests to do stories on two DEC studies currently underway -- one involving trapping and tagging wild turkeys,, the other concerns the local population of fishers. Stay tuned.</p> <p>- A story about the elongated snow goose hunting season. Anybody seen any lately? Please get in touch with me as soon as any appear.</p> <p>- Rabbit hunting. Anybody having any luck out there? It's awfully quiet out there.</p> <p>- The new competitive ice fishing circuit, which has an upcoming tournament on Oneida Lake this month,</p> <p>- The upcoming Tourathon cross country ski races at Winona Forest. Interested in doing a feature on say the best, oldest competitor, youngest.. something like that.</p> <p><strong>ANYTHING ELSE READERS OF THIS REPORT WOULD LIKE TO SEE ME WRITE ABOUT? </strong><br />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 <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> or call 470-6066.</p> <p><a href="http://update.syracuse.com/adv_syracuse/newsletters/syracuse/subscribe.htm">If you want to join The Post-Standard's Outdoors Group and get this emailed directly to you, subscribe here.</a>.</p> <p><strong>FIGURA ON FACEBOOK:</strong><br />For those who are on Facebook, I also have a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/PostStandardOutdoors#!/PostStandardOutdoors#!/photo.php?fbid=3369108872206&set=a.1178365985003.2028364.1403751639&type=1&theater&notif_t=like">PS Outdoors page</a>, 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. <br /></p> View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Elaine Supp, who competes in boardercross competitions, is nationally ranked. See video interview done this week. Watch video Elaine Supp David Lassman/The Post-Standard Syracuse, N.Y.— Most snowboarders would have taken the day off after taking a 12-foot jump, landing on their face and breaking their nose. Not boardercross racer Elaine Supp. She stopped the bleeding and was determined to continue -- and she did, winning her race. The 30-year-old Fayetteville, resident has been competing in regional and national boardercross for three years. Her sport involves speeding down a steep snow course riddled with obstacles while trying to beat three to four other racers to the finish line. She is currently ranked fifth in the nation against other female racers in her class. Supp had been practicing on a U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association boardercross course at Windham Mountain in the Catskills prior to a regional race when the injury happened. Supp, 30, a Cherry Valley, N.Y. native now living in Fayetteville, has been competing in boardercross competitions for three years and is nationally ranked. David Lassman/The Post-Standard She was trying to make it over a wall, or a steeply sloped jump situated right out of the starting gate. "I couldn't get over this first wall for anything," Supp said. "So that time I just threw myself at the wall and I guess I got a little too far over it." She flew over the downslope on the other side of the wall and slammed into the ground from 12 feet up. Her helmet protected her skull but shoved her goggles down into her face. Her nose was bleeding profusely as she stood up, but it was "still pretty straight", so she didn't think it was broken, she said. The race would start within hours. She checked in with ski patrol to make sure she didn't have a concussion, but after they cleared her she was ready to hit the slope again. "I wanted to get back up and make it down the course," Supp said. "You've got make yourself do it again." And she did, clearing that first wall and beating out her competitors for another win. Several days later she decided to see a doctor about her nose. Yes, it was broken. However, since it's still straight she's decided against having it surgically fixed. As a native of Cherry Valley, N.Y., Supp started skiing and snowboarding in the Catskill Mountains when she was young. She decided that she wanted to try boardercross after watching the Winter X Games on TV several years ago. Supp entered her first Catskill Mountain Series race at Windham Mountain in April 2011 and won ."Even though I'd snowboarded a lot, I hadn't really been on a course like that before," Supp said. "And it was a blast." She then advanced to the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association National Championships in Colorado and walked away with the bronze. A year later she was national champion and racing in the pro class against the best boarders in the league. She's headed to the Empire State Games this weekend and the 2013 USASA Championships in April. This injury hasn't deterred Supp from competing in her sport. She said boarders fall and get hurt "in every race". Not only can you fall unexpectedly anywhere on the course, but you can be legally pushed or get cut off by other riders, she said. Supp said occasionally getting hurt is just part of the sport. David Lassman/The Post-Standard She has never seriously injured herself in races before. She wears a helmet, wrist guards and a spine guard just in case. Unfortunately, there's no such thing as a nose guard for boarders, she said. "You have to be aggressive and trust that you know what to do when stuff comes up," Supp said. "There's a lot of ways I could get hurt doing this." After racking up so many medals in such a short period of time, Supp could be racing against Olympic hopefuls at future competitions in the Rockies. But getting out West on a regular basis means leaving family behind and its costly, Supp said. Her current sponsors give her equipment for races, but that "doesn't really pay for all those plane tickets," she said. For now, she will continue competing in boardercross regionally and nationally, and take the bumps and bruises along the way with perseverance. "If I didn't want to get hurt, I'd sit at home on my couch," Supp said. "If you don't get hurt in this sport, you're not trying." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The steelhead bite continues to be good on the Salmon River, particularly in the upper river above Pineville. CNY FISHING FORECAST Bait stores (list and map). SALMON RIVER The bite continues to be good for steelhead, particularly in the upper river above Pineville. The river level at mid-week was high. Good baits continue to be egg sacs (blue, pink, white or chartreuse mesh), trout beads, pink worms, waxworms and stonefly patterns. OSWEGO RIVER Despite the high water level anglers continue to catch lots of brown trout behind the motels downtown. Anglers are using a variety of lures/baits including white bucktails, white jigs and egg sacs, along with plastic baits such as Sassy Shads (3 to 4 inches). ONEIDA LAKE Ice fishing season got back in gear this week with the cold weather. Most of the lake is frozen. Lots of fishing being caught in Big Bay (perch, crappie and bluegills). Walleye fishermen are concentrating more on the eastern end, particularly near Chapman Park and Lewis Point. SENECA LAKE A lot of perch continue to be caught off the public pier in Watkins Glen. Anglers are using perch minnows, wax worms and large shiners. They’re also getting a few rainbows using eggs and pike minnows off the rock wall, near the pier. SKANEATELES LAKE No fishable ice as of mid-week. CAYUGA LAKE Anglers are catching pickerel and perch at the northern end at mid-week. Anglers report ice thickness of about 4-5 inches. LAKE COMO Anglers are catching lots of small perch and a few tiger muskies. Ice thickness on this small lake in southeastern Cayuga County was about 10 inches at mid-week. OWASCO LAKE Anglers were getting out at mid-week, catching perch and northern pike at the southern end. Ice was about 4 inches thick. OTISCO LAKE Anglers were out in hordes this past weekend and continued to get out – specifically at the northern end of the lake by the dam. Lots of panfish and few tiger muskies have been landed the past few days. SODUS BAY One bait store owner said there was lots of fishable ice at mid-week, 4-5 inches. Lots of perch being caught of varying sizes. ST. LAWRENCE RIVER Anglers fishing Lake the Isles are enjoying 10 inches of ice and catching perch and northerns. Meanwhile, over at Eel Bay anglers are catching a lot of northern pike. Ice is 10 inches thick there as well. WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR The NYS Crappie Derby set for Saturday has been cancelled. Neverthless, anglers are reporting 8-9 inches in many spots around the reservior at mid-week. Flooding caused by the rains and recent warm weather, though, has muddied up the reservoir and negatively affected the fishing, said one bait store owner at mid-week. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"I have caught so many this season it's unreal, " he said. Submitted photo Despite the cold weather, the Salmon River steelhead scene remains hot, according to Migell Wedderburn, of Pennellville, a frequent visitor to the waterway. In this photo he holds up a nice steelie that he caught last month in "the Barrels," just above the School House Pool. He said he caught on his "death ray" nymph. "Of course, I released it back into the wild for it to continue the quest of making more steels!" he said. "I have caught so many this season it's unreal." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Brian Kelly bested 197 other co-anglers in the competition -- and he did it on his 31st birthday! Brian Kelly, of Liverpool, celebrated his 31st birthday Saturday with a win on the co-angler side of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open on Saturday in Kissimmee, Fla. Kelly, a member of the local Salt City Bassmasters Club, ended the tournament with a three-day total of eight bass weighing 27 pounds, 4 ounces. He bested 197 other co-anglers. Co-anglers are fishermen who accompany a pro in his boat, fishing where ever the pro takes them. They fish from the back of the craft. Kelly was paired with different anglers each day. "The co-angler first-place trophy and top prize of a Triton boat and Mercury outboard will make terrific birthday gifts," said Chris Bowes, senior tournament director for BASS. "Not a bad way to escape the cold and snow (of Central New York), added Bowes, a Westhill High School graduate. Rich Howes, 39, of Oviedo, Fla., won the pro division. After three days of fishing, he ended up being tied with fellow Floridian Daniel Lanier Jr. with 47 pounds, 2 ounces apiece. The two met the next day for a fish-off. "On the line was the champion title, $10,000 in cash, a Skeeter bass boat, Yamaha outboard motor and valuable points toward an invitation to fish the Bassmaster Elite Series next year. Perhaps more importantly, there’s a berth in the 2014 Bassmaster Classic for any Open winner who fishes all three events in that division," according to the Bassmaster website. Got to the Bassmaster website for complete results: - Pro division - Co-angler View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"This is the third buck of mine to make the New York Big Buck Club that I have shot in the last 6 years," he said. Submitted photo Bruce McKee, Cicero, poses with an impressive, 12-point buck he shot Nov. 20 in Onondaga County. He wrote: "Hi Dave , just thought I would share another record book buck I got that was taking in Onondaga County and to let your readers know you don't have to go out of state and pay big bucks to shot big bucks. This is the third buck of mine to make the New York Big Buck Club that I have shot in the last 6 years. This one was shot with a pistol, a T/C 270 caliber, at 105 yards. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

A DEC spokeswoman said the situation was investigated Submitted photo A Skaneateles couple unexpectedly encountered a tame button buck on their back porch late last week. "This morning, as I was driving to my office, I received a text message from my wife with a photo of a button buck, on our porch with a florescent orange collar around its neck." said David Cutten, of Lacy Road. "The little thing was not afraid of our dogs, in fact it was licking the window of our door as they were on the other side trying to get at it." Cutten said he called the local state Department of Environmental Conservation office and initially got an answering machine. He said later in the afternoon he was called by a DEC staffer and was told the matter was being handed over to environmental conservation officers. Nobody came that night, he said. Saturday morning Cutten said, "As of 5:45 this morning he is still here, he met me at the door." Responding to written questions on the situation, Lori Severino, a DEC spokesperson in the DEC's Albany office responded: "The caller was told that the information would be forwarded to the Division of Law Enforcement in case the situation involves an Environmental Conservation Law violation (e.g. illegal possession/confinement of wildlife). Submitted photo Severino said DEC law enforcement staff "received the information and responded to the location. "Interviews conducted in neighborhood where the animal was last seen revealed one resident had been observed feeding 'tame deer.' That resident was interviewed and admitted taking the deer in after he found it as a fawn, and he said he placed the collar around the animal's neck in an attempt to prevent if from being shot by hunters. "The resident also indicated that although the deer often returns to his property, it is not being fed and is not being held in captivity or confined in any way." Sutten said his main concern was that "the buck was tame, and that it would be hit by a vehicle as we live on Rt. 359." He was critical, though, of the DEC' s handling of the situation "I'm a hunter, my sons are hunters and we thought we were doing the right thing by contacting the DEC regarding this situation but the response by the DEC only sends a message, that to me, tells me they really don't have the resources for something like this and therefore the animal is on its own," he said. Severino responded: "Region 7 wildlife biologists and technicians are typically in the field each and every day working on wildlife management programs, that, this time of year include everything from banding black ducks , tracking fisher populations , trapping/banding wild turkeys, monitoring threatened and endangered species populations, eradicating evasive plant and animal species, assessing species/habitat requirements, and attending to the region's Wildlife Management and Cooperative Hunting Areas to name a few. She concluded: "Each member of the Regional Wildlife Unit will respond to voice messages and emails from the public as soon as they are able to do so, and the response in this particular case was no exception." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He combined four photos -- showing a fox, a coyote, a deer and himself. Greg Diamond, of Liverpool, sent in this interesting photo. He wrote: " I combined 3 recent photos from my trail camera to show a size comparison between a red fox, a coyote and what is probably a 1.5 year old deer (but may be a 6 month old). They each happened to stand in the same place at some point during the past week. I thought you might enjoy seeing it. "The fox was there at 6pm on 1/27, the coyote came through at 9pm on 1/27 and the deer at 8:30am on 1/28. "I also included one showing me in the same location as well for even more perspective (I'm 6 feet tall)." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Applications must be filed with a DEC regional wildlife manager by March 15. The following is a DEC press release: The opening of the application period for its cooperative Day-Old Pheasant Chick Program to enhance opportunities for pheasant hunting in New York has begun, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today. The program provides pheasant hunting opportunities through a partnership amongst DEC, sportsmen and sportswomen, 4-H youth, and landowners who are interested in rearing and releasing pheasants. The Day-Old Pheasant Chick Program began in the early 1900s. In the early days, pheasant eggs and chicks were distributed to farmers and rural youth. Today, day-old chicks are available at no cost to participants who are able to provide a brooding facility, a covered outdoor rearing pen, and an adequate release site. Approved applicants will receive the day-old chicks in April, May, or June. No chicks obtained through the Day-Old Pheasant Chick Program can be released on private shooting preserves and all release sites must be approved in advance by DEC and must be open for public pheasant hunting opportunities. The program is funded through the State Conservation Fund from license fees paid by hunters, trappers, and anglers. Daily care is necessary to monitor the health of the birds and to ensure there is adequate feed and water for the rapidly growing chicks. The pheasants may be released beginning when they are eight weeks old and no later than Dec. 1. Individuals interested in these programs should contact their nearest DEC regional office (please refer to offices listed below) for applications and additional information. In 2012, DEC distributed 42,408 day-old pheasant chicks to qualified 4-H and sportsmen applicants. Applications must be filed with a DEC regional wildlife manager by March 15, 2013 – see contact information below. Region 7: Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, Oswego, Tioga and Tompkins counties: 1285 Fisher Ave. Cortland, NY 13045 (607) 753-3095 x 247 View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The thickness of the reservoir's ice is believed to be sufficiently safe for the large number of participants expected. The following is a press release: Whitney Point, NY – The Broome County Department of Parks and Recreation evaluated the status of Whitney Point Lake this morning and measured only 8 inches of ice. These ice dimensions are not believed to be sufficiently safe for the large number of participants expected for this upcoming Saturday’s scheduled NYS Crappie Derby. It is therefore, with regret, that the Broome County Department of Parks and Recreation and the Whitney Point Sportsmen’s Association announce the cancellation of this years’ crappie derby. This year marked the 40th annual attempt to stage this event. We can look back this year and see a number of weather ‘flags’. Late “first ice” was December 29th due to a relatively warm month. We received a few brief cold blasts in January but usually interspersed by balmy warm spells. The warm spells were sufficient to retard any ice growth we may have experienced. The derby was postponed for two weeks at the point that we maxed out at about 9 inches of ice. As we approached the week prior to the event, we received about 2 inches of rain with temperatures in the upper 50s. This caused a 4+ Foot raise in the lake level due to an inflow of warmer runoff water. This was most likely the derby’s death knell for 2013. An analysis of the 40 years history of this event tells us that there were no cancellations in the first 10 years, the second 10 years saw only two cancellations, the third 10 years showed three cancellations and the last 10 years, we have had to cancel five times. We prefer though to think of the 30 GREAT times that we have had our derby. Next year, the derby is scheduled for the last Saturday in January 2014, which would be the 25th of January. The derby attracts participants and visitors from a number of nearby states as well as most regions of New York State. One year, approximately 8,000 people attended. The derby is intended to be a “day out” after the typically cold months of December and January. It is frequently called “a party on the ice” due to its’ format. For more, visit the Crappie Derby Website . View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He suggested the DEC should arrange the hunting zones ahead of time if they really want to reduce the herd, and also get landowner permission signs posted. The following letters were emailed over the weekend to me from Auburn hunter Joe Leogrande following my column about hunting dissatisfaction with the new Deer Management Focus Area in Central Tompkins County. Hunters have found it a tough go in the area, which was set up due to lack of access. Their major complaint is lack of access. (Following the DEC's new press policy, I forwarded questions about the access issue last Thursday to the DEC's public relations department. As of this morning, I have still not received a reply.) Dave, Thanks for the article on the Special Hunting area in the Ithaca area. Your article prompted me to send the hunting reports in to DEC with a letter to get landowner permission and permits to hunt. I enclosed the below letter to DEC with my Special Deer Hunting Season reporting forms in Tompkins County near Ithaca which is required by DEC to submit f you were granted a special permit number. Maybe each hunter who was disappointed, should tell DEC in writing about their frustration finding a place to hunt with a shot gun. Limited or no places to shot gun hunt was a deterrent. All posted lands that were good to hunt prevented hunting. Maybe the DEC and landowners who want to get rid of nusiance deer should have big signs with areas 1,2,3,4, etc, anf the DEC should distribute daily permits for those areas to reduce hunting accidents in popular areas. The Orange County co-op in the Neversink River Gorge near Monticello and Middletown and Port Jervis and Foresburg, and also the Montezuma refuge has co-op areas, and I think I remember going to Union Springs at a co-op there a while ago. The DEC should arrange the hunting zones if they really want to reduce the herd, and also get landowner permission signs posted. The Ithaca area has limited public lands, and the state parks were just bow hunting only. Regards Joe Leogrande 2/3/13 Dear DEC, If you want hunters to harvest deer in the Thompkins County area to reduce the herd, then you should ask the landowners to allow hunting with shotguns in those areas. A list of names of landowners, addresses, phone numbers, and big posted signs on trees that say “Shot gun hunters allowed with landowner permission, see landowners” will generate the results you want. The landowners will give written permission to valid hunters, and can get their license numbers to know who is hunting. The hunting co-ops for deer hunting in certain areas have that system, and will allow DEC control, and landowners control. I do not live in the Tompkins County area and driving around the area only found posted signs forbidding hunting in areas god for hunting. The special season in my opinion may not have harvested many deer due to the limited shot gun areas available to hunt. My opinion. Thanks. Joe Leogrande Auburn,NY View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

It's all about identifying a gnarly looking animal carcass discovered on the South Shore of Oneida Lake. This carcass was found by Joseph Sallin and his neighbors on the South Shore of Oneida Lake. Submitted photo Joe Sallin and his neighbors called it the “The Mystery of Coulter Cove.” It’s all about their several week quest to identify a gnarly looking animal carcass recently discovered on the South Shore of Oneida Lake near their homes. “I first found out about it when one of my neighbors asked me if I heard the foxes crying out the night before,” Sallin said. “They were down by the seawall, eating on it. Its entrails were spread along the seawall.” Before reading further, take a good look at the photo. What animal is it? When he first contacted the newspaper, Sallin was convinced the carcass was a dead badger, an animal that is not native to this state. He forwarded four pictures. He said he based his conclusion on comments from a local hunter, a trapper and a science teacher at a local high school. Sallin wondered if I’d do a story about it. Following the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s new media policy, I forwarded the photos, along with a written request to the Region 7 office of public affairs, asking for the department's read on it. The answer came back the following day from Stephanie Harrington, the region’s public information officer. It’s probably a raccoon, she emailed me. Sallin was undaunted. He got back in touch with his sources and again contacted me. He didn’t buy the DEC’s opinion and wanted the name of the DEC’s wildlife biologist who made the ID. “They don’t have the staff they used to, and somebody just wanted to get this thing off their desk and identified it as a raccoon. In the old days, they would have sent someone up in a truck to have a look at it,” said Sallin, who works as a land surveyor. “Look at it. It’s pretty weird looking. It may not be a badger, but is sure ain’t no coon,” he said. I relayed Sallin’s comments back to the DEC with another written request to Harrington at 12:15 p.m. Jan. 29. The following came back in an email the following day at 2:08 p.m., crediting Steve Joule, the DEC’s chief wildlife biologist, as the source: “Photos of a skinned-out and partially decomposed carcass were reviewed by several Region 7 Wildlife staff, who determined that the animal was probably trapped locally and its pelt was removed by the trapper before the carcass was discarded,” Joule said. “Though some of the most diagnostic features (e.g. “thumb-like” digit on the feet) were not clearly visible, there were enough characteristics present to rule out a badger (Taxidea taxus) and conclude the specimen was likely a raccoon (Procyon lotor). “The species identification was re-affirmed by Senior Wildlife Biologist Lance Clark who indicated that the overall size, body structure and proportion, dentition, pelage, and geographic distribution were not consistent with that of a badger or any other member of the Mustelida family, but did fall within the expected range of a raccoon. “Lance Clark is a senior wildlife biologist and is a Region 7 representative to the statewide Furbearer Management Team,” Joule concluded. The clincher. Both DEC and SUNY ESF wildlife experts said the teeth of this carcass are definitely those of a raccoon. Submitted photo While waiting for the DEC's second response, I also contacted Ronald Giegerich, instructional support specialist and curator of the Roosevelt Wildlife Museum at SUNY ESF. Giegerich, who got back to me in five minutes, wholeheartedly agreed with the DEC wildlife biologists. “Dave, it is a raccoon. I am 100 percent certain. Look at the feet and your photo of the skull shows the dentition of a raccoon,” he said. Giegerich also noted it was a male raccoon, citing the presence of a baculum. "What’s a baculum?" I asked. “It is a penis bone,” he said. Hmm. End of mystery. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Cappotto said it was almost like the injured Canada goose knew who would rescue her. Lucy Submitted photo Syracuse, N.Y. -- Victoria Cappotto was the right person at the right time for an injured Canada goose. The East Syracuse woman was walking along the old Erie Canal during the first week of January. Unexpectedly, a wild goose waddled up to her on the walking path near the Widewaters section of the canal near Fayetteville. "You could see she was injured, her wing was bad on one side. She looked like she'd been shot," she said. Cappotto bought goose pellets and went to the canal to feed the bird every day for about three weeks. She named it Lucy. "Within the first few days, she was eating from my hand," she said. She called the local state Department of Environmental Conservation and was referred to Cindy Page, who runs the Page Wildlife Center in Manlius. After Lucy's health began deteriorating, Cappotto decided to captured her last Friday. She brought her to Page's wildlife center. "If I didn't catch her that day, she probably would have died," Cappotto said. Lucy was given antibiotics and has been recovering at the center. Page, who started the Page Wildlife Center 30 years ago, said people bring in injured animals to her on a regular basis. "We know of five stranded geese that people are trying to capture right now," Page said. Lucy will come back to full health, she said. However, because she has been unable to fly for so long, her chances of being able to fly again are slim. She said she sees no evidence of a gunshot wound, although a diagnosis for Lucy's bad wing is yet to be determined. Cappotto said it was almost like Lucy knew who would rescue her. "When she came waddling up the trail towards me, I knew something was wrong," Cappotto said. "She chose me to help her, and I had to." Cappotto fed Lucy every day for about three weeks. Submitted photo View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Modern communications technologies are reshaping our relationships with other species. View the full article

<p> Chris Klaczko, of Cayuga, who won the duck calling contest at last weekend's outdoors show at the state fair, qualified for the world championships in Arkansas. </p> <div id="asset-12207774" 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/12207774-large.jpg" class="adv-photo" alt="2013-01-31-dn-duck.JPG" /> <span class="photo-data"> <span class="caption">Chris Klaczko of Cayuga and Jon Rice of Auburn, the winners of the duck and goose calling competitions last weekend at the New York Sportman's Expo at the state fairgrounds.</span> <span class="byline">Dennis Nett/The Post-Standard</span> </span> </span> <!-- FIXME - temporary fix with nbsp; for MT-1365 --> </div> Chris Klaczko compares competitive duck calling to playing a musical instrument. <p>“It all comes down to practice, practice and more practice,” he said.</p> <p>Klaczko, 28, of Cayuga, won the sanctioned, New York State duck-calling competition last weekend held at the New York Sportsman’s Expo at the state fairgrounds. With his victory, he qualified for the World Duck Calling Championships this November in Stuttgart, Ark.</p> <p>The win didn’t come easy. He won after beating hunting buddy Jon Rice, 21, of Auburn. They were tied after three rounds and had to do an extra round.</p> <p>“It was pretty darn close,” Rice said. “If anyone was to beat me, I wanted it to be him.”</p> <p>Rice, who has competed in duck and goose-calling competitions in several states, didn’t walk away empty handed. He won the unsanctioned goose- calling competition, earning $150 and a plaque.</p> <p>It’s Klaczko, though, who’s going to Arkansas, with his plane tickets being covered by tournament sponsors Spectra Ammunition, Rig’em Right Waterfowl and Rush Outdoors.</p> <p>Klaczko, with more than 10 years of competitive waterfowl-calling behind him, was psyched for this contest. He’s been frustrated before, finishing runner-up in state competitions in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.</p> <p>“The two weeks leading up to this I practiced every day for six hours,” he said. “I practiced in my car on the way to work, during my lunch hour and breaks, and a couple of times after I got home each night.”</p> <p>The two competitions at the Sportsman’s Expo had different formats and things the judges were looking for. The sanctioned duck- calling contest was “mainstreet” or what others would call “Arkansas-style.” Each of the six competitors had three rounds of calling for a minute and half each time.</p> <p><object id="flashObj" width="486" height="412" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=2132231708001&playerID=650412371001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAPLpuTok~,Mq6Bf5KTh4AWiWybEmU_mGVR7_83kiVA&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=2132231708001&playerID=650412371001&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAPLpuTok~,Mq6Bf5KTh4AWiWybEmU_mGVR7_83kiVA&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="486" height="412" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" swLiveConnect="true" allowScriptAccess="always" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object></p> <p><br />The callers were required to stand still, looking straight ahead and not at the five judges. This year’s panel included Josh Edwards, a three-time state champion.</p> <p>“Arkansas-style calling is showing your talents on the various calls. It doesn’t necessarily relate to what you’d do in the field or in your blind,” Rice said, explaining the judges expect to hear a set sequence of calls.</p> <p>“You’re drawing a picture in a judge’s mind of what birds are doing,” said John LaFluer, of Weedsport, an elite pro staffer for Rig’ em Right Waterfowl. </p> <p>The unsanctioned goose-calling contest was a “meat competition,” meaning the calls vary and more accurately imitate actual hunting scenario. The 12 competitors were allowed to walk around during their routine, as they might do when out in the field, Rice said. As in the duck contest, there were three rounds of 1 ½ minutes each.</p> <p>Klaczko, who works as an assistant for Jason Barnes, of Frontenac Fowlers guide service, and occasionally gives waterfowl-calling seminars locally, was determined to get final get things right in this year’s state competition.</p> <p>He said he watched YouTube videos of past world duck-calling competitions and patterned his routine after them.</p> <p>In addition, every time he practiced he taped his calls on his smart phone and played them back and kept analyzing his strengths and weaknesses.</p> <p>Klaczko said there’s a lot of pressure when you’re up on the stage.</p> <p>“Most of all, you have to avoid squeaking your calls,” he said. “Any duck hunter will tell you. That’s what scares the ducks the most when you squeak your calls.”</p> View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The DEC's actions finalize emergency regulations that prohibit people from bringing certain parts of white-tailed deer or elk taken in the state of Pennsylvania into this state. The following is a DEC press release: The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has adopted changes to its Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) regulations that prohibit people from importing into New York state certain parts of white-tailed deer or elk taken in the state of Pennsylvania, DEC Commissioner Joe Martens announced today. This revision finalizes the emergency rule implemented last October. The first case of CWD in the state of Pennsylvania was confirmed by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture last fall. In response, DEC implemented an emergency rule to protect New York's valuable wild white-tail deer population by prohibiting the importation of the following parts of hunter-killed deer or elk taken in Pennsylvania: brain, eyes, spinal cord, tonsils, intestinal tract, spleen or retropharyngeal lymph nodes. "As is the case with many other states where CWD has been identified, hunters who take a deer or elk in Pennsylvania must remove the prohibited parts before entering New York state," DEC Commissioner Martens said. "Most successful hunters will opt to butcher a deer or elk and put the meat in a cooler before traveling back to New York." DEC has conducted an extensive surveillance program since CWD was first confirmed in New York in 2005 and has not discovered any additional cases of CWD since then. CWD is a contagious neurological disease affecting deer, elk and moose. It causes a characteristic spongy degeneration of the brains of infected animals resulting in emaciation, abnormal behavior, loss of bodily functions and death. It is not known exactly how CWD is transmitted. The infectious agent may be passed from animal to animal through feces, urine or saliva. The minimal incubation period between infection and development of the clinical disease appears to be about 16 months. The maximum incubation period is unknown, as is the point at which shedding of the CWD agent begins during the prolonged course of infection. The movement of infectious material may be one route of transmission. This amendment to the CWD regulations will prohibit the importation of those parts of a deer or elk where the disease is most likely to be found. While the exact health risks of consuming meat from an animal infected with CWD are unknown, DEC advises hunters not to consume the meat of any animal that acts abnormal and to exercise precautions when butchering animals, such as using rubber or latex gloves. Additional information about CWD and New York's CWD Regulation can be found on the DEC's website. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The DEC meant well, but it's just not getting the cooperation from landowners, one hunter said. 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 series of special deer hunting seasons set up by the state Department of Environmental Conservation this fall in Central Tompkins County to deal with an over-population of deer problem was full of good intentions. There’s one big problem, according to several hunters I’ve talked to in recent weeks. There’s a glaring lack of land where hunters have access to hunt. “Unfortunately, this hunt is a bit of a farce unless you own private land in the zone or had previously applied for a permit from Cornell,” according to Jim McDougal, of Hastings. “My hunting partner and I scouted the two state parks that are in the zone (Treman and Buttermilk Falls) and with snow on it did not take long to determine that while there were deer, that an overpopulation condition did not really exist. “Also, most hunters think that the whole park is included in the hunt, but less than half of each park is permitted for hunting and there are no boundary markers to guide hunters.” The DEC set up the Deer Management Focus Area in Central Tompkins County in an effort to deal with the over-population of deer in that area. The idea was that hunters who applied for, and got free permits to hunt in the 60,000 square acre zone, would be allowed to take two antlerless deer per day, each day, of the bowhunting season, regular firearms season, the late muzzleloading seasons – plus, a special season in January. Hunters I talked to said they went door-to-door talking to property owners in many areas of the zone and were repeatedly turned down. McDougal said he visited areas in Cayuga Heights and Lansing, where the deer were plentiful but there just didn’t seem to be anywhere he could hunt. “The one exception we found was in a piece of property in Lansing that is controlled by the town. Individuals can call one of two Cornell professors who run the hunt there. I believe there are 20 acres, but it is tightly controlled. You are escorted to the parking area and to a stand which has been previously set up,” McDougal said. “The stands could be as close as 30 feet from houses and you may not be able to follow up your deer after shooting as not all property owners are supportive of the program. As a sportsman this was not an acceptable situation for me.” The DEC has a map of the Focus Area on its website and intends to continue the special seasons for three to five more years. Early Thursday afternoon, I sent a written request seeking reaction from the DEC to complaints from the hunters about the lack of access. As of noon today (Friday), there was no response. Dennis Edwards, of Syracuse, said he hunted in the special zone in early November during the archery season, and then again the second and third weekends of last month. “I hunted only Buttermilk Falls Park and Robert Treman Park, mostly Treman,” he said. “I had an exciting moment in November when a young buck chased a doe to within 15 paces of me. Moments later, a huge buck followed its trail to also within 15 paces of me standing with my bow pointing the opposite direction.” During his January outings, though, Edwards said “the only deer I saw were at daybreak and heading to posted lands.” He added, “I likely would not return to the Ithaca area for a special hunt. I am from Syracuse and roughly calculate that I spent $300.00 over two weekends. I’ll stay local for that kind of investment.” Bill Donnelly, of Morrisville, said he was excited when he read my column last month about the special January deer hunting season. During the recent warm spell, he said he was strongly considering a trip down to try his luck. He said after talking to a DEC wildlife biologist at the Cortland office, it became clear that he’d have problems with access. He decided to stay home. “The DEC meant well, but it’s just not getting the cooperation from landowners,” he said. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

<p> "The carnage that outdoor cats inflict is staggering and can no longer be ignored or dismissed,"according to Dr. George Fenwick, president of American Bird Conservancy. </p> <p>"A new peer-reviewed study published today and authored by scientists from two of the world's leading science and wildlife organizations - the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) - has found that bird and mammal mortality caused by outdoor cats is much higher than has been widely reported," according to a story published this week on The Birding Wire Website.</p> <p>According to Dr. George Fenwick, President of American Bird Conservancy: "The very high credibility of this study should finally put to rest the misguided notions that outdoor cats represent some harmless, new component to the natural environment. The carnage that outdoor cats inflict is staggering and can no longer be ignored or dismissed. This is a wake-up call for cat owners and communities to get serious about this problem before even more ecological damage occurs," the website reported.</p> <p><a href="http://www.birdingwire.com/releases/278900/">Read the full story.</a></p> <p><br /></p> View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

<p> Besides a nice bucket of crappies, he landed a 25-inch northern pike. </p> <p><br /><div id="asset-12202345" class="entry_widget_large entry_widget_right"><br /> <span class="adv-photo-large"><br /> <img src="/static/common/img/blank.gif" class="lazy" data-original="http://media.syracuse.com/outdoors/photo/12202345-large.jpg" class="adv-photo" alt="kidpike.jpg" /><br /> <span class="photo-data"><br /> <br /> <span class="caption"></span><br /> <span class="byline">Submitted photo</span><br /> </span><br /> </span><br /> <br /> <!-- FIXME - temporary fix with nbsp; for MT-1365 --><br /> <br /></div><br />CNY Izaak Walton members Mark, Cheryl, and Auggie Matt took 14-year- old Connor Lighton, of Minoa, (pictured), ice fishing for the very first time up north on Black Lake.</p> <p>Besides catching a nice bucket of good sized crappies while jigging, Connor also landed a feisty 25 inch northern pike on a tip up with a minnow.</p> <p>Submissions for "Catch (Trophy) of the Week" and wildlife photos should be sent to <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>. <br /></p> View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

It covers the entire farm which spans 650 acres, including more than a half mile of the environmentally sensitive Great Gully – a rugged ravine that features rare flora, towering hardwood forests, and several waterfalls. The following is a press release: The Finger Lakes Land Trust today announced that it has accepted the donation of a perpetual conservation easement from landowner Dan McIntosh to ensure the future of his iconic Great Gully Farm.. The farm, which encompasses 650 acres, is a scenic landmark that is known by many for its expansive views of Cayuga Lake and scenic farmland adjoining State Route 90 just north of the Village of Aurora. The conservation easement limits future development while providing for continued agricultural use and the creation of two additional home sites. It covers the entire farm which spans 650 acres, including more than a half mile of Great Gully – a rugged ravine that features rare flora, towering hardwood forests, and several waterfalls. The easement agreement includes a special protection zone that encompasses the environmentally sensitive Gully. The land will remain in private ownership and on the tax rolls. Great Gully is also historically significant in that it was the site of a Native American settlement known as Goi–O–Gouen or Cayuga Castle. Members of the Cayuga Tribe resided at the site until they were driven out by the U.S. military shortly after the American Revolution. Great Gully Farm is a diversified cash crop operation with a mix of feed corn, sweet corn, soybeans, and hay grown at the site. The Farm has been in the McIntosh family since 1929 and Dan says that he donated the conservation easement in honor of his parents and that he “didn’t want to see the farm developed.” The McIntosh family has long had an interest in conserving the area and in the past they provided financial support to The Nature Conservancy to establish a nature preserve on a portion of Great Gully adjacent to their farm. “This is a tremendous gift to the community,” says Land Trust Executive Director Andrew Zepp. “The property features prime agricultural land, extensive frontage on the Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway, a significant historical site, and a unique natural area that hosts rare plants. We’re grateful to Dan for his wonderful commitment to the land and we’re honored to have the opportunity to help continue his family’s tradition of stewardship.” “The acquisition of a conservation easement on the Great Gully Farm is a real asset to keeping the Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway in its most pristine condition,” adds Cathy Millspaugh, chair of the Byway’s Board of Directors and Executive Director of the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail. “This beautiful parcel of land coincides with our mission of preserving the natural habitat on the Byway. The Finger Lakes Land Trust throughout the years has made great strides in preserving such like areas surrounding Cayuga Lake. The Byway, known for our breathtaking scenic views, makes this new accession another reason to visit the Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway.” This latest conservation easement is the Land Trust’s 101st. Within Cayuga County, the Land Trust holds easements on wetlands and woodlands near the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, prime farmland near Skaneateles, and more than 100 acres bordering Bear Swamp Creek – the largest tributary to Skaneateles Lake. Founded in 1989, the Finger Lakes Land Trust is a membership supported, not for project conservation organization that works cooperatively with landowners and local communities to conserve those lands that are vital to the integrity of the region. To date, the organization has protected more than 15,000 acres of the region’s pristine shoreline, scenic farmland, rugged gorges, and majestic forest. Today, the Land Trust owns and manages a network of 30 nature preserves that are open to the public, and holds 100 conservation easements on land that remains in private ownership. Additional information about the Land Trust and conservation easements may be found on its website or by calling (607) 275-9487. Editor's note: I asked Emily Eisman, a spokeswoman for the Trust whether the land will be open for hunting, fishing and trapping. She responded: "The conservation easement does not allow public access, but it does protect habitat." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The duck call winner said he practiced six hours a day in the weeks leading up to the competition. This is a cool video of Chris Klaczko, of Auburn, and Jon Rice, of Cayuga, who won the duck and goose calling competitions last weekend at the New York Sportsman's Expo at the state fairgrounds. The two are waterfowl hunting buddies. In addition to winning the goose- calling contest, Rice finished second in the duck-calling competition, which was the state qualifier for the world duck calling competition. Klaczko will be attending the event, which is scheduled for later this year in Arkansas. Klaczko said he prepared for the competition by practicing six hours a day in the three weeks leading up to the contest. ] For more on this, see Sunday's edition of The Post-Standard. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog