HuntingNY-News

"As I sit here writing this, I am reflecting on all of the time Dad and I shared in the deer woods. Learning to field dress a deer, the missed shots, spooked deer and the successes." Submitted photo Jack Spriggs, of Mexico, poses with a nice buck he took recently in Granby. His story is one that really touched me and I feel honored that he allowed me to share it. He wrote: " Although my dad is still with us, this would be the first Southern Zone opener that we have not hunted together in 30 years. Hunting, especially deer hunting, is the one thing Dad and I have always shared. "Dad first took me into the deer woods when I was 14, two years before I could carry a gun. He has since been with me to introduce both of my daughters to deer hunting. "This year was different. Less than a week before this years southern opener Dad lost another battle with the cancer he has fought for the last four years. The doctors told him that his bones were so brittle that the recoil from the shotgun could break his arm or shoulder. With too little time and cash alternate methods with less recoil like a handgun or crossbow were not an option. Dad took the news with the courage and dignity that he always does. Me, not so much. " I hunted the beginning of the season with a vengeance. Determined to harvest a deer for dad. Finally, on Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, it happened. "There I was, sitting in dad's stand, in the pre-dawn light listening to what was definitely deer movement. Footsteps and grunting first coming in my direction then moving away. "Over and over it came and went until finally I could see the distinct silhouette of a deer and antlers. As it faded off and out of sight I remember thinking "Well, maybe next time." Twenty minutes later it appeared again without making a sound, as big bucks do, standing on the old logging trail, 25 yards in front of me. I settled the crosshairs and squeezed the trigger. The buck lurched, turned and ran back in the direction he came from. "As I sat in the stand with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat I whispered, 'That one's for you, Pop.' "My wife and I loaded the buck into the back of my truck and took it straight to Dad. The glimmer in his eyes and the pat on my back said I'd done good. "As I sit here writing this I am reflecting on all of the time Dad and I shared in the deer woods. Learning to field dress a deer, the missed shots, spooked deer and the successes. If Dad doesn't hunt again it'll be okay. Not right, just okay." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Both were taken on land in Volney in Oswego County Submitted photo Tom Dubois, of Fulton, wrote the following: "I have been hunting and fishing for many years, and I am grateful for the time dad made to take me and my brother outdoors. I cherish the fact that we are still able to do many of these things together. "Attached is a picture from Nov. 25. Although we have harvested many deer together over the years this was the first time my father and I shot bucks on the same day. This was my biggest buck to date and weighed 168 lbs. "Although the rack was not perfect it was still a trophy because I was enjoying hunting with family. I am pretty sure dad was excited as I was. I look forward to experiencing the same with my sons. "The pic: Tom DuBois on the left with 5 point ; Tom DuBois II on right with 6 point (168 pounds). We both live in the Fulton area and the deer were harvested in Volney, Oswego County. "Also hunting with us that day were family members Howard and Brian Samson and Steve Quesnell." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"I miss my old haunts in Central NY. The fishing around the Syracuse is World Class and cannot be beat. " Submitted photo Rudy Tomasick, of Ballston Spa, sent this picture of himself and wrote the following: "I don't know whether you can use this picture of a 15-pound, brown tout from the Oswego River. I was on one of my many fishing pilgrimages to Central NY in search of steelhead. "I retired from Cooper Crouse-Hinds about seven years (April 1st - First day of trout season or is it Aprils Fools Day) and have been fishing as much as I can. "I moved to Ballston Spa, NY and find retirement very favorable. My wife Kathy and I enjoy volunteering for the Office of the Aging in Ballston Spa and AARP Tax volunteers during the tax season. "The brown was caught in the Oswego River on Nov. 28th about 10:30 AM. I caught it on a chartreuse yarn fly with 6# test tippet. It took me about 10minutes to battle him in and after the quick photo I released him so he can procreate or get caught and make another angler ecstatically happy as he made me. "I miss my old haunts in Central NY. The fishing around the Syracuse is World Class and cannot be beat. " View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The son is 32 years old. It was his first deer. Dad and his buck, a 4-pointer. Submitted photo David Urban, of Baldwinsville, wrote the following about a buck he shot and one his son, Andrew, got as well on land they hunt in Lysander. He wrote: "After reading your story today about your first deer with your Dad's shotgun, I decided to share the story of my son's first deer this year. "My son Andrew is now 32 and has been hunting with me for many years, but only could hunt a few days each year. In high school it was a conflict with football, then it was college, then it was his first job and he now lives in Buffalo. "In 2011, my wife Pat and I bought 22 acres of land for hunting and hiking. Last year was the first year hunting on my land and neither of us got a deer. This year my son's schedule only allowed him to hunt opening weekend. "On Saturday I harvested a nice 4 pointer and he got to see a deer field dressed for the first time. He was excited for me that I took the first deer on my land, but I new he was wondering when it would be his turn. "On Sunday I put him in the stand I was in on Saturday. Around 10 a.m. I heard a shot and wondered if it was him. My cell phone buzzed and there was a picture of a nice 5- point buck on it. The message just said in the hemlocks off trail D. Andrew's deer, a 5-pointer. Submitted photo "I called him and I immediately knew it was his first deer since he could hardly talk he was so excited. He told me he was shaking so much he could not fill out his tag. "I arrived about 10 minutes later and he was still shaking, but the smile on his face I will remember always. I shook his hand and gave him a big hug. "We said a prayer of thanks and then I asked him who was going to field dress the deer. He said he wanted to with me talking him through every step. He did a great job. "By then his Mom arrived for pictures and to celebrate his first deer. What a great weekend - two deer in two days, and my son's first. "The Remington 870 he was using was the same shotgun I used to harvest my first deer many years ago. Hopefully there will be many more. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He shot it in Otisco. Submitted photo Michael Clemens, of LaFayette, poses with a nice, 10-point buck he shot Nov. 23 in Otisco. After shooting it, he tracked it for 5 1/2 hours before finding it. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

After more than four years of trying, I finally shot my first deer — a four-point buck. Nancy Neiley photo A psychologist once told me that if you want to see a grown man cry get him talking about his father. I cried recently. I was just overwhelmed with emotion. Dad’s been dead for more than two years, but I felt he was with me, right by my side. After more than four years of trying, I finally shot my first deer — a four-point buck. I did it with Dad’s 12-gauge, Ithaca Deerslayer. I’ve been the outdoors editor at The Post-Standard for the past six years. When I was hired, I told my bosses I was weak in the area of hunting, but that I was eager and willing to become proficient in it. During my job interview, one editor asked if I harbored any anti-hunting views. No, I said, my Dad was a die-hard hunter – shooting everything from rabbits, to pheasants to deer. I grew up eating wild game and occasionally assisted Dad as he cut up dead deer hanging in our garage. In fact, when Dad was out of work for 12 months during my junior year in high school we ate venison until it was coming out of our ears. But there was one catch. Dad often took me fishing, making me the fishing nut I am today. However, he never once took me hunting. The irony, of course, is that today I write about the outdoors, often covering hunting with passion and enthusiasm. Three weeks before he died, I confronted him down at my stepbrother’s place in West Virginia, where he and my stepmom were living. I have countless memories throughout my childhood of Dad hunting with my Uncle Jim and others. Why wasn’t I ever asked to go? Dad, 84, a bit embarrassed, said simply that he had tried taking my older brother, Paul, and that he didn’t like it. Figuring I would react the same, he said, he never bothered with me. The conversation was brief, but it ended with a promise. “Come down here next fall and we’ll go out. We’ll get you a deer,” he said. Dad died of a massive heart attack three weeks later. Following his funeral service, just I was getting ready to drive back to New York, my stepbrother, Larry, walked up to me carrying a gun case. It contained Dad’s 12-gauge, shotgun. “Your father got a lot of deer with this gun. He wanted you to have it,” Larry said. When I got home, I stuffed the gun case underneath our bed and didn’t open it. When I finally did, I broke down. Every hunting outing afterward, I lovingly carried Dad’s gun into the woods. I had another gun, but this was the one I was determined to use to get my first deer. It’s taken me awhile, but I finally pushed aside my resentment and hard feelings about never having gone hunting with my Dad. I concluded it wasn’t all his fault. I was a busy teenager, with sports, friends and a girlfriend. I never once asked him if I could tag along. Obviously, hunting was his time away from the family and his job with the Telephone Co. It was time with my Uncle Jim and other male buddies to replenish and recharge his soul. So there I was recently — sitting on the ground, leaning up against a fallen tree trunk, holding my father’s gun. A doe had just come by about 20 minutes before. I had the perfect shot, but I lacked a doe tag for the area we were hunting. I let it pass. I was reconciled that I was experiencing just another great day in the woods when a 4-point buck came walking up from behind, and crossed about 25-30 yards in front of me. I know it sounds corny, but it was like Dad was helping out – somehow leading that deer to me. I felt his presence. “There’s your deer, son, “ he whispered in my ear. I quickly propped the gun on my knees and fired. It was a perfect shot and the deer when down. I was in shock for about 15 to 20 minutes. My best friend, Chris Neiley, and his friend, Randy – the two guys I was hunting with – arrived to check it out. With their supervision, I field dressed it myself. But not before I stepped aside from the two guys and talked to my father several yards away. “I got him, Dad. Thanks,” I said quietly, my eyes full of tears. FINAL NOTE: This column is dedicated to my best and dearest friend, Chris Neiley, who died Saturday night from cancer. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Nancy, and his children, Nick and Katrina, whom I love dearly. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

“At times, it’s like balancing a pencil on your finger. Every bird is different,” Ken Aubin said. “And if you don’t hunt them every couple of days, they can lose their momentum.” Watch video Ken Aubin readies Jade, his Harris's hawk, for a morning of hunting along the Charlie Major Nature Trail in Mottville. Dick Blume/The Post-Standard Ken Aubin said getting his two Harris’s hawks ready to hunt can be a challenge. Aubin, a licensed falconer, is constantly weighing his birds – particularly the night before, and the morning of the hunt. The goal is to figure out what weight they have to be so that they’re hungry, but yet still have enough energy to capture and kill their prey. “At times, it’s like balancing a pencil on your finger. Every bird is different,” he said. “And if you don’t hunt them every couple of days, they can lose their momentum.” Aubin and his wife, Melissa, were out earlier this week hunting on the Charlie Major Nature Trail in Mottville. That day he only brought, Jade, one of his two birds. His other hawk, Sapphire, was at home. “She’s got about 4 -5 bad squirrel bites on her feet. You can actually see the tendons,” Aubin said. “I’ve giving her a week and a half off to heal up.” Aubin transported Jade in a closed, wooden box in the back of his Hyundai hatchback. Getting her out, he put small bells on her legs and clipped a radio transmitter on her backside so he could track her if she got lost. He grabbed a hockey stick from the back of his car that he uses to bang on trees to get the squirrels moving. Finally, he put on a jacket that contained a game bag, along with food for Jade (dead, day-old chicks), knives and awls (to finish off the squirrels if needed) and a slingshot and marbles. “One of the favorite things for a squirrel to do is to run up to the top of trees and freeze, putting them out of sight for the birds,” he said. “Sometimes, I have to launch a couple of marbles close to the squirrel to get it moving again.” Aubin, 26, of Mattydale, has been a licensed falconer since he was 18. He has hunted with kestrels, red-tailed hawks and peregrine falcons. He prefers hunting with Harris’s hawks, he said, because while most raptors are solitary hunters, this particular species is social. “I like to hunt with other people,” he said. Jade eyes a squirrel, lower right, that eventually escaped. Dick Blume/The Post-Standard Becoming a licensed falconer doesn’t happen overnight. It requires the passing of a hunting safety course and a special written falconry exam, plus a two-year apprenticeship with a licensed falconer. There’s other requirements once you get a bird, including an inspection of where its kept. Finally, state and federal licenses are needed, costing $120 every two years. Aubin, who belongs to the New York State Falconry Association, is the state coordinator for matching falconry apprentices with licensed falconers. There’s currently about 200 licensed falconers across the state, he said. Harris’s hawks, which are native to the Southwest, as adults are about the size of crows. The hawk’s beak looks intimidating, but the most dangerous body part is the talons, Aubin said. “They can roughly put 160 to 170 pounds of pressure on the end of their talons,” he said. “They can really mess you up with them.” The falconry season for small game lasts from Oct. 1 to March 31. Falconers can hunt also waterfowl (ducks, geese), but that requires the purchase of $15 federal duck stamp. Melissa said her husband spends a lot of time with his birds. There’s time one must take to ensure that the bird bonds with the handler, time that must be taken for its care — and of course, time to constantly hunt with it. Melissa Aubin, left, who accompanies her husband while he's hunting with hawks, says the sport takes a lot of time and that it's "a way of life." DIck Blume/The Post-Standard “It’s a way of life,” she said. In recent weeks, Jade and Sapphire have been a deadly duo, Aubin said. “One day, we took three squirrels and a duck within 40 minutes,” he said. “I stopped because I didn’t want to wipe out the local squirrel population. At the rate we were going, there wouldn’t be any left.” With Sapphire out of the action this past week, Jade seemed at a loss. She had a lackluster morning during the three-hour outing in Mottville. Once released, she stayed up in the trees, following Aubin and his wife as he walked along the trail. She spotted a pair of mallard ducks in nearby Skaneateles Creek and quickly dove into the cold water, just missing them. For the next couple of hours, she came close, but couldn’t close the deal during 10 different squirrel encounters. Sometimes the squirrels darted into holes in trees before Jade could get within range. Other times, they quickly climbed to the tops of trees to evade her. Or, they quickly scurried around tree trunks, managing to remain perfectly still and out of sight –changing their positions whenever Jade changed hers. One time, Jade quickly descended on a squirrel nest and started ripping it apart with her talons and beak. Unbeknownst to her, the frightened squirrel had quickly existed from the bottom of the nest when she first arrived. “Ho, ho, ho, up Jade, up — squirrel!” shouted Aubin, loudly rapping on the tree trunk with his hockey stick. “I don’t know what the heck her problem is today.” Aubin was frustrated. He blamed himself for not getting Jade out hunting the past six days. He wondered if the bird weighed too much beforehand, if maybe she was out of sorts because of Sapphire’s absence — or if the initial, unsuccessful plunge into the cold creek had somehow made her more tentative. In the past couple of weeks, Jade, hunting with Sapphire, Aubin's other Harris's hawk, have made for deadly duo when it comes to squirrels. Dick Blume/The Post-Standard He stressed raptors are born to hunt and that he wasn’t about to give up. “If she thinks she’s done, she has another thing coming,” he said. “We’re going to eat some lunch and go out again. “ More on falconry: See the New York State Falconry Association website. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

More than any state in the West, Utah has expanded hunting opportunities for the well-to-do and has begun to diminish them for those seeking permits directly from the state. View the full article

"Something about having that time alone with your harvest and giving thanks in your own way. Field dressing with the utmost respect seems to be mine. Old fashioned I guess." Submitted photo Lin Menninger, of Lakeport, poses with her 8-point buck. She wrote: "Opening morning in Rexville, NY on my farm in Steuben County I had a big big boy in front of me about 300 yards. "Used to shooting that far in Africa with my 7 mm 08, I pulled up my gun all ready to go and Noooooooooo! The scope was all fogged up and I couldn't see a thing out through it. "I had just returned from the state of Washington from an elk hunt and boy did it rain all week long cats and dogs. Dang. That's the way it goes. "So, the next morning, raring to go again and sitting in the same stand 225 yards from the corner of the field a doe runs out in front of me down into the field. "Wow, here comes a big bruiser running across the top of the wood line non-stop immediately after she comes out. "I raise my firearm, aim, fire with now my 243. He is hit, turns downhill, fire again and down he goes. For good. Yahoo!! 8 point buck, 18 inch inside spread, 150 lbs after field dressing (which the old lady still does herself). "Amazing thing was, Burt (her husband) was down the other end of the field in his stand that morning and he didn't realize that I got him. "I didn't want to spoil his morning hunt, getting him at 7:20 am, so I didn't go take a look at him until later in the morning. "By that time Burt had gone home. I didn't get the good news to Burt until around noon. I was pretty darn proud of the whole thing and told the old guy, the deer, as I went about field dressing him. "Something about having that time alone with your harvest and giving thanks in your own way. Field dressing with the utmost respect seems to be mine. Old fashioned I guess. "Nothing wrong with that. And that's the way it was, the second day of gun season 2012 in the Life of Lin Menninger, Outdoors Woman. "Good Hunting Everyone!!!" Submitted photo View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

It was his first deer. Submitted photo Nicholas Kraus, 16, of Cicero, poses with a nice 10-point buck he shot Nov. 25. His father, Tim, wrote: "It was Sunday the 25th when I put a small drive on for nick. After producing nothing on the drive, we decided to head home. "While walking out, I noticed a fresh set of tracks. I sent Nick back to his tree stand and I proceeded to follow the tracks. "Fifteen minutes later I heard a single gun shot. Seconds after that nick called me and said I should come to his stand....he had something to show me. "The attached picture is what the single gun shot produced ! It is a 10-point buck and it was his first deer ever ! Dave, a picture of nick and his buck in the paper, would top off a once in a life time memory !" View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He shot him on opening day. Submitted photo Joe McDonald, poses with an impressive 10-buck he shot opening day in the town of Cicero. Joe wrote: " I have never seen main beams come all the way around and almost touch like this guy's. "He was a battler, notice the scar on his nose and I also found a tip of an antler buried in his hide behind his ear. "Green scored at 146 3/8." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"We call him Pierre the Partridge III as we feel this is the 3rd partridge since 2005 that has shown these characteristics." Submitted photo Dennis Money, of Canandaigua, sent in this picture, video and the following story about a partridge (ruffed grouse) he's named "Pierre the Partridge III." "This beautiful but rather obnoxious grouse/partridge has been a pain this fall. once you get into his 'hood' he will then fly up to the tree stand you are in and start pecking you! "On opening day for deer last week he landed on my shotgun and wouldnt get off it! I call him Pierre III as it rhymes with partridge and I believe this is the 3rd partridge in the last 7 years to have this type of personality. I am not sure what the lifetime of a grouse is but I rather doubt they make it beyond 2-3 years. "During archery season when I harvested a nice buck he immediately started walking behind me as I followed the blood trail and then when other hunters came by to help, he paid them no heed and continued to walk around us as the buck was dressed. "On the positive side he gives me great photo opps and video, something that is uncommon for this little bombshell of a wild bird. I guess I am a luck guy but he does have an attitude and I need to be careful as his beak is powerful!" "I know I have heard of other partridges doing the same but I have never seen a good explanation why they do this. He is a male, the same as the others "Yesterday my brother and his wife were in the old Christmas trees cutting boughs and Pierre joined them and stayed with them for over an hour." I asked Money how he came up with the name. "We call him Pierre the Partridge III as we feel this is the 3rd partridge since 2005 that has shown these characteristics. "I don't believe grouse live for more than a couple of years (I could be wrong) and this guy has a similar but slightly different home territory from the others hence III. He could be II or possibly even I, but since they all look alike and they are wild birds fending off predators I think he is a III." Pierre... Submitted photo View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

In addition to the sturgeon, the USGS research team captured and released a 28 1/2 inch walleye ;weighing well over 10 pounds and a sizeable tiger muskie. Emily Waldt, a USGS technician, holds up a 64-pound sturgeon that was caught and released using a gill net on Cross Lake the day before Thanksgiving. USGS photo Dawn Dittman, a research ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey’s Cortland office, has reached a tentative conclusion about what local sturgeon in the state canal system do during the cold months. They spend their winters in Cross Lake, she said. Dittman and other USGS staff, who have been studying the migration of sturgeon throughout the canal system and elsewhere, were at the lake last week gill-netting fish. The biggest sturgeon captured weighed 78 pounds and was more than five feet long, she said. “During the spring and summer, we’ve found some at Mud Lock at the northern end of Cayuga Lake and some on Oneida River,” Dittman said. “Throughout the late summer and fall they move. My best guess, looking at the tagged fish we’ve caught, is that they’re wintering in Cross Lake.” Dittman said no one knew this would happen when the state Department of Environmental Conservation began reintroducing sturgeon into Oneida and Cayuga lakes in 1995. She said she’s gill-netted sturgeon at locations throughout the canal system. The biggest to date was an 80-pounder caught in August about a half-mile downstream from the Caughdenoy Dam. Sturgeon were once abundant in the state, but commercial fishing, dam building and habitat loss decimated populations. It is currently illegal for anglers to target and catch sturgeon. Ones that are hooked accidentally should be released as soon as possible. Cross Lake is on the border of Cayuga and Onondaga counties, between the villages of Jordan and Meridian. Last week, Dittman and several other workers, who have special permission from the DEC to do their research, launched boats at the Cross Lake Yacht Club and set up 10 monofilament gill nets, with 10-inch holes. The nets are designed to capture but not hurt the fish. “We set them up at various locations along the shoreline in 20 to 30 feet of water,” she said. Captured sturgeon were measured for length, weight and girth, which is an indicator of overall health. Sturgeon were tagged externally with a yellow tag, which contained a registration number and Dittman’s work phone number. Internal tags — small glass cylinders with copper coils stamped with serial numbers — were implanted using a needle. In addition to the sturgeon, the USGS research team captured and released a 28½-inch walleye “weighing well over 10 pounds” and a sizeable tiger muskie. “There are also lots of carp and quillbacks, which are big, flat silvery fish,” she said. Dittman said the tagging and gill netting process is an inexpensive “low-tech way” to track the fish’s movements. “I’d like to use radio tags,” she said. “That way, all you do is sit the boat with the proper equipment, hear the tags and follow the fish that way. I’m hoping to submit a grant proposal in January.” 718 mm Did not weigh, but over 11lb. Marc Chalupnicki USGS Technician 790 mm Marc Chalupnicki USGS Technician View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Yellow perch are being caught on Seneca Lake at the south end off the pier, near the salt plant and in the vicinity of Severne Point. CNY FISHING FORECAST All persons aboard a pleasure vessel (boat, canoe, kayak) less than 21 feet long must wear a personal flotation device from now until May 1. Bait stores (list and map). SALMON RIVER Both the lower and upper fly fishing sections are open. The river remains low. Regardless, steelhead fishing continues to be very good throughout the river. With the colder nights, the fish have been lethargic in the morning and then more aggressive as temperatures rise. Some nice brown trout are being caught as well. Good baits are egg-imitating flies and plastics, and streamers such as egg-sucking leeches and stonefly patterns in sizes 4-6 and trout beads. OSWEGO RIVER The river is low. There are still good numbers of steelhead in the river, along with a few rainbows and brown trout. Good baits have been egg sacs, beads and egg-imitating flies. The bridge to Leto Island is closed, and there are mandatory personal flotation device zones on the Oswego River below the Varick Dam. ONEIDA LAKE The docks have been removed from the South Shore launch. The walleye fishing from shore remains tough because of the abundance of gizzard shad and other baitfish. The perch fishing, though, continues to be good for anglers getting out in boats and using fathead minnows and sonar lures. The most successful are fishing near drop-offs, out by the islands, in depths ranging from 20 to 40 feet of water. CAYUGA LAKE With the low water there is little salmon or brown trout activity to report in the tributaries. Landlocked salmon are being caught on the lake, though, from the surface down to about 50 feet on spoons. Lake trout are hitting about 80 feet down, also on spoons. Some anglers continue to catch perch at the northern end, using fathead minnows. SENECA LAKE Yellow perch are being caught on the south end off the pier, near the salt plant, and in the vicinity of Severne Point. Northern pike fishing has been good on the south end. Try large minnows fished under a bobber. OWASCO LAKE No new fishing activity to report. OTISCO LAKE No new fishing activity to report. SKANEATELES LAKE Shore fishing for rainbows has picked up lately for those anglers using worm/marshmallow rigs. SODUS BAY Yellow perch are being caught out of boats in 15 t0 20 feet of water. Anglers are using jigs tipped with spikes and fathead minnows. ST. LAWRENCE RIVER Muskie anglers are out this time of year, hoping to hook a big one. Many are using Believer lures. Other anglers are over at Chaumont Bay catching yellow perch on fathead minnows. WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR Few, if any anglers have out on the reservoir this past week. No new fishing activity to report. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Previously an avid hunter, he had taken a long break from the sport and at the nagging of friends and family decided to try it again. Submitted photo Anthony "Tony" Bottar, of North Syracuse, shot this 16- point atypical buck on Sunday morning November 18th. It weighed 205 dressed and had an estimated score of 175. A state biologist aged the deer at 4 1/2 years. His buddy, I. Michael Vela wrote: "Tony, a previously avid hunter, had taken a long break from the sport and at the nagging of friends and family, decided to try it again. He was hunting with a friend in Conquest, NY on a early morning hunt. The friend placed him in his "magic" stand, gave him his favorite rifle hoping that he would score a nice one and be enthusiastically back in the sport. "Well, as it worked out he shot the deer at less than 30 yards in less than 20 minutes. Anthony shot his last deer 22 years ago. "He's back." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

If the issue of the filibuster and whether the Senate should have one comes up over the holiday, what are you going to say? I want you to be prepared, people! View the full article

The deadline for suggesting candidates for The Post-Standard's annual "Heroes of Conservation" awards is Dec. 7. For more, read this newsletter. A 64-pound sturgeon that was caught and released last week on Cross Lake. USGS photo Wow. Can't believe Thanksgiving is in the rearview mirror and Christmas will be here in a few weeks. Normally, this is a slow time of year for me. However, thanks to the readers of this newsletter and my PS Outdoors page on Facebook, I'm flush with ideas. In fact this week's main features came from suggestions emailed me by readers. I can't thank you folks enough. Keep 'em coming! Anyway, here's what's on tap for this week on the Outdoors pages of The Post-Standard: Friday: Main piece: U.S. Geological Survey researcher has concluded through her gill netting surveys that sturgeon in the NYS Canal system are wintering in Cross Lake. Who knew? (I was tipped off to this story last week by a reader of this newsletter, who happened to be at the lake when U.S.G.S. workers were pulling in their nets the day before Thanksgiving.) Column: An interesting story about a particularly friendly partridge (ruffed grouse)..plus, what ever became of that wild boar shot a few weeks back in downtown Utica by city police? Sunday: Main: Something really unique.. again a story that came from a reader. I went out this week with Ken Aubin, a licensed falconer, to hunt squirrels along Skaneateles Creek with his Harris's hawk. Real cool stuff. There's also a video to go with this story. Column: Considering several options.. still not decided yet.. Ken Aubin's wife, Melissa, gave me one of her leather gloves. Ken gave me a piece of meat to hold and Jade, his Harris's hawk, came down from a tree and landed on my wrist. Cool stuff. David Figura, The Post-Standard In coming weeks, I'd like to write about the following outdoors activities. If you know someone who does these activities, contact me ASAP: -- Anyone who has arrowed or shot a wild boar this hunting season. -- Someone who's willing to talk about the history and current situation concerning the floating duck blinds at the end of Cayuga Lake that are put out every year. - Anyone who would make a good candidate for The Post-Standard's Heroes of Conservation Award. Questions? See the previous story I wrote about this. ANYTHING ELSE READERS OF THIS REPORT WOULD LIKE TO SEE ME WRITE ABOUT? The effectiveness of this report is two-fold. First, it lets readers know what's coming up story-wise. It also allows readers a chance to affect coverage and provide sources for upcoming stories. Bottom line: Keep in touch and give input. You could make a difference as to what appears week to week on the outdoors page! Email me at [email protected] or call 470-6066. If you want to join The Post-Standard's Outdoors Group and get this emailed directly to you, subscribe here.. FIGURA ON FACEBOOK: For those who are on Facebook, I also have a PS Outdoors page, which I check several times daily for feedback and story ideas. I also post personal fishing and hunting and other outdoors-related photos from time to time and I ask members to do the same. When you join, please be sure and hit the "like" button. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"It was my first buck in 5 years, so it felt great to break the curse!" he said. Submitted photo Tom Kennedy poses with "a very unique" buck he shot opening day of the gun season in the Southern Tier. "It was my first buck in 5 years, so it felt great to break the curse!" he said. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He shot a 7-point buck while hunting with his dad. Submitted photo Ryan Martin, 14, turned 14 on opening day of the regular deer season in the Southern Tier. Four days later, he shot this 7-point buck hunting with his father while hunting in Memphis. He used his brother's Remington 870 12-gauge shotgun. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He shot it Thanksgiving morning. Submitted photo Michael Smolnick, principal at Cleveland Elementary School, downed this impressive, 10-point buck Thanksgiving Day. He wrote: "This 10-pointer gave me reason to give thanks last Thursday as he ran past my stand around 11:40 a.m. He was taken in Cicero and he was chasing two does when I spotted him. "Eagerly posing for picture with me are my three children (Mikayla- age three, Casimir- age two and Arianna-age seven). My excitement was only topped by that of my children." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

She shot it on her grandfather's farm while hunting with her dad. Kara and her 10-point buck. Submitted photo Kara Nipper, 19, of Phoenix, took this 10-point buck while hunting with her father in the town of Granby on opening day of the firearms season. Nipper is a student at Paul Smith's College. She wrote: . "My opening day this year will be one I won't ever forget. My Dad and I have been hunting together for a long time now. I was excited for opening day and made sure I was well rested for the morning. "We woke and put on layers of clothes before reaching the woods. My dad put me in my tree stand early in the morning. "He told me, "Alright, remember now, you can only shoot a buck.. I will be down in my stand and if I hear you shoot, I'll pull out my cell and wait for your call." I replied, "Sounds like a plan, good luck!" and he disappeared. "A short five minutes later I heard some leaves rustling behind me and slowly turned my head expecting to see a squirrel. I blinked a few times and thought, "Nope! That's a buck!" "I waited for him to put his head behind a tree and I quickly, but quietly put my scope on him. He was in some thick woods and it was difficult to see how big he really was, but i knew for sure this was a buck! "I watched and waited for a few minutes until he stepped into a clearing, broadside, about 40 yards from my tree stand. BOOM! I shot and watched him leap into the pines. "I listened close and heard a loud crash; he was down! I quick pulled out my phone and called my dad. "Hi Kara." "Dad! He's down! I got him! He's down!" "He laughed and said, "Alright, I'll come get you in about an hour, I haven't even made it to my stand yet!" I hung up and waited out the longest hour of my life, I had no idea how big this buck was and could not wait to find out. "About an hour later I heard him coming and crawled down from my tree stand. We went to where I shot him and looked for a blood trail, but there was nothing. "My Dad asked, "He was standing here when you shot?" I said, "Yes! I'm positive, he went this way and I heard a loud crash." We split in hopes of finding a blood trail when suddenly out of the corner of my eye I spotted something white. There he was, about ten yards from where I shot him. "I saw the rack and couldn't believe my eyes. I started whistling and signaling for my dad to come look. "It's a ten point!" I said. My dad hugged me and said, "That's a nice deer, Kara." I couldn't believe it. "Then I remembered our deal, it was my turn to gut it. So without wasting anymore time, my dad walked me through the gutting process and we got it on the deer cart to bring back to the farm. "I couldn't wait to show off my opening day buck! My friends at Paul Smith's College and family were very impressed and so happy for me. My dad loves telling the story and is very proud of his daughter. After all, I learned from the best." A proud dad and daughter. Submitted photo View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The tips are courtesy of the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation. The following is a press release from the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation: As winter nears in cold weather areas, the time has come to start storing your rods, reels, tackle boxes and boats for the season. RBFF’s Take Me Fishing™ campaign has some useful tips to help you keep your gear in prime condition this winter so that you can get off to a great start next fishing and boating season. Below are two top 10 lists of tips from boating and fishing experts at RBFF that will help make storing your gear easier this winter. Top 10 Tips for Storing your Fishing Equipment 1. Take your reels apart to clean, grease and oil. Replace any gears or springs that are worn. Also, clean and oil the reel handles and reel seat hardware. The lubrication of all moving parts is essential so they don’t freeze up with corrosion. 2. Check your rod for worn guides and loose winding wraps. Remove and replace any guides with nicks or grooves. If the wraps are loose or exposed, repair with a few wraps of winding thread and coat with rod spar varnish. 3. When you disassemble your rods, store them using rod sleeves to keep tip and butt sections from becoming mismatched. 4. Store your rods vertically to avoid a set or bend and make sure they are kept at room temperature. Storing them in a hot place can weaken the graphite or fiberglass. 5. If you use waders, check them for leaks. Most leaks are easy to find, but pinhole leaks are challenging at best. One way to find a pinhole leak is to go into a dark place, turn on a flashlight, and put the flashlight inside your waders. Light will pop out of the pinhole. Circle the hole with a pen and patch with a waterproof adhesive. Let dry, and hang waders in a cool, dry place. 6. Examine monofilament and braided lines for wear, replace where necessary and store in loose coils. When cleaning lines use dish detergent. 7. For fly lines, make sure to remove the line from your reel and store in loose coils. Fly lines have memory and by storing them in loose coils they are less likely to kink and tangle in the spring. 8. Replace or sharpen rusty or bent hooks. 9. Replace all broken lures, necessary tools (like pliers or hook hones) and terminal tackle. 10. Filet knives get dull with lots of use. Use a 65-120 grit stone to sharpen the edge for next season. Clean, dry and coat the blade with a light oil before storing for the winter. Top 10 Tips for Storing your Boat 1. Winterize your engine by running fogging oil through the cylinders. Change your spark plugs, water filter, and lower unit oil. 2. Trim outboards down so all water can drain. If you remove your outboard attach it to a saw horse in the upright position (rather than laying on its side). Tune up inboards by replacing all fluids and sparkplugs and fill with antifreeze. 3. Before filling your tank, be sure to add gas stabilizer to avoid unwanted moisture. 4. Remove your battery and store in a warm, dry place. Trickle charge in the spring. 5. Store your boat clean and ensure that the interior compartments of your boat are as dry as possible before putting its cover on for storage. If you don’t have a cover, consider shrink-wrapping your boat to keep debris from collecting and animals from nesting (or chewing wires, cables and hoses). 6. If you store your boat on a trailer be sure to jack up the wheels and place a cinder block under the axles to keep a flat spot from forming on your tires. As rubber breaks down with repeated soakings and exposure to the sun (particularly in saltwater), consider replacing your tires every four to five years regardless of tread wear. 7. Pack your trailer hubs and your steering cable with grease so hubs and cables don’t freeze up. 8. Inspect all trailer lighting harnesses, brake light harnesses, and directionals to be sure your lighting system is intact. 9. Inspect any trailer leaf springs and U-bolts and change if they are corroded. 10. Replenish your first-aid kit, update flares, replace flashlight, life jackets and handheld marine radios if necessary. Replace sun screen and bug repellant, as well as any other items you’ve used during the season. For more information, visit TakeMeFishing.org View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"He shot it just as the sun rose," his son said. Submitted photo Nick Masterpol, left, poses with a 9-point buck he shot in Onondaga County. Also in the photo, are Tristian (center) and Joe Masterpol. "He shot it just as the sun rose," his son said. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"It is the one that we call 'The Monster Buck of Otisco.' ...I can honestly say at age 11 that it was the best day of my life thus far," the daughter said. Father and daughter and "The Monster Buck of Otisco." Submitted photo The following story was submitted by Payton Beckwith, of Liverpool, about how she was along with her father, Geno, when he took a 10-point buck with a bow. Payton wrote: "My name is Payton Beckwith and I am 11. I am new to hunting and this is the story of my hunting experience with my dad, Geno Beckwith, 44. "On Saturday November 3, 2012 my father and I took a ten point buck by bow and arrow. We had been checking our deer camera's every few days that we had set up in the Town of Otisco. The cameras were taking pictures of mostly of does, however one night we noticed that it caught a shot of a buck that we named "Forky" along with another one that we named "The Monster Buck of Otisco." "My father and I go out almost every night to check the cameras and he always brings his bow and arrow along just in case we see one the bucks while we are out. "One special night my dad said “hey pepa we are going out to get one tonight” I always thought he was just saying that to keep my hopes up, but on this night when we went out to check the camera and maybe hunt, it was a perfect night because it was cold and snowing and my dad says that is when the deer like to move. So we made our way out to the spot and my dad and I sat down in the blind for about two whole minutes, then we made some deer grunts and sat for approximately five more minutes. "My dad was sitting on the right and me on the left, we were looking in the left direction when suddenly my dad whispered “Payton don’t say a word and don’t move” but obviously me being a girl hunter I had to look and there it was coming up the trail one of the bucks and it is the one that we call "The Monster Buck of Otisco." "The deer walked about three steps, licked his nose, looked right and my dad who was drawing back his bow, the bow released and it was over, the buck fell. At that point the night changed it was not like any other night, this was a special night. "I was full of emotions. My dad told me it was just buck fever and it would pass, it was all a part of hunting. After a few minutes went by, my dad and I check and noticed that we had ourselves a 10- point monster buck and I was okay and well I was also pretty amazed. "I think my hunting experience was great because that was my first buck and it was the best buck ever. I think that the hunting tradition should continue because it is a fun sport to do and learn with the people you love. "Thank you for allowing me to tell of my hunting experience with my dad. I can honestly say at age 11 that it was the best day of my life thus far, although I know there will be many more to come, I know that this one I will remember for years to come." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

<p> Grants are available to eligible private landowners to help promote bird habitats. The deadline for submitting a pre-application is January 15, 2013. </p> <p><strong>The following is a DEC press release:</strong></p> <p>Private landowners interested in enhancing and restoring critical grassland habitat could be eligible for grants totaling approximately $1 million, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens announced today.</p> <p>With grasslands declining in New York and nationwide, DEC’s Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) for Grassland Protection and Management directs funding to projects on private property that will help at-risk species that depend on unique grassland ecosystems to survive.</p> <p>“Through the Landowner Incentive Program, private landowners have been directly involved in conserving grasslands for a variety of species since 2008,” Commissioner Martens said. “Governor Cuomo recognizes the value of this program for vital habitat protection. This latest round of grants will significantly increase the acreage of conservation grasslands and provide even greater benefits for New York’s grassland species.” </p> <p>Grasslands provide important habitat for a variety of wildlife and are especially significant for birds. In New York, the endangered short-eared owl, the threatened Henslow’s sparro, and the threatened upland sandpiper need grasslands to avoid further declines in their populations.</p> <p>Grassland acreage in the state has decreased drastically over the last three decades primarily due to a reduction in pasture and hayfields, reversion of abandoned farmland to forests, and development of farmland. Between 1965 and 2006, pastures and hayfields in New York decreased by approximately 33 percent in area, and, during that time, grassland bird populations decreased at a fairly steady average rate of 6.5 percent per year.</p> <p>To help address the loss of grasslands and associated at-risk species, the LIP was created as a partnership between DEC and private landowners since the vast majority of grasslands are privately owned. Under LIP, enrolled landowners that engage in stewardship activities that are beneficial for breeding grassland birds are compensated for their efforts.</p> <p>The program is funded by a grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through State Wildlife Grants. This grant program was created and is funded by Congress to help rare and declining species before they require listing under the Federal Endangered Species Act.</p> <p>Michael F. Burger, Ph.D., Director of Conservation and Science for Audubon New York said, “Most of the grasslands in New York are on private lands, and the future of our grassland birds depends on the stewardship of those lands. DEC’s Landowner Incentive Program is critical to provide the education, technical assistance and incentives that will help private landowners support those birds. We look forward to helping DEC make this program a success.”</p> <p>Eligible private landowners interested in offsetting the decline in grassland bird habitat and populations will be able to apply for technical advice and financial incentives of $110 or $113 per acre per year to conduct the prescribed site management. The higher rate will be applied for parcels of land located within 25 miles of large urban areas, reflecting higher soil rental rates near population centers.</p> <p>To be eligible to apply, an applicant must own at least 25 acres of contiguous grassland located within one of the grassland focus areas across the state. They include portions of the following counties: Allegany, Cayuga, Chemung, Clinton, Cortland, Erie, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Genesee, Herkimer, Jefferson, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orleans, Otsego, Saratoga, Schoharie, Schuyler, Seneca, St. Lawrence, Steuben, Suffolk, Tompkins, Ulster, Washington, Warren, Wayne, Wyoming and Yates. </p> <p>To learn more about the program and obtain an application form, visit the Landowner Incentive Program page <a href="http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/32722.html">on the DEC’s website</a>. For questions or comments regarding the program, send an email to <a href="mailto:F&[email protected]">F&[email protected] </a> or call (518) 402-8943.</p> <p>The deadline for submitting a pre-application is January 15, 2013. </p> View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog