HuntingNY-News

<p> Send them to [email protected] </p> <p>Have a venison recipe to die for — and one that you wouldn’t mind sharing?</p> <p>Send it to me and I’ll share it with readers of this outdoors blog in the coming weeks.</p> <p>Send your recipes to <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>. <br /></p> View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

;"I will be back," he said. "Just being there was an accomplishment." Dick Blume/The Post-StandardSteven Pickard wets his line on the Oneida River Friday. Steven Pickard said sometimes when you compete in a bass tournament you can do little wrong and the fishing comes easy. Other times, he noted, your best laid plans go awry and you can do little right. He experienced the latter when he fished in the 2012 Cabela’s Bassmaster Federation Nation Championship on Alabama’s Wheeler Lake on Oct. 25-27. He was this state’s lone representative in a competition that featured the top anglers in the 20,000-member federation. Anglers came from across the country, as well as Japan, Zimbabwe and Mexico. “Being in this tournament was the best, the furthest I’ve gone in my 15 years of competitive fishing,” said the 40-year-old Volney resident, who is a member of the Port City Bassmasters in Oswego. “I was literally one tournament away from qualifying for the Bassmaster Classic (with its $500,000 first prize).” He finished 50th out of 56 anglers. Pickard qualified for the nationals partially because of his finishes this year in the three-tournament N.Y. Bass Chapter Federation fishing trail, which had competitions on the St. Lawrence River, Cayuga Lake and Oneida Lake. He won the St. Lawrence event. But the biggest factor was his seventh-place finish in September in the Cabela’s Bassmaster Federation Nation Eastern Divisional tournament on the Mystic and Charles rivers in Medford, Mass. “I was the top individual from this state in that one. That’s what got me to the nationals,” he said. The national tournament, he said, was an eye-opener. He got his hotel room and many of his meals for free. Representatives from boat and tackle companies handed out loads of free stuff. Each day, he got free gas for his boat. Beforehand, Pickard took time off from his job as a project manager for a Liverpool engineering company to visit Wheeler Lake, which is actually a 70-mile stretch of the Tennessee River — a man-made waterway created by two dams. He talked to a couple of fishing buddies who had fished a tournament there recently and they pointed out several good spots. In practice, the day before the competition started, he came across a stretch with lily pads that was loaded with big fish. That first day, though, he came down with food poisoning. The second day, it turned into the flu. What about those spots, the back-pocket areas and ponds off the river his buddies told him to fish? “Well the lake level had gone down so much I couldn’t get my boat back to them,” he said. What about that prime stretch of lily pads? “It just turned off. I fished it for two straight days, hoping it would turn around. I had 13 rods in the boat and threw everything at them. I wasted too much time.” Making matters worse, he said, after two days of 80-degree weather, a cold front came in on the final day and dropped the temperatures into the low 50s and put the brakes on the bass bite. The eventual winner was Mark Dove, of Indiana, who won a boat/motor/trailer rig valued at $53,465, as well as entry into the Bassmaster Classic and eligibility to compete in the 2013 Bassmaster Elite Series. Pickard remains undaunted. “I will be back,” he said. “Just being there was an accomplishment.” View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"The moose decided to give my dad the show of his lifetime. It walked around the treestand and rubbed its antlers on the ladder." By Mike O’Connell “My father, Ed O’Connell, of Rome, is 86. He has hunted for more than 70 years and has seen most of the wildlife that New York state has to offer. “On Oct. 22, my dad and I were hunting at our camp in Highmarket, located in Lewis County. About 8 a.m., dad heard some noise in the distance approaching his treestand. Naturally, he assumed his position in anticipation of seeing a buck coming his way. “To his surprise, he saw a bull moose with antlers that were an estimated 30 inches wide. The moose decided to give my dad the show of his lifetime. It walked around the treestand and rubbed its antlers on the ladder. “He lingered under my dad for close to 10 minutes before he disappeared into the woods. My dad called me on the walkie-talkie and asked me to guess what he just seen below him. “I knew it was not a deer because I did not hear a shot. My second guess was a bear. My dad then told me about his encounter with the moose. “As my dad climbed down his treestand and made his way to his ATV, a thought crossed my mind. I hope these are not the only antlers my dad sees this hunting season. “But what a wonderful adventure. I just wish he had brought his camera that day. " Mike O’Connell lives in Marcellus. Have a hunting tale that’s unique, instructive or just funny? Send your story to [email protected]. Keep your stories to 300 words or less. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

These birds, with wingspans up to 7 feet, were once nearly extinct. Dick Blume/The Post-StandardTrumpeter swans at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge Trumpeter swans, the largest waterfowl in North America, have made a remarkable comeback from near extinction in recent years — and some have taken up residence on or near the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. “On the refuge this year, we had three pairs that successfully had young,” said Linda Ziemba, a wildlife biologist at the refuge. In the 1800s, the birds were heavily hunted across the country for their meat and their feathers. Their largest flight feathers made the best quill pens, according to Kevin McGowen, an ornithologist at the Cornell Lab. Their population reached a low point in the early 1930s when biologists discovered there were only 69 known trumpeters in Yellowstone National Park. Fortunately, a group of the birds, numbering a couple of thousand, were discovered in Alaska. Hunting was stopped, and their population has been coming back, particularly in recent years. A trumpeter swan can easily be distinguished from the non-native, invasive mute swan by their dark-colored bills. Mute swans have almost entirely orange bills, with black knobs on adult birds. Adult trumpeter swans have wingspans of 7 feet. The male birds average 28 pounds; the females, 22 pounds. Their eggs are five inches long. Beginning in 1968, the Trumpeter Swan Society, a non-profit group, successfully pushed for trumpeter swans to be reintroduced in various states across the country. There was also a project to bring back the birds in Ontario, Canada. New York did not get on that bandwagon. However, the first nesting pair was spotted in this state in the late 1980s at the Perch River Wildlife Management Area near Watertown. Shortly after, another nesting pair was noted on private land within the Montezuma Wetlands Complex. There are two theories on why there are trumpeter swans in this state — and specifically in this area. One is that the birds migrated from Canada and decided to stay. Another is that they came from Savannah Dhu, the 5,000-acre nature preserve owned by mall mogul Bob Congel in Wayne County. The adult birds Congel originally brought in there had their wings clipped, but the young didn’t and escaped, McGowen said. The DEC’s last survey of trumpeter swans was done in 2010, when 10 breeding pairs, seven with young, were documented. This was the highest known count to date. Last year, DEC staff put green wing tags on a trumpeter swan family group (two adults and five young) on state land north of the Montezuma refuge, and on several birds at the Perch River Wildlife Management Area to learn more about their movements. If you see one, send an email to [email protected]. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Deer hunting is allowed only from sunrise to sunset. Persons who see or hear of illegal, night-time activities should immediately call 911 or the DEC’s 24-hour tip hotline at 800-847-7332. Last week, Ed Doody, of Otisco, called me with a disturbing tale of deer poaching. Doody said he heard a gunshot on a recent weekend night. The next day, there was a dead deer in his field. “One of our neighbors first spotted it and thought it was a roadkill,” Doody said. But upon checking the deer, they discovered its head had been sawed off and it had a bullet or slug hole in its rib cage. “It was disgusting,” Doody said. Doody said he called the DEC and that an officer came out to investigate. Since then, he and his neighbors are on high alert. Deer hunting is allowed only from sunrise to sunset. Persons who see or hear of illegal, night-time activities should immediately call 911 or the DEC’s 24-hour tip hotline at 800-847-7332. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The first modern wolf-hunting season in Minnesota and Wisconsin is raising concerns among those who are trying to protect the animals. View the full article

All persons aboard a pleasure vessel less than 21 feet, regardless of age, must wear a personal flotation device (PFD) from Nov. 1 to May 1. Also, be aware that many of the dock structures at the DEC boat launches have been removed, or will be shortly. CNY FISHING FORECAST All persons aboard a pleasure vessel less than 21 feet, regardless of age, must wear a personal flotation device (PFD) from Nov. 1 to May 1. Also, be aware that many of the dock structures at the DEC boat launches have been removed, or will be shortly. Bait stores (list and map). SALMON RIVER Both the lower and upper fly fishing sections are now open. There are still some salmon spawning in the mid-to-upper river in the riffle areas. Chinook and coho salmon die after spawning, so there are fewer of them each day in the river. Good baits are egg imitating flies and plastics, and streamers such as egg-sucking leeches. Steelhead fishing has picked up in the lower river as these fish enter to feed on the abundant salmon eggs. Good baits are egg sacs and egg imitating flies and plastics. OSWEGO RIVER There are still salmon in the river, along with brown trout and steelhead. 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 (PFD) zones on the Oswego River below the Varick Dam. ONEIDA LAKE Yellow perch fishing has been good in 10 to 15 feet of water with worms and fathead minnows working. A few walleye are being taken by shore anglers casting stickbaits (minnow imitating plugs like Rapalas or Storm Thunderstiks) at night. Overall though, the fall walleye fishing continues to be slow and anglers have really had to work to get a few fish. Generally during the fall walleye move into the shallows just before and after dark, to feed on the gizzard shad. Casting stickbaits in black and silver or blue and silver usually works well for these fish. CAYUGA LAKE With the low water there is no salmon or brown trout activity to report in the tributaries. With more rain in the forecast that could change quickly though. SENECA LAKE Yellow perch are being caught on the south end off the pier and by the salt plant. Smallmouth bass and a few northern pike are also being caught off the pier. OWASCO LAKE Panfishing has been good around the lake with worms, fathead minnows and if you can find them, spikes working well. Vertical jigging with plastics in 75 to 110 feet of water on the north end is still producing lake trout. OTISCO LAKE No new fishing information. The current lake level has made launching larger boats tricky for some anglers. SKANEATELES LAKE A few yellow perch, bass and rainbow trout are being caught, but overall the fishing was slow on the lake over the last week. SODUS BAY Yellow perch are being caught in deep water, 25 to 30 feet on small minnows. The low water is making launching boats difficult for some. ST. LAWRENCE RIVER Water is low. Anglers were out fishing for muskie this week, but no reports of any noteworthy catches yet. Some anglers are catching some nice perch over at Chaumont Bay. WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR The crappie bite is still on. Try using fathead minnows and jigs. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

In several units, the target number of DMPs was not issued during the initial application period. In these wildlife management units, DEC will re-open the application process on a first-come, first-served basis. Mike Greenlar/The Post-Standard Remaining Deer Management Permits (DMPs) will be available in several Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) beginning today (Nov. 1), the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced. DMPs, which allow hunters to harvest antlerless deer, are issued for specific WMUs to help control deer populations. In several units, the target number of DMPs was not issued during the initial application period. In these WMUs, DEC will re-open the DMP application process on a first-come, first-served basis. Hunters may apply for leftover DMPs at any sporting license sales outlet beginning Nov. 1, 2012. Leftover DMPs will not be available by phone, by mail or via the internet. Applicants who previously paid the $10 DMP application fee or are exempt from the application fee will not be charged for this additional application. Applications for remaining DMPs will be accepted for the following WMUs: 1C, 3M, 3R, 3S (bowhunting-only), 7F, 7H, 8A, 8F, 8G, 8H, 8J, 8N, 9A, and 9F. For WMU locations, check the 2012-13 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide or go to the DEC website. During this extended application period DEC will issue DMPs for an individual WMU all day. The status of issued permits will be reviewed each night, and as the target number of permits are issued for an individual WMU, they will be removed from the list of those available effective the following day, with no further applications accepted for those units. A list of units with available leftover DMPs will be routinely updated on the DEC website. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Have an interesting, lesson-learning or downright funny hunting tale? Send it to David Figura at [email protected]. Keep it to 300 words. Photos would help. Dick Blume/The Post-StandardTrumpeter swans at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge Here's what's up for this week's Outdoors pages in The Post-Standard. FRIDAY: Main piece: They once were hunted to near extinction in this country but they're coming back. I'm talking about trumpeter swans. Several are currently nesting at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge.. and the reason for them being there might surprise you. Column: The DEC and Project Healing Waters is teaming up to take a group of soldiers fishing on the Salmon River this weekend. Also, a disturbing report of a local poacher who shot and sawed the head off a deer -- leaving the rest of the animal to rot. SUNDAY: Main piece: An interview with Steven Pickard, of Volney, on his recent experience fishiing at the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation National Championship that was held on Wheeler Lake in Alabama. Column: A funny hunting tale from a reader, plus a wrapup of my recent New York OUtdoors Writers Fall Conference, where I fished the Niagara River for bass, lake trout and steelhead. It's an interesting, very productive, but different kind of fishery. 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 a wild boar this hunting season. -- Someone who still has a license to fish commercially for perch in Lake Ontario with gill nets. -- 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. - Someone who hunts rabbits and squirrels with the aid of falcons or hawks. (Actually, if you hunt squirrels or rabbits with a firearm I'd like to hear from you.) - 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

He shot the 8 pointer in the town of Palermo. Submitted photo James N. Delamater got this 8- point, 190-pound (dressed) buck with his bow. It was his was his first buck with a bow and arrow. He took the shot in town of Palermo in Oswego County on Oct. 28 at around 5 p.m. Editor's note: There's something really neat this pic. The lighted window in the background gives it a sort of Halloweenish look. Meanwhile, congrats on your first bow buck! View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The winners brought in six fish weighing an eye-opening, 24.99 pounds. Submitted photo Wow, talk about nice-looking smallmouth bass. Mike Cusano, right, of Clay and Burnie Haney, of Calcium, teamed up to win the annual Salt City Bassmasters Oneida Lake Team Tournament held Oct. 27. They won the event with a six-fish limit of 24.99 pounds, anchored by Cusano’s 4.94 lb. tournament lunker smallie. (Haney’s holding that fish in the picture) View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

<p> "All the smallmouth we caught that day were all quality fish with at least 10 of them over 4 pounds," he said. </p> <div id="asset-11781673" class="entry_widget_large entry_widget_right"><span class="adv-photo-large"><img height="508" width="380" src="http://media.syracuse.com/outdoors/photo/11781673-large.jpg" class="adv-photo" alt="5poundsmallie2.JPG" /><span class="photo-data"><span class="byline">Submitted photo</span><span class="caption"></span></span><span class="photo-bottom-left"><!-- IE6 HACK --></span><span class="photo-bottom-right"><!-- IE6 HACK --></span></span></div> <p>Scott Manning, of Syracuse, holds up a nice smallmouth bass he caught recently while fishing with his sister, Nicole Nolan, on the Seneca River. He said it weighed about 5 pounds.</p> <p>Manning wrote: "I caught it on a 3/8 ounce, Kastmaster. All the smallmouth we caught that day were all quality fish with at least 10 of them over 4 pounds," he said.<br /></p> View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

<p> The photos taken of the bird in water are eye-opening. </p> <div id="asset-11781537" class="entry_widget_large entry_widget_right"><span class="adv-photo-large"><img height="401" width="380" src="http://media.syracuse.com/outdoors/photo/11781537-large.jpg" class="adv-photo" alt="owl1_2.JPG" /><span class="photo-data"><span class="byline">Genie Morse Dibble</span><span class="caption"></span></span><span class="photo-bottom-left"><!-- IE6 HACK --></span><span class="photo-bottom-right"><!-- IE6 HACK --></span></span></div> <p>Wildlife photographer Genie Morse Dibble snapped this eye-opening photos recently of a barred owl over at Green Lake State Park, which she frequently takes walks with her camera around her neck.</p> <p>What's interesting is that in addition to the shot of the bird in the tree, she also snapped a few of it on the ground in the water. I've never seen that before.</p> <p>Thanks for sharing, Genie!</p> <div id="asset-11781541" class="entry_widget_large entry_widget_right"><span class="adv-photo-large"><img height="324" width="380" src="http://media.syracuse.com/outdoors/photo/11781541-large.jpg" class="adv-photo" alt="owl2.JPG" /><span class="photo-data"><span class="byline">Genie Morse Dibble</span><span class="caption"></span></span><span class="photo-bottom-left"><!-- IE6 HACK --></span><span class="photo-bottom-right"><!-- IE6 HACK --></span></span></div> <div id="asset-11781542" class="entry_widget_large entry_widget_right"><span class="adv-photo-large"><img height="211" width="380" src="http://media.syracuse.com/outdoors/photo/11781542-large.jpg" class="adv-photo" alt="owl3_2.JPG" /><span class="photo-data"><span class="byline">Genie Morse Dibble</span><span class="caption"></span></span><span class="photo-bottom-left"><!-- IE6 HACK --></span><span class="photo-bottom-right"><!-- IE6 HACK --></span></span></div> View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"I thought he was just an 8 point. Boy was I in shock when I walked up to him." Submitted photo Bowhunter Dan Wilcox sent me these pictures and the following story: He wrote: "I arrowed this 18 point on Oct. 20th. He only green scores 141 7/8 but with triple brow tines and a bunch of character he is a buck of a lifetime. "It was one of the most memorable hunts I have ever had, I had deer all over me. "I am from Hastings. The deer was taken in Tompkins county near Groton. It was about 5:15 pm and I saw this deer with a smaller, but nice 8 point. I have a video camera on my bow so I began to video tape the deer when the big one much to my amaze made a left hand turn and started toward me. "Thats when "buck fever" set in. I drew my bow and took a deep breath when he walked into a lane I had cut at 16 yards. I delivered a Montec broadhead into his lungs and he fell within eye distance about 30 yards away. "I then began celebrating in my stand and calling people I thought he was just an 8 point, boy was I in shock when I walked up on him. "Even better I had forgot that I had it all on video right down to the celebration in my stand. "What a hunt of a life time." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Targets and equipment are supplied by the club for a small range fee. The firearms season in the Southern Zone for deer is right around the corner (Nov. 17). It's time (if you haven't already) to sight in your gun. The Camillus Sportsmen's Club is offering sight-in sessions from 9:30 to 4 p.m. Nov. 10 and 11 at the club, located at 5801 Devoe Road, Camillus. Targets and equipment are supplied by the club for a small range fee. For more, call the club at 672-8331 or Dick Masterpole at 963-8974. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The shooting of it was the easy part. Then came the exercise of getting it back to base camp. Submitted photo Ron Merrill, of Elbridge, poses with his 6 x 6 bull elk he shot Oct. 22 in Kremmlin Colo. It was scored to be a 350-class bull and weighed about 800 pounds. At an elevation of 9,800 feet above sea level, the easy part was shooting the animal -- then came the exercise of getting it to base camp. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Similar incidents of fish with black blotches have been reported on the Pennsylvania section of the Susquehanna River. Officials there have said the condition appears to be a pigmentation thing and that otherwise the fish are healthy. Submitted photo Nick Giamei, of Homer, caught and released this interesting-looking, 18-inch largemouth bass with a "camouflage" coloring on Onondaga Lake late last week. "It looked really healthy," Giamei said, adding he caught it on a jig and pig lure. "It definitely had some unique markings. I caught a couple of others that day with tags, but no others had markings." He said he's caught bass before that have had black spots or their tails, or on the lip -- "but nothing like guy." He said he caught the fish on the west side, directly across from the county boat launch in Liverpool. I shared the photo with local DEC staff this morning and I'm awaiting their response. Meanwhile, I googled "black spots and bass" and found a story about bass with black blotches on a section of the Pennsylvania part of the Susquehanna River. According to the story, published in The Patriot-News, the condition is commonly known as ‘blotchy bass’ or ‘black spot’ and has been documented occasionally in various Pennsylvania waters since as early as 1980. While some have speculated the reason by the condition, Pennsylvania fish and wildlife officials say the condition has not been linked to specific pollution events, nor is there any evidence to suggest that blotchy bass condition is related to any disease issues. The bottom line: the spots are limited to skin discoloration and the fish are safe to consume under the state’s general fish consumption guidelines, the story reported. Read the full story. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The fall’s warm weather and relative lack of rain will result in reduced numbers of birds to hunt during the early part of the season. Friday was uncomfortable for many of the waterfowl on Tschache Pool at the Montezuma National Wildlife Center. A peregrine falcon, several red-tailed hawks and a couple of bald eagles were hovered above in the warm, sunny skies, trying to grab an easy lunch from the thousands of ducks and geese on the water. Saturday, the stress level for the waterfowl in the 1,100-acre, marsh went up considerably. It was opening day of the duck hunting season in the Western Zone. Tschache Pond is the only area in the refuge where waterfowl hunters are allowed. Reservations are required and hunting is allowed on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays only. “We allow 20 groups each day. A group is two people. We’re full for opening day,” said Scott Stipetich, a fish and wildlife biologist at the refuge. The Western Zone is west of a continuous line extending from Lake Ontario east along the northern shore of the Salmon River to Route 81, and then south to the New York-Pennsylvania border. East of Route 81, Central New York is broken up into the Northeastern and Southeastern Zones. The duck hunting seasons in those areas began Oct. 6 and Oct. 13, respectively. U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials each year set up the framework and bag limits for the duck hunting season. The state Waterfowl Task Force, a group consisting of state Department of Environmental Conservation staff, along with representatives from the private hunting sector, then refines that framework for each zone in the state, setting the seasons. The main idea is to get hunters out during the peak migrations through each area. Sarah Fleming, a regional biologist for Ducks Unlimited, said data collected from breeding populations up north indicates that large numbers of birds will once again be migrating through this area. The daily bag limit for ducks remains at six birds. “There’s species limitations, though,” she said. For example, hunters can only take four mallards (two must be hens), three wood ducks and one black duck a day The one change this year, she said, is that four scaups can be taken. Last year the limit was two. Fleming said the fall’s warm weather and relative lack of rain will result in reduced numbers of birds to hunt during the early part of the season. “Right now, we have mostly resident ducks in our area,” she said. “We haven’t had the cold temperatures up north to push a big wave of ducks down here.” Secondly, the drought- like conditions have dried up or lowered many local waterways. “Hunters will have to do a lot of scouting,” she said. Some may find their favorite hunting spots gone, or may have to wade into areas where previously they could get into with a canoe or small boat. Fleming said this coming week’s expected arrival in the northeast of Hurricane Sandy, coupled with an anticipated cold front, might be the ticket to get the Canadian birds moving. “Afterward, you might see some more birds in this area,” she said. Know the law: A small game hunting license is required to hunt duck. Other requirements include possession of a duck stamp (which can be bought for $15 at a post office) and registration with the state’s Harvest Information Program (HIP). For more, including the map showing the duck-hunting zones, see the DEC website, and type in “hunting.” View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

They work from a truck and they don't carry a firearm. The goal is to count. Staff at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge are “spot-lighting” deer. For the second straight year, wildlife biologists Scott Stipetich and Linda Ziemba are going out at night with a “three million candlewatt” flashlight. They work from a truck and they don't carry a firearm. The goal is to count. "Our objective is to try and figure out how many deer are in each group, the distance they are from our driving roads, measure that distance and apply some statistics to that,” Stipetich said. “The result is not an actual population size, it’s an index (an estimate) of how many deer are here.” The 9,000-acre refuge contains about 7,000 acres of marshy land, he said. Looking out into the refuge’s main pool, for example, Stipetich said he knows there’s deer out there, but because of obvious logistics it’d be hard to accurately count them. Stipetich said he and Ziemba have gone out twice already and will continue until the opening of the firearms hunting season, Nov. 17. Last year’s estimate, he said, was around 20 deer per square mile. Is that too many? “There’s no number that tells you how many deer should be per square mile. It all depends on what the habitat can support," he said. Stipetich added that the spot-lighting survey is being conducted along with a “deer browse” survey on vegetation at the refuge. “We’re seeing that a lot of the vegetation is getting hammered pretty hard,” he said. “We’re just trying to get a baseline of information to figure out if we should be taking more deer off the land, or not." Deer hunting is permitted on most of the refuge's land. The archery season begins this Thursday and the firearms season coincides with the Southern Zone's schedule (Nov. 17). A maximum of 300 bowhunters are allowed on the refuge each day, and no more than 150 hunters during the firearms season. There's no fee. Hunters must get a "self-service permit" each day from the refuge's check station on Route 89. For more information, call 568-5987. The biggest deer seen so far? "We saw it just last night. It was a 10-pointer -- a giant," he said. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Does the American Museum of Natural History display any big game that Theodore Roosevelt shot? View the full article

Those who submit the top three stories will get to choose from the more than two dozen outdoors-related books on my desk. Keep your story to 300 words. Pictures would help. Have an eye-opening, lesson-learning or just plain funny hunting tale you'd like to share? It doesn't have to be only about deer hunting. I'd like to hear stories about squirrel, pheasant, duck, ruffed grouse and goose hunting. Send your tale to me by Nov. 7. Those who submit the top three stories will get to choose from the more than two dozen outdoors-related books on my desk. Keep your story to 300 words. Pictures would help. Send your stories to [email protected]. Questions? Call 470-6066. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The low waters in some areas may make it impossible to float a boat, and will require wading to access the more remote locations. The increased vegetation may also make it a bit more difficult to find any downed birds. The following is a DEC press release: Western New York waterfowl hunting season opening Saturday, October 27, will likely be affected by the widespread reduced precipitation from last summer’s hot and dry weather, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today. These conditions caused water levels to drop substantially in many wetlands and dried up other wetland areas. Recent rains have improved conditions; however water levels remain lower than normal. It is important for waterfowl hunters to scout potential hunting sites when making plans. DEC Region 8 contains the state’s premiere waterfowl hunting areas in the form of the managed marshes at Iroquois and Montezuma National Wildlife Refuges and Northern Montezuma, Oak Orchard and Tonawanda Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). The dry wetland conditions are particularly pronounced at the Iroquois WMA. In addition to some intentional drawdowns of impoundments to stimulate the growth of seed-producing annual plants preferred by waterfowl, the drought caused some additional units to go dry and the remainder to drop well below normal levels. The lack of rain also meant that there was no moving water to reflood the intentionally drained units. Several units are still mostly dry and all are below normal; many are one foot lower than usual. The number of permits issued was reduced by 20 percent for opening weekend at Tonawanda WMA due to lack of water in some impoundments. The situation is less severe at Northern Montezuma WMA, where some wetland units dropped water levels significantly, but none went completely dry. Water levels in the Seneca River, Barge Canal and Crusoe Creek are lower than normal, but will support waterfowl and public access. Half of the managed marshes contain water levels suitable for hunting waterfowl, and in all sites, the production of seed-bearing annual plants is exceptional. This year, for the first time in many years, the main impoundment at Conesus Inlet WMA was drained to regenerate the marsh vegetation. A normal year of precipitation would have made it difficult to keep the unit drained as there is a decent sized stream that flows through the marsh. The dry weather this year stopped that flow and allowed a complete drawdown. The unit is now reflooded to about half the normal depth where it will be held it until next year to allow the vegetation to fully rebound. Overall, the waters in the marshes are more than enough to hold ducks and the extra vegetation and seeds produced due to the low waters will attract and hold birds. The biggest impact will be to hunters who usually access the marshes in boats. The low waters may make it impossible to float a boat, and will require wading to access the more remote locations. The increased vegetation may also make it a bit more difficult to find any downed birds. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The program is organized each year by the Venison Donation Coalition. Donating venison All the hunters I know eat the venison of the deer they kill during the fall bow hunting and firearms season, or give it to appreciative friends or family members. Some hunters, however, donate it to local food processors that cooperate with the Venison Donation Coalition. The venison is then donated to local food pantries. The following is a list of local food processors participating in the program: Onondaga County:Marsh Mill Ranch, Kirkville, 633-2888; G & B Meats, East Syracuse, 656-7066 Oswego County:Brenda’s Motel & Campground, Altmar, 298-2268 Cayuga County:Genoa Meats, Genoa, 497-9960; Phillips Processing, Cato, 626-3716; Jon’s Custom Meats, Moravia, 497-0849; Kevin’s Custom Butchering & Meat Cutting, Port Byron, 776-8397 Madison County:Ridgeville Farm, Canastota, 697-9647 Cortland County:Dave’s Archery and Sports Center, Homer, (607) 749-5714; Doug’s Custom Meats, Homer, (607) 749-2978 For more, see the Venison Donation Coalition website. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

“There’s no guarantees,” said one angler. “That’s what keeps you coming back.” Mike Greenlar/The Post-Standard Walleye anglers fishing from shore on Oneida Lake in recent weeks have been seeing it. It explains why they haven’t been catching as many fish as in past years. “Sometimes when you’re out there, you can see the walleyes — (surfacing) or their eyes in the water,” said Mike Sattler, of Cazenovia, who has a cottage on the lake in Bridgeport and fishes off his dock. The rub is that there’s also an unusually large number of gizzard shad, their favorite food, all around. “Your lure is just one of tens of thousands of baitfish in front of them,” he said. Randy Jackson, senior research assistant at the Cornell Biological Field Station in Bridgeport, confirmed what Sattler and others are reporting. “There are a lot of shad out there,” he said. Jackson explained that baitfish schooling around the shoreline in shallow water is the reason that fall fishing for walleye on Oneida is so productive year after year. The prime time to fish is at dusk and an hour or two into darkness, or just before daybreak. It’s the “crepuscular” part of the day. As a result of the changing light, the baitfish become temporarily disoriented, making them easy prey. Some anglers fish right from shore, others don waders and get in the water. Others fish from boats. Many keep fishing right until ice begins to form on the lake. Anglers cast floating lures called stickbaits, which are similar in size and color to gizzard shad, which are almost all about 1½ to 2 inches in size. The lures are reeled in slowly, with occasional small jerks thrown in. The action simulates a hurting fish and attracts the walleye. Al Daher, co-owner of Mickey’s Bait and Tackle in North Syracuse, sees a lot of customers this time of year. “The bite is on. They’re catching them. But it’s hard to compete with that kind of forage,” he said. He and his brother, James, went out Wednesday night with this reporter. We got skunked. Don Berti, of Cicero, has been a student of the fall walleye bite on Oneida. For the past 10 years he’s kept a log of his outings, listing his catches, the locations and the conditions. He said he limited out (three fish, 15 inches or longer) his first time fishing on Oct. 15, and “hasn’t sniffed” a walleye in three subsequent outings. “There’s no guarantees,” he said. “That’s what keeps you coming back.” View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

It appears the peak of the spawn occurred earlier than usual. Despite low water levels, the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s fish hatchery on the Salmon River in Altmar appears on track to meet its goals for its annual salmon egg collection. Last fall, the Altmar hatchery’s annual chinook and coho egg take goals were met, but subsequent problems possibly involving thiamine deficiencies in the eggs and fry resulted in lost of nearly 95 percent of the coho eggs. The state-run facility raises salmon fry from the eggs it collects and stocks them in Lake Ontario and a number of its tributaries. Staff at the hatchery began collecting eggs Oct. 9. The goal for chinook salmon is 3.5 million eggs, which is 200,000 higher than the hatchery’s typical target. The goal for coho eggs is 1.6 million. As of Tuesday, the hatchery had collected 3.3 million chinook eggs and 1.7 million coho eggs. The process is taking a little longer than usual because the number of chinooks, particularly the females, making it up to the hatchery is lower than usual. It’s possible that the lower river has caused some fish to spawn in the river or Beaverdam Brook, rather than continuing to the hatchery. It appears the peak of the spawn occurred earlier than usual. However, officials said, the start of the egg collection process is based on the water temperature dropping to a specific level. “From experience, we know that taking eggs when the water is warmer results in poor egg and fry survival,” according to a written statement from the DEC. “As a result, we could not begin taking eggs any earlier, even if a lot of chinook salmon had been in the hatchery,” the statement said. “To get our goal, we ended up using one of our backup plans and conducted egg taking operations on the Black River at the Dexter fish ladder. Furthermore, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources collected extra eggs for our use if we need them. “However, at this point, it is unlikely we will need to utilize the eggs Ontario collected for us.” And what about the poor survival rate of the coho eggs and fry last year? “We are conducting experiments in collaboration with a U.S. Geological Survey fish nutritionist from Tunison Laboratory (Cortland) on revised methods for treating salmon eggs with vitamin B, and are optimistic that we will experience improved egg survival this year,” the DEC said. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog