HuntingNY-News

The exhibit is being put on by the New York Historical Society, which bought 435 Audubon paintings from Audubon's widow after he died in 1851. An exhibit of original watercolor paintings of birds by famed artist John James Audubon opens Friday in New York City, with an assist from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, according to the New York Times. The exhibit is being put on by the New York Historical Society, which bought 435 Audubon paintings from Audubon's widow after he died in 1851. The exhibit will show more than 130 watercolors, mostly of water birds and waders, representing some of Audubon's biggest subjects such as the great blue heron and the whooping crane. "Other species include the Atlantic puffin, which Audubon saw in Labrador; the snowy egret, which he studied in South Carolina; and the golden eagle, in particular a live but injured specimen that he bought in Boston and euthanized so he could paint it," the Times reported. Cornell's Ornithology Lab is supplying audios of bird songs and calls for each the birds in the exhibit. The show runs through May 26 at 170 Central Park West, at West 77th Street. For further information, call 212-873-3400 or see nyhistory.org. . The exhibit After John James Audubon died in 1851, his widow sold the 435 watercolors he created for his opus, "The Birds of America," to the New-York Historical Society. Last year, the society presented 200 of those masterpieces of ornithological observation in the first of a three-part exhibition series called "Audubon's Aviary: The Complete Flock." The second installment, subtitled "Parts Unknown," opens Friday. It will display 132 more watercolors, most of water birds or waders. They represent some of Audubon's biggest subjects, including the great blue heron and the whooping crane. Other species include the Atlantic puffin, which Audubon saw in Labrador; the snowy egret, which he studied in South Carolina; and the golden eagle, in particular a live but injured specimen that he bought in Boston and euthanized so he could paint it. The show will be enhanced by audio of bird calls and songs of each species from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. (Through May 26, 170 Central Park West, at West 77th Street, 212-873-3400, nyhistory.org.) View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

A sundog is reflection of sunlight off the ice crystals in the clouds. They make it look like there's more than one sun in the sky or that the sun has a halo around it. Lynda DeLallo and her son were out on Otisco Lake with snowshoes today and saw this sundog. "It was like a full rainbow around the sun. Very pretty,,' she said. A sundog is reflection of sunlight off the ice crystals in the clouds. They make it look like there's more than one sun in the sky or that the sun has a halo around it. DeLallo sent another photo of a huge partial ring in the sky north of the sun. xxx DeLallo photo "This was white with a few blips of more white but it wasn't around the sun," she said. " Is this considered a sundog too? They were both about the same time." I would say so. What do others think? Also, did anyone else happen to see this phenomenon today? Take a picture? Send your photos to me at [email protected] and I'll share them with readers. She said talked to an ice fisherman who told her the ice on the lake was 15 to 18 inches thick. "We confirmed this with our poles," she said. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

<p> Nearly 70 percent of the entrants are women. </p> <p></p> <div id="asset-14506991" class="entry_widget_large entry_widget_right"><span class="adv-photo-large"><img src="/static/common/img/blank.gif" class="lazy adv-photo" data-original="http://media.syracuse.com/outdoors/photo/2013-03-24-sdc-halfmarathon2jpg-1ee16be5973a684a.jpg" alt="2013-03-24-sdc-halfmarathon2.JPG" /><span class="photo-data"><span class="caption">Fred Joslyn was last year's male winner at 1:06:28.</span><span class="byline">Stephen D. Cannerelli [email protected]</span></span></span> </div> <p>SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- More than 1,600 runners have entered the Syracuse Half Marathon, which begins at 8 a.m. Saturday in front of the Oncenter in downtown Syracuse.</p> <p>At this point, the majority of those registered are female - nearly 70 percent, said Rick Street, the race director.</p> <p>Streeter said half marathons are a popular race with women here and elsewhere. He noted that training groups for the event offered by Fleet Feet Sports in Syracuse and the YMCA appear to be mostly composed of women.</p> <p>This is the second year the event is being held. Last year's field numbered 1,137.</p> <p>"I predicted earlier this year we'd hit 2,000 because of all the great feedback we got from last year's race," said, noting the recent wintry weather may be factor in the registrations being a little less than expected.</p> <p>Last year's male and female winners were Fred Joslyn, of East Syracuse, at 1:06:28 (an average pace of 5:05 per mile), and Trisha Byler, of Rochester , 1:23:14 (an average pace of 6:22 per mile).</p> <div id="asset-14507094" class="entry_widget_large entry_widget_right"><span class="adv-photo-large"><img src="/static/common/img/blank.gif" class="lazy adv-photo" data-original="http://media.syracuse.com/outdoors/photo/14507094-large.jpg" alt="2013-03-24-sdc-halfmarathon3.JPG" /><span class="photo-data"><span class="caption">Trisha Byler, of Rochester, was the top female finisher last year at 1:23:14.</span><span class="byline">Stephen D. Cannerelli [email protected]</span></span></span> </div> <p> The course takes competitors along a circular route within the city of Syracuse.</p> <p>"It's not an out and back thing. It's a full circle," Streeter said. "The race will go through 128 intersections. We have 82 police officers from the Onondaga Sheriff's and the city of Syracuse helping out."</p> <p>Streeter said about 85 percent of those registered are local runners, with the remainder from outside the area. He said runners are coming from 22 different states, in addition to Canada.</p> <p>The early entry fee was $55. The entry fee is $65.</p> <p>Following the race, competitors will be treated inside the Oncenter to live music and a hot breakfast featuring pancakes, bacon and sausage.</p> <p>See the race's<a href="http://syracusehalf.com/"> website</a> for more information.</p> <p><br /></p> View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The fisher, also known as the "'fisher cat," is a large, dark, long-haired member of the weasel family. Frank DeSantis, of Baldwinsville, sent in this photo above a fisher he "camera trapped" in his backyard of his home in Clinton Heights off Route 370. "My yard abuts a forested parcel with a small creek that is used as a travel corridor for all sorts of different critters," he wrote. "During prior winter walks at Three River WMA, I have come across fisher tracks, but never thought one would be making an appearance in my backyard." The fisher, also known as the "fisher cat," is a large, dark, long-haired member of the weasel family. Read more about this interesting animal on the DEC website. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

With this cold winter wipe out most of the ticks? I'm afraid not. The following are among the more interesting, funny and bizarre outdoors stories I've come across lately: 1). In Upstate New York, we marvel at albino deer and squirrels. In Costa Rica, a deep sea angler recently caught and released an albino blue marlin, according to petethomasoutdoors.com. The extremely rare catch was made aboard the Spanish Fly, a 43-foot yacht operated by Maverick Sportfishing out of Los Suenos, on the Central American country's Pacific Ocean side. A ruby-throated hummingbird.AP photo 2). They're coming. The ruby-throated humming birds, that is. Each year, hummingbird enthusiasts from across the country email in their reports of sightings of the tiny birds as they make their way back north during their annual spring migration. Check out the map on hummingbirds.net to see their progress as of today. 3). Some things are just bigger out west. John Grubenhoff, of Pasco, Washington, recently caught a monster walleye weighing more than 20 pounds in the Columbia River, which is a pending state record, according to fieldandstream.com. The fish measured 34 inches long. For perspective, the New York State walleye record is 16.9 pounds, caught in February 2009 on Mystic Lake in Cattaraugus County by an ice fisherman. 4). With this cold winter wipe out most of the ticks? I'm afraid not. "Ticks do not die in the winter. They do not die until they have lived their two-year life cycle. They survive the cold by burrowing underground, hiding in tall grass or in shrubs, according to ask.com. 5). A hunter in Sweden had a close encounter recently with a wild boar that could have ugly (for the hunter), according to liveleak.com. In this video below, the hunter got the shot off just in time before the boar's tusks did any damage. (Warning: This is a graphic video and some may find it disturbing.) View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Lake Ontario and its embayments and tributaries support thriving populations of fish, including a variety of trout and salmon, bass, walleye, yellow perch and panfish PULASKI, N.Y. -- A "State of Lake Ontario" fishery meeting is set for Tuesday evening at the state Department of Environmental Conservation training facility in Pulaski. The meeting, which is being co-hosted by the Eastern Lake Ontario Salmon and Trout Association, will begin at 7 p.m. DEC, United States Geological Survey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources biologists will make a number of presentations, including updates on the status of trout and salmon fisheries, forage fish, stocking programs and fisheries management plans. Time will be provided at the end of the scheduled program for the audience to ask questions and interact with the presenters. Lake Ontario and its embayments and tributaries support thriving populations of fish, including a variety of trout and salmon, bass, walleye, yellow perch and panfish New York's Lake Ontario waters comprise more than 2.7 million acres. A 2007 statewide angler survey estimated more than 2.6 million angler days were spent on Lake Ontario and major tributaries. The estimated value of these fisheries exceeded $112 million annually to the local New York economy. The Pulaski meeting is the final of three "State of Lake Ontario" meetings that were held this spring. Similar public meetings were held in Rochester on March 3 and in Lockport on March 13. Information summaries for a host of Lake Ontario fisheries assessment programs are posted on DEC's website. For further information contact Steven LaPan, New York Great Lakes Section Leader at Cape Vincent Fisheries Research Station, (315) 654-2147. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

She had it for dinner that evening. Carolyn Van Derhoof, of Marcellus, caught his impressive mahi mahi (dolphin fish) while fishing in the ocean near Jupiter, Fla. on the boat Suffishient. She landed it after a 20-minute battle with the assistance of Capt. Bill Van Derhoof and first mate, Jack Titus, also of Marcellus. "This gorgeous fish measured 48 inches and weighed in at 27 pounds," she said. "We had a mahi mahi feast that evening." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"Who knows? This may be the year when you will be able to ski in the morning and play golf in the afternoon." TULLY, N.Y. -- It is the middle of March, with the start of spring less than a week away. Peter Harris,though, said it feels more like early January. Harris, owner/operator of Song Mountain said the conditions on the mountain today were "excellent," thanks to 14 inches of powdery snow that fell Wednesday on the Tully ski resort. Thanks to the 14 inches of snow that fell Wednesday, skiing conditions were excellent Friday at Song Mountain in Tully.David Figura | [email protected] "Right now, we have anywhere from 18 inches to 60 inches of base on our runs, and that's being conservative," he said. "It's been a great year. We used the same amount of water making snow this year compared to last and thanks to the string of cold nights made twice as much snow." All four ski resorts in Central New York - Song, Labrador, Toggenburg and Green Peak - reported excellent conditions this week with no immediate thaw in sight. "I was looking today at the 10-day weather report, which takes us through next Sunday (March 23). I don't see any change in the weather," Harris said. "For this to start melting, you need 50 to 60 degree days and rain. And there's just nothing like that in the forecast." Could this potentially be one of the longest Central New York spring ski seasons on record? The local slopes opened Thanksgiving weekend this year. Maybe, maybe not. It looks like the snow will there for a while, but most of the local resorts are hesitant to stay open if the skiers don't keep come in sufficient numbers. Bruce Wilson, owner of Labrador Mountain in Truxton, said the latest his ski resort has stayed open has been April 9. What is the deciding factor on keeping Labrador open? "It's when the number of employees on the slope exceeds the number of skiers. That's when the decision is made," he said. "It's a matter of finances and economics. Not the amount of snow. People lose interest, run out of money. They find other things to do." Cyndy Sisto in the marketing office at Toggenburg Mountain in Fabius, said the snow base at Tog varies from two feet to nearly 10 feet deep. "I know it sounds crazy, but we have that much snow," she said. She said the latest Tog has stayed open is April 6. "We've had times when the slopes are still open, but the truth is people start getting their heads in garden books that time of year," she said. She said she was surprised at the number of high school ski trips this year that were cancelled because of the low wind chill factor. "We're been doing a lot of make-up dates the past couple of weeks and they're still coming," she said. "Our last one is next Wednesday." Wes Kryger at Greek Peak said the longest stretch the ski resort near Cortland has stayed open has been 142 days. Greek hit the 100-day mark on Thursday, he said. "I don't think we would go another 42 days. It depends on what Mother Nature decides, though. We have a good base of 28 to 52 inches," he said. Skiers take a break at Song Mountain in Tully Friday afternoon.David Figura | [email protected] Harris he'll keep Song open as long as he can. In the 14 years he's run the resort, the latest he's stayed open was April 15 in 2002. "We were talking this week about being open April 23 during the Easter break," he said. "Who knows? This may be the year when you will be able to ski in the morning and play golf in the afternoon." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Those whose photos will be featured include Greg Craybas, Cheryl and Tom Lloyd, Bob Walker and Jonathan Kresge. SOLVAY, N.Y. -- Audubon New York is hosting a special photography exhibit, "Birds of Onondaga Lake," on March 28-29 at the Onondaga Lake Visitor's Center. The exhibit, which is receiving support from Honeywell and the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps., will include the work of several Central New York wildlife photographers. Those whose photos will be featured include Greg Craybas, Cheryl and Tom Lloyd, Bob Walker and Jonathan Kresge. Mark Magistro of Oswego, left, and Wayne Fidler, of Mexico, watch birds at the Inner Harbor. Mike Greenlar | [email protected] The exhibit will run from 9 to 4 p.m. March 29 and 1 to 4 p.m. March 30. In addition to meeting with the photographers, visitors will also have get an opportunity to learn from habitat experts from Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps founding members, Montezuma Audubon Center, Onondaga Audubon Society, O'Brien and Gere, Parsons and Honeywell. To get to the visitor's center: From the west: Take Route 690 East, and take Exit 7, turn left on to State Fair Boulevard, take first left passing under Route I-690, drive straight to the lake and follow signs to the visitor's center. From the east: Take Route 690 W, take Exit 7, turn left at bottom of exit and follow signs to the visitor's center. To learn more about the Onondaga Lake Conservation Corps or to participate in future activities email [email protected] or call 365-3588. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The fact that both the governor and the Senate want crossbows legalized still means that there's still a good chance of it happening. Nothing is certain, though. Watch video The state Assembly earlier this week passed a budget resolution for the 2014-2015 state spending plan, leaving out any reference to legalizing crossbows for hunting and several other outdoors-related measures that were pitched by Gov. Andrew Cuomo earlier this year in his proposed executive budget. Does that mean that crossbows will remain illegal for this year's hunting season? It's too early to tell. The Assembly's budget resolution is essentially a "wish list" of the Assembly's Democratic majority. The state Senate passed its budget resolution late Thursday evening, according to Jessica DeCerce, chief of staff for state Senator David Valesky, D-53th. She said it included support for Cuomo's crossbow proposal. Once all three of the budget-related documents are approved, the governor and Assembly and Senate leaders will go behind closed doors and hash out, tentatively by April 1, what will eventually become the state budget. The fact that both the governor and the Senate want crossbows legalized still means that there's a good chance of it appening. Nothing is certain, though. "That's the way things work here," state Assemblyman Will Barclay, R-Pulaski said. "The fact that the state Assembly didn't include crossbows doesn't mean the issue is dead. It's not a shocker. It could be used in the negotiations as a bargaining point." Chuck Parker, president of the New York State Conservation Council and the Oswego County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, said the bottom is that sportsmen need to speak up - now. "Contact your local state legislators and push hard for such things as making crossbows a legal hunting implement and other sportsmen-related items mentioned in Cuomo's budget," he said. Other outdoors-related items favored by Cuomo that were not in the state Assembly budget resolution included reducing the minimum distance that an individual with a long bow or crossbow can discharge an arrow near an inhabited structure from 500 to 150 feet; clarifying the liability of owners, lessees and occupants whose property is used by the public for recreational activities and a provision for a vanity motor vehicle license plate for those who purchase a lifetime fishing or hunting license. The Assembly, though, did give its nod to the following proposals that were in the governor's executive spending plan: -Authorizing the state Department of Environmental Conservation to offer promotional, reduced cost licenses up to 10 days per year, and to designate up to eight free fishing days across the state per year. -Creating three- and five-year hunting, fishing and trapping licenses. -Allocating $6 million for about 50 public access projects for sportsmen on wildlife management areas including boat launches and parking lots. Spending $4 million for DEC fish hatchery improvements. Meanwhile, in addition to supporting crossbows, the Senate resolution: -Denies the expansion of liability releases, and creation of three- and five- year hunting, fishing and trapping licenses. - The Senate accepts Cuomo's proposal to issue distinctive license plates for holders of certain sporting licenses. However as the Executive already has begun waiving statutorily required fees for such license plates before obtaining necessary authority from the Legislature, the Senate proposes that the Executive be granted such authority retroactive to January 1, 2014. -There is no mention of reducing the required setback requirement for users of long bows and crossbows from 500 to 150 feet. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He was fishing on the lake in mid-February Mike Cook, of Minetto, holds up a couple of nice walleye that he caught on Oneida Lake during an outing in mid-February. He also landed a nice pile of perch that day. Also in the photo is his dog, Nitro, who appears to savor the taste of walleye. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The cases that appear here are cases where the defendant has either pleaded guilty or found guilty after trial. Thanks to the help of Capt. Matt Revenaugh, who heads the state Department of Environmental Conservation's Region 7 law enforcement team headquartered in Syracuse, I'm offering the latest in an on-going series entitled, "Keeping Watch." The idea is to give readers insight to the final disposition of tickets issued by our local environmental conservation officers from the state Department of Environmental Conservation. The cases that appear here are those where the defendant has either pleaded guilty or found guilty after trial. This is not intended to be all-inclusive list of cases handled, but is representative of dispositions received by the Region 7 law enforcement office. R7 Fine 3-12-14.pdf View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

ELOSTA fishing tackle sale: 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, South Shore Association club house, 6690 South Bay Road, Cicero. Hosted by the Eastern Lake Ontario Salmon and Trout Association. Admission is $1. All proceeds go to helping to send kids to the DEC Youth Conservation camps. Call 252-6439. Open house/ lecture at fishing museum: Sunday, The Salmon River international... ELOSTA fishing tackle sale: 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, South Shore Association club house, 6690 South Bay Road, Cicero. Hosted by the Eastern Lake Ontario Salmon and Trout Association. Admission is $1. All proceeds go to helping to send kids to the DEC Youth Conservation camps. Call 252-6439. Open house/ lecture at fishing museum: Sunday, The Salmon River international Sport Fishing Museum, Route 13, Pulaski. Open house from 2 to 3:30 p.m. From 3:30 to 5 p.m., Gus Aull, of Camillus, will talk about his childhood memories of famed fishing writer Ray Berman and displaying mementos of Berman's fishing and writing career. For more, see salmonriverinternationalfishingmuseum.org. Fly Tying Rendezvous: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 22, Barbagallos Restaurant, 6344 E Molloy Road, East Syracuse. Hosted by Iroquois Chapter of Trout Unlimited & Dette Trout Flies. More than 35 well-known fly tiers, raffles and spey casting demonstrations. A $10 donation will be asked at the door ($5 for active TU members); kids under 16 free.For more, go to Iroquois Trout Unlimited website at iroquoistu.org, email [email protected] or call 699-1231. Carp/catfish fishing seminar: 3 p.m. March 22, Bartel Road Bait and Tackle, 5501 Bartel Road, Suite 12, Brewerton. Given by fishing guide Mike McGrath. Free. For more, call 676-2144. Sportsmen's Traders Day: 9 to 3 p.m. March 23, Otisco Lake Rod and Gun Club, Route 174, Marietta (1 mile south of Route 20). Buy, sell and trade sporting goods, hunting and fishing supplies. For more, call 607-343-1906 or go to www.olrgc.org. Big East Camping and Outdoors Show: March 28-30 at the Turning Stone in Verona. Hours are 2 to 8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. For more, see bigeastshows.com. Oswego sportsmen's clubs banquet: 5 p.m. April 5, The Oasis at Thunder Island, 21 Wilcox Road, Fulton. The annual banquet of the Oswego County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs. Tickets are $25. For more, email [email protected] or [email protected] or call 676-3486. Syracuse Gun Show: April 19-20, Center of Progress Building at the state Fairgrounds in Geddes. Hosted by the New York State Arms Collectors Association. Cost is $6, seniors $5 and children 12 or under free (must be accompanied by an adult). For more, see syracusegunshow.com. Fishing Heritage Day: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 17, village of South Otselic in Chenango County. The event will feature artists, crafters, antique dealers along with conservation, preservation and youth education organizations. Education programs are planned at the nearby state fish hatchery, along with fishing clinics and hatchery tours. For more, go to ovfish.org or call 653-7490. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Some nice perch and lake trout are being taken on Skaneateles on minnows. CNY FISHING REPORT Bait stores (list and map). **Reminder: The walleye, pickerel, northern pike, muskie and tiger muskie seasons end this Saturday and reopen May 5. Also, the deadline for getting permanent ice shanties off the ice is Saturday as well. SALMON RIVER Anglers fishing the deeper pools from Pineville to Altmar are still getting into steelhead. If float fishing or bottom bouncing, try egg sacs with blue, pink, white or chartreuse mesh or pink trout worms. Fly anglers have been using nymphs or single egg patterns. OSWEGO RIVER The cold temperatures have made fishing difficult during the past week on the river, so no new information. ONEIDA LAKE Anglers on snowmobiles or ATVs continue to catch nice perch north of Dunham's and Frenchman's islands. Others are cashing in about couple hundred yards off Williams Beach or Chapman Park. Panfish action on Big Bay continues to be slow. Nothing to report on the walleye bite. CAYUGA LAKE Lots of perch and pickerel being caught through the northern end. Try fathead minnows for the perch. Anglers are getting some nice brown trout fishing from shore at the old Milliken Power Station in Lansing using shiners. Anglers fishing from shore around Taughannock Park on the western side of the lake are also getting a few browns and Atlantic salmon. . Some anglers are also fishing the south end with 6 inches of ice being reported and getting some yellow perch there as well. SANDY POND There is 20-plus inches of ice being reported on the pond. Perch fishing has picked up on the pond and anglers using small minnows or jigs tipped with spikes are catching them. Anglers still need to sort through numbers of small ones to get keepers though. Pike are being taken on large minnows fished under tip-ups. Some black crappie are starting to be caught on jigs tipped with minnows or spikes, or just on minnows. SENECA LAKE The cold and windy conditions continue to make getting a boat out difficult, but some anglers going out of Severne in boats are getting perch in 20 to 30 feet of water. OWASCO LAKE Ice thickness around varies from 12 to 20 inches. Reports of nice lake trout being caught on medium-sized shiners around Ensenore. Anglers are also taking some nice perch on fathead minnows, particularly at the northern end. Some nice northern pike are also being caught at the southern end on big shiners. OTISCO LAKE There is 12 to 18 inches of ice being reported on the north end. Bluegill and pumpkinseeds are still being taken on the north end, but many are small. SKANEATELES LAKE Reports of some nice perch being caught on fathead minnows at both ends of the lake. Anglers are also catching a few nice lake trout, also on minnows. The bite appears to be the strongest just before dark. SODUS BAY There's 18 inches or more of ice on the bay. Reports of some nice perch and bluegills being caught, along with a few northern pike. ST. LAWRENCE RIVER Lots of fishable ice, with some bays having ice up 36 inches thick. Popular spots continue to be Eel Bay, Lake of the Isles, Round Island , Chippewa Bay and all the nearby inland lakes. Continued reports of especially good perch fishing on Chippewa and Chaumont bays and the head of Round Island near Clayton. Anglers are also catching walleye in Mud Bay. Live bait (fathead minnows, shiners and spikes) continues to be the ticket. WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR There's 18 to 20 inches of good ice, and reports of some good walleye fishing north of the island on the west side. Anglers are catching them on fathead minnows and jigs, or medium shiners on tip-ups. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

I'm seeking story ideas for coverage of the opening day of trout fishing season this year, which is less than three weeks away.. Man, look at all the snow today. Time to get the snowblowers and shovels out again. I can feel my back hurting already. When is this going to end? NEED SOME HELP: 1). If you have a photo from the current ice fishing season, please send it to me ASAP. I'm putting together a photo slideshow of the best submitted shots from this winter. Send photos to [email protected] and include the full names of person(s) in the photo, where they live, when and where photo was taken. 2). Do you have a permanent ice shanty on the ice this winter? DEC regulations say it must be removed after this Saturday (March 15). If you have one, please contact me at [email protected] or by calling 470-6066. Meanwhile, here's what I've been writing about this week and will continue working on into next week. - Should hunters in Onondaga County be allowed to hunt deer with rifles? (Many surrounding counties allow it). - An update on the status of the former Seneca Army Depot and its white deer population. - How does this year's skiing season compare with past seasons? Is there a record in sight in regard to how late the slopes stay open? - The five local men who are among those scheduled to be inducted this spring into the New York State Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame. - The banner ice fishing year we've been having, in addition to the fact that most of the local lakes are still frozen over. - A cautionary story about putting your wife's mind at ease when you go out ice fishing. - An update on the state's war against wild boars. -An update on the joint city/county deer task force. SEEKING STORY IDEAS FOR OPENING DAY OF TROUT FISHING SEASON: The season opener is less than three weeks away. What would you like to see included in this year's coverage? I'm interested in new trends, human interest stories/traditions and interesting personalities who should be profiled. Send your suggestions to [email protected]. 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

Up on the St. Lawrence River, most of the river remains frozen, with ice averaging 2 1/2 to 3 feet deep. Let's put things in perspective. The first day of spring is eight days away (March 20) and the opening day of trout fishing season (April 1) is less than three weeks away. As of today, though, every lake in Central New York, with the exception of Lake Ontario, and Cayuga and Seneca lakes, is still frozen over. Same with much of the St. Lawrence River. The result, among other things, has been a banner year for ice fishing. "Up on the river, the ice in the bays averages 2 1/2 to 3 feet thick," said Todd Cerow, owner of the 1000 Island Bait Shop in Alexandria Bay. "In some places the channel is just starting to open up. However, I saw vehicles on the ice driving to Grindstone Island just a couple of weeks ago." Randy Jackson, associate director of the Cornell Biological Field Station in Bridgeport, said many Central New Yorkers have been "spoiled" by the past few relatively mild winters. He said this year's winter is not really that unusual, noting it's reminiscent of winters 15 to 20 years ago. He said although it's one of the coldest in years, it's definitely not the snowiest in recent memory. "Typically, the ice goes out on Oneida during the first week of April," he said, adding the latest ice has stayed on the lake was April 19 back in early 1970s. This year, Jackson said, Oneida froze end to end on Dec. 17, "which is actually quite early." It's been frozen ever since. He conceded the April 19 ice out record could be in jeopardy this year if the temperatures continue to be cold in coming weeks. Bruce Natalie, an environmental engineer for Cayuga County said Owasco Lake froze over on Jan. 23. He said the last time Cayuga Lake froze over was in 1979. He said the lake's northern end is currently covered down to Great Gully, but several weeks ago it stretched down to Levanna. Looking back at records and talking to members of the Owasco Lake Association, he said the last time Owasco Lake froze over was 2009. As for setting any records, he said, "this year may be the longest period the lake has been completely covered in more than 20 years. Right now, it's been frozen for more than six weeks." As of last week, more than 91 percent of the Great Lakes were frozen over, with the exception of Lake Ontario, was 43 percent covered. Bob Werner, a retired SUNY ESF professor who specialized in lake and fish studies,has lived on the west shore of the lake for more than 17 years. He said this year Skaneateles froze over Feb. 6. The last time that occurred was in the winter of 2004. He said the reason Ontario, Cayuga and Seneca lakes (and often Skaneateles Lake) don't freeze over has to do the large volumes of water contained in each of the lakes' water basins and the amount of exposed surface areas of the waterways. Generally, shallow and wide lakes freeze over first. In regard to the Finger Lakes, Seneca, Cayuga and Skaneateles Lakes are the deepest at 650, 435 and 300 feet, respectively. The characteristic comes into play because those waterways, due to their depths, have a greater capacity to store heat in their basins, which usually prevents them from freezing over. Skaneateles is the narrowest of the three and because of that, the heat does dissipate from the water as fast. Werner explained that generally as water cools as a result of dropping air temperatures, it becomes heavier and sinks to the lake's bottom, causing the relatively warmer, deeper water in the basin to rise and mix with the water above it. This prevents or retards the freezing process. However, when the water's surface temperature hits 39 degrees or less, an interesting phenomenon occurs, he said. The water actually becomes lighter and stays near the surface. When it hits 32 degrees, it freezes, creating an ice cover. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Scientists, anglers and bait shop owners who've been watching the local waterways for years say the season still has at least another week or two to go -- or possibly more. Watch video It's been a banner year to go ice fishing in Central New York - and it's not over yet. Scientists, anglers and bait shop owners who've been watching the local waterways for years say the season still has at least another week or two to go -- or possibly more -- depending on the conditions of the ice. As of today, every lake in the area, with the exception of Lake Ontario, and Cayuga and Seneca lakes is still completely frozen over. Despite warmer temperatures earlier this week, today's expected winter storm accompanied by freezing temperatures should continue to preserve the ice cover. Mark Kratz, fishing manager at Bass Pro Shops in Auburn, said two years ago at this time of year he was out in his boat on Otisco Lake casting jerkbaits for bass. "Right now, at that same spot, there's 18 inches of ice," he said. Kratz was his store and others didn't anticipate the lengthy season. He said the Auburn store ran out of ice augers and auger blades in late January or early February. The store's last tip-ups in stock were sold a couple of weeks ago. "We tried to get more from companies, but it didn't matter. None of the companies have any because it has been such a good year," he said. Each year, the most popular lake in this area for ice fishermen has been Oneida Lake. That lake froze over Dec. 17 and is still completely covered with thick, fishable ice. Randy Jackson, associate director of the Cornell Biological Field Station in Bridgeport, said several staff members went out on the ice in front of the Field Station Tuesday afternoon. "It was 23 inches thick," he said. Don Spaulding, 72, owner of John's Grocery in Moravia, has been selling bait to anglers for more than 40 years. He grew up in Moravia and said the last time he can remember the ice fishing being this good was when he was a kid. Contact Tuesday afternoon, he said Owasco Lake "was covered today" with anglers, at the northern and southern ends and around Ensenore. Those at the two ends were focusing on catching perch and pike, while those around Ensenore were getting some nice lake trout. Fred Marty, of Elbridge, holds up a monster northern pike he caught recently through the ice on Cayuga Lake. Marty said at the time he was jigging for perch, using 6-pound test line. He said the pike weighed 20.3 lbs and measured 45 1/2 inches.Submitted photo He said bait sales, including fathead minnows, medium-sized shiners and large pike minnows (6 to 7 inches in size) have gone through the roof this winter. "Last year, I can remember two week periods during the winter where I didn't have a customer," he said. "This year, I've been getting deliveries every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday." Some of the fun, though, will have to end after Saturday. That's when the season ends for walleye, northern pike, pickerel and tiger muskies. In addition, the state Department of Environmental Conservation requires the removal of permanent ice shanties from the ice. The latter regulation, shouldn't affect too many as portable shanties are more the rage in Central New York. James Daher at Mickey's Bait and Tackle in North Syracuse stressed that as the season progresses, anglers should exercise extreme caution on the ice - particularly when there's a stretch of warm, sunny days. He said the ice around the shorelines is the first ice to go. "You may walk out on the ice in the early morning and find you may not be able walk back the same way unless you have waders on," he said. HAVE AN ICE FISHING PHOTO FROM THIS SEASON? REMOVING YOUR PERMANENT ICE SHANTY THIS SATURDAY? Send your photos to [email protected]. If you're removing your shanty from the ice Saturday, contact me in advance at the same email address. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

They can't get at the aquatic vegetation through the ice. The waterfowl being found dead or dying near Western New York's frozen lakes and rivers recently aren't sick and they didn't freeze to death, local bird experts say. Nevertheless, the cold weather is reponsible for their demise, the Buffalo News reported "They were starved," said Connie Adams, senior wildlife biologist at the Department of Environmental Conservation. After getting several reports of ducks in distress since January, Adams was able to collect 83 birds from the ice in Dunkirk Harbor recently - just a sample of the hundreds there that had died - and had them examined by DEC pathologists. Tom Bell, a wildlife biologist at the DEC's Region 7 office in Cortland, said he hasn't heard of any major incidents of birds starving to death or being found dead locally as a result of the cold. He said there's been a few reports of dead ducks being found dead in the Oswego River/Harbor area by bird-watching enthusiasts, but nowhere else in this region. Bell noted a large section of Cayuga Lake is still unfrozen and accessible to local ducks. A part of Onondaga Lake likewise remains unfrozen thanks to the warm water discharged from the Metropolitan Syracuse Waste Water Treatment Plant at the southern end of the lake. Bell said the reason the ducks are starving in the western part of the state is that areas where they normally feed are still covered with ice. Those areas that aren't frozen over, he said, are too deep for the ducks to dive to get to the aquatic vegetation. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Maddie Phaneuf was the top performing American woman at this year's competition, said her father. OLD FORGE, N.Y. -- Former Section III high school Nordic skiing champion Maddie Phaneuf is continuing her athletic success in the biathlon. Phaneuf made her mark recently at the Junior World Biathlon Championships held at the Nordic Heritage Ski Center in Presque Isle, ME. She competed as a member of the US Youth/Junior Biathlon Team. The competition was held Feb. 28 to March 7. Biathlon is a winter Olympic sport that combines cross country skiing with rifle marksmanship. Competitors are challenged to ski fast while interspersing the skiing competition with shooting stations - penalty laps are added to the ski course for every target missed. The US team competed against biathlon teams from more than 25 other countries. In all, there were over 250 athletes competing at the races in Youth Woman, Youth Men, Junior Woman and Junior Men classes. Phaneuf graduated from the Town of Webb school in 2013 and skied for the Old Forge High School, where she won three Section III Nordic skiing championships. At the World Biathlon Championships, she competed in the Youth Woman category against other women in the 17-18 year old range. She finished fourth in the sprint competition, 24th in the pursuit competition and eighth in the Individual competition. She was the top-finishing American woman at this year's competition, her father, Joe Phaneuf said. Following the race, Phaneuf was invited by US Biathlon to join a team they're sending to the Swedish Biathlon Championships in late March, her father said. She currently trains with the Maine Winter Sports Center in Fort Kent, ME. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

If kids are included in the pictures, be sure and include their age. It's been a great year for ice fishing in Central New York. As of today, with the exception of Seneca and Cayuga lakes, all the local lakes are still frozen over, including Skaneateles Lake. (Heck, I was out on Owasco Lake this past Sunday and my arm got shore drilling 8 holes through 14 inches of ice.) I'm doing an update on the frozen lake/ice fishing scene later this week. Send your pics of successful outings to me at [email protected]. Include the full name of everyone in the picture, where they live and when and where the photos were taken. If kids are pictured, include their age. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Classes will be offered on the Salmon River and at Carpenter's Brook fish hatchery in Elbridge ALTMAR, N.Y. -- Trout Unlimited in New York is sponsoring three beginner fly fishing events for women this year and two will take place in Central New York. Each event will consist of a two-day fly fishing seminar designed to cover the basics. Topics will include fly-tying, stream entomology, equipment set up and casting. In addition, participants will spend time fly-fishing on a nearby trout stream both days. Class size is limited for each session and pre-registration is required. The seminar dates are: May 31 and June 1 on the Salmon River in Altmar sponsored by the Tug Hill- Black River TU 589 Chapter (20 students), this is their eighth consecutive year. Contact Lindsay Agness at [email protected]. June 21-22 on the Saranac River in Plattsburgh area sponsored by the Lake Champlain TU 419 Chapter (12 students). This is their 2nd annual event. Contact Jan Opal at [email protected]. Sept. 6-7 at the Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery in Elbridge sponsored by the Iroquois TU 002 Chapter (12 students). This is the second time this event has been held. If interested, please contact Vicky Lane at [email protected]. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Her uncle Karl was also on the boat. Bianca Stevenson, 12, of Cicero, center, poses with a big sailfish she caught and released while on vacation in Cancun, Mexico recently. Also picture are her uncle, Karl Elsner, of Bridgeport, right, and Miguel, one guides on the boat. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Sandy Ackerman Klinger, the show's manager, noted all state firearm laws and restrictions will be strictly observed. GEDDES, N.Y. -- The annual spring Syracuse Gun Show has been scheduled for April 12-13 in the Center of Progress Building at the New York State Fairgrounds. The show, hosted by the New York State Arms Collectors Association, will feature nearly 1,000 tables. According a press release, the show will feature "displays and sale tables of U.S. military arms, Colt revolvers, high-grade double barrel shotguns, Remingtons, muskats, Smith and Wesson, Kentucky rifles, gun parts and accessories, Native American items, frontier and Western paraphenalia, swords, military weapons from various countries, custom-made and factory-made knives, military relics and equipment from before the Revolutionary War to the present." Sandy Ackerman Klinger, the show's manager, noted all state firearm laws and restrictions will be strictly observed. The show will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 12 and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 13. Daily admission will be $6, senior citizens $5 and children under 12 (must be accompanied by an adult) free. The show is the first of two gun shows at the state Fairgrounds this year. The fall show is scheduled for Sept. 13-14. For more information, call her at 607-748-1010 between 1 and 6 p.m. weekdays. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

<p> The race course will take runners up the Lake Street hill with its inspiring views of Lake Ontario. </p> <p>The third annual 'Run for Dennis' 5K takes off at 10 a.m. Saturday in front of Gibby's Irish Pub on Lake Street, just down the hill from Breitbeck Park in Oswego.</p> <p>The race is being held in honor of Dennis Pacheco, a well-known Oswego resident and retired licensed reactor operator at the James A. Fitzpatrick Nuclear Power Plant who died of bladder cancer. Proceeds from the race will go toward bladder cancer research.</p> <p>The race course will take runners up the Lake Street hill with its inspiring views of Lake Ontario, the break water and the light house, winding in between the baseball fields and the park's parking lot.</p> <p>For more, see the race website at<a href="http:// runfordennis.com"> runfordennis.com/</a>.</p> View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

This year's slate of inductees will be honored at a banquet set for April 26 at the Rusty Nail in Canastota. The New York State Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame recently announced its class of inductees for 2014, which includes five individuals from Central New York. This year's slate of inductees, which number nine, will be honored April 26 at the Hall of Fame's annual banquet at the Rusty Nail restaurant in Canastota. Among those being honored: Tom Lenweaver. Lenweaver, of Syracuse, is a well-known wildlife artist. He has used his talent to help promote many sportsmen's and conservation organizations. Donations of his paintings have helped raise many thousands of dollars for organizations such as CNY Wildfowlers, Friends of Carpenters Brook, Pheasants Unlimited, Onondaga County Federation, and others. He currently is on the board of directors for the Great Swamp Conservancy in Lenox. Rick McDermottPeter Chen | [email protected] Rick McDermott. McDermott, of Pulaski, has been involved for years with sportsmen's organizations and youth activities such as the joint Onondaga-Oswego Counties Youth Pheasant Hunt. As founder of the Crossbow Coalition, he has spent hundreds of hours and logged countless miles speaking and working to get the crossbow approved as a legal hunting instrument in this state. Fran Verdoliva with a nice steelhead.Oswego County Tourism Office Fran Verdoliva. Verdoliva is the state Department of Environmental Conservation's special assistant to the Salmon River. He works at the DEC's hatchery in Altmar. He has long championed the ethical fishing for salmon and steelhead. He helped lead the efforts to end snagging, and helped publicize methods that could be used to catch salmon legally. His many appearances on behalf of the Salmon River fishery and the Salmon River Days with its open house at the hatchery and related conservation demonstrations have helped create awareness and respect for the fishery and its resources. Paul Miller, right, checks a map to show volunteers from the Fish Creek Atlantic Salmon Club where they'll be stocking Atlantic Salmon in the creek.Dave Lassman |[email protected] Paul Miller. Miller, of Sylvan Beach, has been involved in many sportsmen's causes including Trout in the Classroom. His main efforts and success involve the Fish Creek Atlantic Salmon Club. As an officer, leader, and active volunteer he has helped raise moneyd and recruited volunteers for the club, which now raises Atlantic salmon and stocks them in Fish Creek and its tributaries. George Franke. Franke, of Norwich in Chenango County, has been active in many organizations including the N.Y.S. Conservation Council, Safari Club International, Chenango County Federation of Sportsmen, and Crossbow Coalition. A major focus of Franke has been getting youth into the outdoors. He has helped organize numerous fund-raising efforts to help send youngsters to leadership or conservation camps. The New York State Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame is an organization dedicated to honoring sportsmen who have made significant achievements in outdoors-related fields, and for their long-time service in preserving this state's outdoor heritage and helping others experience it. The Hall is also involved in programs such as kids fishing clinics, youth hunts, seminars, and similar activities. For more information or to make a reservation for the April 26 banquet, call (315) 363-3896 or (315) 829-3588. RSVP by April 19. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog