HuntingNY-News

A course at Pratt’s Falls Park in Pompey has hosted the summer biathlon national championships twice over the last 10 years. Members of the Syracuse Summer Biathlon Club train on the course. The club holds its next race 12:15 p.m. on July 14. Watch video David Lassman/The Post-StandardMembers of the Syracuse Biathlon Club meet at Pratt's Falls Park for a practice session. On the firing range with 22 long rifles are from bottom of photo to top: Luke Dionne of Binghamton, Kathy Donath of Lafayette and Kate Stewart of Cazenovia. By Jon Gagnon Contributing writer The cross-country skiing and rifle shooting of the winter biathlon is one of the Winter Olympics’ most popular events, with 37 nations competing the last time in 2010. Fewer people have heard about the summer’s version of the sport – summer biathlon — where competitors run instead of ski the course. It isn’t an Olympic event yet, but it is becoming more popular in Central New York and nationally. A course at Pratt’s Falls Park in Pompey has hosted the summer biathlon national championships twice over the last 10 years. Members of the Syracuse Biathlon Club train on the course. The club holds its next race 12:15 p.m. on July 14. David Lassman/The Post-StandardNicholas Andrews of Manlius does a brief run on the course. Luke Dionne, of Binghamton, attended a training session on June 28. “I like running and I like shooting too so it kind of combines them,” Dionne said. “Trying to hit the targets, it’s a challenge.” Summer biathlons peaked in popularity about 10 years ago, said Piotr Bednarski, director of athlete development of U.S. Biathlon Association, a group that supports development of biathlon and helps prepare athletes for international competition, including the Olympic Winter Games. The last couple years the summer sport has been gaining in popularity, he said. The summer biathlon courses are shorter than winter courses. The “pursuit” and “mass” races are 5 kilometers (3.1 miles), and the “individual” race is 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). In a pursuit race athletes are started in intervals based on a previous race. In a mass race all contestants start at the same time. Similar races are held during the winter biathlons, but they are about double the distances. The race this month at Pratt’s Falls will be a “modified pursuit” 5-kilometer race, where athletes will start in 60 second intervals. The basic rules of the summer and winter biathlons remain the same. The athletes run the course’s loop, arrive at the shooting range, shoot, and run the loop again. David Lassman/The Post-StandardNicholas Andrews of Manlius returns to the firing range after a brief run on the course. “As a kid I remember watching the Olympics and seeing the guys skiing and shooting and thinking that was just the coolest thing ever,” said Kurt Donath, president of the local club. “Sometimes after a while running can get really boring, (shooting) really spices things up, it adds a whole new dimension to it.” In the summer biathlon events, athletes don’t carry their rifles on their back while running the course; they leave the rifles at the shooting range. At the shooting range, each athlete has a clip of five bullets, and must shoot at five targets 50 meters away. Once they complete their clip, they run a penalty loop of 70 meters (76.5 yards) for every target missed. In some instances, depending on the type of event, athletes are assessed a time penalty instead of running a penalty loop. The Syracuse Biathlon Club, which has 20 members, has been working to get more people into the sport through social media outlets such as, Facebook and Twitter, as well as an email distribution list. “Our two main goals are to get more people into the sport and challenge those people that are already in the sport, and ultimately over the long term feeding into the national programs,” Donath said. “We like to see more people in biathlon, and that gets us more people at the national level and the international level.” David Lassman/The Post-StandardMembers of the Syracuse Biathlon Club meet at Pratt's Falls Park for a practice session. Range Master Carl Snow (right, foreground) uses a scope to check the targets. Syracuse Biathlon Club president Kurt Donath (kneeling in background) gives some pointers on the firing range. More on the Syracuse Biathlon Club The club scheduled three practices and two competitions this summer. Two of the three training sessions have already been held. The next one is 4 to 5:30 p.m. Aug. 2 at Pratt Falls Park in Pompey. Cost is $5. The two competitions are slated for July 15 and Aug. Registration those days begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 10 a.m. Participants can either register online at www.skireg.com or on the day of the event. Cost is $20. Those individuals new to summer biathlon who aren’t sure if they can make a 5km race are welcome to form a relay team. For further information about biathlon events or the Syracuse Biathlon Club, visit the club's Web site. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

At one time, it would have been a state record. Submitted photo Every once in a while a big fish creates a buzz. That’s been the case for the past several weeks among Owasco Lake anglers concerning Gary Rule’s, 22-pound, 8-ounce brown trout caught on Memorial Day. At one time, it would have been a state record. He caught the lunker fishing in 166 feet of water with a live mooneye (a baitfish), dangled some 50 feet down. He was fishing at the northern end of the lake, near Burtis Point. Rule, who operates Reel Sportsman Fishing Adventures charter service, was out fishing with his wife and several friends at the time, he said. He said once he hooked the fish “it ran all across the top of the water.” Whenever it got close to the boat, though, it would just dive to the bottom. That happened three times. Rule was using a spinning outfit with 8-pound, fluorocarbon line. It took him about 45 minutes to land the fish and it broke his net. He said he weighed the fish on a digital scale he carries on his boat. Hear him tells how he caught it. trout.mp3" />trout.mp3" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" width="170" height="25" name="AudioPlayer" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" /> Rule said he’s caught a lot of big fish over the years on Owasco, but this is his biggest brown trout ever. Last spring, he said, he caught one weighing almost 20 pounds. He also noted he landed a 16-pound, 3-ounce steelhead on the lake earlier this season. In recent years, there’s been grousing by Owasco Lake anglers about the declining brown trout fishery on Owasco Lake. But Owasco has produced some big browns in the past and Rule is thinking that the browns, along with the rainbow trout, have been making a comeback lately. At one time, Owasco Lake boasted the state record for a brown trout. A 21 pounds and 5 ounce brown caught in 1954 by 13-year-old Tom Klink on a Pflueger Record 4 spoon lure held the state record until 1979. Klink, now 72, had a trophy mount made of the fish, and recently had it refurbished it. It still hangs on the living room wall at his Owasco home. The current state record is held by Tony Brown, of Schenectady. He caught his 33- pound, 2-ounce brown trout fish using a Smithwick Rogue lure on a Lake Ontario fishing charter out of Oswego in 1997. Rule, who lives above the Cascade Grill at the southwestern end of the lake, said he didn’t have the fish weighed on any other scale and in fact isn’t having a trophy mount made of the fish. “I kept it, filleted it out and ate it the next day,” he said. “We had steak and brown trout for dinner— a land and sea meal.” View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

<p> He's seeing all sorts of garbage wash up on his shore. "We're seeing empty, plastic soda bottles and beer cans; kids toys that look like they fell off or were thrown off some party boat; sealed milk jugs or Clorox plastic bottles filled with urine," he said. </p> <p>Bill Crofton is tired of the slobs on Oneida Lake.</p> <p>Crofton, 79, and his wife, Peggy, summer each year at a camp on Kyser Beach, where they have 100 feet of lake frontage. He called me early this week, asking for my help.</p> <p>Every year, he said, garbage from the lake washes up on their shoreline. Crofton said he and a neighbor were talking recently about how the amount of trash has gotten worse in recent years.</p> <p>“We’re seeing empty, plastic soda bottles and beer cans; kids toys that look like they fell off or were thrown off some party boat; sealed milk jugs or Clorox plastic bottles filled with urine,” he said.</p> <p>He also said he’s come across nearly a dozen hypodermic needles the past several years.</p> <p>Crofton said if he had the chance to talk to the people who are doing this, “I’d ask them in a very nice way to stop throwing these things in the lake, and to just wait until they get to shore to deposit them in a trash can. Otherwise, we end up picking it up.”</p> <p>He’s a lot nicer than I would be.<br /></p> View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He caught it off the break wall. Submitted photo Wyatt Hilton, 8, of Sandy Creek, caught this nice, 18-inch largemouth bass while fishing at the breakwall at Westcott State Park Beach. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

This toddler poles include Barbie, Snoopy, Princess, Batman, SpongeBob SquarePants, Mickey Mouse and Buzz Lightyear fishing outfits. The deadline to send in a photo is July 18. I’m still in the hunt for cute photographs of fish caught by Central New York youngsters this summer with their small, theme “toddler” poles. These fishing outfits generally sport closed-face, push- button reels; 6- to 8- pound monofilament line and sturdy, 3-foot-long poles. This toddler poles include Barbie, Snoopy, Princess, Batman, SpongeBob SquarePants, Mickey Mouse and Buzz Lightyear poles. Send your photos and stories (no more than 150 words) to me at [email protected] and include a daytime phone number in the email. . Make the photos a jpg. attachment and at full resolution. The deadline is July 18. Include a daytime phone number for questions. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The event’s schedule includes trapping demonstrations, trapping supplies for sale or trade, games for the kids, a state trapping training education course and a barbecue. The eighth Annual N.Y. Trappers Forum Summer Fur Rondy is set for noon until dark today and 8 a.m. until dark Saturday at Nichols Pond Park, off Nichols Pond Road, in the Town of Fenner. The event’s schedule includes trapping demonstrations, trapping supplies for sale or trade, games for the kids, a state trapping training education course and a barbecue. There’s no entry fee. The N.Y. Trappers Forum is an on-line discussion board dedicated to trapping, according to Wayne Jones, who started it and still runs it. The forum is a way to share information with other trappers throughout the state and to communicate updates on legislation affecting trapping and outdoor rights, he added. For more information, call 768-8115 or email Wilson at [email protected]. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Just below the dam is good for bass, perch, walleye, catfish and freshwater drum. Mike Greenlar/The Post-StandardKyle Crego of Pennellville casts off near the Caughdenoy Dam in the town of Caughdenoy. Land just above and below the Caughdenoy Dam on the Oneida River, which is used to regulate the water level on Oneida Lake, is a great spot to fish from shore. “Above the dam is a great place for catfish, particularly at night,” said Al Daher, co-owner of Mickey’s Bait and Tackle Shop in North Syracuse. “Below the dam is good for bass, perch, walleye, catfish and freshwater drum,” he added. The dam is run by the state Canal Corporation and has more than a half-dozen gates that control the release of water. Fishing is prohibited on the dam, said Ambrose Barbuto, canal engineer for the Syracuse division of the Canal Corporation. “Sometimes you get some strong currents when the water is released. It can be a dangerous situation,” he said. Most anglers get access on the north side of the river, off Route 12. There’s a gravel parking lot with a couple of picnic tables and a trash can, Barbuto said. He added that many anglers just pull off the side of the road and park. Daher said the area around the dam sees a lot of fishing pressure because there’s not a lot of public access to the Oneida River. Most of the land is privately owned, he said. “Also, as a general rule, it tends to fish best in the spring and fall,” he said. On a side note, occasionally, anglers catch a sturgeon there. They are designated by the state as a species of “special concern” and it’s illegal to target them. If you happen to hook a sturgeon, the best thing is not to play it out, but to break it off as soon as possible, said state Department of Environmental Conservation officials. Undue stress of spawning females will “put them off “ for that year’s spawning. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Trout streams are low and clear. We need more rain. CNY FISHING FORECAST Bait stores (list and map). CAYUGA LAKE There are continued reports of water fleas. They can make trolling frustrating, so be prepared with flea flicker line. Lake trout are being caught on spoons and Spin Doctors and flies fished 50 to 200 feet down over 50 to 250 feet of water. Vertical jigging has also been good for lake trout in 75 to 95 feet of water. Bass fishing continues to be good at both the north and south ends. CROSS LAKE/SENECA RIVER Anglers are catching some nice bass and crappies on bass minnows. INLAND TROUT STREAMS Streams are low and clear. We need more rain. To find out how many trout (and what kind) are stocked in your favorite Onondaga County stream, call 689-0003. To hear the DEC’s weekly fishing report, which includes a list of streams that have been stocked in Region 7, call 607-753-1551. LAKE ONTARIO Chinook salmon fishing has been good lately, particularly in the Mexico Bay and Oswego areas. Fish are being caught in 150 to 300 feet of water, fishing down to 100 to 125 feet in those waters. Anglers are getting them on flashers and flies and some spoons. For those anglers targeting brown trout, fish in 80 to 100 feet of water, tight to the bottom.ONEIDA LAKE Walleye anglers continue to do well, but the fish are starting to move to deeper water with the warm weather. Good baits continue to be bucktail jigs tipped with a minnow or night crawler, spinner-and-worm rigs, Dixie spinners and worms and other blade baits. Bass and pickerel fishing also continue to be very good in most of the lake. OSWEGO RIVER Smallmouth bass bite has been good with artificial and live bait both working. Anglers are also catching sheepshead, white perch, catfish and rock bass are active throughout the river using crayfish or worms.OTISCO LAKE Reports of some big smallmouth bass being taken this week on plastic baits. OWASCO LAKE Warm weather has slowed the bite this week. Reports of water fleas have started on the lake, particularly on the west side of the lake around Fayes Point. Water fleas can make trolling difficult; try flea flicker line or vertical jigging. Lake trout are being taken in 65 to 85 foot of water on alewives. Apart from the trout, anglers have been enjoying some good bass and perch fishing this past week.SALMON RIVER Flow is low and slow. Some reports of smallbass being caught, along with an occasional skamania steelhead or Atlantic salmon. SANDY POND Northern pike fishing continues to be good for anglers using Rapalas and spinnerbaits.SENECA LAKE Reports of lots of northern pike being taken around the Watkins Glen, Dresden and Sampson State Park areas of the lake. Best technique is to float a sawbelly minnow underneath a slip bottom about 15 feet down. Also, lake trout are being taken about 100 feet down, using streamer flies behind Spin Doctors. Salmon bite has been off lately. SKANEATELES LAKE Bass fishing along the shore continues to be good with a variety of plastic baits working. Some perch are still being taken on jigs and fathead minnows in 25 feet of water. Anglers pulling wire are getting some lake trout on spoons, but overall, trout fishing has been slow.SODUS BAY Bass fishing has been good in the shallows, out to about 12 feet of water. Good lures have been spinnerbaits, topwaters and a variety of plastics. ST. LAWRENCE RIVER Bass are biting on spinner baits and crayfish in about 30 feet of water. Northerns are hitting a little bit shallower. Try a bucktail jig or red and white spoon. WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR Trolling with worm harnesses and night crawlers is still producing lots of walleye action, but many are under the 18-inch minimum. Best times to fish are early in the morning or late in the evening. Lots of bass being taken on stickbaits or crankbaits. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

They were on a family vacation in Boca Grande. Submitted photoBen and his gag grouper.Stephen P. Gross, of Syracuse, sent me photos recently of his sons, Ben, 13, and Alex, 17, and their catches while on a recent family vacation in Boca Grande, Florida.The father wrote: "Ben caught this 26 inch, 7 pound, gag grouper on Sunday, July 1st (the opening day of the season) while fishing in the Gulf of Mexico about 2 miles from the Boca Grande beach. It was caught in 30 feet of water on a pinfish. Catching the grouper was tricky. The fish will strike fast and run back into its whole so you must pull up quickly or the line will break on the rocks. After losing one that way, Ben reacted quickly when this one hit, though for a minute there I thought it was going to pull him right out of the boat.Submitted photoBen and his shark.Ben also caught the shark on Saturday the 30th in Charlotte Harbor on a sardine. On Friday, Alex caught this 27-inch snook and the biggest sea trout we had ever seen at 26 inches in Charlotte Harbor. Both were caught with pinfish. We were fishing with my wife's cousin, Jeff Schoeder of Tampa on his 24-foot fishing boat. Each fishing trip started by netting bait with a cast net thrown off of the boat. Submitted photoAlex and his sea trout.Submitted photoAlex and his snook. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"Growing up, I didn’t know anyone who hunted. Hunters, I figured, were probably just barbaric gun nuts," she wrote. Here's food for thought -- for hunters and anti-hunters alike. Lily Raff McCaulou, an award-winning journalist, writes:"Growing up, I didn’t know anyone who hunted. Hunters, I figured, were probably just barbaric gun nuts. Then, eight years ago, I moved from Manhattan to rural Oregon, to write for a small newspaper. My perspective shifted when I began interviewing hunters for my articles and realized that although I had long considered myself an environmentalist, these hunters – most of whom scoffed at the “E” word – were more knowledgeable and thoughtful about animals and nature than I was."Read her entire column. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

I'm still looking for cute kid fishing shots with their toddler poles (Barbie, Snoopy, etc.) for a story I'm doing soon. Please send them ASAP to me at [email protected] and include a daytime phone number for further questions. David Lassman/The Post-StandardMembers of the Syracuse Biathlon Club meet at Pratt's Falls Park for a practice session. On the firing range with 22 long rifles are from bottom of photo to top: Luke Dionne of Binghamton, Kathy Donath of Lafayette and Kate Stewart of Cazenovia.Man, what a scorcher this week. It's good weather, though, for a lot summer outdoor activities. Here's what's on tap for this week's Outdoors pages in The Post-Standard.FRIDAY:Main piece: We look at fishing the Caughdenoy Dam. It's the third in a series of articles on "Shoreline Hot Spots" -- popular fishing spots from shore in the CNY area.Column: We talk about this weekend's fur trapper rendezvous in the town of Fenner and one Oneida Lake resident who's sick of all the garage washing up on shore in front of his camp...among other things.SUNDAY:Main piece: We attend a summer training session of the CNY Biathlon Club at Pratt Falls Park. Biathlons are normally held in the winter and involve cross country skiing and shooting. During the summer, the participants run.. and then shoot. They have two competitions scheduled at the park this summer. Interesting stuff.Column: The latest from the DEC on the Lake Ontario fishing boat survey project.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.-Folks I'd like to get in contact with for future stories/columns:- I'm REALLY looking for photos of young kids with the toddler poles (Snoopy, Barbie, etc.) and fish they've caught. Please send your photos, if you have them, to me at outdoors@syracuse. com. Include a daytime phone number for further questions.- Anglers who have fished the pro/am tournaments on Lake Ontario and have opinions about the "open communication rule" in the competitions. - Individuals who have successfully hunt wild boar in the Cortland County/Onondaga county area, or property owners who can show me recent examples of damage to the land/crops caused by these animals.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's splitting the money with a fishing buddy, because even though the tournament-winning fish was technically his, they both hooked it in the mouth at the same time. Submitted photoRon White, left, and Mike Smiley, pose with the tournament- winning halibut.Call it beginner’s luck. Add in the fact that he was a gracious winner, and you have Mike Smiley’s recent Alaskan halibut fishing adventure.Smiley, 40, of Baldwinsville, recently won $10,000 for catching the heaviest fish in the month-long, 2012 Seward Halibut Tournament in Alaska. The fish weighed 196.6 pounds.He caught the fish on June 24, hooking it within 15 minutes of the finish of his trip aboard a charter boat with five other anglers. Although he didn’t have to, he’s splitting his winnings with a fishing buddy.Smiley said it was first time to Alaska and his first time fishing there.An electrician, Smiley said he traveled to Alaska to help get a 183-megawatt power plant up and running.“I was making sure every switch worked the way it should,” he said.Noting “you just can’t work and stay in the hotel,” Smiley said he took up an offer to go out on a halibut fishing charter with John White, formerly of Westmoreland, and now living in Eagle River, Alaska.The charter, ProFish–n-Sea with Capt. Woody Wedin, cost the two $352 each. Four other anglers were on the boat. Before they headed out, Smiley and White also paid $10 each to enter the month-long, halibut fishing tournament, which was scheduled to end this past Saturday.What the heck, they thought.After nearly 12 hours on the water, the captain told the anglers they’d be heading back in about 15 minutes, Smiley said. The four other anglers had already caught their limit of halibut and were sitting inside the boat’s cabin. White had his limit, but continued to fish for fun. Smiley said he had one more fish to catch to achieve his two- fish, per person limit.“So here I am, fishing to get my last fish,” Smiley said. “I suddenly get a 30 or 40 pounder and John says to throw it back, saying we can do better.”Moments after getting the fish off and recasting his jig, Smiley suddenly felt something “really big” on the end of his line.“My pole tip went right in the water ... and John’s pole did, too, at about the same time. I started reeling. I told the captain, ‘I got something big,' ” he said.It didn’t the two anglers long to realize they’d hooked the same fish.The fish fought for about 15 minutes. Once it was alongside the boat, it was shot in the head to kill it and then gaffed to bring it aboard. Both anglers were amazed to see their jigs in the fish’s mouth. Technically, with White already having his limit of halibut, it was Smiley’s fish.Smiley said the tournament ended this past Saturday. On Monday, he hadn’t been called yet but noted the tournament’s Web site listed him as having the biggest fish. Erin Lemas, event coordinator for the Seward Chamber of Commerce, confirmed late Monday afternoon in a phone interview that Smiley had won.As for taking all the prize money, Smiley said he “wasn’t out there to be greedy” and doesn’t mind sharing it with White.“We were out there for fun,” he said. “After New York State takes their share (in taxes) we’ll split what’s left. It’ll pay for the charter and leave us both a little money to play with.”Hear Smiley tell how he landed the fish:IC_A_001.MP3" />IC_A_001.MP3" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" width="170" height="25" name="AudioPlayer" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" />More on halibut: Halibut are among the largest fish in the ocean and the largest of all the flatfish. The fish is prized for its delicate sweet flavor, snow-white color and firm flaky meat. They can grow to more than 8 feet long and weigh as much as 700 pounds. Halibut weighing in at more than 100 pounds are often called “whales, “soakers,” or even “barn doors, “ according to www.fishex.com. The largest Alaskan halibut ever caught while sport fishing was 459 pounds in Unalaska Bay, the Web site said. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

That doesn’t mean people shouldn’t keep their distance. The correct approach is caution and a healthy respect for their presence. These are wild animals, and their behavior cannot always be predicted. (Listen to an audio interview of one turkey hunter who was attacked.). AP photoCoyotes have been know to re´spond to turkey calls, but experts warn against an irrational fear of the animals. Todd Martin said he’s been hunting turkeys for 24 years. For the first time this spring, he got the scary feeling of what it’s like to be on the other end — to be treated as prey.Martin, 41, of Newark Valley, was hunting in Tioga County. He was sitting down, learning against a tree and calling in a turkey when a male coyote, which he estimated at 50 pounds, came up from behind and jumped on his back. It bit him in the shoulder before Martin stood up and threw it off.He got off a shot as the animal was running away.“I found blood and walked about 200 yards, but I couldn’t find it,” he said.Martin drove himself to a Binghamton hospital, where he was given a tetanus shot and a series of rabies shots as a precaution. No stitches were required.“I was talking to the doctor and she said if it was two inches higher, it would have gotten me on the side of the neck,” he said.Submitted photoMartin is convinced it was a case of mistaken identity, that the coyote thought he was a turkey. Several local hunters said last week that coyotes often are attracted to turkey calls.It brings to mind a bigger question, though, particularly with the presence of coyotes in urban and suburban areas of Central New York. Just how dangerous are coyotes, particularly those that have taken up residence in populated areas and gotten used to humans?The bottom line, according to several wildlife experts and hunters, is that there’s no need to be afraid of coyotes.“The risk of you getting attacked by a coyote is like the chance of getting struck by lightning,” said Steve Joule, regional wildlife manager at the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s Cortland office.That doesn’t mean people shouldn’t keep their distance. The correct approach is caution and a healthy respect, Joule and others said. These are wild animals, and their behavior cannot always be predicted. There’s also always the possibility of rabies, though it’s rare.Within the last several years, there have been at least two confirmed reports of coyote attacks on humans in New York — both downstate. In New Jersey, a toddler playing in his yard was attacked by coyotes. Also, there have been two published accounts of fatal attacks — one in California and the other in Canada, according to Paul Curtis, associate professor and wildlife specialist for Cornell Cooperative Extension.Curtis, who has done research on coyotes in suburban areas of Westchester County, said coyotes are territorial and have been known to go after smaller dogs. They rarely go after pet cats. He said he has examined the stomach contents of 500 coyotes and found cat hairs in only two.But what about small children? Curtis said there should be concern if coyotes are acting unafraid near areas where small children play. He recommended calling the DEC for advice.Joule said that as humans encroach more on the habitat of coyotes “certainly interactions are going to increase.”The typical Central New York coyote grows to 35-45 pounds, Joule said. Unusual colors, such as cinnamon or even vanilla, are from genetic variations, not from coyotes breeding with domestic dogs. Joule said the idea of “coy dogs” is pretty much a myth.The most important thing, Joule and other experts said, is that humans should avoid creating conditions that result in coyotes hanging around. On top of the list of recommendations: Don’t feed them. That includes leaving bowls of pet food outside, stocking bird feeders during the warm months that draw small prey for them, setting up unfenced compost piles or leaving garbage cans uncovered.Also, if you see coyotes in your yard or near your home, make it uncomfortable for them. Jacqueline Frair, an associate professor in wildlife science at SUNY ESF, has been studying coyotes. She said she spotted her first one five years ago at an unlikely place — walking across the SUNY ESF campus.She noted that one effective way to scare away coyotes is to keep a coffee can partially filled with coins. If you see a coyote, get out and shake the can vigorously.Getting back to the turkey hunters, are their interactions with coyotes unique? It would appear so. Turkey hunters are dressed head-to-toe in camouflage clothing, hunt from the ground usually in a sitting position and try to remain relatively motion-less. One could see how a coyote, hearing the calling, could make a mistake.Frair noted that coyotes are omnivores and eat a wide variety of food. She said she’s examined the stomach contents of a number of coyotes and has found wild turkey remains on a number of occasions. It would seem they’ve become very capable turkey hunters, she said.Bill Moore, 61, Camillus, was turkey hunting May 26 in Camillus. He was sitting behind a tree, dressed in full camo, softly calling in a hen with a box call. He said he felt a presence behind him, and in a split-second a coyote that he estimated weighed about 25 to 30 pounds pounced on his hand. It bit through his camouflaged glove.“The wind must have been perfect (so he didn’t catch my scent). He must have just seen my hand moving, heard the hen call and thought I was a turkey,” he said, adding that the animal quickly scampered away.He didn’t have time to take a shot. Moore said he went to Community General Hospital and began a series of rabies shots as a precaution.Veteran turkey hunter Jim Montanaro, of Liverpool, said he’s never been attacked by a coyote but has had them “jump” his turkey decoys at least a half-dozen times.“It’s probably a good idea to have a decoy out there when you’re calling. That way, the coyote has something to focus on — instead of you,” he said. Listen to Todd Martin's tale: View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"We appreciate all the fisherman that come to our city to fish. This is all about their safety, ” Oswego Mayor Tom Gillen said. “We just don’t want anyone drowning up here.” Dennis Nett/The Post-StandardAnglers fish last fall in front of the Varick hydroplant in a restricted area. It's right where two anglers died the year before.An extremely dangerous section of the Oswego River should be a lot safer place to fish these days, thanks to a program announced this week by the city of Oswego and Brookfield Renewable Energy Group.The plan involves “the immediate implementation of personal flotation device zones below the Varick Dam on the Oswego River.” It should have an impact on the safety of anglers who often line up on the river almost shoulder to shoulder during the annual fall salmon river, and whenever else the river’s water level is high and raging.“These mandatory zones are clearly indicated on signage and visually monitored via video security cameras,” according to a Brookfield press release.“Individuals not wearing a personal flotation device are prohibited in these zones, and those failing to comply with these requirements are subject to prosecution for trespass,” the release continued. “It is also prohibited to remain in, or re-enter into the PFD zones – whether wearing a PFD or not – following the activation of the siren or when the red warning light is illuminated, indicating water flow changes nearby the Varick Dam or powerhouse.Just this fall, I watched in amazement as salmon anglers were ignoring the river’s numerous warning signs, sirens and restricted areas. In particular, guys were fishing in a dangerous stretch in front of Brookfield’s Varick hydroplant, where there’s a shelf right next to a 12-foot drop-off. It’s where two fishermen were initially standing before they drowned the year before.Read my story from last fall.What changed?Back then, despite all the signs, sirens and roped off areas, the unresolved issue was that Brookfield actually had no power to do anything. The reason was that the land where the fishermen stepped into the water on the west side, and the river bottom in front of both the dam and power plant, is owned by the city of Oswego.“The city was not interested in filing complaints against fishermen,” said the DEC’s Capt. Woody Erickson. Oswego Mayor Tom Gillen, who took office Jan. 1, said that an agreement has since been was reached between city and Brookfield officials. The city granted Brookfield permission to use and oversee the property’s use, he said.Gillen emphasized that a city policeman would not be posted at the location, nor would one be routinely swinging to check angler for life preservers. Brookfield staff will be responsible for monitoring the area.“If an angler gives Brookfield personnel issues or makes a problem, we (city police) or the DEC will respond and issue a ticket for trespassing,” the mayor said Thursday.Free, loaner, Coast Guard-approved, life jackets of all sizes are available near the location, courtesy of the Wear It! Oswego program, a collaboration of the city, the count’s Department of Community Development, Tourism and Planning and the Palladium-Times newspaper. In addition, the Pauldine family, who lost a son who drowned several decades ago in the river, donated $1,000 to buy new life jackets. They can be obtained by anglers at the Wright’s Landing Marina, 21 Lake Street, and at the city’s fire stations on the east and west side of the city.Borrowers must sign a waiver form and leave a valid driver’s license (except children under 18, who required permission and the signature of a parent or legal guardian). For more, call the marina at 342-8186 or the fire department at 343-2161.In addition to the life preservers, lettered 911 river markers have been put up on both sides of the river from the Varick dam to the river’s confluence with Lake Ontario to aid emergency rescue personnel when responding to an emergency. Rescue throw bags and rings have been put at key spots on the stretch. Finally, rescue stations and ladders are also in place.For updates on the river’s water level and flow, anglers can check the U.S. Geological Survey Web site "We appreciate all the fisherman that come to our city to fish. This is all about their safety, ” the mayor said. “We just don’t want anyone drowning up here.” View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Two shoreline access areas in Brewerton, just off Interstate-81, have been popular fishing spots on the western end of Oneida Lake for years. “It’s a really great spot in the early season for walleye, and in the late fall as well,” said Al Daher, co-owner of Mickey’s Bait and Tackle in North Syracuse, of the southern location. “Now, there’s... Peter Chen/The Post-StandardPat Giarrusso (bottom), of Syracuse, fishes under the I-81 overpass to Oneida Lake, in Brewerton. Two shoreline access areas in Brewerton, just off Interstate-81, have been popular fishing spots on the western end of Oneida Lake for years.“It’s a really great spot in the early season for walleye, and in the late fall as well,” said Al Daher, co-owner of Mickey’s Bait and Tackle in North Syracuse, of the southern location.“Now, there’s weeds and the walleye fishing is harder to do. Anglers who go there now catch sunfish, perch, smallmouth bass, pickerel and a northern pike on occasion — and sometimes you’ll pick up a walleye, too.”The southern spot is readily accessible and there’s plenty of parking. To get there, exit Interstate-81 at the Brewerton exit. Take a right on Bartel Road and go back over I-81. Turn right on Kathan Road. The parking area, which doubles as a commuter parking lot, is immediately on the right.There’s a path to the lake and a foot bridge to get to a section that enables you to fish either side of I-81 in an area that’s covered with rip-rap (big rocks).The northern spot, located off Route 37 near I-81, is a similar setup in that there’s a parking area and a path to the lake. There’s also a 10-by-12-foot handicapped-acessible fishing platform. Anglers catch the same types of fish as they do at the southern site.On either side, there’s no bathrooms and no charge.“It’s deeper water on the northern side with less weeds, and once again best in the spring and fall. You can fish off the rocks or the deck underneath the bridge,” said Daher’s brother, James. “The only problem with the deck is it’s high off the water and you need a long-handled net if you get a fish.” View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Great number of bass were noted following two electro-shocking outings near a shoreline. In the next couple of weeks, DEC staff will be using gill nets and traps to examine the deeper water in Cazenovia Lake. This spring, state Department of Environmental Conservation staff started taking a closer look at the fish in Cazenovia Lake.“It’s a fishery assessment,” said David Lemon, regional fisheries manager for the DEC’s Region 7. “What we’ve found so far is the lake is very healthy. Among other things, there’s a tremendous abundance of largemouth bass.”It’s been awhile since anything like this has been done on Cazenovia Lake, he said, noting that the assessment is unrelated to a joint Cazenovia village/town project to add chemicals to control milfoil. That project is in its third year, and the third treatment was recently completed.Lemon said the DEC’s fishery assessment was prompted more by increased public access to the lake in recent years. The DEC wanted to evaluate the overall health of the fishery, he said, and see if there’s a need for additional management. For example, some anglers have requested that walleye should again be stocked in the lake. Walleye were stocked decades ago.Lemon said DEC staff conducted a couple of nights of electro-shocking along a certain stretch of shoreline. They ended up capturing and releasing a wide variety of panfish, largemouth bass and two walleyes — one measuring about 10 inches long.One thing that stood out, Lemon said, was the large number and wide range in sizes of the largemouth bass captured. The DEC staff recorded nearly 500 fish in six hours of shocking. The biggest was about 20 inches.Lemon said the chemical treatments for the milfoil will not hurt the lake’s fishery. However, he said, the changes in the lake’s aquatic vegetation will mostly change “the distribution” of the fish throughout the lake.Shortly after the first milfoil treatment in the summer of 2010, there was a significant die-off of largemouth bass and some panfish. The dead fish were sent to Cornell University for analysis and it was determined they died from an “elevated level of external parasites on the fish,” resulting from high water temperatures in the lake that summer.At the time, Paul Bowser, a professor of aquatic animal medicine, said there was no reason to believe the fish were affected by the milfoil defoliant chemicals.In the next couple of weeks, Lemon said, DEC staff will be using gill nets and traps to examine the deeper water in Cazenovia Lake.“That should give us a complete picture,” he said. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Those who go to all three sessions can get their hunter safety, bow safety and waterfowl identification certificates. Girls and boys ages 12-14 are invited to the Montezuma Audubon Center for up to three weeks of sportsman education. Those who go to all three of the sessions can get their hunter safety, bow safety and waterfowl identification certificates.The sessions are:Week 1: Hunter safety, July 16-20 (register by July 6)Week 2: Bow safety, July 23-27 (register by July 13)Week 3: Waterfowl ID, July 3-Aug. 3 (register by July 20)Each session, according to a press release from the Audubon Center, will feature “interesting classroom-style learning, covering the basics of each course, enhanced by hands-on outdoor field lessons, including orienteering, canoeing, tracking game and more. Participants will also take part in conservation projects that enhance habitats for game species.”The sessions will go from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.Youngsters can sign up for one, two or three weeks of sessions. The cost is $45 for one week, $80 for two and $110 for all three. An additional $10 will be charged for early drop-off or late pick-up.For more information or to register, call 365-3588 or email [email protected]. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

There are reports of water fleas beginning to show up on Lake Cayuga. CNY FISHING FORECAST Bait stores (list and map). CAYUGA LAKE There are reports of waterfleas beginning to show up. When water fleas become abundant they can make trolling frustrating, so be prepared with flea flicker line. Lake trout are being caught on spoons and Spin Doctors and flies fished 50 to 200 feet down over 50 to 250 feet of water. Vertical jigging has also been good for lake trout in 75 to 95 feet of water. Bass fishing has been excellent on the north and south ends.CROSS LAKE/SENECA RIVER Anglers continue to caught some nice northern pike, but high winds kept many off the lake this week. They’re also bringing in lots of bass, panfish and catfish. Pike are also being caught in the Seneca River on spinner bait and pike minnows. INLAND TROUT STREAMSStreams are down and clear. To find out how many trout (and what kind) are stocked in your favorite Onondaga County stream, call 689-0003. To hear the DEC’s weekly fishing report, which includes a list of streams that have been stocked in Region 7, call 607-753-1551.LAKE ONTARIO Chinook salmon and lake trout are being found in 100 to 200 feet of water. Fishing down 90 to 150 feet with spoons, flashers & flies or flashers and cut-bait is working for the salmon. The Brown trout fishing has been good in the morning in shallow water, around 10 feet, and then out to 20 to 50 feet of water as the day gets brighter.ONEIDA LAKE Walleye anglers continue to do well on the lake with fish being taken in various depths. Good baits continue to be bucktail jigs tipped with a minnow or nightcrawler; spinner and worm rigs; stickbaits and blade baits. Bass and pickerel fishing also continues to be very good in most of the lake.OSWEGO RIVER Walleye continue to hit early in the morning on night crawlers, leeches, bucktail jigs and large stickbaits. Sheepshead, white perch, catfish and rock bass are active throughout the river with crayfish or worms working.OTISCO LAKE A few walleye are being taken after dark by anglers casting stickbaits off the causeway. Trolling with stickbaits is also producing a few walleye during the day and after dark. Brown trout are also being taken on stickbaits trolled near the surface. Bass fishing continues to be good araound the lake, with an occasional tiger muskie being taken OWASCO LAKE Reports of lots of bass and perch being taken on crayfish and fathead minnows. A few lake trout are being taken in 130 to 150 foot of water on spoons. A few lake trout are being taken in 130 to 150 foot of water on spoons. Northern pike are hitting large minnows on the south end.SALMON RIVER Things are quiet on the river this time of year. Nothing to report this week. SANDY POND Northern pike fishing continues to be good for anglers using Rapalas and spinnerbaits.SENECA LAKE Anglers fishing of the pier are catching northern pike on minnows, stickbaits and spoons. Lake trout are hitting streamers and stickbaits, fluorescent rainbow trout has been a good color, fished 75 feet down. Brown trout are being taken in the middle section of the lake (Lodi to long Point) by anglers trolling and also by shore anglers. The shore anglers are getting brown trout just before dark on live bait and also on stickbaits fished near the surface. Perch are scattered, but when you find them some good -sized ones are being caught. SKANEATELES LAKE Bass fishing along the shore continues to be good with a variety of plastic baits working. Some perch are still being taken on jigs and fathead minnows in 25 feet of water. Anglers pulling wire are getting some lake trout on spoons, but overall, trout fishing has been slow. Tthe brown drake hatch is pretty much over.SODUS BAY Bass fishing has been good in the shallows, out to about 12 feet of water. Good lures have been spinnerbaits, topwaters and a variety of plastics. ST. LAWRENCE RIVERBass are biting on crayfish or tube jigs. Lots of northern pike are being taken on Huskie Jerk lures or pike minnows in 20 to 30 feet of water.WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR Trolling with worm harnesses and night crawlers has been producing lots of walleye action, but many are under the 18-inch size limit. Walleye are also being taken on jigs tipped with leeches. Smallmouth bass area being taken along the shoreline. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

I'm also looking for anyone who has been attacked or had a scary encounter with a coyote while hunting locally, or while doing some other kind of outdoor pursuit. Also, anyone who has lost a pet (small dog/cat) to a coyote. Peter Chen/The Post-StandardPat Giarrusso (bottom), of Syracuse, fishes under the I-81 overpass to Oneida Lake, in Brewerton. Here's what's on tap for this week in the Outdoors pages of The Post-StandardFRIDAY:Main piece: Second in a series of "Shoreline Hot Spots," highlighting great spots to catch fish from shore in CNY. This week we'll be looking at Brewerton Fishing Access, located at the western end of Oneida Lake, just off Bartel Road.Column: We mention that officials have once again added chemicals to Caz Lake to get rid of milfoil, and ask DEC officials about what's planned to monitor the effects on the lake's fish population.Sunday:Main piece: I reported recently that a coyote attacked a turkey hunter in Tioga County, mistaking him for a hen. The question goes begging, particularly with coyotes become more plentiful around here.. just how dangerous are they? We ask several wildlife experts.Column: Still mulling my options.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.-Folks I'd like to get in contact with for future stories/columns:- Anglers who have fished the pro/am tournaments on Lake Ontario and have opinions about the "open communication rule" in the competitions. - Individuals who have successfully hunt wild boar in the Cortland County/Onondaga county area, or property owners who can show me recent examples of damage to the land/crops caused by these animals.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

A total of $2,000 in prizes were handed out during the two days. Results for the June 23-24, Onondaga Lake Partnership Free Fishing Weekend Carp Derby (Featured $1,500 in prizes)Total Weight1. Ben Markle - Pulaski, NY : 101lbs 12oz2. Charles Ames - Constantia, NY : 86 lbs 6oz 3. Joshua Snow - Binghamton, NY : 79 lbs 9ozBiggest 4 Fish1. Ben Markle - Pulaski, NY : 84 lbs 12oz2. Joshua Snow - Binghamton, NY : 79 lbs 9 oz3. Charles Ames - Constantia, NY : 75 lbs 12 ozBig Fish 1. Ben Markle - Pulaski, NY : 30 lbs 2 oz2. Charles Ames - Constantia, NY : 25 lbs 12 oz3.Joshua Snow - Binghamton, NY : 23 lbs 9 ozFamily Fun Fish Derby (Featured $500 in prizes)Adult Division Sunfish1. Shawn King2. Mikalya Pangano, - Pennellville, NY Perch1. Niels Vanhoesel - Rome, NY2. Derek McLeod Catfish1. Shawn King Carp1. Luz Butler - Auburn, NY2. Tyler King - Syracuse------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Junior Division Smallmouth Bass Zack Ryan Largemouth Bass1. Adam King 2. Nico Pangaro - Pennellville Sunfish1. Jacob Ferco2. Matt Cabal - Syracuse, NY Perch1. Lucas Tummion - Syracuse, NY2. Austia Ingerso - Cato, NY CatfishDaute Furco CarpCaleb Blake - Liverpool, NY Most Fish Caught 1. Allison Dashnow - Sandy Creek, NY2. Kaden McQuage - Phoenix, NY View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

“We’ve never seen a strong relationship between angler catch rates and the walleye population,” said Randy Jackson. I reported Friday on how Oneida Lake’s walleye fishing has just been phenomenal lately, citing interviews with two local charter boat captains and a local bait shop owner.Is there a scientific explanation? Yes. It comes down to a lack of a certain bait fish this year in the lake.Randy Jackson, senior research associate at the Cornell Biological Field Station at Shackleton Point, pays little credence to theories of some that the lake is simply loaded with more walleyes than ever, or that somehow the mild winter has affected the catch rate.“Right now, we estimate there’s about 460,000 adult fish in the lake, which is pretty good compared to the last decade but half of what was in the lake back in the 1960s and 1970s,” he said. “Last year, we estimated there were about 500,000 adult walleye in the lake. This year, the numbers are down about 40,000.”Jackson said his field station has been looking at walleye catch rates on Oneida Lake stretching back into the 1950s and 60s, the 1990s and a good chunk of the 2000s.“We’ve never seen a strong relationship between angler catch rates and the walleye population,” he said. “For example, back in the 1950s and 1960s, when the walleye population was twice as much as it is today, the catch rates from our surveys were about the same — about .3 walleye per hour.”He said the best catch rate in recent memory — a rate that from the sounds of things, might be achieved this year — was about .75 walleye per hour back in 2004.Was their any similarity between what happened that year with the lake and what’s happening this spring and early summer?Yes, said Jackson. In both years, the yellow perch population, specifically those perch that were hatched and survived from the previous year, were down.Jackson said year-old, perch fry are the primary food source in the lake for walleyes this time of year. The numbers, he said, just aren’t there.The bottom line: “When the bait fish population is down and there’s nothing for them to eat, they’re easier to catch. When there’s lots of food (bait fish) the catch rates go down,” he said.Jackson said his staff determines the number of walleye and bait fish in the lake using proven, time-tested techniques.He said every three years, the Cornell staff goes to the DEC fish hatchery in Constantia in the springtime and clips the fins of some 20,000 adult walleyes that are captured during the spawning run. The staff then uses a combination of nets in deeper water and electroshocking near shore to capture and count the fish. The proportion of clipped fins taken in those samples give the researchers a good estimate of the lake’s walleye population.When it comes to bait fish, Jackson said, the Cornell staff uses a bottom trawl to net the fish at a set spot each year. Like with walleye, they then extrapolate from those numbers to reach a lake-wide number. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Call the DEC Region 7 Fisheries office in Cortland at 607-753-3095, ext. 213 The state Department of Environmental Conservation is looking for “angler diary cooperators” for the Finger Lakes. Reports from fishermen help the DEC come up with its weekly, online fishing report, among other things.According to the DEC website: “Our numbers have dropped in recent years and we need new cooperators now more than ever.”If you fish Cayuga, Owasco, Skaneateles, or Otisco Lakes and want to learn more about this program see the DEC website or contact the Region 7 Fisheries office at (607) 753-3095 ext. 213. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Anglers young and old gathered this past weekend at Willow Bay at Onondaga Lake Park to participate in the Onondaga Lake Partnership's Eighth Annual Free Fishing Weekend. Anglers young and old gathered Saturday at Willow Bay at Onondaga Lake Park to participate in a carp fishing derby.The action, which lasted from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., was part of the Onondaga Lake Partnership’s Eighth Annual Free Fishing Weekend. A total of $1,500 in prizes were offered.The action picked up again Sunday morning with a Family Fishing Derby from 9 a.m. to noon, also at Willow Bay, with more than $500 prizes offered. The cost to enter was $2 for adults; $1 for children.It was all part of the state-wide, Free Fishing Days. If you’d never fished before, this past weekend was a good chance to start.Currently, a freshwater fishing license costs $29. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

“Composting is a fairly forgiving process. If we do it well, we can make a 1,200-pound animal disappear in three months. The bones will still be there, but the carcass will be gone,” said one expert. The following is a press release:ITHACA, N.Y. – Composting isn't just for veggie scraps. It's often the best way to deal with roadkill, livestock mortality and even large-scale animal deaths due to floods, fires or other catastrophes.Many people, including some farmers, assume it's best to bury animals underground. In fact, it's safer and kills pathogens more effectively when carcasses are composted in unturned piles, according to Jean Bonhotal, director of the Cornell Waste Management Institute.“Most of the time they get buried, but that brings them 6 feet closer to the water table,” Bonhotal said.Carcass fluids from improperly disposed animals can leach into wells, creeks or drain pipes, spreading bacteria and viruses.“Composting is a fairly forgiving process. If we do it well, we can make a 1,200-pound animal disappear in three months. The bones will still be there, but the carcass will be gone,” Bonhotal said.But there are instances when composting is not appropriate. For example, animals with a prion disease, such as mad cow or chronic wasting disease, need to be incinerated or chemically treated. Cornell's alkaline hydrolysis digester, which uses high heat, high pressure and a chemical bath to quickly digest animal carcasses, is the state-designated facility to dispose of animals with prion diseases.Most of the time, however, composting is the best way to go. It's faster, easier, more effective and, unlike burial, can be done year-round, Bonhotal said.Rendering, a process that converts animal tissue into value-added materials such as tallow, is another option, but the industry can't manage as much of the dead stock as they have in the past, she said.Bonhotal works with agencies and individuals to spread the message of proper animal waste disposal. Several years ago, the Waste Management Institute teamed up with the New York State Department of Transportation to address roadkill disposal; dead deer picked up by the agency are now composted.She also helped organize the fourth International Animal By-products Symposium held in May in Dearborn, Mich., and funded by the Department of Homeland Security through the National Center for Foreign Animal and Zoonotic Disease Defense and Michigan State University. Other topics discussed at the event included safely dealing with euthanized animals; containing animal-originated food disease outbreaks; and state, federal and international agency disaster response planning and policy.There's still progress to be made in achieving best practices for animal carcass disposal, Bonhotal said.Earlier this year, for example, 300 pigs were killed in a fire on an upstate farm and buried."The day after a disaster, the farmers just want to have the animals gone. And they may not have the confidence that composting will work," Bonhotal said. "But they may pay for it later with environmental damage." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He said on the initial hit the salmon took out nearly 500 feet of line. Submitted photoMichael Juskow, of Cicero, caught this feisty, 28-pound, chinook salmon on Lake Ontario while fishing out of Fair Haven on his son’s boat.The 43-inch fish hit a white Echip with a white fly on a dipsy diver in 120 feet of water, he said. He said on the initial hit the salmon took out nearly 500 feet of line and that it took nearly a half hour to land. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog