HuntingNY-News

It was caught off the grandparent's dock. Submitted photo Dave Wameling sent in this photo with the following story: "My wife and I live at 8476 Tuttle Road in Bridgeport on Chittenango Creek. We also have a home in Daytona Beach and we spend our winters there. "My daughter stopped in March to check on the house in Bridgeport and due to the much better than normal weather and the creek still ”open” her husband and daughter came along and he decided to go fishing off the dock with my granddaughter. He got “skunked” but she showed him how it is done. Although that was a catch and release - I know why I don’t get anything when I get home – she got them! "Anyway, her name is Madeline (Madi) Ancone and she turned 9 in February, her Father is Lenard (Lenny) and her mom is Theresa." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Mark Manning caught and released this nice largemouth bass on Otisco Lake on May 4. "It hit a Bass Pro Shops XPS jerk bait. I was fishing with Jeremy Cooper who took the picture," he said. Submitted photo Mark Manning caught and released this nice largemouth bass on Otisco Lake on May 4. "It hit a Bass Pro Shops XPS jerk bait. I was fishing with Jeremy Cooper who took the picture," he said. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

" I'm trying to get.my sons outside.and enjoy the outdoors ....get away from XBOX. We love it and I cherish these times," the father said. Submitted photo Scott Collins sent in this photo with the following story: "My 10 year old son, Matthew Collins caught this 22- pound, striped bass May 5. He's in 5th grade at Wellwood Middle School in Fayetteville. It was caught it on the Hudson River near Troy. "My other son, Patrick Collins is 14 and in 8th grade at Wellwood. He didn't catch a fish but did.get his first tom turkey during.the youth hunt weekend. See Patrick's bird."I'm trying to get.my sons outside.and enjoy the outdoors ....get away from XBOX. We love it and I cherish these times." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

We’re looking for amusing or eye-opening photos taken in Upstate New York, everything from birds to bears. No insects. The Post-Standard is once again holding a wildlife photography contest. The deadline for submitting entries is June 6. The top photos will run on the Outdoors Page in The Post Standard on Father’s Day, June 17. We’re looking for amusing or eye-opening photos taken in Upstate New York, everything from birds to bears. No insects. Photographers can submit up to three photos, no more. Send photos via e-mail to [email protected] in .jpg format. Each photo must be sent as a separate e-mail and include the full name of the photographer, a description of what’s in the photo, the date and time it was taken and a daytime phone number for questions. Photos should be high resolution files, no larger than 5 Mb. Also, in the subject field of each e-mail, include the words “Wildlife photo,” your name and the number of the photo you’ve sent. Example: Wildlife photo, Bill Smith, 1 of 3. Last year’s top photo was a striking shot of a white-tailed buck by Sherry Dans of Cortland. The photo was taken on the edge of a forest at the city of Cortland’s Water Works. Questions? Contact outdoors editor David Figura at [email protected] or call 470-6066. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

I'll be on the Spring Safari of the New York State Outdoors Writers Group. The idea is for the writers to visit an area, sample its outdoor offerings and then return home to write about what they saw and did — giving outsiders a glimpse into what the area has to offer. I’ll be testing the woods and waters of Cortland County today and Saturday. I’m a member and serve on the board of the New York State Outdoor Writers Association. The group is having its annual “Spring Safari” in Cortland County this weekend. The gathering is coordinated by the Cortland Convention and Visitors Bureau, and fellow outdoor writers J. Michael Kelly, my predecessor at the newspaper, and Michael Joyner, author and turkey hunting guide. The idea is for the writers to visit an area, sample its outdoor offerings and then return home to write about what they saw and did — giving outsiders a glimpse into what the area has to offer. I’ve signed up to go turkey hunting with a guide, to fish a local trout stream, to fish for panfish in Tully Lake from a kayak or canoe and to fish the Tioughnioga River in a canoe. Other activities being offered include hiking horseback riding — even an outing to hunt for wild boar on state land. I'll fill you in when I get back next week View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The season opens at 12:01 a.m. Saturday and Oneida Lake is the place to be, thanks to the 34th Annual Cicero-Mattydale Lions Club Walleye Fishing Derby. Let the walleye fishing begin. The season opens at 12:01 a.m. Saturday and Oneida Lake is the place to be, thanks to the 34th Annual Cicero-Mattydale Lions Club Walleye Fishing Derby. The derby begins at 12:01 and lasts until Sunday afternoon. Anglers can register right up until midnight today at the Gander Mountain store’s customer service desk in Cicero. The store’s bait shop will be open until then, said Rick Teschler, the store’s fishing supervisor. Anglers can also register throughout the day at a number of other businesses and bait shops around the lake. Cost is enter is $10, which includes eligibility for a variety of raffles, Teschler said. The biggest fish this year will get $1,000 and there are also three tagged fish out, Teschler said. One is tagged for $1,000, the other two for $500 and $250, respectively. There will also be a lot of other prizes awarded , including ones for the biggest fish weighed daily at each of the lake’s eight, weigh-in stations. The tournament lasts until 3 p.m. Sunday, with the final weigh-in at the Gander Mountain store parking lot. In addition, the 40-foot-long, outdoors Berkeley Fish Tank, which will feature a good sampling of walleye and bass, will be up today in the store’s parking lot. Two local walleye pros, Brian Hammond, of Cicero, and Bob Green, of Minnesota, will be on hand at 6 p.m. tonight, 2 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday to give seminars on walleye fishing. Last year, nearly 2,000 anglers competed in this derby. For further information, call Teschler at the store at 698-1100. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Oneida Lake was ranked 14th out of 100 lakes in recent Bassmaster Magazine story listing the top 100 bass fishing lakes in the country The condition of Oneida Lake and its popular fishery drew a lot of attention Wednesday at the annual meeting of the Oneida Lake Association, held in the Cicero-North Syracuse High School auditorium. Charter boat captain Tony Buffa announced at the meeting’s start that there was a “power-packed agenda” as 20 association board members and guest speakers sat on the stage before the nearly full auditorium. The two-hour meeting include board elections, various reports and presentations, an unscheduled appearance by Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle, R-Onondaga Hill, who promised to continue pursuing federal funding for cormorant harassment on the lake which was stopped in 2009. There was also the reading of a position statement opposing a recent state Department of Environmental Conservation proposal calling for year-round, catch-and-release bass fishing on the lake. Bass fishing on Oneida is currently banned between March 15 and the first Saturday in May when the lake’s walleye are spawning. Association officials say lifting the ban could result in more off-season, walleye poaching. Among the other topics covered: The water/invasive species :The one constant about Oneida Lake is change. Infiltration over the past two decades of zebra and quagga mussels, both invasive species, have resulted in the lake water being clearer, which has resulted in more weed growth. That, coupled with steadily increasing temperatures, continue to affect the lake from top to bottom. Meanwhile, officials are expecting the arrival of round gobies, another invasive, in the lake either this year or next. They’ve been spotted on Onondaga Lake, Cross Lake and the Three Rivers area — waterways connected to Oneida. It’s not clear what impact this small fish will have. Pulse of the fishery :Randy Jackson, senior research associate and associate director at Cornell’s Field Station, reported that the lake’s walleye and perch populations are both healthy and stable, but down from the “peak years” more than two decades ago. He noted the most abundant fish in the lake currently appears to be white perch. He emphasized the lake’s bass population — particularly the smallmouths — has benefited greatly from changes in the lake (clearer water, warmer temperatures and more vegetation). Hatchery news :Mark Babenzien, who manages the state hatchery in Constantia, reported this spring’s walleye collection process was among the most unique in the 20 years the hatchery has been in existence. He noted the fish spawned earlier than usual and, when netted, were in various stages of the egg-laying process. Regardless, all the hatchery’s goals for walleye egg collection were met, he said. In addition to walleye, he noted the hatchery is also raising sturgeon to be stocked in Oneida and elsewhere in the state, paddlefish to be stocked in western New York waters and round whitefish, which will be stocked in Central Adirondack waters. Speaking of sturgeon: Jackson reported that, for the first time since sturgeon were stocked in Oneida and other nearby waters in 1995, “the first documented, fertile females” were spotted last month in the Three Rivers area. Female sturgeon usually take upwards of 20 years or more until they’re mature enough to spawn. Jackson quickly added that sturgeon stocked in Oneida Lake seem to mature faster than anywhere in the country. Common tern population: Paul Curtis, extension wildlife specialist in the Department of Natural Resources at Cornell University, reported sizeable populations of common terns are successfully breeding on three islands on the lake — Little Island, Wantry and Long Island. Curtis said this is probably the southern-most inland breeding ground of the bird in this state. He said this bird migrates south each year as far as South America. The birds are being tagged and monitored. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Despite recently receiving a visit from the Secret Service over comments he made about President Obama, the ever-outspoken rocker Ted Nugent remains unbowed. View the full article

He said this advice is mostly an "eastern end of the lake" phenomenon. Ted Dobs, of Cicero, an Oneida Lake charter boat captain who's affiliated with Lake Ontario Outdoors, told me in an article that I wrote recently that the Oneida Lake shoreline fishing scene on opening day would probably be problematic, that must walleyes would be out in the deeper water. Today, he's radically changing his tune. Read his following report and prediction: "This will be the best inshore bite on the Eastern end of Oneida we have seen in my 30 years of fishing Oneida. I have been watching hundreds of walleyes coral the over abundance of emerald shiners (buckeye minnows) in the marinas, creeks and canal at sylvan beach for the last 3 nights. "One night last Saturday a few of us were setting up for a kids fishing event for Sunday. We watched as minnows began to fly out of the water. Normally we don't have baitfish like this. "Its a result of LaNina (this is a fact) with abnormal warm winter and spring. We figured crappie had to be chasing the minnows. We all casted small grubs and to our surprise we all caught a walleye almost at once. A spotlight that night and 3 days after confines hundreds of glowing eyes I usually only see in the fall. This was in the very back of a marina! "Anglers should easily limit out at night casting stickbaits. The best by far is a Challenger JR Minnow. Can't explain why, but for some reason Oneida eyes hit that lure better than any I have ever used. Green silver, black silver or blue silver is all you need. Let me say this again, as I'm not plugging here, (no pun) the Challenger Jr Minnow is in its own category. "It is a MUST HAVE on Oneida Bucktail Jigs and sonars always will work, but the warmer water at eastern end has walleye extremly active and chasing bait so throwing stickbaits will work and may produce some larger fish. And if your going after the shallow fish chasing bait, its the only option as jigs and sonars you need a minum of 6 ft to really fish effectivly. Many of the walleyes I watched feeding were in 2 ft of water. "The western end is very clear, and did not see as much activity. "Unless something drastic happens this should be the best opening day in the history of the eastern end of Oneida Lake. Its worth the drive! . I'm leaving my boat on the trailer and fishing from shore. Its going to be incredible. My original prediction was guys would do better deep and the bite would be tuff. "Throw that in the garbage!" View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The N.R.A. objects to an Op-Ed article, “I Hunt, but the N.R.A. Isn’t for Me.” View the full article

Despite recently receiving a visit from the Secret Service over comments he made about President Obama, the ever-outspoken rocker Ted Nugent remains unbowed. View the full article

All firewood for sale is standing, live trees located off-road and will require a chainsaw, tractor and cart or a 4-wheel drive truck for cutting, access and hauling. The trees available for cutting are marked by DEC foresters. The following is a DEC press release: The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is accepting bids from homeowners to cut firewood on state forests in Chenango and Madison counties. Due to the increased demand for firewood, sales will only be offered through a sealed bid auction and not by lottery. Unlike past years, there is no need to sign up in advance to participate in the bid process. All firewood for sale is standing, live trees located off-road and will require a chainsaw, tractor and cart or a 4-wheel drive truck for cutting, access and hauling. The trees available for cutting are marked by DEC foresters. This is done to ensure that the only wood removed is done for conservation and habitat reasons. Removal of marked trees improves forest health and the growing stock of understory trees and vegetation. Bid applications are available for firewood in state forests in the following towns: Afton, Brookfield , Columbus, Coventry, DeRuyter, Georgetown, German, Guilford, Lebanon, McDonough, Nelson, New Berlin, North Norwich, Otselic, Oxford, Pharsalia, Plymouth and Smithville. Bid sheets are available on DEC’s website or from DEC’s Sherburne office (Monday through Friday 8 am to 3 pm) and will be accepted until 2 pm on May 23, 2012. Maps depicting the location of each lot are available at the Sherburne office as well. Minimum bids for each lot are listed on the bid sheet and reflect a price of $15 per cord for interior lots and $20 a cord for roadside lots. Persons may bid on as many firewood lots as they wish; however, any person or group who is the high bidder on multiple lots will only be awarded one lot for firewood cutting purposes. Cutting and removal of firewood may begin on June 1, 2012. All firewood must be cut and removed by September 10, 2012. In an effort to prevent the spread of invasive insect species, such as the Emerald Ash Borer and the Asian Long-horned Beetle, state regulations prohibit moving firewood that has not been heat treated more than 50 miles. Persons completing bid sheets under this program may transport cut trees no more than 50 miles from where the wood is felled. They also must complete a “Self-Issued Certificate for Transport” form and carry it with them when transporting the wood. For more information on firewood movement restrictions visit the DEC website or call 1-866-640-0652 or e-mail [email protected] Any person operating a chainsaw for any purpose while cutting firewood is required to wear Personal Protective Equipment including at least the following: hard hat, eye protection, hearing protection and cut-resistant chaps or pants. Chainsaws must be equipped with properly functioning safety devices including a chain brake. One should not apply if you do not have access to this equipment. Other firewood sales rules are available when one applies for a bid sheet as well as on the DEC website. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The proposal stipulates that the fish must be raised in a hatchery. The DEC is seeking public input on this through June 18. Submitted photoNick Costanzo, age 10 of Baldwinsville. He caught this 19-1/2" largemouth bass fishing with a crab that he caught by himself at Lorton Lake at his Grandparent's camp. The photo was taken in 2009. The following is a DEC press release: The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today proposed changes to regulations for commercially sold black bass requiring that the fish be hatchery-raised, DEC Commissioner Joe Martens announced. The proposed regulations will make it easier for farm-raised black bass (large and smallmouth bass) to be sold in New York state by allowing anyone who purchases the fish from a licensed hatchery, such as fish markets, to resell the fish in New York. Under current regulations, only licensed hatchery operators can sell black bass in New York state. DEC will accept formal public comments on the proposals through June 18. “The proposed regulations will make it easier for aquaculturists and fish markets within and outside of New York state to sell hatchery-reared bass for food, while continuing to protect wild bass populations that are the foundation of our popular and economically important bass fisheries,” Martens said “New York provides excellent fishing opportunities for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass, and DEC has included measures in this proposal to safeguard the state’s black bass sport fishery.” DEC worked with representatives of the aquaculture industry and the New York Farm Bureau to establish procedures requiring adequate record keeping ensuring bass being sold commercially originate from licensed aquaculture operations and not from wild sources. “This proposal is the victory New York’s black bass hatcheries have been fishing for!” said Dean Norton, president of New York Farm Bureau. “On behalf of our members I would like to thank Commissioner Martens and DEC for moving forward with this balanced initiative that helps farmers, while still protecting wild fish populations. Opening up the New York state market for New York fish growers is an important step in helping these businesses grow and support new farm jobs. "This is also a win for consumers because it allows our fish farmers to meet a strong and growing demand for black bass in New York, and not be forced to export their products to Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, simply to stay in business.” The proposed regulations address food sales including labeling bass containers used for transportation, retaining purchase and sale records by distributors, and requiring that bass being sold live in retail markets must be killed before being transferred to retail customers. Bass being sold for stocking into waters within the state must come from sources that have been inspected for and found free of harmful fish pathogens, a requirement that has been in effect since 2006. The full text of the regulation change and instructions for submitting comments can be found on DEC’s website . Comments on the proposed regulations can be sent via e-mail to [email protected], or mailed to Phil Hulbert, New York State DEC, Bureau of Fisheries, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4753. Hard copies of the full text may be requested from Phil Hulbert at the same address listed above. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The biggest fish caught of the day was a 9.06 pound drum. Overall, 90 percent of the field reported catching fish on some kind. Submitted photoThe day’s big fish was a drum (sheephead) that weighed 9.06 lbs. brought in by the NYBCF President Chuck Rowlee and soldiers John Haddon and Jeff Hart. The following is a press release from NY BASS Chapter Federation: The NY BASS Chapter Federation held its fourth annual Take a Soldier Fishing on April 28th launching out of Oneida Shores Park in Brewerton. The day started at 6 a.m. with 72 volunteer boaters assembling at the park to meet the 132 soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division. Many of these soldiers had just returned to upstate New York after a 13 -month deployment to Afghanistan and all seemed very eager to get on the water and sample the fishing Oneida Lake offers. As with many fishing events Mother Nature made her presence known by sending a record cold front through the area the evening before and participants were greeted with 29 degrees temperatures at the morning registration. To kick off the event, soldiers received a free Bass Pro Shops rod & reel combo, donated tackle, and Dunkin Donuts & coffee. Soldiers received short safety brief, were paired two to a boat and launched at 9 a.m. with the goal of boater & soldiers teaming to catch the biggest fish in season. Many boat teams decided to forgo trying for a weigh-in fish and instead focused their angling efforts in the Oneida River west of the Interstate 81 Bridge seeking rod action available from pre-spawn smallmouth bass. Oneida Lake has a closed season for black bass until the third Saturday in June and only select species (Drum, Common Carp, Bowfin, and pan fish) were designated as eligible weigh-in fish. Several boat teams stayed in the main lake in pursuit of these fish. By the 1 PM weigh-in the temperatures heated up to the 50 degree range and the bite was on. The Bass Pro Shops Pontoon boat piloted by Mark Kratz reports catching 32 smallmouth bass and Pickerel on tubes and Boat Captain Mark Martin reported catching his biggest Oneida Lake largemouth weighing 6.10 lbs. Overall 90% of the field reported catching fish of some kind. The day’s big fish was a drum (sheep head) that weighed 9.06 lbs. brought in by the NYBCF President Chuck Rowlee and soldiers John Haddon and Jeff Hart. Second place went to the team of boat captain Marty Bertrand and soldiers Jimmy Shepard and Frank Doles with a Drum of 2.46 lbs. Taking third place honors with a drum weighing 2.03 lbs. were boat captain Gerry Rosenbarker and soldiers Kalob Woods and Chris Clark. After the weigh-in participants were treated to a cookout served by volunteers followed up by a free raffle draw for prizes consisting of movie tickets, dinner coupons, car washes, oil changes, charter trips on Lake Ontario and the St Lawrence River, more fishing tackle, rods reels and other goods and merchandise. As special thank you go to the all that volunteered for shore duty; Joe Maloof, Bill Lamanche, Kevin Seymore, Pam & Scott Bliss, Dick Hyde, Mickey & Kathy Fortunato, Linda & Luke Martin, Terry & Jeff Botting, Joe Sager, Nancy Bonk, Mitchell Monini and Andrew Telesca Event Sponsors Bass Pro Shops, Modern Welding, Association of the United States Army (Northern NY Chapter), Mountain Community Homes, Pine Camp Flooring, Onondaga County Parks, Caskinette’s Lofink Ford, US Reel, TFO Rods, The Rod Glove, Lucky Craft Lures, Otis Technologies, Victory Graf-Ex, Kinney Drugs, MF Baits, Stanley Lures, Paul Hudson, Good Ole Boy Bassmasters, Salt City Bassmasters, Westchester Rod & Reel Bassmasters, MITSHE Charters, Dean Meckes Charters, Corning (MET Division), Onondaga County Federated Sportsmen, Fort Drum Sergeants Major Association, NYBCF Juniors, Todd Covert, Barb Elliot, Burnie & Lori Haney, Girl Scout Troop #40436, Scott & Pam Bliss, Mike & Karen Cusano, Luck-O- Irish Guide Service and Romano Subaru. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

I continue to be on the hunt for someone show has successfully hunted wild boar in CNY lately. Contact me by calling 470-6066 or emailing [email protected]. Mike Greenlar/The Post-StandardMichael Hacker, a team leader in hunting and archery at Bass Pro Shops, takes aim with a Excalibur Phoenix crossbow inside the archery range at the Fingelakes Mall store in Auburn.strong>Here's what's up this week for the Outdoors page in The Post-Standard.</strong> FRIDAY Main piece: A profile on Craig Tryon, veteran outdoors guide. Column: I precede this weekend's annual Cicero/Mattydale Lions Club annual walleye derby on Oneida Lake; I give an update on young trapshooting phenom Justin Slater and I explain why I'll be fishing and hunting Friday and Saturday in Cortland County. SUNDAY: Main piece: The law governing crossbows expires at the end of this year. Advocates and critics have their say on what should happen in regard to their use on the state's hunting scene. Column: xxx. Still mulling my options. Suggestions would be appreciated. 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: - Individuals who have, and continue to successfully hunt wild boar in the Cortland County/Onondaga county area. - Individuals with outdoor passions who would make an interesting feature story. - Someone who's saving big bucks by reloading their own ammunition. 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

The maps are an excellent tool for hunters. By using them, they can easily gauge where state and private lands lie within each WMU. The following is a DEC press release: The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Region 7/Central New York office is providing maps on its website for the first time that depict the boundaries of wildlife management units (WMUs) and state lands available for hunting within the units. The central New York region encompasses Broome, Cayuga, Cortland, Chenango, Madison, Onondaga, Oswego, Tioga and Tompkins counties. The maps are an excellent tool for hunters who are applying for deer management permits for harvesting antlerless deer. They can easily gauge where state and private lands lie within each WMU. The maps are available on the DEC Web site. “The addition of the Region 7 WMU Maps to the DEC website provide a wealth of information for sportsmen and sportswomen,” said DEC Regional Director Kenneth Lynch. “This greater accessibility provides ease in planning, assisting hunters in making decisions about hunting locations.” The new page on DEC’s website also provides links to “Places to Hunt in Region 7 by WMU." This page provides a list of all state lands located in each wildlife management unit, a description of the area and a map and directions to the property. Information is also available for hunting in the Region 7 Cayuga-Tompkins Cooperative Hunting Area. The Cooperative is predominately privately owned lands managed to provide hunting opportunity for the public. Landowners benefit by having DEC control hunting access, and the hunting activities result in reduced crop damage caused by overpopulations of wildlife. A general description of the area, the reservation system and special regulations for the area are provided. Most importantly, the page provides links to 37 individual maps of the sites available for hunting. Each map is an aerial view of the site allowing hunters to determine which site(s) best meets their needs. Descriptions, directions and maps of state-owned wildlife management areas (WMAs) are also available for the region. State forest lands with similar information are found on the DEC's Web site. Collectively these web pages provide a wealth of information for hunters in central New York. For further information on resources found in Region 7/Central New York go to the DEC Web site. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The event, held Saturday at the Dewitt Fish and Game Club, had more than 100 woman participating for free in a wide variety of outdoors-related activities. Peter Chen/The Post-StandardDebbie Waters (left), of Solvay, Micaela Mead, of Endicott, and a group of women learn about archery at the Women in Nature Outdoor Skills Workshop, held at Dewitt Fish and Game Club. Saturday's "Women in Nature Outdoors Workshop" at the Dewitt Fish and Game Club was a great success, with some 100 women participating in a host of outdoors-related workshops. The free event was sponsored once again by the Onondaga Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs. The event featured a wild game lunch, which I attended. Offerings included moose meat balls; pulled barbecued venison, pickled pickerel, tarragon pheasant and fried perch and crappie. Delicious! Seminars were offered in such areas as archery, firearms, outdoor cooking, outdoor shelter building, orienteering, flyfishing and kayaking. Peter Chen/The Post-StandardChris Craigmile, of Fayetteville, leads a group of women kayakers on Jamesville Reservior during the Women in Nature Outdoor Skills Workshop. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"(She's) waiting patiently for the blessed event," he said. Submitted photo Paul Pflanz took this neat shot of a mother Canada goose on her nest along the Erie Canal towpath at Cedar Bay in Dewitt. "He wrote: "(She's) waiting patiently for the blessed event. They say that the female chooses the nest site and then returns to the same area in subsequent nesting cycles." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"I have seen them along the QEW all across Canada on the sides of the road. I have seen them in Alaska, in Washington State as well as Oregon but it's the first time in NY. Basically they are a cairn that marks the trail," he said. and I had to share with you." Submitted photo Local hiker Ray Kozloski, sent me these two pictures with the following note: "David, this is something I have never seen before in this part of the country. "Its an "Inukshuk". I have seen them along the QEW all across Canada on the sides of the road. I have seen them in Alaska, in Washington State as well as Oregon but it's the first time in NY. Basically they are a cairn that marks the trail. "The history goes back several hundred years to the Inuit Indians traveling across the stark tundra without a way to mark their trails so ice and rocks were used. Meaning "image of man's spirit", they pointed a safe passage over land and water. They acted as reminders for the Inuets of their dependance of each other and the importance of strong relationships. Recently, Inukshuk has become popular when it was chosen as the emblem for the 2010 Canadian Winter Olympics. "This one I found on the FLT (Finger Lake lakes Trail) south of Syracuse when I was hiking yesterday, April 28. It's about 24 inches high and about 16 inches wide. I have seen some that are10 feet wide and 20 inches tall and a real work of art depicting many life activities. They are really amazing. This I thought was really cool Submitted photo View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

They got them fishing at the Big Bay Marina, using a Gary Yamamoto panfish jig. Submitted photo A smiling Alex Sanville, 9, of Jamesville, holds up a nice pair of crappie he caught while fishing with is father, Greg Sanville, and a friend in the waters around the Big Bay Marina on Oneida Lake. The fish were caught April 13. They used a Gary Yamamoto panfish jig. "We all caught our limit," the father said. "Alex caught the biggest, 15 inches." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The fish took the lower fly, a Copper John, on a tandem rig. Submitted photo Richard Spence holds up a nice, 21-inch brown trout he landed April 25 while fishing with a guide from West Branch Anglers on the West Branch of the Delaware River. The fish took the lower fly, a Copper John, on a tandem rig. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The bird sported a 8.5 in. beard and had 1-inch spurs. . Submitted photo Connor Westfalls, 13, poses with his 15.5 pound turkey he shot the opening morning of the Youth Turkey Hunt Weekend in Madison County. The bird sported a 8.5 in. beard and had 1-inch spurs. Connor goes to Cazenovia Central School and "he's quite the outdoorsman and a great hunter," according to Jeffrey Wheeler, who sent the photo. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Cusano's resume includes a wide variety of volunteer activities. Stephen Wowelko photoMike Cusano with his plaque at the banquet. Mike Cusano, past president of the state B.A.S.S. Chapter Federation, was among those inducted Saturday evening into the New York State Outdoorsmen’s Hall of Fame at its annual banquet being held at the Rusty Rail restaurant in Canastota. The Clay resident’s resume includes a wide variety of volunteer activities including working with junior anglers, organizing a water chestnut eradication program, participating in cormorant hazing, serving in various positions (including president) in the Salt City Bassmasters Club and organizing the “Take a Soldier Fishing” event. The Post-Standard honored Cusano with one of its first “Hero of Conservation” awards in 2008, which was followed shortly after by a similar recognition in Field and Stream magazine. The New York State Outdoorsman’s Hall of Fame is located in Vail Mills/Broadalbin, within the Wildlife Sports and Educational Museum. For a complete list of inductees, see the Hall's Web site. see the Hall's Web site. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Matt Carr,15, is pictured here with his father, Doug Carr II, and the turkey Matt shot on the opening day of the Youth Turkey Hunt Weekend recently. The bird was called in by the father on land in Pompey. Submitted photo Matt Carr,15, is pictured here with his father, Doug Carr II, and the turkey Matt shot on the opening day of the Youth Turkey Hunt Weekend recently. The bird was called in by the father on land in Pompey. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"I was bumped out to see the state record being 3lb 6oz," the angler said. "If I had known at the time, I would have possibly got them weighed." Submitted photo A reader of this blog, Santos Rodriquez, asked this weekend whether I thought he and his friend had caught and released a state record white bass. He wanted me to judge from submitted pictures. I lack the expertise to do that. Here's what he wrote: "I was recently looking at the state records page and it states that the white bass record is 3lb 6oz. How common are white bass in Oneida Lake? "The attached pictures were taken 4 years ago literally on Verona Beach in 2-3 feet of water. My friend Paul and I were coming in from an unsuccessful outing in my inflatable until I reeled in my first white bass. "Altogether we caught 3 white bass, 1 walleye, and 2 smallmouths. All the fish were chasing a huge bait ball that we eventually saw swimming around the boat. "My question to you is what do you think from your expertise about the weight of these fish. I was bumped out to see the state record being 3lb 6oz.. If I had known at the time, I would have possibly got them weighed." I'd like to hear what other readers say about this. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog