HuntingNY-News

Dan Richards has told critics of his hunt that because he killed a cougar in a state where such activity is legal, there is no reason to leave his position. View the full article

The hunt was legal. Nevertheless, the incident has created quite a stir in California, particularly since the cougar was hunted with dogs and treed before it was shot. "Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom joined some 40 legislators, the Sierra Club and the Humane Society of the United States this week to call for Richards' resignation," the Web site reported. The following ran recently on the San Francisco Bay Chronicle Web site. Interesting stuff. "A collective gulp was almost detectable this week when California Fish and Game Commission President Daniel Richards defiantly declared to outraged legislators that he not only gunned down a mountain lion and held the carcass like a trophy, but he then ate big cat for dinner. (The incident took place during a legal hunt in Idaho.) "The revelation that Richards complied with the backcountry rule that you eat what you shoot didn't do much to quiet calls in the Capitol for his head, but the perfectly legal shooting and consumption of puma meat certainly raised questions about his diet. "As odd and unappetizing as the dish may sound, it isn't unusual for hunters to consume cougar meat, according to hunting groups." The incident has created quite a stir in California, particularly since the cougar was hunted with dogs and treed before it was shot. "Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom joined some 40 legislators, the Sierra Club and the Humane Society of the United States this week to call for Richards' resignation," the Web site reported. "I know many, many ethical hunters are just as appalled about the idea of treeing a predator," said Jennifer Fearing, California state director for the Humane Society of the United States. "It is a trophy animal, and they used packs of dogs. He followed behind and shot it out of a tree," she said. See picture and read the full story. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"Family camping, if you like, can become decadent,” he said. Outdoors Editor David Figura will be at the show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in the Toyota Exhibition Center. Jim Kring says there’s a natural progression when it comes to camping and recreational vehicles. “A couple starts off in a tent. It’s all lovey-dovey, the honeymoon and all,” he said. “But after awhile, they get sick of laying on the ground and graduate to a pop-up camper, particularly after the first child. More kids come and they graduate into an RV — and just keep upgrading as everyone gets older. “Finally, when the kids are gone, they buy a motor home and go see the U.S., doing what and when they want to do it.” Kring is show manager at the 42th annual Central New York RV and Camping Show at the state fairgrounds, which kicked off Thursday and runs through Sunday. He said the event has offerings for every part of the continuum he described. Seven local dealers are putting more than 600 units on display in the Toyota Exhibition Center and the Center of Progress and Horticulture buildings. “There will be start-up units costing $4,000 and travel-the-U.S. motor homes costing $250,000, and everything in between,” he said. Most of the units will be new, but there will also be a selection of used ones in the Horticulture Building. Kring noted the show also features more than 50 vendors offering parts and services, plus representatives from numerous campgrounds in the state. He emphasized: “These are not your parents’ RVs. Family camping, if you like, can become decadent.” Among the features: TVs that pull out of the counters, flat screen TVs, even motor home movie theaters. “There isn’t anything you can’t get in an RV that you have in your house, with the exception of a cellar,” he said. Portable hot tubs. “It’s called a soft tub,” Kring said. “It’s a soft-sided roll-up thing that you set up outside your vehicle. You take it out, fill it up, hop in and sit by the lake and drink wine.” Portable fences. “You can put out a fence and netting, a place to contain small children or a small dog,” he said. In addition, he said, the technology exits to set up an electric fence around your vehicle to keep your dog close to home. Toy haulers. Some RVs now feature “toy haulers.” The tailgate comes all the way to the ground, forming a ramp and enabling you to load motorcycles, four-wheelers and snowmobiles inside. On site, the tailgate can be put in a horizontal position and it becomes a small, open-air deck. Push-button, slide-out features.“By simply pushing a button, you can expand the size of your living room or kitchen,” Kring said. What about rising gas prices? RV dealers are manufacturing vehicles that are lighter than ever, using more aluminum and laminated parts, he said. Kring added that one of the big advantages of owning an RV is you can go to places like Cross Lake and Oneida Lake, get a season pass, and just leave it there the whole summer. “That will save on your gas costs,” he said. Kring has been involved with the RV show through its entire 42 years, either as an exhibitor or a show official. “Every day is a bargain day at these things,” he said. “You can chat, compare, see new products. You can also get on-the-spot financing.” This year’s show will also feature a free “kid’s camping meal” for those 16 and under. “They’ll get a hotdog, chips and drink,” he said. If you go What: The Central New York RV and Camping Show Where: The state fairgrounds (Toyota Exhibition Center, Center of Progress and Horticulture buildings) When: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. today and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday Cost: $10 for ages 17 and up; ages 16 and under free. See cnyrvshow.com for a $2 discount ticket and for more information about the show. See you there: Outdoors editor David Figura will be in the Toyota Exhibition Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Stop by and say hello. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Despite the exposed shoreline and what appears to be low water levels, both lakes are currently at levels which is normal for this time of year. Prior to the winter, officials announced both lakes would be taken down to combat invasive species (Asian clam and hydrilla). Mother Nature didn't cooperate. Stephen D. Cannerelli/The Post-StandardOwasco Lake isonly about three inches below normal despite the appearance of the Emerson Park swimming area at the northern end of the lake. Shorelines are more visible this year because of the lack of snow and ice. It’s one of those situations where you just can’t believe your eyes. At first glance, the water levels at both Owasco and Cayuga lakes appear to be way down — possibly due to efforts by officials who announced before the winter that they wanted to kill two invasive species in those lakes by exposing them to cold and ice. In Owasco Lake, the game plan by officials was to lower the lake an extra foot to freeze out the Asian clam, whose presence in shallow area’s of the lake’s northern end have resulted in troublesome blue-green algae on the surface. In Cayuga Lake, officials talked about lowering the lake five to six inches below the seasonal average to freeze hydrilla, an invasive plant capable of clogging up tributaries and shallow sections at the lake’s southern end. With the exposed shorelines and mud flats on both lakes, it would seem all that’s lacking is a prolonged cold stretch to finish the job. Wrong. “It may sound goofy, but both lakes are about where they usually are. The lake level of Owasco Lake is currently only only three inches below normal for this time of year,” said Bruce Natalie, a Cayuga County environmental engineer, who is part of a multi-agency task force working on the Asian clam situation. Stephen D. Cannerelli/The Post-StandardThis shot was taken in the lake's outlet, just north of the pumphouse in Emerson Park. Natalie said his mother-in-law, who lives on the shore of Cayuga Lake, keeps telling him the lake is lower than at any time in her memory. Once again, that observation is wrong. Cayuga Lake is only about three inches lower than normal for this time of year, according to U.S. Geological Survey and state Canal Corporation data, Natalie said. What gives? Actually, the shoreline and mud flats that are catching the attention of passersby on both lakes are usually covered with ice and snow this time of year, Natalie said. What about the lake levels? Central New York has experienced a relatively dry, snow-less February. However, the large amounts of rainfall in December and January, coupled with the quick melting of what little snow did fall during those months, has resulted in lake levels of both waterways remaining up, Natalie said. Mother Nature may have messed with the plans for this winter, but efforts to deal with the two invasive species are far from over. “There’s a cold snap scheduled for next Monday and Tuesday and we may try one last time to lower the lake,” said Natalie about Owasco. He said that in the next couple of months the Asian Clam Task Force will study other options, including spreading mats over the clams, dredging them or somehow harvesting them. Stephen D. Cannerelli/The Post-StandardThis shot on Owasco Lake's shoreline was taken several miles down from the northern end. Over at Cayuga Lake, another multi-agency task force is taking a different approach. The hydrilla was first noted last August in the lake’s inlet at the southern end. An initially dose of herbicide was added to the water in October to get rid of it. Dave Adams, an ecologist with the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s Office of Invasive Species Coordination, said lowering the lake was part of a bigger, long-term effort to get rid of the nasty plant. In addition to what most likely will be repeated doses of herbicide over a period extending several years, a “boating stewardship program” led by the Finger Lakes Institute and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is scheduled to begin this boating season at public launches on Cayuga and other Finger Lakes, plus Lake Ontario. The focus will be educating boat owners and having persons on hand to inspect crafts as they go in and out of the water to prevent spreading of hydrilla, Asian clams and other invasive species. “One of the messages will be to remove all plants and mud, and to drain and dry your boat before using it again,” Adams said. There’s no easy fix, he added. “It will take a number of years of persistent management to get this species (hydrilla) under control and to eradicate it,” he said. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

While there were few, if any safe places to ice fish this week in CNY, anglers on certain bays of the St. Lawrence River continued to get out. At midweek, ice fishermen were out on Eel Bay, Lake of the Isles and Goose Bay, all with 5-15 inches of ice. Some nice perch were being caught on fathead minnows. CNY FISHING FORECAST All persons aboard a pleasure vessel less than 21 feet long must wear a personal flotation device from Nov. 1 to May 1. Bait stores (list and map). SALMON RIVER The steelhead bite has slowed a bit. Pre-spawn conditions. Fish are scattered throughout the river. Nevertheless, good baits continue to be pink bubblegum worms, trout beads (10mm), egg sacs (blue, pink and chartreuse mesh), streamers, stonefly nymphs and egg-imitating flies. The Upper Fly Fishing Area will reopen April 1. OSWEGO RIVER The river continues to be up, but anglers are catching browns and some steelhead from shore behind the hotels in the downtown area. ONEIDA LAKE There are patches of ice on the lake, but unless the weather changes, most of it isn’t safe for ice fishing. Big Bay is questionable. CAYUGA LAKE No safe ice. Anglers fishing from shore at the power station in Lansing continue to have luck catching rainbow trout on medium-sized shiners and some perch using fathead minnows. SENECA LAKE Anglers are catching yellow perch and smallmouth bass (and releasing them), along with crappie off the Watkins Glen pier using oakleaf grubs, mousies and fathead minnows. Anglers are also landing brown trout and landlocked salmon by trolling stickbaits near the surface. OWASCO LAKE No safe ice. A few die-hard anglers continue to get out in boats, fishing for perch. OTISCO LAKE Recent rains and this week’s warm temperatures appear to have severely weakened the ice at the northern end, making conditions unsafe. SKANEATELES LAKE No safe ice. Some anglers are getting out in boats, fishing for perch. Shore fishing with marshmallow-and-worm rigs is usually the ticket this time of year for rainbow trout. SODUS BAY No safe ice. Several anglers continue to get out in boats to fish the north end for perch. ST. LAWRENCE RIVER At midweek, ice fishermen were still out on Eel Bay, Lake of the Isles and Goose Bay, all with 5-15 inches of ice. Some nice perch were being caught on fathead minnows. WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR Last week's rains severely weakened the ice on the reservoir, making for unsafe conditions. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

In the southern zone, excluding Long Island, the adult buck take (about 93,100) increased nearly 4 percent over last year, while the antlerless harvest (about 105,400) decreased by three percent. Relatively few hunters took crossbows afield and the estimated take by crossbows was only 491 deer statewide, less than 0.25 percent of the total deer harvest. Submitted photoMartin Hale, of Cato, poses with a 12-point deer he shot Nov. 20 near Victory. The buck’s antlers had a 21~-inch inside spread, and deer dressed out at 185 pounds, he said. The antlers were green scored at 177 2/8. It was shot with a scoped Remington 1187 shotgun at 110 yards. The following is a DEC press release: Hunters in New York State harvested more than 228,350 deer and 1,250 bears during the 2011 hunting seasons, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens announced today. The deer take nearly matched the 2010 deer take while a new record was set for the bear harvest in southern New York. “Deer and bear hunting are long-standing traditions in New York, providing a valuable source of food and a means of shared recreation for many families,” Commissioner Martens said. “Throughout the state, hunters play a crucial role by helping to maintain healthy and ecologically sound deer and bear populations.” Deer Harvest The 2011 deer take varied less than one percent from the 2010 take statewide. In 2011, hunters took slightly more than 118,350 antlerless deer (adult females and fawns) and just over 110,000 adult male deer (bucks). In the northern zone, the buck take (about 15,900) was essentially unchanged from 2010, though the antlerless harvest (about 10,900) was down about 13 percent from last year. In the southern zone, excluding Long Island, the adult buck take (about 93,100) increased nearly 4 percent over last year, while the antlerless harvest (about 105,400) decreased by three percent. 2011 marked the first year that crossbows were allowed as a legal hunting implement for deer. However, legislation limited crossbow use to the regular firearms seasons and subsequent muzzleloader seasons for deer. Relatively few hunters took crossbows afield and the estimated take by crossbows was only 491 deer statewide, less than 0.25 percent of the total deer harvest. Throughout the state, hunters took a slightly higher proportion of 2.5-year-old and older bucks than in previous years, continuing a trend that has developed over the past two decades. Throughout most of New York, hunters can take a buck of any age, but an increasing number of hunters are voluntarily choosing to take older bucks with larger antlers. In 2011, 46 percent of harvested bucks were 2.5-years-old or older, compared to only 33 percent in 2000 and 28 percent in the early 1990s. Western New York and the Finger Lakes Region perennially lead the state in total deer-harvest densities, and deer take in 2011 remained true to form. The top five counties for 2011 were Yates (16.4 total deer per square mile), Wyoming (13., Genesee (10., Ontario (10.5), and Livingston (10.0). It’s important to note that the total deer harvest is strongly impacted by the number of Deer Management Permits (DMPs) available in a given area, which govern the harvest of antlerless deer and are used to manage the deer population in a given area. A more accurate picture of relative deer abundance is revealed by the number of bucks harvested per square mile. The five counties with the most bucks harvested per square mile were: Yates (5.6), Wyoming (5.4), Orange (4.1), Ontario (4.1), and Allegany (4.0). The deer populations in four of the counties listed above (all except Allegany County) are higher than the deer population objectives set for those counties. DEC will continue its efforts to reduce the deer population to achieve the desired density levels wherever necessary. In 2011, DEC adopted a white-tailed deer management plan . The plan will guide DEC deer management and deer hunting decisions for the next five years. In the upcoming weeks, DEC will propose several regulation changes that were identified in the deer management plan. Hunters and the public will have the opportunity to comment on these changes when a formal proposal is made. Some of the proposed revisions include: · change the start date of the southern zone bow season to Oct.1; · establish a youth hunt for deer; · allow DMPs to be used during the northern zone bow and muzzleloader seasons; · establish mandatory antler restrictions in seven additional Wildlife Management Units in the Catskills; · establish a late bowhunting season in portions of the northern zone; and · establish Deer Management Focus Areas to expand the use of traditional hunting in areas with overabundant deer. Bear Harvest Outside of the Adirondack region the 2011 bear harvest set new records, substantially exceeding previous record takes in central and western New York. In contrast, bear take in the Adirondack region dropped to a level not seen since 1998. Hunters in southeastern New York harvested 630 bears in 2011, besting the previous record of 520 set in 2008. This was due in part to a new rule that expanded bear hunting in eastern New York State to include all or portions of seven new counties in eastern New York from Rockland and Westchester north to Washington beginning in 2011. Hunters took 50 bears from this new area, including 18 bears taken in Washington County, 11 in Rensselaer County, 10 in Columbia County, seven in Dutchess County, two in Putnam County and two in Rockland County. Yet even without these additional bears, take in the rest of the southeastern region exceeded previous record levels, reflecting a 25-year trend of generally increasing bear harvests in this region. In central and western New York, the 2011 bear take of 353 greatly surpassed the previous record of 193 bears set in 2008. This was due in large part to a regulation change that moved the regular bear season opening day up one week to coincide with the start of the regular deer season. This change was implemented to reduce bear population growth and range expansion. Yet, as with bear take in the southeastern region, it is likely that even without these additional seven days of the regular season in the central-western region, bear take during the traditional season would have matched or exceeded the 2008 record, reflecting a 15-year trend of generally increasing bear harvests in this region. In the Adirondacks, bear take was below the five-year average during each of the bear seasons and the overall bear take was down about 47 percent from 2010. Bear harvest rates in the Adirondacks typically drop in the early season during years of abundant soft mast (cherries, raspberries and apples), while the take will increase during the regular season in years with abundant beech nuts. This past season provided abundant soft mast, particularly raspberries and blackberries in September and October, and bear take during the early season was only 70 bears, about 70 percent below the five-year average. Beech nut abundance was mixed throughout the Adirondacks and the regular season bear take was approximately 15 percent below the five-year average. Additionally, much of the muzzleloading and regular season in the Adirondacks had above average temperatures and snow cover was inconsistent and relatively scarce making bear hunting all the more challenging. Deer and bear harvest data are gathered from two main sources: harvest reports required by all successful hunters and DEC’s examination of harvested deer and bear at check stations and meat processors. Statewide harvest estimates are made by cross-referencing these two data sources. For more information about the 2011 deer and bear harvests, see the DEC’s Web site. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The seminars will be held at the Bass Pro fish tank. After each one, the speakers will answer questions and be available to sign autographs. The Bass Pro Shops store at the Finger Lakes Mall is offering free seminars Friday evening from its "Bassmaster University," which is part of its spring Fishing Classic sale. The agenda: 6 p.m.- Joey Nania - Cold Water Bass Fishing. Joey is the two- time, Bassmasters Junior World Champion, and now fishes the Bassmaster Open and PAA tournament trails. 7 p.m. - Mike McClelland - Stickbaits, Spinnerbaits & Jigs. Mike is a Bassmaster Elite Series pro and is an 8-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier 8 p.m. - Dave Mercer - Facts of Fishing. Dave is the host of the Bassmaster Elite series events and the Bassmaster Classic. He is also seen on his television show "Facts of Fishing" The seminars will be held at the Bass Pro fish tank. After each one, the speakers will answer questions and signing autographs. For more call the store at 258-2700. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"It is just plain stupid to risk life to continue fishing Oneida Lake on the ice," he said. "The water is deadly cold. Someone falling in has one minute to get their breathing under control, 10 minutes to get out of the water, or one hour before hypothermal sets in." The following is a press release from R. O. Brown, of Flotilla 2-1, US Coast Guard Auxiliary: MAYDAY! MAYDAY! MAYDAY! Since February 15, 2012, there have been at least five incidents where ice floes on Oneida Lake have broken loose with fishermen on them. The latest was yesterday. Please publish an alert that it is just plain stupid to risk life to continue fishing Oneida Lake on the ICE. The water is deadly cold. Someone falling in has one minute to get their breathing under control, ten minutes to get out of the water, or one hour before hypothermal sets in. Persons to contact at the U. S Coast Guard Station Oswego: BM1 Frank Benetka, Executive Petty Officer, or BM2 David Machinski, Training Petty Officer for facts concerning the incidents of ice fishermen in dire distress on Oneida Lake ice. Let's stop the stupidity now. Let's stop it before we have a tragic loss of life. Whether the loss be a fisherman or an emergency responder, any loss can be avoided. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The list of past club presidents reads like a "Who's Who" in Western and Central NY waterfowling circles. The following is a press release from The Finger Lakes & Western New York Waterfowl Association: Back in the early 1960s, waterfowlers from Western NY and the Finger Lakes began informal meetings to better direct their influence on waterfowl-related issues. Encouraged by increasing numbers of diving ducks on local waters, they also wanted to influence the DEC to set seasons that would afford waterfowling opportunities during the late season. It was against this backdrop that the Finger Lakes & WNY Waterfowl Assn was formed at a meeting in Canandaigua in 1962. Comprised of dedicated waterfowlers from the 24 western counties of NY, the group was formed “…for the conservation, propagation, and preservation of waterfowl, and the establishment of liaisons with local, state, and national waterfowl groups and government departments engaged in activities affecting waterfowl.” Individual club members were already very active conservationists and included a number of well known USFWS-certified duck banders such as Rodger Case (Canandaigua), Chris Pitman (Skaneateles), Gerry Farrell (Lewiston), John Daniels (Grand Island), and Mike Rosing (Dunkirk). Over the last 45 years these five are credited with banding more than 75000 ducks from the Great Lakes to the Finger Lakes. The group was eventually successful in convincing the NYSDEC to establish a late split season, a season that still exists today. The list of past club presidents reads like a “Who’s Who” in Western and Central NY waterfowling circles. Chris Pitman (Skaneateles) served in several club offices including president and is an award-winning duck carver who has also banded ducks for over 45 years. Gerry Farrell (Lewiston) served two terms as President, was a regular attendee at Atlantic Flyway Council meetings, and is an avid bird bander, targeting songbirds as well as ducks. Beside his FL&WNYWA Presidency, John Michalovic (Amherst) also served as New York State Chairman and Treasurer for Ducks Unlimited and was a pioneering NYSDEC-certified Waterfowl ED/ID instructor with more than 33 years of service. Well known carver Ed Fiorino (Albion) was a two-term President, served on the State Waterfowl Season Setting Task Force for many years, is a long time Waterfowl ED/ID instructor, and served a term as DU State Vice President. Also a two term club president, Ken Zolnowski (Cheektowaga) was Dinner Chairman and 20+ year member of the Buffalo DU Committee, taught Waterfowl Ed/ID for over 30 years, and has been a member of the NYSDEC waterfowl season setting Task Force for the last 13 years. Ken also initiated and directed the group’s mallard nest structure program for over 20 years. This conservation project was initiated in 1991, in memory of long time treasurer Fran Finnick of Canandaigua. Members collaborated with NYS Bureau of Wildlife biologist Dan Carroll to improve mallard nest success by installing artificial nest structures on the Tonawanda and Oak Orchard Wildlife Management Areas. These structures featured a unique tripod design and were very successful in thwarting predators such as raccoons. In 1996, FL&WNYWA volunteers improved upon the original nest basket design by introducing a nesting cylinder based somewhat on the Hen House widely publicized by Delta Waterfowl. However, the new structure was much cheaper to construct than the Delta design (~$13), could be assembled from readily available materials, and required no special assembly skills. Nesting cylinders proved far superior to traditional nest basket designs, consistently demonstrating nest use rates near 60% and nest success rates greater than 95%, while providing critical overhead protection from avian predators such as the Great Horned Owl. From a modest beginning of 40 structures in 1991, the Project has expanded to over 120 structures in 2011. Annually, club members volunteer hundreds of man-hours on this project which has successfully hatched over 6000 ducklings since its inception. On three separate occasions, the Erie County Federation of Sportsman's Clubs has honored the Project by awarding individual club members their "Conservationist of the Year" award. Delta Waterfowl highlighted this project in a 2005 article. Delta’s research on sportsman conservation projects nationwide revealed that the FLWNYWA program is the longest running sportsman-funded mallard nesting program in the US. During this same time, group activities expanded into several other areas. In the mid-1980s, spurred by an alarming drop in the recruitment of waterfowlers, the group partnered with staff at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge to institute a youth waterfowl hunting program. Club members provided basic instruction to young waterfowlers on waterfowl ID, safety, ethics, and equipment and served as guides during a youth waterfowl hunt. FL&WNYWA still provides instructor assistance to this program, which is now administered by the Lake Plains Waterfowlers of Rochester, NY. Over the years more than a dozen FL&WNYWA members have also served as NYSDEC-certified Waterfowl Hunting Education instructors, certifying thousands of waterfowlers across New York State. The group has also played a role in stabilizing the season setting process within NYS. For years, FL&WNYWA meetings served as a conduit for exchange of credible data concerning waterfowl migration and harvest within the Western Zone of NY. USFWS waterfowl population counts were routinely discussed at meetings, along with harvest data from the Iroquois and Montezuma NWRs and the state-run Tonawanda and Oak Orchard Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). These data helped to identify the principal migratory time frames within the zone, a key ingredient to the season setting process. In the 1990s, the club prepared a report on season setting and submitted it to the NYSDEC for review. Around the same time, club Secretary Tom Mellenger shot a videotape documenting major puddle duck migrations well after season close in the Western Zone. As a result of these varied actions, FL&WNYWA was influential in the formation of NYSDEC’s Waterfowl Season Setting Task Force now used annually to set hunt dates within the state’s 5 waterfowl zones. Since the inception of the Task Force in 1999, waterfowler complaints to the DEC regarding season dates have dropped dramatically. FL&WNYWA members have served on the Western Zone Task Force for each of the last 13 years. As the club enters its next 50 years, waterfowling opportunities in NYS have never been better. However, the recruitment of waterfowlers continues to decline in the face of competition from many sources including the ever-expanding electronic entertainment media. It’s a challenge that is immense but that the group is facing head-on. After all, the fate of the North American waterfowl resource is at stake. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

His uncle is Chris Bowes, a senior tournament director for B.A.S.S. Submitted photo Jacob Jones, 13, of Camillus, holds up an impressive redfish he caught Nov. 22 while fishing with his father and uncle, Chris Bowes, at Mosquito Lagoon in Florida. Bowes, with CNY roots, is a senior tournament director with B.A.S.S., the professional Bassmaster organization. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"The base has literally hundreds of these antelopes roaming free. There is a fenced perimeter, no hunting and no one is allowed to interfere with them so it is like an animal preserve for the 'lopes," he said.. Submitted photo This is a bit far afield, but I found this story and photo sent in by Paul Pflanz, of Syracuse, to be quite interesting. He wrote: "This is a large, pronghorn antelope buck taking his ease on the lawn of the Recreation Center at FE Warren AFB in Cheyenne, Wyoming a little over a week ago. "We were visiting our daughter-in-law and granddaughter (daddy, our son is an Air Force LTC and Psychiatrist serving at Bagram AFB in Afghanistan). Our daughter-in-law is also an Air Force LTC. "The base has literally hundreds of these antelopes roaming free. There is a fenced perimeter, no hunting and no one is allowed to interfere with them, so it is like an animal preserve for the 'lopes. "This guy was lounging no more than 20 feet from the curb as I stopped to snap his picture through the car window. He couldn't have cared less." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"It is time for those in the NY sporting community to stand together and send the pro-crossbow message to Albany with a united voice," according to a press release from the group. The following is a press release from the newly formed New York Crossbow Coalition: New York Crossbow Coalition is a pro hunting grassroots organization dedicated to promoting the hunter recruitment and retention opportunities provided by the modern Crossbow. New York Crossbow Coalition has formed to advocate for the civil rights of all sportsmen and women of New York regardless of age, sex or physical abilities by pursuing the classification of a crossbow as a legal bow for use in any season where archery equipment is permitted, including archery only areas. For too long, a well organized group, comprised of a minority of hunters in New York, has effectively controlled the discussion surrounding the crossbow, its effectiveness, and its image, thus controlling all aspects of the crossbows legal uses. The New York Crossbow Coalition is preparing to counter this vocal minority with factual data and give a voice to the thus far silent majority of the sporting community that desires full inclusion of the crossbow in all aspects of archery hunting. The hunting population of New York provides 10’s of millions of dollars to the State economy, but the number of hunters has steadily declined over the past few decades. Crossbows can help recruit and retain hunters and slow the decline that jeopardizes the future of all traditional outdoor sports. You can help us elevate the crossbow to its rightful place alongside the compound, recurve and long bows as legal archery equipment by joining New York Crossbow Coalition, either on Facebook or in our yahoo group. You can find links to both of these on our Web site. It is time for those in the NY sporting community to stand together and send the pro-crossbow message to Albany with a united voice. Numbers will count in this battle, if you believe crossbows are a bow and should be included in all seasons where archery equipment is allowed, we need you to stand with us. Our voice gets louder with each member. Together We WILL Succeed!! View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Know someone with a passion for the outdoors deserving of a profile? Do you hunt crow or snow geese? Contact Outdoors Editor David Figura at 470-6066 or email him at [email protected]. John Berry/The Post-StandardA squirrel reaches for an ear of dried corn on a squirrel feeder put out by a reader in the Tip Hill area of Syracuse. Here's the offerings for this week's Outdoors Page in The Post-Standard. FRIDAY: - Main piece: An overview of the CNY RV show at the state Fairgrounds, which kicks off Thursday and runs through Sunday. The latest advancements are interesting. They're not your parents RVs. - Column: Don't believe your eyes. Despite the exposed shorelines and mudflats, Owasco and Cayuga lakes are not really at all-time lows.. a tactic that was announced this fall by officials to kill two invasive species in the two lakes. Believe it our not, the rain and snow melt to date has kept them both up level-wise. SUNDAY: - Main piece: Ask and you shall receive. I asked for squirrel/birdfeeder tales from readers and I get nearly a half dozen interesting replies, ranging from someone who hates squirrels to some one who openly embraces them. - Column: Still mulling my options.. among them, noting a local woman who checked off one item on her outdoors bucket list lately. 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 fish offshore at the power plant in Lansing on Cayuga Lake - Those who hunt snow geese - Someone who hunts crows. - Anyone who's getting out in boats and fishing for perch, either on Oneida or any of the Finger Lakes. - 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

He caught it while ice fishing on Big Bay. Submitted photo Tommy Tracy, 13, of Liverpool, caught this 3-pound, 20-inch, largemouth bass with a small orange jig while ice fishing Feb. 18 on Big Bay at Oneida Lake. His uncle, John P. Fitzgibbons, said the boy released the fish "but will be looking to hook him again in June at the start of bass season." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Volunteers should be 18 or older, be able to lift 50 pounds, dressed for the weather and able to commit to an entire day. Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery is looking for help stocking an estimated 70,000 brook, rainbow and brown trout in streams lakes and ponds in Onondaga County this spring. Volunteers should be 18 or older, be able to lift 50 pounds, dressed for the weather and able to commit to an entire day. Stocking times will be 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays through May 16. Volunteers will start at the hatchery, located off Route 321 in Elbridge. For more, call 689-9367 or see the county parks Web site. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"...two men were forced to spend the night in the back-country and suffered frostbite." Wow. While we've been focusing lately on people falling through the ice on Oneida Lake, it seems that forest rangers in the Adirondack High Peaks have also been busy. This is from the Adirondack Almanac Web site: "Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has reported that Forest Rangers were busy this weekend with three more rescues from the High Peaks. "Less than a week after Steve Mastaitis became disoriented at the summit of Marcy and spent the night in a snow cave, three additional men became lost in the High Peaks, two were forced to spend the night in the back-country and suffered frostbite." Read the full story. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The event included nearly a dozen individual presentations by state Department of Environmental Conservation, U.S. Geological Survey staff and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, followed by an hour-long question and answer period with a panel of the presenters. Wednesday evening’s 3 ½-long, state of Lake Ontario meeting at the Oswego County BOCES in Mexico drew a good cross section of anglers, charter boat captains and others interested in the lake’s health. The event included nearly a dozen individual presentations by state Department of Environmental Conservation, U.S. Geological Survey staff and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, followed by an hour-long question and answer period with a panel of the presenters. Bottom line: The lake continues to be great fishing-wise for most species, and fishery biologists from both sides of the border are working together to tweak what’s going well and to address joint concerns. The fishing scene: Chinook and coho salmon, and steelhead fishing continues to set records, according to the Lake Ontario Fishing Boat Survey. In addition, the brown trout fishing on Lake Ontario was the best last year since the DEC starting keeping records of such things beginning in the mid-1980s. Angler trips for these species comprise more than 90 percent of fishing pressure put on the lake. The lake’s perch population is doing OK, but still down a bit compared to year’s past. The lake’s population of lake trout and walleye are likewise down, but making a modest comeback. Atlantic Salmon are still a minor player in the lake and for the third year in row have been spotted spawning naturally in the Salmon River. Fisheries biologists from both sides of the border are trying different stocking techniques and strains of fish to determine what will take best in the lake. The big question mark continues to be the lake’s depressed smallmouth bass population. Anglers are reporting good catches in the Eastern Basin, generally around Henderson Harbor toward the St. Lawrence River. Those fishing west of there, though, report depressed catches and at this point the DEC does not have a solid reason why. Diversity of bait fish sought: Alewives, by far continue to be the main baitfish in the lake, with other species, such as rainbow smelt, and slimy and deepwater sculpins being small, bit players. The problem with alewives is that despite being an excellent food source for the bigger fish (trout and salmon), they contain a chemical that breaks down thiamine, an important vitamin for the development of young fish and eggs. When salmon and trout eat them, this chemical builds up in their bodies. When their eggs hatch, their larvae sometimes don’t survive. The DEC is currently working with the U.S. Geological Survey to net spawning deepwater cisco in Lake Michigan and to raise them at the U.S.G.S.’s Cortland facility for later stocking into the lake. The first stockings could take place later this year. The goal is to provide a greater diversity of bait fish to ensure the fishery’s health and to supplement the lake’s deep water areas, where currently there is a noticeable lack of feed for the bigger fish. Meanwhile, Lake Ontario continues to have an abundance of round gobies, which several of the larger fish, including bass, do eat. One speaker noted they’re “starting to dominate the biomass of all the fish on the lake’s bottom.” Interesting research: Fisheries biologists monitoring the lake continue to use several techniques to understand such things as the degree of natural spawning of chinook salmon, and to what degree stocked salmon are surviving and where they’re spawning. The techniques involve marking all the stocked chinooks by clipping their small adipose fin before releasing them and implanting small metal slivers , called “coded wire tags,” in some of their snouts, indicated stocking dates and locations. Hatchery problems: Andy Greulich, hatchery manager at the DEC Salmon River Hatchery in Altmar, and Steve LaPan, another DEC staffer who is section head for Great Lakes Fisheries at Cape Vincent, reported on problems at two, DEC-run hatcheries. Greulich said the Altmar hatchery’s annual chinook and coho egg take goals were met this fall, but subsequent problems possibly involving thiamine deficiencies in the eggs and fry, has resulted in lost of nearly 95 percent of the coho eggs. He said it shouldn’t be a big problem because in the past the hatchery has exceeded coho stocking goals in the lake. Meanwhile, over at the Rome Hatchery, which stocks a large section of Central New York streams with trout, a fish disease and possibly other issues there have resulted in the loss of some 74 percent of the hatchery’s brown trout fry. It’s not clear yet, LaPan said, whether the rest of the state’s hatchery system will help make up for the loss and it’s possible some stream stocking goals may not be met in the coming year. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Black ducks are being targeted because the species has been on the decline for decades, and wildlife biologists are trying to find out why and what can be done to increase their numbers. A hundred years ago, they were the predominant duck species in the state. Watch video Jim Eckler said there’s “something universally cool about handling and releasing live ducks. “It’s a neat thing for people to just get their hands on wildlife,” said the state wildlife biologist who is stationed at the Northern Montezuma Field Office in Savannah. Eckler was talking about a winter black duck banding effort on the western side of Cayuga Lake, a cooperative effort between the state Department of Environmental Conservation and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. Volunteers from the Central New York Wildfowlers were out Wednesday at Cayuga Lake State Park to help out. The effort is part of a larger, five-year pilot program being carried out at other locations across this state, in Canada and in more than a half-dozen other states. The program is in its third year. Black ducks are being targeted because the species has been on the decline for decades, and wildlife biologists are trying to find out why and what can be done to increase their numbers. A hundred years ago, they were the predominant duck species in the state. Researchers say one major factor is the increase in the numbers of mallard ducks, which have been taking over black duck breeding grounds (wetlands, salt and tidal marshes), eating their food and even crossbreeding with them. “Basically, we band ducks to learn how many of them there are,” Eckler said. “We can also determine reproductive rates, harvest rates, non-harvest rates, mortality rates and their movements.” All this information helps the U.S. Wildlife Service and the DEC set up hunting seasons, which seek to keep the number of ducks in a healthy balance with the evironment, he said. This winter, DEC and U.S. Fish and Wildlife staff began setting up duck traps along the western shoreline of Cayuga Lake right after the late duck hunting season ended Jan. 10. The effort will continue until mid-March 20. The birds are targeted for this time of year because researchers say they can get a better handle on their numbers after the hunting season. Usually the snow and ice helps to concentrate them in specific areas, making them easier to trap. That’s not been the case this winter, said Frank Morlock, a DEC wildlife technician who got up before the sun rose Wednesday to bait traps at 11 locations. The birds this winter are more spread out, making them harder to trap, he said. Last winter, a total of 256 black ducks were trapped and banded along the western shore of Cayuga Lake. This year, only 70 have been banded so far. A low-to-the ground, “Montezuma confusion trap” is used. Full-kerneled corn is sprinkled just inside each trap’s entrance and down several adjoining funnels. The birds walk in to eat the food and end up getting confused and trapped in the attached side cages. By late Wednesday morning, he and Scott Stipetich, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staffer, checked all 11 traps and came up with seven birds — six were black ducks that were already banded, and one male mallard that was not. All the birds were then brought back in a single cage to the Cayuga Lake State Park boat launch where Eckler held a small seminar for the volunteers on black duck features, including how to tell a male from a female. Morlock put a band on the mallard afterward. Volunteers were each allowed to hold a live duck and then release it into the air. “It was fun,” said Matt Carr, 15, of Bridgeport, after releasing his black duck and watching it fly away. He’s been hunting waterfowl since he was 12 with his father and grandfather. “The only ducks I’ve held before this were dead,” he said. For more information, go to the black duck project Web site. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Black ducks used to be the most common duck in this state. No more. Researchers are trying to find out exactly why and what can be done to increase their numbers. Watch video I attended a black duck banding session Wednesday morning over at Cayuga Lake State Park. The banding, which began Jan. 10 and goes through mid-March, is a joint effort between state Department of Environmental Conservation and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff from the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. It is part of much bigger, 5-year pilot program that involves the Canadians and efforts in more than a half dozen other states. Black ducks used to be the most common duck in this state. No more. Researchers are trying to find out exactly why and what can be done to increase their numbers. Getting data through banding efforts is a key tool in the effort. Six black ducks were trapped Wednesday and one mallard. Members of the CNY Wildfowlers were on hand to help. For more on this, see the Outdoors Page in Sunday's edition of The Post-Standard. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Check out these photos. A couple and their three daughters all cashed in. "A family that ice fishes together stays together," the mother wrote. Submitted photoElizabeth with her catch. Amy Spin, of Auburn, sent me these photos and this story this morning about a recent ice fishing outing on Otisco Lake, one of the few areas in recent weeks that has had safe ice. She wrote: "I have attached a couple of pictures of three of my daughters who went out on an ice fishing adventure w/my husband and I on 2/19 on Otisco Lake. "We were so excited to get out on the ice!! My daughter Anna, 14, caught her first tiger muskie through the ice. Lilli, 9, caught 1 bass and Elizabeth, 7, also caught a bass. I also attached a picture of my husband Scott and I as we both hooked into some Bass and a couple of Tigers. We had so much fun!!! My husband and I have been ice fishing together for about 20 years. We are now passing our passion onto our 5 daughters. A family that icefishes together stays together )) All of the fish we caught were released back into the water. Submitted photoSister Lilli with her bass. Submitted photoxxxxxx Submitted photoMom with her impressive largemouth bass. Submitted photoThe family had a good time. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"You can fool their eyes, fool their hearing, but you're not going to fool their noses," one veteran hunter said, noting that when a lot of coyotes hear the rabbit or other commonly used distress sounds they make a point of circling 100 yards or so downwind to be sure there's no human involved. (See video) Watch video Dennis Nett/The Post-Standardxxxxxxx The well-known, cartoon character Wile E. Coyote didn’t get his name for nothing. In nature, coyotes have fantastic vision and hearing. They’re smart and can easily smell a hunter from a couple hundred yards away if the wind is right. Jeff Brown, of Fayetteville, and hunting buddy, Vince Fusco, of Cazenovia, were out Monday morning hunting coyotes on private land just outside of the village of Cazenovia. “I’m telling you the total excitement of seeing them come to your call. I’d put it right up there with calling in a turkey, or bow hunting for deer,” said Fusco, who bagged a cinnamon-colored coyote a couple of weeks ago and plans to have a full body mount made of it. Monday, the two hunters were using a radio-controlled predator-calling device, capable of emitting sounds such as a squealing rabbit or fawn, crow calls, a screaming fox and a bawling calf. Connected to the device was fake head of a squirrel/rabbit connected to a bushy tail, which thrashed around as the calling device emitted screechy, irritating sounds. They tried three different locations. One was in a section of hardwoods; the two other spots were in hedgerows looking out over wide-open fields. Dennis Nett/The Post-Standardxxxxxxxx “Once they get their eyes on that decoy, I’ve seen them make a beeline right for it. If they get close enough they’ll pounce right on it,” Brown said. The two were dressed in mostly white camouflage clothing to blend in with the snow. They lent this reporter a white sheet to help keep him out of sight. At the first location in the woods, the hunters heard a rustling behind them. Afterward, they noted a fresh set of tracks. “He must have circled first to make sure it was safe and decided to head off,” Fusco said. They tried two other locations. There were plenty of tracks, they had crows circling when the calling device started sounding — and at one spot they even drew a curious red-tailed hawk. No coyotes were seen. Coyote hunters are a mixed bag and the state allows a wide variation of techniques. There’s no daily bag limit. One can hunt them day or night. The use of dogs and baiting is allowed. Hunter can use everything from .22-caliber rifles to shotguns to high-powered rifles — even in areas where hunting deer with rifles is banned. Gordon Batcheller, chief of the Bureau of Wildlife of the state Department of Environmental Conservation, said coyotes were first noted on the state’s landscape during the 1920s. They are omnivores and very adaptable and have since spread to nearly every county. Coyotes were unprotected until the 1970s, when they were classified as a small game animal, similar in stature to a rabbit or a squirrel. The main reason for establishing a season, Batcheller said, was because it was recognized that hunters and trappers valued their fur. The hunting season ends in late March because “that’s when they’ve established their dens and taking care of their pups, which continues through the summer.” Recent research has shown, he said, that eastern coyotes, which average 30-40 pounds, are bigger than their scrawny western counterparts as a result of crossbreeding with eastern wolves. They always appear bigger than they are, he said, because they’re so thickly furred. He said surveys have shown there are some 63,000 coyote hunters and about 7,700 coyote trappers in this state, with a total coyote population estimated at 35,000. There is a market for their pelts. A recent raw fur auction at the Pompey Rod and Gun Club attended by area trappers saw them bought on the average of more than $20 each. A coyote Mountain Man hat, complete with head and legs down the back, retails for more than $200. Al LaFrance, of Pompey, has hunted coyotes for more than 20 years. He uses a combination of mouth and electronic calls. “This season has been terrible,” he said. His theory is that years ago, very few people were doing it and it wasn’t as difficult to get a coyote. When he started, he said, an electronic caller ran him about $1,400. Today, a hunter can pick one up for as cheap as $40. “You got a lot of amateurs out there and they’re educating the coyotes,” he said. “These are smart animals. You only get one chance. If that coyote figures somehow that the call is connected to a human, you’re not going to see him again.” He said a lot of beginners overuse the rabbit distress call, which he called “the dying rabbit blues.” “You can fool their eyes, fool their hearing, but you’re not going to fool their noses,” he said, noting that when a lot of coyotes hear the rabbit or other commonly used distress sounds they make a point of circling 100 yards or so downwind to be sure there’s no human involved. LaFrance said last weekend he was at a coyote hunting competition in Canandaigua. A total of 14, two-person teams showed. Only one coyote was shot. He said he recently switched to a caller device that has 101 sound options. “This will run through a cycle,” LaFrance predicted. “The ones who thought it was easy will give up and put their guns on the shelf. The die-hards like me will continue going out day and night because we love it.” View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

“We’ve been moving from the western part of the park to the Eastern High Peaks. We’re looking for more volunteers from that neck of the woods,” Doug Arnold said. The Lean2Rescue crew, a group of mostly Central New York area volunteers dedicated to renovating and in some cases building new lean-tos in the Adirondack Park, have been busy this winter. See the group's Web site and photos. The group, which was started about a decade ago by Baldwinsville resident Paul DeLucia, has to date refurbished nearly 50 lean-tos, providing the grunt labor and often the materials to do the work. They bring supplies and tools in and out of work sites on their backs, by canoes, on make-shift, trail-worthy carts or during the winter by dragging things on the snow. The group’s work is far from finished. This winter’s work schedule has focused on six lean-tos in the state-owned, John’s Brook Valley area in Essex County, according to Doug Arnold, of Phoenix, a Lean2Rescue member and Adirondack 46er who’s leading this winter’s efforts. “We’ve been moving from the western part of the park to the Eastern High Peaks. We’re looking for more volunteers from that neck of the woods,” Arnold said. One project, which was started last winter, he said, involved dismantling a decrepit lean-to that was “at the end of its useful life,” and hauling all it parts to a “nearby” barn (10 miles away) of Hillary Moynihan, the Adirondack Mountain Club ‘Adopt a Leanto Project’ coordinator. “We had to skid it out on the snow,” Arnold said. “We’re going to rebuilt it and use it to replace another lean-to near Wall Face some 20 miles away.” Other projects involved moving and repairing several lean-tos that are too close to the brook. “This year, with the lack of snow, a lot of this work has proved very arduous,” Arnold said. “On recent trip, we had the volunteers literally dragging 400-pound cedar logs and all our tools to a site 3 ½ miles from the trailhead.” Last weekend, Arnold led a group of more than dozen volunteers who hauled in roof shingles in their backpacks for another lean-to. “Some might say maybe that we’re not so bright, that we’re dumber than a bag of hammers,” he joked, referring to the Herculian-type ventures this group has been involved with over the years. I know different. I once volunteered on one of their work weekends. They are extremely bright, motivated, unselfish people doing backbreaking work for free so that other outdoor enthusiasts may enjoy the Adirondacks and be safe for years to come. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The free event, which features a lengthy list of outdoors activities for women to try, is set for April 28 at the Dewitt Fish and Gun Club. “We are already full with a long waiting list,” said Julie Fishman, one of the organizers. The Women in Nature Outdoors Skills Workshop sponsored by the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs is a quick and easy sell. The event, set for April 28 at the Dewitt Fish and Gun Club, 6560 Woodchuck Hill Road, in Jamesville, is no longer taking registrations. “We are already full with a long waiting list,” said Julie Fishman, one of the organizers. The program is free and for participants ages 12 and older. The class size this year was limited to 100 participants. Classes will include archery, birding basics, camping, fishing basics, nature painting, orienteering, rifle and shotgun shooting, fly fishing, canoeing, reptiles and amphibians, kayaking, wilderness survival, nature journaling, muzzleloading, canoeing skills, deer hunting basics, muzzleloading, nature journaling, trailer handling, turkey and waterfowl hunting skills, wild-game cooking and wildness survival skills. For more, e-mail [email protected] or call 243-7667. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

We were out for more than three hours on private land just outside of the village of Cazenovia. We were unsuccessful, but this video gives a good sense of what's involved. Watch video I shot this video Monday morning while out with Jeff Brown, of Fayetteville, and Vince Fusco, of Cazenovia. We were out for more than three hours on private land just outside of the village of Cazenovia. We were unsuccessful, but this video gives a good sense of what's involved. Bottom line: coyote hunting isn't easy and these are tough animals to bag. For more on this, see Friday's Outdoors page in The Post-Standard. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Some farmers and lawmakers say that crane conservation efforts have brought too much of a good thing. View the full article