HuntingNY-News

With the warm weather this past week, volunteers were out on trails across the area, continuing to fix them up and trying to make them safe for others for when the snow finally does come. David Lassman/The Post-StandardChuck Swanson (left) and Derek Joncas, members of the Chittenango Polar Bears snowmobile club, help build a 35-foot-long bridge spanning a culvert in the town of Manlius.David Lassman/The Post-Standard Derek Joncas says that fixing up snowmobile trails sometimes feels like cram time for college students during finals. “You try to cram in as much work as possible in a short period of time,” said the 40-year-old vice president of the Chittenango Polar Bears as he and others worked Thursday morning, hoping to finish a newly constructed bridge spanning a culvert in the town of Manlius by this weekend. Work on the 35-foot-long bridge started New Year’s Day. “It’s such a short season,” he said. “If we don’t put this work in, it’s going to be hard for anyone else to enjoy it. We want everyone to be as safe as possible.” The lack of snow this winter has put a real crimp on the Central New York snowmobiling scene. Some local snowmobilers like Joncas are still getting out on the trails all across the area and continuing to fix them up and make them safe for others when the snow finally does come. Their dedication and efforts highlight the fact that much of the state’s some 10,500 miles of snowmobile trails are maintained by dedicated volunteers. The majority of the trail system isn’t propped up with tax dollars. It’s supported entirely with money collected from snowmobile registration fees. The clubs are reimbursed for their time, effort and expenses through the snowmobile registration fund on a formula based on the miles of trail they’re maintaining, and on whether the trails they maintain are primary or smaller, secondary trails. In Onondaga County alone, there’s 11 snowmobile clubs, with more than 2,000 members. These clubs are responsible for more than 270 miles of trails. The 250-member, Chittenango Polar Bears is a relatively new club, having formed in late 2005. Other local clubs have been around 30 to 50 years, Joncas said, and have long-established routes and infrastructure. Regardless, the nature of the beast is that clubs rely on the good graces of property owners to ride on their land. One bad incident or problem, a change of ownership or the building of a new housing development can take that permission away and an alternative route must be found — sometimes on a moment’s notice. “You always have to have a Plan B, C — or even a Plan D just in case,” said Chuck Swanson, one of the club’s eight trail coordinators. He noted, for example, that one of the supporters of the club passed away in November. The estate took over the land, he said, and closed a quarter mile section of trail that the club had been using. “Now we have to find a way around it,” he said. “This sort of stuff happens all the time.” The Chittenango Polar Bears maintain nearly 25 miles of trail, which starts a little bit north of Lafayette, travels through the towns of Manlius and Chittenango and up through Canastota and to the windmills in the town of Fenner. It connects with trails maintained by other snowmobile clubs. “You can ride straight up toward Utica and Old Forge or south to Marathon and Binghamton if you want,” Swanson said. The bridge Joncas and Swanson were working on Thursday morning is part of a new, 1.5-mile stretch the club decided to create in response to property owners along Gulf Road in the town of Manlius who weren’t happy with the noise and snowmobile traffic on the seasonal road. “We have a right to be on that seasonal road, but we decided to reroute our trail,” Joncas said. “Fortunately, a generous landowner has given us permission to do it.” Shortly after Thanksgiving, he said, club members with chainsaws and other tools worked weekends and evenings through the deer-hunting season to help clear the trail. Once it had been roughed out, a local construction guy came in with a bulldozer and helped put the final touches on a trail which Joncas said should enjoy year-round use from snowmobilers and horseback riders. “Just before Christmas, we were up here nearly every day. Some even were here on New Year’s Day,” he said. Joncas, marketing manager for an electronics company, said he grew up snowmobiling as a youngster and the wintertime activity has “always been a family activity for me.” His involvement in the club and long hours working on trails is “one way of me giving back. “I work in a very high-tech, fast-paced work environment,” he said. “So being able to get out into the woods, get some slivers, get dirty ... it’s just something I like to do.” Swanson, 47, a computer consultant, said the bridge on the rerouted trail is the third the club has constructed since Thanksgiving on its trail system. In addition, the club has also put in 3-½ miles of new trail in the town of Fenner. He said as trail coordinator of the rerouted section, he has the final say on when it gets opened for public use. “Technically, trails can be opened when there’s 4 to 6 inches of snow,” he said. “We’d like to have at least a 12-inch base, so we can pack and groom it so it will last the winter. “A nicely groomed trail is like driving on a roadway that’s just been paved.” David Lassman/The Post-StandardSwanson and Joncas said club members have built three new bridges this season on the nearly 25 miles of trails maintained by their snowmobile club. Safe to snowmobile yet? The New York State Snowmobile Association reminds snowmobilers that local trails are not open until the local club has inspected and cleared trails. The lack of snow hasn’t helped. As of Friday afternoon, no trails had officially been reported open in Onondaga, Oswego, Cayuga, Madison, Cortland or Oneida counties. Generally, clubs wait until there’s at least three to six inches of base (depending on the conditions) before allowing riders to travel on their trails. “Our number one priority is safety and that is why we ask all snowmobilers to reach out to their local club before hitting the trails for the first time,” said Jim Rolf, Trail Coordinator for NYSSA. “New York State was hit by Tropical Storms Irene and Lee this summer and due to their destructive nature the clubs are finding damage to, and the wash-out of trails throughout the state, especially in the Adirondacks, Catskill and Eastern part of the state. For updates on local trails, check the NYSSA Web site at www.nysnowmobiler.com for links to the Web sites of local snowmobile clubs. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

lIn the past, the Onondaga and Oswego county federations of sportsmen’s clubs have teamed to organize charter buses for those who want to attend. I'll keep readers posted when I find out more. The third annual Sportsmen and Outdoor Recreational Legislative Awareness Day has been set for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 20 in the well of the state Legislative Office Building in Albany. The event, sponsored by the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association and the state Assembly Minority Conference, is designed to bring together gun owners and Second Amendment supporters from around the state to meet with their state representatives. It will feature exhibits and presentations by advocates and experts. The scheduled keynote speaker is Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president and chief executive officer of the National Rifle Association. In the past, the Onondaga and Oswego county federations of sportsmen’s clubs have teamed to organize charter buses for those who want to attend. I’ll keep readers posted when I find out more. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"We have reviewed past years records and consulted the National Weather Service for the next few weeks’ probable scenarios and find nothing to build and sustain ice growth," tournament officials said. The following is a press release: "It is with regret that the Whitney Point Sportsmen’s Association and the Broome County Department of Parks and Recreation announce the cancellation of the 2012 Almost-Annual New York State Crappie Derby. "The above-average temperatures of December and mild conditions of January (until now) have taken their toll. The appearance of ice on Whitney Point Lake came very late this winter. The first “ice-over” occurred on January 4 of this year. We can’t remember when there was no ice during December. "At this point, sufficient ice to assure the safety of our guests has not formed and weather conditions are not favorable for ice growth. "We have reviewed past years records and consulted the National Weather Service for the next few weeks’ probable scenarios and find nothing to build and sustain ice growth. "Our plans will now be directed toward the 2013 Derby." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The hunter wrote: "My wife says he is sticking his tongue at me saying, 'Ha Ha, you should have stayed instead of going home for lunch.' " Submitted photo Bill Bohemier, of Warners, sent this photo of a buck taken with his trail cam during the recent hunting season. He wrote: "This deer came by my tree stand at 1:30 p.m. My wife says he is sticking his tongue at me saying, 'Ha Ha, you should have stayed instead of going home for lunch.' " View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The property, located in Wayne County, features Sodus Bay shoreline; forests, wetlands and grasslands; and the mouth of Third Creek, a stream that flows into Sodus Bay. Frank Ordonez/The Post-StandardJim Howe, the executive director of the Nature Conservancyâs Central and Western Chapter of New York, stands on land recently acquired by the group. The property borders on Sodus Bay.The Nature Conservancy recently announced the purchase of almost 500 acres of undeveloped land on the shore of Lake Ontario known as Shaker Heights. The property, located in Wayne County, features Sodus Bay shoreline; forests, wetlands and grasslands; and the mouth of Third Creek, a stream that flows into Sodus Bay. Jim Howe, executive director of the Nature Conservancy’s Central and Western Chapter of New York, noted there are very few privately owned properties along Lake Ontario that remain undeveloped. “The land provides a critical refuge for migratory birds and waterfowl, and spawning areas for many fish, including a very threatened native fish — the lake sturgeon,” he said, adding that protecting Third Creek will enhance the water quality in Sodus Bay. View full sizeTom Schmitt/The Post-StandardThe Nature Conservancy's purchase covers nearly 500 acres. Howe talked this week about the background of the purchase, how it will eventually be transferred to the state and the benefits to local outdoors enthusiasts: Who was the prior owner of this property, and how did the purchase come about? It was purchased from Shaker Heights Inc., a real estate company that owns a large tract in the area and has already developed some of it with houses, including some areas of the Sodus Bay shoreline. A couple of years ago, our staff went about prioritizing our work on the Lake Ontario coastal shoreline and did an analysis to determine where the important places were. We looked at such things as undeveloped shoreline; large, intact forests; wetlands; areas along river mouths; and rivers that feed into the lake. This area just jumped out at us. In addition, it was near other protected state-managed lands. What was the total cost and how was the money raised? We closed on the property on Dec. 28. The sale price was just under $1.2 million. We obtained $1 million from the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund. We initially approached the owners in 2009 when the market wasn’t that strong. We’re trying to raise the additional $200,000 from private donations, and we’re pretty close to that now. The final cost to us will ultimately be about $1.3 million, as a result of surveys, appraisals, property taxes and an ecological assessment. In your press release on the purchase, you mentioned the land would eventually be “transferred” to the state as an addition to the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s Lakeshore Marshes Wildlife Management Area. Does that mean you’re just going to hand it over free of charge, or will the state have to pay for it? What’s the timeline for this to happen? We expect to transfer the property to the state either late this year or in 2013. We intend to sell it at a steeply discounted rate — possibly the amount we won’t be able to raise to cover our total costs. It’ll be somewhere in the neighborhood of about $100,000. You mentioned that this purchase will benefit local ice fishermen who frequent Sodus Bay. Talk about that. And what about hunting? Will that be allowed? All the property is in the town of Huron. There’s a stretch of road, Shaker Tract Road, where a lot of ice fishermen park along and have access to the bay. That will continue and be preserved. In regard to hunting, under our ownership, we’re not going to allow hunting for the time being. But when the state acquires it, it will most likely become a state wildlife management area, with all the same rules and regulations of other state wildlife management areas. Most likely, hunting will ultimately be allowed. For those who don’t know, what other land has your chapter of the Nature Conservancy bought and preserved from development in Central New York? And where has the money come from to buy that land? Is any of that open for hunting? We own and manage about 27,000 acres in Central and Western New York, and I would say at least 22,000 acres of that are open to the public for hunting. It’s not wide open, though. We have a permitting process. How does your group raise money to do all this? Primarily from members. We have some 15,000 in our chapter and 1 million members nationwide. Are there any other big proposed purchases planned for Central New York in the near future that you can talk about? There are lots of things going on, but I can’t talk about any of them yet. We keep such things under wraps until they’re finalized. Are there any misconceptions out there that you’d like to correct about what the Nature Conservancy is, or what it does? A lot of people think we’re doing these things just for nature. Actually, we’re benefiting people just as much as nature. Whether it’s generating drinking water or providing recreational opportunities, saving a forest that’s soaking up carbon and pumping out oxygen or preserving a wetland that’s filtering our water every day. Conservation is much more than just taking a hike, going hunting or catching a steelhead. It’s fundamentally and ultimately about how people can survive on a planet with billions of people. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

I found it a challenge this past New Year’s weekend when my son’s girlfriend from college came to visit and I was reminded that she was a vegetarian. Bottom line: The steak, chicken, venison, frozen fish and Canada goose pretty much remained untouched in our freezer during her visit. This was new territory for me. One thing I really love about covering the outdoors is the diversity of interesting activities that go on year-round in Central New York. The beat has exposed me to a wide variety of food, particularly dishes involving wild game and fish. I’ve adopted the philosophy that I’ll try anything once. While working on stories or eating at friends’ homes the past few years I’ve sampled smoked carp, sucker and pickerel cakes, salmon, perch, trout, walleye and bass. I’ve dined on squirrel, duck, wild turkey, pheasant, ruffed grouse, frog legs, Canada goose, rabbit, wild boar and elk. And last but not least, I’ve eaten a variety of venison dishes. So, I found it a challenge this past New Year’s weekend when my son’s girlfriend from college came to visit and I was reminded that she was a vegetarian. Bottom line: The steak, chicken, venison, frozen fish and Canada goose pretty much remained untouched in our freezer during her visit. This was new territory for me. With the cold weather, I thought of making chili and Googled “vegetarian chili recipes.” At the top of the list was a link to the “Best Vegetarian Chili in the World Recipe.” I couldn’t resist. I made a list of the ingredients and went to Tops Market in Skaneateles. I easily found all the ingredients with the exception of “two (12 ounce) packages of vegetarian burger crumbles.” I naively checked the meat section, thinking it would be there. Fortunately, I ran into a female friend of ours in the aisle who I know is a great cook. I told her about my dilemma and she related that her son had also brought his girlfriend home from college for the holidays and that she was a vegan. She pointed out she had an additional challenge because the girlfriend wouldn’t touch anything with dairy products or eggs. She looked at my ingredient list and laughed. “It seems like the same recipe I made. You make a lot, but it’s good-tasting,” she said. She directed me away from the meat section in the back of the store to the “Natural Organic Frozen” section near the front of the store, where I easily found what I needed. Vegetarian burger crumbles resemble ground beef and are made from soy. I quickly drove home, got all the ingredients out and followed the recipe. No problem. I supplemented the chili with a nice salad and a loaf of garlic-flavored sesame seed bread. It turned out great and everyone liked it. It was a big batch, though, and I ended up having it for lunch four days in a row. Meanwhile, I still have all that meat in the freezer, and for my birthday this past Monday I received a Mr. Twister electric fish fillet knife from friends. The ice fishing season is almost upon us. Stay tuned. The vegetarian chili was memorable, though, and I would make it again — particularly since I now know where the vegetarian burger crumbles can be found. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Due to the wind and cold temperatures, few anglers were on Oneida Lake this week, so there is no information to report. There may be fishable ice in the bays by next weekend. Meanwhile, the Salmon River continues to produce good brown trout and steelhead angling. CNY FISHING FORECAST There is very little fishing information to report this week. Things have been quiet as anglers wait for safe ice. All persons aboard a pleasure vessel less than 21 feet long, regardless of age, must wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) from Nov. 1 to May 1. Bait stores (list and map). SALMON RIVER The browns and steelhead have transitioned into their winter holes (deeper water). Fishing is still pretty good, though. Good baits continue to be trout beads (10mm), egg sacs (blue, pink and chartreuse mesh), streamers, stonefly nymphs and egg-imitating flies. The Upper Fly Fishing Area closed Nov. 30 and will reopen April 1. OSWEGO RIVER Fishing has been hot or cold, depending on the day. On the days when they’re hitting, anglers are catching mostly browns and rainbows using bucktail jigs and minnows, with some casting Little Cleo lures. ONEIDA LAKE Due to the wind and cold temperatures, few anglers were out, so there is no information to report. There may be fishable ice in the bays by next weekend. CAYUGA LAKE Lake trout and Atlantic salmon are still being taken around Taughannock by anglers trolling with spoons, or flashers and flies. Finger Lakes tributary fishing ended Dec. 31. SENECA LAKE Yellow perch fishing continues to be good in 20 to 30 feet of water around Painted Rock and also off the pier. Small minnows and grubs have been working. Brown trout and Atlantic salmon are being taken on the surface for anglers trolling, or casting, with streamers and stickbaits. OWASCO LAKE No activity to report. OTISCO LAKE No activity to report. SKANEATELES LAKE Few anglers are out fishing. Shore fishing with marshmallow-and-worm rigs is usually the ticket this time of year for rainbow trout. Those who venture out in boats can usually take rainbows by casting or trolling streamers near the surface. No reports on the perch fishing. SODUS BAY Perch fishing continues to be good, though few anglers are taking advantage of it, according to one bait-shop owner. Fishing around the islands, or at the mouth of Second Creek, with fathead minnows continues to work, he said. SANDY POND No activity to report. ST. LAWRENCE RIVER Anglers have fishing for northern pike and perch recently — on the ice. At midweek, Eel Bay had five inches of ice. Lake of the Isles had four inches. No reports from Chaumont Bay. WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR No activity to report. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The deer was taken with a bow and arrow from a Southern Minnesota deer farm. A 20-year-old man from Rushford, Minn., has been charged with felony theft for allegedly shooting a 21-point domesticated deer in a rural Houston County pen with a bow and arrow, then claiming he killed it in the wild, according to the Star Tribune newspaper. Ryan Lucas Jackson also faces three other counts of trespassing, criminal damage to property for allegedly cutting a fence to remove the trophy buck, and unauthorized release of animals. Ten other deer escaped the pen in the Dec. 8 incident; two, including an eight-point buck valued at about $10,000, are still missing, the newspaper reported. See a picture of the deer and read the full story. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"I am a hunter and recently put a section of ribs from a deer I got up behind the house in the woods to see what would come," he said. Submitted photo Hmm.. now this is a little different. Joe Alison, of Syracuse, sent in this photo of two hawks and wrote: "We saw the picture of the buck from someone's trail camera. We have one also and for living in the suburbs with a small area of woods behind, we can't believe the wildlife we see. Deer, fox, and hawks among others. "I am a hunter and recently put a section of ribs from a deer I got up behind the house in the woods to see what would come. I knew we had a hawk living in the area. Thought this photo was a great shot of two hawks ready to fight over rights to the ribs! Never expected this! We also look forward to seeing what has been lurking up above us! Great entertainment!" View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

I continue to be amazed by all the readers who are into bird feeders and who enjoy watching our feathered friends all winter as a result. I continue to be amazed by all the readers who are into bird feeders and who enjoy watching our feathered friends all winter as a result. Frankly, I’m thinking about getting one myself. Have an interesting bird photo, story or tip you’d like to share? Send it to [email protected]. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

In waters where ice fishing is permitted, anglers will be allowed to use up to three lines and five tip-ups except as noted in special regulations for specific waters. Previously, ice anglers could only use two lines with five tip-ups. The following is a DEC press release: With the onset of winter, the thoughts of many anglers often turn to ice fishing and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) reminds ice anglers about a recent change to the Environmental Conservation Law. In waters where ice fishing is permitted, anglers will be allowed to use up to three lines and five tip-ups except as noted in special regulations for specific waters. Previously, ice anglers could only use two lines with five tip-ups. “Ice fishing provides a great opportunity for people to get outdoors during the long winter months,” said DEC Assistant Commissioner for Natural Resources Kathy Moser. “According to a recent DEC survey, ice fishing participation has doubled over the past 10 years.” The use of fish for bait is very popular when ice fishing, and bait fish may be used in most but not all waters that are open to ice fishing. See DEC’s website for a list of special regulations by county to find out where bait fish can and cannot be used. Anglers are reminded to take these important steps when ice fishing: - Follow the bait fish regulations to prevent the spread of harmful fish diseases and invasive species. - Use only certified disease-free bait fish purchased at a local tackle store or use only personally collected bait fish for use in the same waterbody in which they were caught. - Check for sufficient ice thickness before venturing onto the ice. A minimum of three to four inches of solid ice is usually safe for anglers on foot. However, ice thickness varies on every body of water and anglers should be particularly wary of areas of moving water and around boat docks/houses where “bubblers” may be installed to reduce ice buildup. DEC cautions that the presence of snowmobile tracks or footprints on the ice should not be taken as evidence of safe ice conditions. Individuals are strongly encouraged to check ice conditions for themselves and avoid situations that appear to present even a remote risk. For more information on ice fishing, ice safety, and places to ice fish, visit the DEC Web site. For more on New York’s freshwater fishing regulations, see the DEC Web site. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Two of the photos were from a trail cam; the other, from a hand-held camera. All were taken in the contributor's backyards. One thing I love about the outdoors beat is that when you ask you often receive from readers. I asked recently for trail cam photos and wildlife photos and two readers responded with eye-opening shots of white-tailed deer. The first two photos were submitted by Michael P. Busse. He wrote: This is in my backyard in Manlius( between Watervale and Hennaberry Roads) and are pictures of two of the three 'big bucks' that were around all summer and fall. Seeing these bucks is also one of the major reasons that I bought a crossbow. Our only direct neighbor behind us is at the top of a rather large hill that is full of Apples, scrubs and pines. In my opinion as a 45+ year deer hunter, I quit hunting behind my house maybe 20 years ago as I thought it was getting a bit close to gun hunt. Although from the sounds of all of the shots I heard, I am in a minority! Enclosed are pictures of two of the three -- an 8 point- and an 11-point buck. Submitted photoThe 11-pointer. There also was a 14 point that I never got a picture of except when he was in velvet. The last picture of the 11 point buck was on the 13th of November, although I saw all them a few more times, they never were in front of the camera. I only saw does when I sat in my chair next to the rock wall in my back yard, but I never saw the bucks again when the 'gun season' started. Submitted photoThe 9-pointer. All of these pictures are within 50 yards of my back door. The bucks are oblivious to us and our 'Jack Russell' who thinks it is her job to bark at them every time they 'dare' put a foot into her yard. We have does who will put their noses on the back windows also as if they are checking in on us. Routinely we have 10 or more in the backyard eating clippings, or in the compost pile picking out pumpkin or squash seeds, apple cores etc. We have had fawns born in our backyard. The final photo was taken by Jim Mason, of Trumansburg. He wrote: "I shot this photo of whitetails at rest in a newly cleared brush lot behind my home on the edge of Trumansburg. "It was taken just a few days before opening of gun season." Submitted photoTaking it easy. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The winner will be announced at the CNY Sportsman Show on Saturday, Feb. 4, in Oneida. The following is a press release: Nominations are now being accepted for the 2012 CNY Sportsman of the Year Award. The ideal candidate will be a great sportsman and may have gone above and beyond by benefiting the community or have in some way contributed to their sport, wildlife, conservation, the environment or by any other accomplishment that sets them apart. The winner will be selected by a panel of judges and will receive prizes, including gift certificates and outdoor equipment, and will be featured in upcoming editions of local newspapers and magazines. Contact information for the nominees and those nominating should be included with the entries. The winner will be announced at the CNY Sportsman Show on Saturday, Feb. 4, in Oneida. Nominations should be mailed to Holy Cross Academy, 4020 Barrington Road, Oneida, NY 13421, or enter online at the Holy Cross Academy Web site. Entries will be accepted until Jan. 27. For more information, call Teri Maciag at 363-1669. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The profits are used to help out local veterans -- specifically those at the Syracuse Veterans Administration hospital. It was another successful year for the Camillus Elks' deer hide collection program. "It culminated with almost 400 hides sold for the benefit of the Syracuse V.A. hospital," said Robert A. Maraio, who coordinates the program for the club. "This sale allows the Camillus Elks, in their veterans services program, to fund pizza luncheons, restock on a monthly basis a toiletries and food cabinet and assist in veterans expenses for local sporting events," he said. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Considered a masterpiece of ornithology art, the 3½ -foot-tall books feature hand-colored prints of all the species known to Audubon in early 19th century America. NEW YORK (AP) — A rare first edition of John James Audubon’s sumptuously illustrated “The Birds of America,” depicting more than 400 life-size North American species in four monumental volumes, is going on the auction block for an estimated $7 million to $10 million. Considered a masterpiece of ornithology art, the 3½ -foot-tall books feature hand-colored prints of all the species known to Audubon in early 19th century America. Audubon insisted on the book’s large format — printed on the largest hand-made sheets available at the time — because of his desire to portray the birds in their actual size and natural habitat. The set, being sold by the heirs of the 4th Duke of Portland, will be auctioned by Christie’s Jan. 20. It will be accompanied by a complete first edition five-volume set of Audubon’s “Ornithological Biography.” They will be on view at Christie’s Rockefeller Center galleries Jan. 14-19. Experts estimate that 200 complete first edition copies were produced over an 11-year period, from 1827-1838. Today, 120 are known to exist; 107 are in institutions and 13 in private hands. They consist of 435 hand-colored, life-size prints of 497 bird species, made from engraved copper plates based on Audubon’s original watercolors. Another complete first edition of “The Birds of America” sold at Sotheby’s in London in December 2010 for $11.5 million, a record for the most expensive printed book sold at auction. Audubon sold the engraved plates in a subscription series in England, Europe, and North America. “The overall cost to print a set at the time was estimated to be 115,000 pounds sterling, which would be over $2 million today,” said Francis Wahlgren, head of Christie’s books and manuscripts. That is why Audubon “had to presell to wealthy families with subscriptions to fund the production,” he added. “It was a kind of status thing. ... That’s why many of these wound up in these great English homes,” Wahlgren said. Because all the birds are portrayed life size, Audubon found creative ways to paint them. “Many of the large birds are bending down feeding, and they’re contorted to fit the page. But he does it in a graceful way, very artistic,” like extending a tail feather beyond the margin, said Wahlgren. No one at that time would have considered that kind of book of ornithology, he said. In the 18th century, “you started moving into engravings but things like scale were not as important.” Audubon brought it truer to life, “furthering it as individual works of art, dealing with backgrounds, settings — the flora and fauna that surrounded the bird. He took the aesthetic of what is a scientific book and raised it to the point of art,” Wahlgren said. “It stands among the greatest color-plate books,” he added. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

I'm writing this week about the recent purchase of lakefront property on Lake Ontario by the Nature Conservancy and the local snowmobile scene. First off, I'd like to thank all the readers of this weekly report who gave me story ideas for 2011. Your input provided me with a diverse, interesting report each week. Thanks again. Here's what's on tap for this week: FRIDAY: Interview with Nature Conservancy spokesman about recent purchase of 500 acres of prime, undeveloped Lake Ontario shoreline that the Conservancy plans to turn over to the DEC. Dave Lassman/The Post-Standard SUNDAY: I look at the local snowmobile scene. The season has been held up by lack of snow and some local clubs are still sprucing up and making their trails safe this week. Other stories I'm looking to do in Jan./February: - I may be nuts, but I've like to try camping out with Boy Scouts in an igloo - Ice fishing stories.. unique shanties, the use of plastics, etc.. - Trying my hand at a biathlon. - Downhill skiing, cross country skiing. - Wintertime orienteering. -Snowshoe racing - Indoor archery leagues - predator hunting - snow goose hunting ANYTHING ELSE READERS OF THIS REPORT WOULD LIKE TO SEE ME WRITE ABOUT? The effectiveness of this report is two-fold. First it lets readers know what's coming up story-wise. It also allows readers a chance to affect coverage and provide sources for upcoming stories. Bottom line: Keep in touch and give input. You could make a difference as to what appears week to week on the outdoors page! Email me at [email protected] or call 470-6066. If you want to join The Post-Standard's Outdoors Group and get this emailed directly to you, subscribe here. Members of this group can respond to me directly by hitting reply after reading the email. FIGURA ON FACEBOOK: For those who are on Facebook, I also have a PS Outdoors page there, 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 following is a press release from the New York State Snowmobile Association: While the snow has been slow to fly in most parts of New York State, snowmobile season is right around the bend. The New York State Snowmobile Association (NYSSA) reminds snowmobilers throughout the state that local trails are not open until the local club has inspected and... The following is a press release from the New York State Snowmobile Association: While the snow has been slow to fly in most parts of New York State, snowmobile season is right around the bend. The New York State Snowmobile Association (NYSSA) reminds snowmobilers throughout the state that local trails are not open until the local club has inspected and cleared trails for the 2012 season. “Our number one priority is safety and that is why we ask all snowmobilers to reach out to their local club before hitting the trails for the first time,” said Jim Rolf, Trail Coordinator for NYSSA. “New York State was hit by Tropical Storms Irene and Lee this summer and due to their destructive nature the clubs are finding damage to, and the wash-out of trails throughout the state, especially in the Adirondacks, Catskill and eastern NY. Our local clubs are working to inspect and repair these trails in order to ensure a safe experience throughout the season.” Snowmobilers are encouraged to visit www.nysnowmobiler.com for information on local clubs as well as the latest news on snowmobiling in New York State. The snowmobile season does not traditionally begin until after the hunting season ends in late December, but the NYSSA is urging all snowmobilers to check with their local clubs before hitting the trails since the snow has been slow to fall this year. “We are looking forward to another great year of snowmobiling,” said Dominic Jacangelo, Executive Director of NYSSA. “The snowmobile industry has a $1 billion impact in New York State, mainly upstate. Our Association works with local municipalities and land owners to provide additional riding options for our members as well as identifying opportunities to work with local businesses to ensure services are available to our participants.” NYSSA encourages all snowmobilers to refrain from consuming any amount of alcohol until they have parked their snowmobiles for the day. “Operating a snowmobile requires the sharpest of senses. Don’t invite something bad to happen by consuming any amount of alcohol before your riding is done,” stressed NYSSA President Gary Broderick. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Howie Cushing, president of the New York State Conservation Council, is eager to get the wheels in motion. Submitted photoJim Snizek, of Liverpool, poses with an 800-pound bull moose he shot during a September hunting trip to Hideaway Lodge in New Foundland, Canada. ¦There’s hundreds of moose running around loose in this state’s North County — anywhere from 500 to 800, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Is it time for some kind of hunting season, if only on a limited basis? Howie Cushing, president of the New York State Conservation Council, is eager to get the wheels in motion. Cushing said the Conservation Council, which serves as an advocate for hunting, fishing, trapping and the Second Amendment, has been lobbying unnamed state legislators to draft a bill that would allow for limited moose hunting in certain areas of the state.’ “We already have commitments,” he said, “but we’d like to make this a bi-partisan legislation, seeing if we could get signers from both sides of the aisle. We hope to have something out in the next month, month and a half.” He said there’s several reasons behind the push. Creating a hunting season would give the state’s hunters new opportunities, it would allow for better management and a “healthier” moose herd and it could result in more money for the state Department of Environmental Conservation in its management of the moose population. Cushing emphasize that nothing is cast in concrete and that ultimately his group favors leaving it to the DEC to decide what’s the best way to manage the moose population. He said the legislation he’s talking about getting passed would give the DEC the tools it needs to do that. “Perhaps there’s a way to get give out tags or permits that would be obtained through a lottery system,” he said, similar to what’s done in states like Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Rick Georgeson, a spokesman for the DEC, confirmed it does not currently have the regulatory authority to allow moose hunting and that it would take legislative action to give DEC that authority. Gordon Batcheller and the DEC’s Wildlife Bureau Chief, said his department at this point is monitoring the moose population. “When we feel there’s been appropriate recovery, (hunting) is something we’ll consider in the future,” he said. Batcheller stressed before any hunting season is discussed, the DEC needs to get a handle on the baseline population and growth rate of the animals. At this point, he said, there’s more work that needs to be done. “We have evidence the population is growing, (but) we’re not sure how fast,” he said. One indication of a sizeable herd is moose/motor vehicle accidents. “Occasionally, you’ll hear of a moose/car collision,” he said. “We’re getting about 1 to 3 every other year. It’s been on the low side. There have been no fatals.” He added the state Department of Conservation is working to put up signs on roadways where moose are known to crossways, urging motorists to slow down. It’s the DEC’s job to be the authoritative source on the status moose in this state and to gather the facts to give lawmakers and others a clear picture of their presence on the landscape, the implications for interactions with humans and the implications for tourism and viewing, Batcheller said. He said the DEC is asking citizens to report sightings and has been distributing diaries to hunters in the Adirondacks to record their observations. Batcheller and Georgeson said there are plans, along with funding, to conduct aerial flights this winter to count individual animals, their tracks as well as inventory suitable moose habitat in an effort to estimate moose density. “We are currently waiting for better snow cover before we begin the flights,” Georgeson said. Apart from the hunting crowd, there are people who’d just like to see and photograph a moose. “We have a lot of folks who come in here and ask about that,” said Mike Farmer, tourism publicity director for the Town of Webb in Old Forge. “That service has not popped up yet, though. The (Adirondack Park) in this region is not a zoo. There’s no guarantee that you’re going to see one. Actually, there’s a small change if you go out on any given day that you’re going to see a moose.” Farmer noted the local weekly newspaper from time to time reports on the location of moose in the area. “We had one in the Moose Plains area that was hanging out around Helldiver Pond,” Farmer said. “People who went out in the early morning had a good chance of seeing it.” A recent published story in New York Outdoor News reported that Ed Reed, a DEC big game biologist in Region 5, said there was a sizeable moose population in parts of Clinton, Essex and Franklin counties — particularly around Upper Chateaugay Lake. Tammy Demmers, who works at Bill’s Bait and Beer near the lake, said she’s been living in the area for 12 years and hasn’t seen a moose yet. She said she’s talked to people who’ve seen them, but hasn’t heard of anyone serving as a guide for people who just want to take their pictures. Susan Hafter, clerk for the town of Malone, said the idea of guides for photographers and other non-hunters is “a cool idea,” but hasn’t heard of anyone doing it. Hafter said she’s talked to a lot of hunters this fall and “the talk is that they will be eventually be a moose hunting season. “Most people (up here), though, don’t agree with that,” she said. “They’re not plentiful enough.” View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Readers react to an Op-Ed essay by a deer hunter. View the full article

A century of efforts to sustain snow geese along their migratory paths may have succeeded a little too well. View the full article

Have an outdoors-related story or feature that you'd like to suggest? Contact Outdoors Editor David Figura a [email protected] or call 470-6066. This week's outdoors pages include stories about two girls from Lafayette who got impressive deer this past season and the issue of whether it's time to begin hunting moose in this state Have an ice shanty you plan to use for the coming ice fishing season that's the envy of your friends and others? Let me know about it. Send my a description (photos would help) at [email protected]. Here's what's on tap for the coming week's Outdoors pages in The Post-Standard. Submitted photoBrooke Giancola with her 10-point buck taken Thanksgiving Day. FRIDAY:- Main piece: More on the Giacola girls from Lafayette, who got impressive bucks this past hunting season. Plus, CNY fishing report, and a sampling of DEC tickets handed out by local environmental conservation officers at the tail end of the past deer hunting season. No column: (I'm on vacation all this week). SUNDAY:- Main story: Is it time yet to have a moose hunting season in this state -- or what? Also, a brief story about a Camillus man who's been getting some eye-opening shots with his trail camera and a pitch for others to send in wildlife photos from throughout Central New York this winter. No column: (I'm on vacation). Stories I'm working on when I get back: - Late duck/goose seasons - CNY biathlon club - Ice fishing (when everything freezes over) - Cross country/downhill skiing features or issues - Snowmobile features/issues - Predator hunting for coyotes - rabbit hunting ANYTHING ELSE READERS OF THIS REPORT WOULD LIKE TO SEE ME WRITE ABOUT? The effectiveness of this report is two-fold. First it lets readers know what's coming up story-wise. It also allows readers a chance to affect coverage and provide sources for upcoming stories. Bottom line: Keep in touch and give input. You could make a difference as to what appears week to week on the outdoors page! Email me at [email protected] or call 470-6066. If you want to join The Post-Standard's Outdoors Group and get this emailed directly to you, subscribe here. Members of this group can respond to me directly by hitting reply after reading the email. FIGURA ON FACEBOOK: For those who are on Facebook, I also have a PS Outdoors page there, 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

One of the Giancola girls harvested a 10-point buck on Thanksgiving morning. Submitted photoBrittany Giancola with her first bow buck. Two of the Giancola girls of Lafayette -- sisters Brittany and Brooke -- got some impressive deer this fall. Their father, Craig, wrote the following: "Brittany kicked things off the first week of archery with the harvest of her first buck, a nice 6 pointer. I was fortunate enough to be hunting the same woodlot when she scored. She was ecstatic and still shaking from excitement when I picked her up at her tree stand prior to tracking her deer. Her smile says it all. "Our youngest, Brooke also harvested her very first buck this season on Thanksgiving morning. (She used her grandfather's 12-gauge shotgun.) And what a buck it was. It is a family tradition for the girls and me as every Thanksgiving we hunt for a few hours before rushing off to the grandparents to celebrate Thanksgiving. I have been playing cat and mouse with this buck for the last two years, a basic 9 point with a kicker point off the right G-2 . The buck has everything, mass, spread, and long beams. Submitted photoBrooke Giancola and her 10-pointer. Estimated Gross Score 152” Beam length 26” Inside spread 20” Dressed weight 187-lbs We have been practicing QDM (Quality Deer Management) for the past 5 years and as you can see it is paying off nicely. Once the girls harvest their first buck of any size; in the future they are encouraged to hold out for a mature buck. Brooke will have a tough time out doing herself on this deer for sure as she shot the buck of a lifetime. I am sure the anti’s will take some shots at the girls for enjoying God’s great outdoors and providing our family with the very finest, leanest, healthiest table fare available anywhere!! Hey, if the Anti’s choose to let their kids play mindless video games all day and night, that involve killing humans while eating pork rinds that’s ok with me. Our kids and many others like them will be outside enjoying the fresh air and getting exercise and partaking in the circle of life in a healthy and natural way. Remember this: “Teach your kids how to hunt and you won’t have to hunt for your kids”. I am truly blessed to have three girls to enjoy many outdoor activities with. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The Post-Standard is once again honoring individuals who give to the outdoors and outdoor sports with their time and money with its annual feature, "Heroes of Conservation," which this year is being sponsored by Romano Subaru. The honorees were nominated by readers. A hero is someone who shows great strength, stick-to-it-tiveness and awesome ability — someone who comes through in the clutch. In the area of conservation, Central New York has its share of folks who give untold volunteer hours and often money out of their own pockets to maintain or to restore Central New York’s woods, fields and waterways so we all can enjoy them. In addition, we have those who unselfishly give of their time and resources to pass on the positive practices and traditions of outdoor activities, emphasizing ethical practices, safety and love of the land. The newspaper is once again honoring such individuals with its annual feature, The Post-Standard’s “Heroes of Conservation,” which this year is being sponsored by Romano Subaru. The honorees were nominated by readers. John Berry/The Post-StandardJohn Gustafson, the co-founder and treasurer of Lime Hollow Nature Center. John Berry / The Post-Standard Advocate for nature preserve John A. Gustafson, a retired SUNY Cortland biology professor, is one of the key people behind the success of the Lime Hollow Center for Environment and Culture. The nature preserve, established in 1992 in Cortlandville on Cortland County’s western border, is a well-known community resource that boasts nearly 400 acres, 10 miles of trails, 300-plus members, a $1 million visitor’s center and more than 23,000 visitors each year. Gustafson, 86, of Homer, came up with the idea — along with Charles Yaple (another SUNY Cortland professor) and others — of creating a 100-acre nature preserve in the ecologically unique Lime Hollow area, which was then owned by the Tunison Laboratory of Fish Nutrition, a U.S.G.S. facility. Since the center’s creation, Gustafson has become a longstanding board member, treasurer and generous donor. “He (and his wife Nancy) even took out a second mortgage on their house so we could acquire property,” said Glenn Reisweber, executive director for the center. Gustafson said he’s been a longtime disciple of Aldo Leopold, a well-known forester and conservationist who promoted the idea that mankind needs to appreciate and care for the natural world. “You love it or you lose it,” Gustafson said. Ellen Blalock/The Post-StandardDavid Simmons Shooting sports ambassador “The only thing more fun than going out and shooting is watching the looks on new shooters’ faces.” So says David Simmons, Central New York’s unofficial ambassador for shooting sports such as trap and skeet. Simmons, 51, of West Monroe, has been active with the National Rifle Association and the local Friends of the NRA Committee for more than a decade. He is president of the Baldwinsville Rod and Gun Club, and under his watch the club has upgraded its trap and skeet ranges and increased its membership. He has started charity shoots that have benefited Baldwinsville Meals on Wheels, the American Cancer Society and the Gregory J. Harris Military Courtesy Room at Hancock International Airport. He has encouraged outside groups such as Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, the Ruffed Grouse Society and the Greater Ithaca Activities Club to shoot at the club. Simmons has helped with Boy Scout rifle and shotgun merit badge classes. He is a Women in Nature committee member, and he has been a shooting instructor at the Sportsmen’s Days held each fall at Carpenter’s Brook. When needed, he has donated hundreds of dollars for ammunition so youngsters and women can enjoy the sport he loves. Steve Cannerelli/The Post-StandardChris NutterThere for the kids and others Chris Nutter’s love for the outdoors knows no bounds. “The outdoors is so peaceful and beautiful. It’s God’s country,” he said. An Eagle Scout as a teen, Nutter, now 51, has been involved in scouting for years and has been active as a merit badge counselor and firearms instructor. The Cicero resident is also a master bow hunting instructor and a firearms safety instructor. He never tires of promoting the safe use of treestands. Nutter is also a member of three rod and gun clubs and a regional board member for the National Wild Turkey Federation and the Conservation Alliance of New York. He has helped run youth and all-women pheasant hunts, in addition to taking disabled veterans, mentally disabled adults and young residents of group homes on fishing and hunting outings. “The kids know that I’m there ... and that I’m willing to do it,” he said. Nutter is also a watchdog for the rights of gun owners and hunters and has made numerous trips with local sportsmen to lobby state lawmakers. Steve Cannerelli/The Post-StandardChuck ParkerOutdoor sportsmen’s advocate Chuck Parker, 61, of Mexico, is one of those dedicated volunteers on the front lines of conservation/wildlife management and preserving the rights of outdoor sports enthusiasts across the state. His involvement includes being first vice president of the New York State Conservation Council, president of the Oswego County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, secretary/treasurer for the Oswego County Sportsmen’s Foundation (founding member), and a representative to the Region 7 Open Space Planning Board. In addition, he is Oswego County’s hunter safety coordinator and a longtime member of the Mad River Club, along with managing the websites for five organizations. “I believe that seven out of 10 sportsmen do not belong to a sportsmen or rod and gun club, nor realize that a county federation or a statewide organization even exists to protect their interests,” he said. “They may have strong feelings on the future of hunting and fishing, but they are not doing anything to let their opinions be known, or to protect our sport. That needs to change.” Ellen Blalock/The Post-StandardChuck GibsonMr. Montezuma Chuck Gibson’s love for birds and birding stretches back to his childhood when he attended Boy Scout camp and got his birding merit badge. Today, at 72, the former head custodian at Lyons High School has made an impact on the Montezuma Wetlands Complex, actively volunteering at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge and the nearby Montezuma Audubon Center. Refuge staff members have given Parker the nickname “Mr. Montezuma.” Depending on the day, he can be found staffing the desk at the visitor’s center, planting trees, removing invasive plant species, assisting with duck banding, doing raptor surveys or building small, apartment-like purple martin houses that he fixes to the top of poles. Gibson is president of the Friends of the Montezuma Wetlands Complex. Why volunteer? “It’s about giving back. You also get to see things at the refuge that the public generally doesn’t have access to,” he said, smiling. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

For me, and I suspect for many others like me, the art of hunting is profound. It’s about taking responsibility. View the full article

The best was the tale of two bucks. Second and third place recounted the stories of an opportunistic harvesting of a black bear, and an unexpected surprise for a photographer snapping a shot of a buck and a doe. These were the top three stories submitted by readers from the recently concluded deer hunting season. For his winning submission, Kevin... The best was the tale of two bucks. Second and third place recounted the stories of an opportunistic harvesting of a black bear, and an unexpected surprise for a photographer snapping a shot of a buck and a doe. These were the top three stories submitted by readers from the recently concluded deer hunting season. For his winning submission, Kevin Shaughnessy, 19, of Minoa, will get “The Hunt, Trophy Showdown,” which is the newest Wii computer hunting game from Bass Pro Shops. The authors of the second- and third-place entries — hunter Isiah Toner, 35, of Holland Patent, and photographer Bob Walker, 67, of Syracuse — will get their pick of more than two dozen books related to the outdoors. Submitted photoKevin SHaughnessy (left) and his uncle Lawrence Vielhauer teammed up to harvest this buck in Pompey on Dec. 11. Now that’s teamwork It happened on Sunday morning, Dec. 11, the last day of shotgun season. I was with my uncle, Lawrence Vielhauer, and his buddies on our annual “Bucks and Ducks” weekend, which is always on the last day of shotgun season. We split up and I hunted with one of my uncle’s friends, Joe Budzich, in Pompey. My uncle and the rest of the guys took the morning to hunt ducks. I got a call on my walkie talkie from Joe after hearing a couple shots from his shotgun at around 9 a.m. He said that he had a small buck down and that there was another larger buck right by the smaller buck’s side. I snuck through the woods toward his stand and saw the buck. I crept to about 50 yards from it. Knowing I had only a couple seconds before the deer ran, I aimed and pulled the trigger. He appeared to have been hit well and ran away. Joe got down from his stand and went to where his buck fell and field dressed him. We called my uncle and he came within 10 minutes to start tracking my buck. We figured my deer would be down somewhere close. That wasn’t the case. We spent the next hour and a half tracking him. We got to the end of our property line and decided to take a break, have lunch and then asked the landowner if we could go on his property. The landowner agreed, so we headed back into the woods. We followed the blood trail to a thick patch of saplings. My uncle went around one side, while I stayed on the blood trail. When I was in the middle of the thick patch, I heard a shot. A call from my uncle followed saying my buck was down. I ran over to my uncle, who had a big smile on his face. “Good job, buddy. Now that’s teamwork!” he said, offering me congratulations for the seven-pointer on the ground. — Kevin Shaughnessy Submitted photoIsiah Toner poses with the bear he shot while deer hunting on state land in Brookfield. Opportunistic harvest A couple of hours set aside for an afternoon hunt on a piece of state land in Brookfield were aimed at filling (a doe tag). Regardless of the outcome, it was another blissfully warm day that would make for a pleasant evening in the deer woods. A small, nearby spring brook had risen a bit from the snow melt and was playing perfect music. Other than the trickling water, the woods was very quiet. Excitement and anticipation were turning every little sound in the dry leaves into an incoming deer. On several occasions, my heart was fluttering and my hands were gripping at the gun, only to realize it was songbirds and chipmunks that I was hearing. Just before the sun began to set, the undeniable sound of something big could be heard up above my location. It certainly wasn’t a chipmunk or a tweety bird. When the animal came into view, I was hit with a lightning bolt of shock and awe. It was bear! A large, black bear! Fortunately, I was aware that a couple of years back the bear season had been expanded into the 7M area I was hunting. Never in a million years did I dream of actually seeing one, though. I lined up the crosshairs of my rifle scope behind the bear’s shoulder and slowly eased back the trigger. KA-POW! A clean shot provided for my first black bear harvest. It was a dream come true. The bear dressed out at 225 pounds. — Isiah Toner Submitted photoA couple of decoy deer were almost enough to fool photographer Bob Walker, who shot this photo in Allegany County. Too perfect Last weekend, the wife, nephew and I were down in Allegany County looking over property our nephew had recently purchased. He had told us there were quite a few deer in the neighborhood, and signs of that were evident on his property. So we looked around but didn’t see anything. Our nephew suggested he could show us around the area. Following our nephew, we used two-way radios in case we got separated. Not far from his place and just around a corner, we saw our nephew pointing into a field. There stood a six-point buck with a doe laying down on posted land. I instructed our nephew to pull up the road, out of sight, so I could load my camera. I backed up along the shoulder of the road to where I could get a clear view of the critters. After a short while, I was almost sure they were decoys set out to nab illegal hunters. My wife couldn’t see them very well from her passenger position in our vehicle so I told her to get out and take a look. She hadn’t been out of our SUV but a minute, and up pulls a Jeep Cherokee with no markings on it. I looked back in my rearview mirror and saw a DEC environmental conservation officer approaching us. He looked at my large lens sticking out the car window and told us to move along in an abupt, rude manner. In my 46 years of doing photography, I have never come upon a scene such as this. — Bob Walker View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog