HuntingNY-News

It's been a couple of weeks into the firearms season for deer and I haven't heard of a single hunter harvesting one with a crossbow. If you have got a deer with one -- doe or buck -- I'd like to hear about it. Pictures would help. Contact me at 470-6066 or at [email protected]. I don't own a crossbow, but... It's been a couple of weeks into the firearms season for deer and I haven't heard of a single hunter harvesting one with a crossbow. If you have got a deer with one -- doe or buck -- I'd like to hear about it. Pictures would help. Contact me at 470-6066 or at [email protected]. I don't own a crossbow, but I know it's not easy to use as some would like to think. And like bowhunting, you have to practice, practice, practice. Check out this video of me shooting one earlier this year. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

These muskie guys go out trolling 8 to 14 hours a day (weather permitting). The worse the weather and conditions, though, the better the fishing. Watch video This video was shot last week aboard Bob Walter's boat, the Water Wolf, which launches out of Clayton. Bob graciously took me out, along with photographer Gary Walts for a couple of hours. These muskie guys go out trolling (if the weather permits) 8 to 14 hours a day. The worse the weather and conditions, the better fishing they say. Also along for the ride was New Jersey longshoreman Ed Beers, who last year caught a 59-inch muskie -- the biggest one caught on the river in some 50 years. I interviewed Walters last year about that catch. What's particularly cool about Walters' set up is that he has a heated cabin on his 31-foot boat and also has a video camera on one of the downriggers so you can actually see the fish hit the lure. Walters said he continues to take customers out until Dec. 15. For more, check out his Web site. For more on muskie fishing in the St. Lawrence and the story of an eye-opening 60-incher caught just this week aboard another charter captain's boat, see Friday's Outdoors page in The Post-Standard. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The green score was 138 3/4 inches and dressed out at 177 pounds, the father said. Submitted photo Jordan Kwiek, of Skaneateles, took this 9-point buck Thanksgiving morning while hunting with his father, Rick Kwiek, in the town of Skaneateles. The proud father wrote: "Jordan's buck green score was 138 3/4 inches and dressed out at 177 pounds. It was his first buck taken with a gun -- a Winchester, 20-gauge." The green score was 138 3/4 inches and dressed out at 177 pounds. Congratulations, Jordan! View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Rob Town, of Phoenix, shot this buck in Oswego County on the morning of Nov. 26. He shot it using a Remington 870, 12-gauge shotgun. Submitted photo Rob Town, of Phoenix, shot this buck in Oswego County on the morning of Nov. 26. He shot it using a Remington 870, 12-gauge shotgun. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

It was a 5 pointer. Submitted photo Don Heagle took this five-point piebald deer Nov. 26. He wrote: "The buck was taken on the family farm in Steuben county." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

To contact Outdoors Editor David Figura, email [email protected] or call 470-6066. This week's offerings on the Outdoors page tentatively include a story on muskie fishing on the St. Lawrence River and a piece on processing deer (and other options). Can hardly believe the great fall weather we’re having these days. Working on several outdoors stories that could use some reader help. They include: - Wild boar hunting. After the DEC noted in its recent press release that they were encouraging it this fall, I haven’t heard a peep from any Central New York hunters who have been successful. Anybody get a boar out there? I’d like to hear about it. - Heroes of Conservation – I have six nominations so far, and could use more. Deadline is 5 p.m. Dec. 9. - Outdoors related tattoos. I have a few, could use a few more. - Interesting people on the local outdoors scene to profile. - Venison recipes Besides the deer hunting season, what else should I be writing about this time of year? Looking particularly for pre-season snowmobiling or skiing ideas. Gary Walts/The Post-StandardFirst mate Darryl Raate, of Water Wolf Charters, sets up the lines to go muskie fishing on the St. Lawrence River. Meanwhile, here’s what’s on tap tentatively for this coming week:FRIDAY: - Main piece: It’s currently a cold, blustery time to be on the St. Lawrence River -- prime time to go muskie fishing. I went up for a few hours last week with Capt. Bob Walters; and a report came in this week from another charter boat captain whose client landed a 60-incher... - Column: I write about a young boy’s memorable experience out hunting with his dad at a hunting camp that featured four generations of his family. Plus, an interesting Madison County deer poaching case. SUNDAY: Main piece: You killed it, now what?. Interviews with local meat processers on how business is going this year, plus what do if you want to donate the meat to the needy, or your deer skins to help out local disabled veterans. - Column: Still considering my options. Possibly outdoors related tattoos. Stay tuned. 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

Environmental Conservation Officers (ECO) worked in conjunction with their counterparts in neighboring states to set up saturation patrols to target illegal deer shooting with the use of an artificial light, a practice commonly known as deer jacking. The following is a DEC press release: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) police officers recently concluded a blanket deer taking enforcement detail in the Capital Region and surrounding areas in conjunction with the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont, DEC announced today. Environmental Conservation Officers (ECO) worked in conjunction with their counterparts in neighboring states to set up saturation patrols to target illegal deer shooting with the use of an artificial light, a practice commonly known as deer jacking. Typically, deer jacking occurs in remote rural areas, throughout the night. During this operation, which took place in late October and the first three weeks of November, ECOs worked long hours and often confronted armed individuals. “The vast majority of hunters pursue and take game legally,” said DEC Law Enforcement Major Tim Duffy. “We work closely with the sporting community to stop individuals from illegally taking game to the detriment of wildlife populations and the legal efforts of honest hunters.” ECOs are out in full force this time of year patrolling, staking out, and observing the lands on which people take deer. They are in uniform and undercover; they are in vehicles and on foot; they are checking licenses and watching over deer decoys. Below is a list of individuals ticketed by ECOs for violating New York’s Environmental Conservation Laws in the Capital Region and surrounding areas. Saratoga County On October 20, an ECO staked out the Hans Creek Road in the town of Providence for poachers using lights to take deer. A vehicle turned on to the road and immediately a spotlight shined from the car sweeping the field along the road. The ECO observed a firearm pointing out from the car and heard a shot fired while a doe deer was illuminated by the spotlight. The vehicle continued down the road to the ECOs vehicle and was stopped. A second ECO arrived at the scene and the three occupants of the car were interviewed. All were issued summonses to appear in the town of Providence Justice Court as follows: - Craig Dufare, 18, of Middle Grove was charged with taking wildlife from a motor vehicle, possessing a loaded long gun in a motor vehicle, using of light while possessing an unsecured gun, illegally taking protected wildlife, discharging a firearm across a public highway, and shooting deer with rim fire ammunition. He faces up to $4,000 in fines and up to three years in jail. - Elizabeth Lewis, 18, of Middle Grove was charged with possessing a loaded long gun in a motor vehicle, taking big game without a license and using a light and while possessing an unsecured gun. She faces up to $2,250 in fines and up to two years in jail. - A 16-year old male in the vehicle was charged with taking big game without a license, taking deer with the aid of an artificial light, possessing a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, attempting to take wildlife with aid of motor vehicle and discharging a firearm across a public highway. He faces maximum possible penalties of $4,000 in fines and up to three years and one month in jail. - On Nov 15, Christopher Columbe, 26, and Justin Carr, 26, both of Saratoga Springs were both charged with operating an artificial light on lands inhabited by deer while in possession of a firearm. Both men were served summons to appear in the town of Northumberland Justice Court. Columbe and Carr each face maximum penalties of $1,000 in fines and up to 90 days in jail. Albany County - On October 29, Mark Meringolo, 42, of Athens was charged with shooting deer over bait, a violation. He was issued a summons to appear in Rensselaerville Town Court. Meringolo faces a maximum of $250 in fines and up to 15 days in jail. - On November 5, John Facci, 40, of Schenectady was charged with shooting deer over bait, a violation. He was issued a summons to appear in Colonie Town Court and faces a maximum of $250 in fines and up to 15 days in jail. - On November 9, Drew McCardle, 50, of Delanson was charged with taking a doe deer without a permit, taking a deer with a firearm during bow season (both misdemeanors), and hunting without a license, a violation. He was issued summonses to appear Knox Town Court. McCardle faces a maximum of $4,250 in fines and up to two years in jail. - On November 15, Joshua Beck, 18, of Slingerlands was charged with using a spotlight within 500 feet of a dwelling, a violation. He was issued a summons to appear in Guilderland Town Court. Beck faces a maximum of $250 in fines and up to 15 days in jail. - On November 18, John Mister, 53, of Greenville was charged with illegal possession of wildlife and failure to tag deer, both violations. He was issued a summons to appear in Westerlo Town Court. Mister faces a maximum of $500 in fines and up to 30 days in jail. - On November 19, Stephen West, 28, of Mayfield (Fulton County) was charged with possessing a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor. He was issued a summons to appear in Berne Town Court. West faces a maximum of $1000 in fines and up to 90 days in jail. - On November 19, Mark Ginter, 37, of Gloversville was charged with possessing a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor. He was issued a summons to appear in Berne Town Court. Ginter faces a maximum of $1,000 in fines and up to 90 days in jail. - On November 19, Charles Welsh, 40, of Rensselaerville was charged with possessing a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor. He was issued a summons to appear in Berne Town Court. Welsh faces a maximum of $1,000 in fines and up to 90 days in jail. - On November 20, Kenneth Davey, 49, of Richmondville was charged with possessing a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor. He was issued a summons to appear in Rensselaerville Town Court. Davey faces a maximum of $1,000 in fines and up to 90 days in jail. - On November 20, Mark McNally, 50, of Queens was charged with hunting with a rifle in a prohibited county, a misdemeanor. He was issued a summons to appear in Rensselaerville Town Court. McNally faces a maximum of $1,000 in fines and up to 90 days in jail. - On November 20, Ando Carmello, 52, of Stanfordville (Dutchess County) was charged with hunting with a rifle in a prohibited county, a misdemeanor. He was issued a summons to appear in Rensselaerville Town Court. Carmello faces a maximum of $1,000 in fines and up to 90 days in jail. - On November 20, Frank Scavetta, 52, of Queens was charged with hunting with a rifle in a prohibited county, a misdemeanor. He was issued a summons to appear in Rensselaerville Town Court. Scavetta faces a maximum of $1,000 in fines and up to 90 days in jail. -On November 26, Fred Oliver, 69, of Delmar was charged with shooting deer over bait, a violation. He was issued a summons to appear in Bethlehem Town Court. Oliver faces a maximum of $250 in fines and up to 15 days in jail. - On November 27, Mario Pennacchia, 52, of Schenectady was charged with taking a doe deer without a permit (a misdemeanor), discharging a bow within 500 feet of a residence and shooting deer over bait, both violations. He was issued summonses to appear Knox Town Court. McCardle faces up to $2,500 in fines and up to one year in jail. Schenectady County - On November 18, Michael Wheeler, 48, of Schenectady was charged with illegal possession of a doe deer and taking a deer with a firearm during bow season, both misdemeanors. He was issued summonses to appear in Princetown Town Court. Wheeler faces a maximum of $4,000 in fines and up to two years in jail. Rensselaer County - On October 25, Jamie Sears, 40, of Pittsfield, MA was charged with shooting at game after hours and hunting without a back tag (both violations) and making a false statement while applying for a license, a misdemeanor. He was issued summonses to appear in the town of Petersburg Justice Court. He faces a maximum of $700 in fines and up to three months in jail. -On October 25, Nicholas Lentine, 30, of Pownal, VT was charged with failure to carry a big game license while hunting, a violation. Lentine was issued an appearance ticket returnable in Petersburg Justice Court and faces up to $250 in fines and/or 15 days in jail. - On October 26, Matthew Sadlowski, 21, of Johnsonville was charged with spotlighting with an unsecure bow in a motor vehicle, a violation. Sadlowski was issued an appearance ticket returnable to Pittstown Justice Court and faces up to $250 in fines and up to 125 days in jail. - On November 1, Kenneth Luskin, 43, of Pittstown was charged with failure to tag a deer, a violation. Luskin was issued an appearance ticket returnable to Pittstown Justice Court and faces up to $250 in fines and up to 15 days in jail. - On November 13, James W. Roberts, 44, of Mechanicville was charged with shooting over bait, a violation. Roberts was issued an appearance ticket returnable to Pittstown Justice Court and faces up to $250 in fines and up to 15 days in jail. - On November 5, Carlos I. Correa, 52, of Troy was charged with hunter trespass, a violation. Correa was issued an appearance ticket returnable to Pittstown Justice Court and faces up to $250 in fines and up to 15 days in jail. - On November 1, Steven Torres, 40, of Watervliet was charged with hunter trespass, a violation. Torres was issued an appearance ticket returnable to North Greenbush Justice Court and faces up to $250 in fines and up to 15 days in jail. - On November 6, Paul A. Jerominek, 47, of Troy was charged with the misdemeanor of unlawful take of a deer and the violation of hunting without a license. Resolution of the matter is pending in Brunswick Town Court where Jerominek faces up to $2,000 in fines and up to 90 days in jail. - On November 27, Brian Jones of Berlin, 22, and John MacMillen, 22, of Poestenkill were each charged with taking deer with the aid of an artificial light, possessing a loaded gun in a motor vehicle and taking wildlife from a motor vehicle, all misdemeanors. Additionally, Jones was charged with the misdemeanor of shooting two deer over bait and the violation of hunting without a big game license during the archery only season. Resolution of the charges are pending in Berlin Town Court where MacMillen faces a fine of up to $5,000 and up to 270 days in jail and Jones faces a fine of up to $9,000 and up to a year in jail. - On November 13, Tom Gill, 22, of Nassau was charged with shooting deer with a gun during archery season and with hunting without a license, both violations. Gill was issued appearance tickets returnable to Nassau Justice Court and faces a fine of up to $500 and up to 15 days in jail. - On November 11, Fred Beagle, 34, of Cambridge was charged with possessing a loaded gun in a motor vehicle (a misdemeanor) and a traffic infraction of an unregistered vehicle. Beagle was issued an appearance ticket returnable to Pittstown Justice Court and faces up to $1,000 in fines and up to 90 days in jail. Columbia County - On November 10, Todd Hall, 44, of Austerlitz and David Hall, 43, of Chatham were charged with possession of an unsecured firearm in a motor vehicle while spotlighting, a misdemeanor. Both were issued an appearance tickets returnable to Austerlitz Justice Court and face up to $1,000 in fines and up to 90 days in jail. - On November 24, Dominick Popp, 74, of Gallatin was issued appearance tickets for the illegal taking of deer and shooting over a bait pile. Popp appeared in Gallatin Town Court, apologized for his actions and paid a $750 fine. Montgomery County - On November 10, Jeremy Harrington, 38, of Canajoharie was charged with taking a deer with a firearm during bow season (a misdemeanor) and trespassing on posted land, a violation. He was issued summonses to appear Palatine Town Court and faces up to $2,250 in fines and up to one year in jail. - On November 11, Joseph Moreau, 54, of Nelliston was charged with illegally taking a deer (a misdemeanor) and trespassing on posted land, a violation. He was issued summonses to appear Palatine Town Court and faces up to $2,250 in fines and up to one year in jail. - On November 23, Dylan Slater, 20, of Canajoharie was charged with illegal possession of a doe deer, a misdemeanor. He was issued a summons to appear in Glen Town Court and faces up to $2,000 in fines and up to one year in jail. - On November 20, Timothy Ferguson, 42, of Broadalbin was charged with illegal possession of a doe deer, a misdemeanor. He was issued summonses to appear in Florida Town Court and faces up to $2,000 in fines and up to one year in jail. - On November 20, Nick Henderson, 23, of Schenectady was charged with illegal possession of wildlife and possessing the license and tags of another, both violations. He was issued a summons to appear in Florida Town Court and faces up to $500 in fines and up to 30 days in jail. Warren County - On October 3, a New York State Trooper and an ECO charged Matthew Cleveland, 18, of Weavertown with taking deer with the aid of an artificial light, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, discharging a firearm across a public highway and taking a doe deer during the closed season - all misdemeanors. He was issued summonses to appear in the town of Johnsburg Justice Court. Cleveland faces up to $6,000 in fines and up to one year in jail. Washington County - On September 13, three Ticonderoga men were charged with deer jacking in the town of Putnam. Jesse Mars, 24, Adam Mosier, 26, and Nicholas Vlamis, 26, were each charged with taking deer with the aid of an artificial light, taking deer during the closed season, using lights in a motor vehicle while in possession of a firearm, discharging a firearm from a public highway, and possessing a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle. All charges are misdemeanors punishable by up to $6,000 in fines and up to one year in jail. All three men were issued summonses to appear in the town of Putnam Justice Court. - On November 13, Robert D. Wilson, 37, of Hebron, Stephanie A. Defoe, 24, of Hudson Falls, and Mark Havens, 35, of Glens Falls were each charged with operating a spotlight on lands inhabited by deer while in possession of three long guns and a longbow, a misdemeanor. All three were issued summonses to appear in the town of Hebron Justice Court. Each face up to $1,000 in fines and up to 90 days in jail. - On November 17, Justin Phillips, 22, of Whitehall was charged with operating lights on lands inhabited by deer while in possession of a firearm, a misdemeanor. He was issued a summons to appear before the town of Whitehall Justice Court. Phillips faces up to $1,000 in fines and up to 90 days in jail. - On November 19, Tabor Joiner, 26, of Glens Falls and Christopher Paige, 36, of Hudson Falls were charged with operating a spotlight on lands inhabited by deer while in possession of a firearm, a misdemeanor. The two were also allegedly in possession of a loaded air rifle. Both were issued summonses to appear before the town of Kingsbury Justice Court. Joiner and Paige each face maximum possible penalties of $2,000 in fines and up to 90 days in jail. - On November 13, Joshua L. Phillips, 24, of Salem was charged with operating a spotlight on lands inhabited by deer while in possession of a crossbow, a misdemeanor. He was issued summonses to appear in the town of White Creek Justice Court. Phillips faces up to $1,000 in fines and up to 90 days in jail. Below is a list of individuals ticketed by ECOs for violating New York’s Environmental Conservation Laws in the Adirondacks and the North Country. Clinton County - On November 12, Matthew Heywood, 34, of Burrillville, RI and Timothy Heywood, 48, of Blackstone, MA, were both charged with using a spotlight with unsecured firearm, a misdemeanor. Both men were issued summonses to appear in the town of Black Brook Justice Court. The Heywoods each face up to $1,000 in fines and up to 90 days in jail. Essex County - On September 22, Rourk Nielsen, 18, of Ticonderoga was charged with taking a deer during the closed season, a misdemeanor. He was issued a summons to appear before the town of Ticonderoga Justice Court. Nielsen faces up to $2,000 in fines and up to 90 days in jail. - On September 29, James Flora, 21, of Plattsburgh was charged with discharging a bow across a public highway and taking deer from a public highway, both violations. He was issued summonses to appear in the town of Chesterfield Justice Court. Flora faces up to $500 in fines and up to 15 days in jail. - On October 13, Larry Cooney, 38, of Elizabethtown was charged with discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling (a misdemeanor) and taking a pheasant by means not permitted, a violation. He was issued summonses to appear in the town of Westport Justice Court and faces up to $1,250 in fines and up to 90 days in jail. - On October 14, William Leclair, 55, of Port Douglas was charged with possessing a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor. He was issued a summons to appear in the town of Chesterfield Justice Court and faces up to $1,000 in fines and up to 90 days in jail. - On October 22, Michael Clarke, 21, of Keeseville was charged with using lights on lands inhabited by deer while in possession of a long gun in a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor. He was issued a summons to appear in the town of Chesterfield Justice Court and faces up to $1,000 in fines and up to 90 days in jail. - On October 22, Jason Ryan, 19, of Keeseville was charged with using lights on lands inhabited by deer while in possession of a long gun in a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor. He was issued a summons to appear in the town of Chesterfield Justice Court and faces up to $1,000 in fines and up to 90 days in jail. - On October 23, Daniel Grey, 42, of Ticonderoga was charged with possessing a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor. He was issued a summons to appear before the town of Crown Point Justice Court and faces up to $1,000 in fines and up to 90 days in jail. - On November 11, Harold Bailey, 56, of Keeseville was charged with possessing a firearm while using an artificial light, a misdemeanor. He was issued a summons to appear in the town of Chesterfield Justice Court and faces up to $1,000 in fines and up to 90 days in jail. Franklin County - On October 14, Nicholas Francis, 21, and Travis Stacey, 21, both of Akwesasne were charged with illegal possession of a deer (a misdemeanor) and taking a doe deer without a permit, a violation. Each was issued summonses to appear before the town of Bombay Justice Court. Francis and Stacey each face up to $1,250 in fines and up to 90 days in jail. - On October 20, Westley Dermody, 53, of Keeseville was charged with shooting deer over bait, a violation. He was issued a summons to appear in the town of Franklin Justice Court and faces up to $250 in fines and up to 15 days in jail. - On October 21, Carl F. Shantie, 54, of North Bangor was charged with unlawful feeding of deer and shooting deer over bait, both violations. He was issued summonses to appear before the town of Brandon Justice Court and faces up to $500 in fines and up to 15 days in jail. - On October 21, Justin Racicot, 24, from Constable and Scott K. Messenger, 21, and Darrin J. Jeffery, 20, both of North Bangor were charged with using lights on lands inhabited by deer while in possession of a long gun in a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor. They were issued summonses to appear before the town of Moira Justice Court. Each man faces up to $1,000 in fines and up to 90 days in jail. - On October 22, Kevin T. Jessey, 23, of Plattsburgh was charged with shooting deer over bait, a violation. He was issued a summons to appear before the town of Brighton Justice Court and faces up to $250 in fines and up to 15 days in jail. - n October 27, Timothy W. Rock, 52, of Gabriels was charged with shooting deer over bait and shooting during closed hours, both violations. He was issued summonses to appear before the town of Brighton Justice Court and faces up to $500 in fines and up to 15 days in jail. Hamilton County - On October 22, Joseph Meyer, 61, of Mechanicville (Saratoga County) was charged with feeding whitetail deer and shooting deer over bait, both violations. He was issued summonses to appear before the town of Indian Lake Justice Court. Meyer faces up to $500 in fines and up to 30 days in jail. - Responding to an ATV trespass complaint in the town of Indian Lake an ECO discovered deer and bear bait in the area. On October 22, after a month-long investigation, three men were charged with numerous violations of Environmental Conservation Law. Michael J. Weis, 48, of Babylon (Suffolk County) was charged with illegally feeding bear and deer, placing a salt lick on lands inhabited by deer and bear, ATV infractions (all violations), and illegally discharging sewage, a misdemeanor. Vincent Pizzello, 58, of West Islip (Suffolk County) was charged with illegally feeding deer, shooting deer over bait and failure to carry hunting license and carcass tags while hunting, all violations. George M. Saraiva, 42, of New City (Rockland County) was charged with illegally feeding deer and shooting deer over bait, both violations. The three men were issued summonses to appear before the town of Indian Lake Justice Court. Weis faces maximum penalties of $38,750 in fines and up to one year and 90 days in jail. Pizzello faces up to $750 in fines and up to 45 days in jail. Saraiva faces up to $500 in fines and up to 30 days in jail. - On September 17, the opening day of early bear season, David Willet Jr., 32, of Troy was charged with feeding bears, shooting bears over bait and killing a bear over bait. He pleaded guilty in town of Long Lake Justice Court to all three charges. Willet paid more than $800 in fines and the bear he killed was seized at the taxidermist and forfeited to the state. Fulton County - On October 17, after investigating a complaint of illegal hunting and the illegal transfer of tags two Fulton County men were charged with a number of violations of Environmental Conservation Law. Charles Holland, 39, of Perth was charged with taking over the limit of whitetail deer, a misdemeanor with maximum possible penalties of $2,000 in fines and one year in jail. Larry Johnson Jr., 41, of Gloversville was charged with unlawful transfer of a tag to another, no consignment slip, and illegally possessing protected wildlife - all violations. He faces up to $750 in fines and up to 45 days in jail. Holland and Johnson were issued summonses to appear in the town of Perth Justice Court. - On October 22, the opening day of the Northern Zone deer season, ECOs observed a car stopped along a road in the town of Oppenheim where a decoy had been set up. A person exited the vehicle with a firearm and took a shot at a deer decoy set up in view of the road. ECOs stopped the vehicle and with the subsequent assistance of a New York State Trooper charged two men in the vehicle with a number of violations. James J. George Jr., 28, of Oppenheim was charged with possessing a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, discharging a gun over a public highway and possession of marijuana. Both men were issued summonses to appear in the town of Oppenheim Justice Court. George faces up to $2,350 in fines and up to 90 days in jail. If you have information regarding illegal hunting activities, please contact the DEC Turn in Poachers & Polluters (TIPP) line at 1-800-847-TIPP (7332). View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He bagged it as his hunting camp near Ithaca/Cortland. Submitted photo Dave Johnson, of Bridgeport, shot this 12-pointer on opening day. He bagged it as his hunting camp near Ithaca/Cortland. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He shot it with a bow about a mile away from the village. Submitted photoSean Hagan poses with his buck that he shot recently. He wrote: "As Cazenovia's newest real estate agent I decided to hunt this deer down during bow season. "This is my 10 point that field dressed out at 200 pounds. I shot it about a mile from the village." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Check it out, but it's pretty graphic. It leaves nothing to the imagination. Be forewarned! This guy guts and cleans a deer in under three minutes. I don't know about it being the world's fastest job (that was the name of the video, which I pulled off YouTube), but it is pretty darn quick. I'd probably cut myself up good trying something like this. This guy obviously knows how to handle a knife and hack saw. Be forewarned, it leaves nothing to the imagination and it is pretty graphic. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"It was aged at 3.5 years old and it dressed weight was 165 pounds," he said. . Submitted photo Gary Estock, of Baldwinsville, poses with his 8-point buck. He shot the deer on opening day of the Southern Zone at the Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area, in Newfield, which is east of Watkins Glen. "It was aged at 3.5 years old and it dressed weight was 165 pounds," he said. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"My son scouted this 9- point buck with a trail cam and told me where to set my stand," he said. Jim Cometti, of Solvay, poses with his 9-point buck. He wrote: "I was hunting in Cortland County with my 16 year old son, Mitchel, and my 77-year-old father, John. My son scouted this 9- point buck with a trail cam and told me where to set my stand. "On opening day I shot him at 8:30." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"When it was even with does at 75 yards it stopped between two trees. I put the crosshair on its kill zone and squeezed the trigger. It dropped on the spot and never moved," he said. Submitted photo Mark Griffin, poses with his nice 9-pointer, which he took with a handgun in Marcellus. He wrote: "Hi Dave- I've been hunting for 26 years (I'm 54 years old). I've never shot a deer with a shotgun or a rifle. "I've always hunted with a pistol or a bow. Bow hunting is nice because you can get so close to the deer and see a lot of things going on in the woods while you're waiting for a deer to walk by. "I've managed to shoot 3 bucks with the bow but elbow problems forced me to quit bow hunting in 2004. This year I've had to have spinal nerve blocks for back pain and when I asked the doctor if I could still hunt deer he asked me if I (wanted) to hunt. I said "yes." "So, he told me to go ahead and hunt. On Friday, 11-25-11, I sat on top of a hill in Marcellus (72 acres of private land) with my 44 magnum T/C, loaded with Black Talon bullets and waited. "At 7:10 I saw 2 deer walking down a ridge about 100 yards away. I got ready and as minutes passed thought they had gone over the other side of the ridge. Then, all of a sudden, I saw them walking towards me. "The hillside is full of trees and they were about 75 yards away with no clear shot available. As I followed the 2 doe I noticed another bigger deer, just parts of it. Then I saw it start to rub it's head on a tree. After rubbing for just a couple times it turned and started to walk away. "When it was even with does at 75 yards it stopped between two trees. I put the crosshair on its kill zone and squeezed the trigger. It dropped on the spot and never moved. "It's a 9 point and weighed 150 pounds. I had to call for help to get it out of the woods and don't know if I'll be able to hunt much longer with my back problems. "I haven't noticed many hunters using handguns in your pictures so thought you might like seeing this one." Thanks for sharing, Mark. And good luck with your back. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"The body on this bruiser was AMAZING, weighing in at 242 pounds (undressed)!!!!" he said. Submitted photo Norman Heid, Syacuse, poses with his huge, 9-point buck. He wrote: " Shot this 9 point buck on Sunday 11/20/2011. Buck was taken on land in Pompey at 10:50 am. "Although its only a 9 pointer the body on this bruiser was AMAZING, weighing in at 242 pounds (undressed) !!!! Field dressed it weighed in at 192 pounds. "I had taken a really nice 10 pointer in 2009, on the same property with my .44 magnum handgun. This 9 pointer was taken with my Mossberg 500, 12 gauge shotgun. "As you can see by the photo, he was in full rut, by the size of his neck. I'm guessing this was a 3 to 3.5 year old buck. As you know from previous years Pompey has produced some really exceptional and large deer. I'm sure you get lots of photos, but I'm very proud to have taken an animal like this. "Yes people, there are Buckzillas out there if you put time in the woods and be patient !!! Followup: "Morning Dave, according to the gentleman who is processing my deer, who apparantly has DEC biologists come from time to time. The deer was aged at a very healthy 2 and a half years, not what we originally thought." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"I shot him at 7:30am on opening day with my trusty 20 gauge, Remington 1100," he said. Submitted photo Tim Scanlon, of Brewerton, (center) poses with a nice 11-point buck he shot on state land in Tully. He wrote: "It’s the largest buck I’ve shot in 31 years. I shot him at 7:30 a.m. on opening day with my trusty 20 gauge, Remington 1100. In this picture, Scanlon's hunting buddies, Michael Visconti, of Syracuse, is on the left, and Erwin Brandel of Brewerton is on the right. "It took me six hours to get him from my stand to my truck!" View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Lois has arthritis, but that didn't stop her. Her smile says it all. Submitted photo Lois Vicki, 74, poses with her spike buck shot near her home in Chittenango. She shot the buck from a blind at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 22. She dropped the deer in its tracks at 25 yards using a 20-gauge shotgun. Lois has arthritis, but that didn't stop her. Her smile says it all. Her nephew, Daniel Morgan, who sent the photo in, is her hunting buddy. He wrote: "Her husband, (Uncle Mike) passed away about 5 years ago, but she still loves to hunt." Morgan wrote that he built the blind that Lois shot the deer from the day before. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

First place in the Oct. 30 contest went to the team of Dereck Bigford and Joe Kazlauskas who weighed in 20.54 pounds. According to Bigford, Kazlauskas caught most of the big fish that day. The team fished tubes, spinner baits, and jerkbaits in 8 to 10 feet of water. Dereck Bigford and Joe Kazlauskas hold up some nice smallies. The following is a press release from the Salt City Bassmasters: On Sunday October 30th, Salt City Bassmasters hosted their annual Brian Rayle Go- Anywhere [on Oneida Lake] tournament. Ten teams of 2, which included at least 1 SCBM member, met that morning at ‘Thee Diner,’ paid their entry fees, and learned of an anonymous donation of $400. The donation was to be paid out to the teams at the end of the tournament who placed in top positions, as well as to participants who earned certain specified achievements during the tournament. The tournament began at 7 a.m. and the individual teams were able to choose where they launched from. At 4 p.m. the teams all met at South Shore for the weigh in. First place went to the team of Dereck Bigford and Joe Kazlauskas who weighed in 20.54 pounds. According to Bigford, Kazlauskas caught most of the big fish that day. The team fished tubes, spinner baits, and jerkbaits in 8 to 10 feet of water. Second place went to the team of Mike Cusano and Craig Terpening who weighed in 20.32 pounds. The two fished in 11 to 18 feet of water and targeted smallmouths. They threw green and brown colored tubes, swimbaits, and used drop shot. They also had some action on an Alabama rig early in the morning, but the bites died off as the sun came up. Third place went to the team of Brett Milliken and Jeff Edgarton who weighed in 19.52 pounds. The team fished crankbaits in 13 to 15 feet of water for the majority of the day. Tom Pavlot landed the tournament Lunker smallmouth which weighed 4.8 pounds. The bass was caught on a Carolina rigged minnow bait thrown in the current. Last place was also awarded a prize this year thanks to the anonymous donor. Barb Elliott and Rich Mattison finished at the bottom of the bunch weighing in 15.19 pounds. The two caught all their fish before 10 am and went without a bite for the rest of the day. Their bass came on senkos and soft plastic shad baits in 8 to 10 feet of water. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Some women have all the luck. Submitted photo Some women have all the luck. Donna Bizzell, of DeRuyter, wrote me: "I thought I’d let you know that I had another successful season! Last year I shot an 11- point on opening day of gun season which put me into the NYS Big Buck Club. "This year I decided I wouldn’t settle for anything less than an 8 point and sure enough I was lucky enough to shoot this buck at 10:50 am on opening day. "He had 8 points and a little sticker and weighed 157 lbs. field dressed." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Mike Lavner poses with his 8-point buck taken in Cazenovia at 7:30 a.m. Nov. 20. Submitted photo Mike Lavner poses with his 8-point buck taken in Cazenovia at 7:30 a.m. Nov. 20. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Hogan said his favorite ducks to eat are mallards and teals. Watch video John Berry/The Post-StandardEd Hogan and his dog, Mousse, on the lookout for ducks on Sandy Pond. Ed Hogan readily admits he looks forward to bad weather. “A good day for duck hunting, is generally a bad day for other people,” he said. “You like a nice stiff wind of about 20 to 30 m.p.h., and generally some snow or rain. It keeps the birds moving around.” Hogan, of Fulton, and his hunting buddy, Mark Johnson, of Bainbridge, were hoping for some of that “good” weather recently during a morning hunt on Sandy Pond. The stiff northwest winds were present that day and the temperatures started off in the 20s and rose to the low 40s as the morning progressed. The weatherman’s prediction of snow showers, though, never materialized. Nevertheless, the two harvested six ducks during the overcast morning, shooting from Hogan’s 19-foot duck boat, with its canvas blind and 150 horsepower motor. The end result was one hen greater bluebill, one drake lesser bluebill, one hen merganser, a drake goldeneye and a hen and drake bufflehead. Hogan, 21, who’s attending college part-time at SUNY Oswego and Cayuga Community College, said it’s been a pretty good fall so far duck hunting. “I’ve hunted over at Montezuma, along with Oneida Lake, plus a couple of backwater marshes,” he said. “I keep a log. I’ve shot about 60 birds so far this season. Things have slowed down the last two weekends, though. Most of my hunting has been at Sandy Pond.” The two, who met in a chemistry class at SUNY ESF, were considering going out that day to hunt sea ducks (migrating long-tailed ducks and scoters) out on Lake Ontario. Generally, Hogan said, those birds are easy to shoot. “They nest up in the tundra, and migrate through here,” he said. “They sit out on the lake and won’t come in toward shore. They’ll sit out there in 10-foot waves. They don’t even care. They come right up to the decoys and just sit down. You can start shooting and they don’t know what’s going on because they don’t see a lot of people. It makes for a grand fun time hunting them.” However, that day the wind presented a problem for going out on the lake. Hogan, noting the sound in the distance of waves crashing against the shore were probably 6- to 8-foot high rollers, said that was something he didn’t wanted to deal with. Instead, the two, zipped out of the Greene Point Marina at about 5:40 a.m. and set up the six strings of decoys for “diver” ducks — bluebills, buffleheads and redheads — along a small island in an area that was shielded somewhat from the wind. Hogan’s 4-year-old chocolate lab, Mousse, was on the boat to help retrieve the birds. John Berry/The Post-StandardIt's more than just hunting ducks. Mark Johnson said he particularly likes preparing pancakes and sausage on Hogan's boat. “She’s not the best dog in the world, but she does the job,” he said. “She’ll start whining as soon as she starts seeing ducks flying overhead. As soon as you fire a shot, she’s in the water.” Hogan said he was taught to duck hunt by his father. He currently uses a 12-gauge Franchi shotgun. Despite having to endure inclement weather (“I once went out when it was minus 7 degrees,” he said.), he said his favorite part about the sport is the camaraderie. “Apart from the hunting, I just sit here and talk and don’t have to be quiet. You don’t get bored,” he said. Johnson, 23, of Bainbridge, who’s currently attending SUNY ESF, agreed. He hunts with a 12-gauge Browning shotgun. “The best part is on the boat,” he said. “We have a grill that we usually cook pancakes and sausages on.” Both hunters said they eat what they shoot, with the exception of the mergansers, which Hogan said bring a threat of botulism because of their fish diet. “Frankly, I don’t know if you can get it from eating them, but I’d rather not find out.” Hogan said his favorite ducks to eat are mallards and teals. He said he hopes to return to SUNY ESF either in the spring or fall and pick up a few more courses he needs to graduate with a degree in wildlife biology. He also hopes to do “just a little deer” hunting this fall. “Frankly, each year I shoot the first legal deer that walks by me. I don’t care about whether it’s a buck or a doe,” Hogan said. “I just want to get one to eat. After that, it’s back to duck hunting. Some of the best duck hunting is during the deer hunting season because the marshes and bays are real empty because everyone else is out chasing deer.” Life preservers required From Nov. 1 to May 1, individuals in a boaters 21-feet long and smaller are required by law to wear a life preserver. It’s a safeguard for falling into the cold water this time of year and the deadly onset of hypothermia, which can come on a person in minutes. This past week, a duck hunter fell from a kayak while retrieving a downed duck at Sandy Creek and drowned. He did not have a life jacket on and his body was retrieved in about in six feet of water. During their recent outing, Ed Hogan and Mark Johnson both donned special, camo-patterned jackets that were specially designed to keep them afloat if they fell into the water. In addition to the traditional personal floatation device, other options include wearing an inflatable “belt pack,” which can be inflated at a moment’s notice by a CO2 cartridge that’s built into it. John Berry/The Post-StandardThe two hunters took a total of six birds that morning. Here's three. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Julie Parker, of Oswego and Jessica Murphy, of West Monroe emailed me photos of 12-pointers that they shot. Dawn Duger Rice sent in a photo of her 11-point buck. Submitted photoJulie's buck. With the deer hunting season in full swing, I received several eye-opening photos this week of deer taken by female hunters in Central New York. Julie Parker, of Oswego, and Jessica Murphy, of West Monroe, emailed me photos of 12-pointers that they shot. Dawn Duger Rice sent in a photo of her 11-point buck. - Parker shot her big buck opening day on private land in western Oswego County. She got him with her 30 30 Marlin rifle. “He field dressed out at 215 pounds,” she said, adding its live weight was 255 pounds and it was weighed on a “Cabela’s Big Buck Scale” that she and her husband own. “It was so thick in there he didn’t see me initially, and I didn’t see him until he was about 20 yards away,” she said. “It was one of those deals where I was in the right spot at the right time. I was sitting on a rock, leaning up against a tree stump at the time.” Parker, who has hunted for more than 20 years, said she’s shot seven bucks, but said this is her biggest. She said she was hunting by herself when she shot her most recent one. Submitted photoDawn's buck. - Duger Rice included a short narrative along with her photo describing why she hunts. She said her father took her hunting as a young girl. She said she was in a tree stand and decided it was just too boring. “I thought who would sit out here in the woods and freeze to death waiting for a deer to shoot? That was the last time I went hunting for some time.” Then on Oct. 11, 1991 she got into a car crash while trying to avoid a deer in the middle of the road. She went into a skid and hit a tree head on, suffering a host of bruises, a broken nose and laceration next to her right eye. “I realized that they have hunting season for a reason... too many starve, get hit in the road... and yes, cause accidents,” she said. At age 22, she took a hunter safety course and started hunting again at age 23, using her grandfather’s “’Sweet 16’ Browning semi-automatic.” That first season out, she harvested a button buck. Since then, she’s shot 11 deer, including a four-point and a six-point buck, she said. She harvested the 11-pointer on opening day while hunting with her husband in Baldwinsville. “And I’m still hunting with that Browning ‘Sweet 16’,” she said. - Murphy wrote me: “This is my first year hunting, my first deer and I just want to let other girls out there to know us girls can hunt too.” Murphy shot her trophy in Parish only 20 minutes into the hunt on Nov. 12 with her husband. She dropped it at 120 yards with her .222 caliber rifle. “And yes, he dropped right there,” she said. “The deer weighed 165 pounds after it was field dressed.” Submitted photoJessica's buck View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Know someone who who gives untold volunteer hours and often money out of their own pocket to maintain or restore Central New York’s woods, fields and waterways so we all can enjoy them? Or, how about someone who unselfishly gives of their their time to pass on the positive practices and traditions of outdoor activities ranging from birding to bear... Know someone who who gives untold volunteer hours and often money out of their own pocket to maintain or restore Central New York’s woods, fields and waterways so we all can enjoy them? Or, how about someone who unselfishly gives of their their time to pass on the positive practices and traditions of outdoor activities ranging from birding to bear hunting? The newspaper is once again honoring these individuals with its annual feature, The Post-Standard’s “Heroes of Conservation, “ which this year is being sponsored by Romano Subaru. To nominate someone, send a statement of no more than 300 words outlining the person’s accomplishments. The deadline for nominations is 5 p.m. Dec. 9. A story will run on this page in late December highlighting the top candidates. Questions? Call 470-6066 or email me at [email protected]. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"I don't worry about anything. I do what I want, eat what I want. Part of life is being active and being interested in doing something," he said. Mike Greenlar/The Post-StandardWilliam J. Martens Jr, left, and his 92-year-old father, William A. Martens, still hunt together. Whether it’s hunting or fishing, 92-year-old William Martens still manages to get in his share. “He’s incredible. I don’t know where he gets his energy and drive. Must be that World War II generation,” said his son, William Martens Jr. William Martens was born in Massena. His mom died in childbirth, and his father took Martens and his two siblings to Otisco Lake back in 1921. Martens and his wife, Helene, live there with their son, William Jr., 53, the youngest of their four children. He founded the Otisco Lake Marina and is known around the lake as a diehard outdoorsman. Martens was out on opening day of hunting season this past weekend, but he didn’t get anything. It was just four years ago that the son received a call while he was working downstate, about 40 minutes outside of New York City. “He called me to say he’d just shot a six-point buck behind my house,” the son remembered with a laugh. “He wanted me to come give him a hand. I ended up calling a buddy of mine who helped him get the deer out of the woods and to the butcher.” Martens said the marina is on the former location of the Twin Oaks Hotel, which his father ran. “My father ran a speakeasy back in those days. I remember mixing drinks for him (as a youngster),” he said. “During those days, there were only dirt roads around the lake.” During the Great Depression, Martens, then 18, enlisted for five years in the Citizen Conservation Corps. He got a job afterward with Carrier Corp., but then decided to enlist in the Army during World War II. He served five years, traveling to North Africa, Sicily and Italy. Getting out of the service, he turned the former hotel into the Otisco Lake Marina. He married his wife, Helene, in 1949. He also got rehired by Carrier, working as a supervisor. He sold the marina in 1960 and continued to work at Carrier until 1974. He worked another five years as the mechanic at the marina, in addition to being a guard for the Onondaga Water Authority. Throughout the years, he continued to fish Otisco Lake and hunt in the woods around it. “I remember fishing Otisco Lake when I was a little boy,” he said. “My sister and I used to fish off the rocks before going to school each morning.” Martens said he never really got into bass fishing, preferring walleye, trout and tiger muskie. This time of year, he said, he always used to catch two to three nice brown trout every time out trolling. Not this year, though. When Otisco isn’t producing during the fall, he said, he drives over to Skaneateles Lake and fishes off the shore at Lourdes Camp for rainbow trout using worm-marshmallow rigs. He said he’s got “written permission” from the camp directors to fish there. Two weeks ago, he caught a nice 20-inch ’bow at Lourdes. Martens said he prefers hunting over fishing. However, over the years he hasn’t gotten many deer with his 12-gauge Remington shotgun. “I just love being out in the woods and walking. I just can’t sit still. I’m out walking all the time,” he said, smiling. “ I just keep chasing them ahead of me.” Despite what he says, Martens does put in a substantial amount of time fishing. His son, William Jr., said he jokingly refers to his father as “The Old Man and the Sea,” because he’s often out on Otisco Lake trolling about in his 14-foot aluminum boat with its four-horsepower motor. “I keep an eye on him with my binoculars. He goes out in all kinds of weather and some of the neighbors get worried,” he said. The son said this past summer his father was on the far side of the lake when his motor refused to start. “Next thing I know, I looked out there and he is rowing back,” he said. “He’s not one to stay indoors. He’s got to be outside doing something all the time.” The son said his father has slowed down in recent years but continually wants to hunt and fish. Is there a secret to his longevity? Martens said he quit smoking 30 years ago while a supervisor at Carrier. He also used to drink, his wife said, but he hasn’t in years. 8220;I don’t worry about anything. I do what I want, eat what I want. Part of life is being active and being interested in doing something,” he said. “I never was much of a man for sitting around.” View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

It’s been a decent pheasant hunting season so far at the state-owned Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area in the town of Van Buren, several hunters have told me. The main reason, the hunters said, involve a change made by the state Department of Environmental Conservation staff that manages the 3,500 acres. It involves how the fields are mowed. “Instead of... It’s been a decent pheasant hunting season so far at the state-owned Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area in the town of Van Buren, several hunters have told me. The main reason, the hunters said, involve a change made by the state Department of Environmental Conservation staff that manages the 3,500 acres. It involves how the fields are mowed. “Instead of mowing strips in the fields of 15 feet separated by unmowed, 15-foot-wide strips, they’ve started leaving some fields completely alone, while cutting other fields in their entirety,” said Dan Kremers, of Palermo, who hunts both pheasant and woodcock on the land. “The few times I went out this year I had good luck (hunting pheasants).” “I thought the way the fields were mowed this year was going to make it harder to hunt pheasants,” said Stew Plumley, of Baldwinsville. “I’ve seen a number of birds in the unmowed fields. It seems like there’s more birds out there this year.” DEC spokeswoman Diane Carlton said the mowing strategy was initiated by DEC wildlife biologist Mike Putnam. It was changed because the previous strip-mowing approach was inadequate for protection of the pheasants and other nesting birds from ground predators such as coyotes, and avian predators such as owls, hawks and eagles. Carlton said the grass is mowed to help control “ecological succession” in the fields. “If we stopped mowing, ecological succession would continue unabated and grass fields would convert to shrubs and woody vegetation and ultimately forest conditions,” she said. The birds this year are being stocked during the day rather than at night because of lack of staff. It’s not clear if that has made any difference in the hunters’ success. This year’s pheasant hunting season kicked off Oct. 15 and stretches to Dec. 31 or Feb. 29, depending on the area. See the DEC hunting guide for more information. To see a complete listing of public lands stocked with pheasants by the DEC, check out the DEC Web site. D View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

News of the cancellation of the Northeastern Sportsmen’s Show scheduled for January has prompted a positive development. Tom Tarry, of the Results Group in Syracuse, told me this week he plans to debut a new and improved New York Sportsmen Show in 2013 to take its place. He said it’s set for Jan. 25-27 in the new SRC Arena at... News of the cancellation of the Northeastern Sportsmen’s Show scheduled for January has prompted a positive development. Tom Tarry, of the Results Group in Syracuse, told me this week he plans to debut a new and improved New York Sportsmen Show in 2013 to take its place. He said it’s set for Jan. 25-27 in the new SRC Arena at Onondaga Community College, which is opening up next month. The old show was held at the New York State Fairgrounds for 58 straight years. “I’ve had my eyes on this for a few years,” said Tarry, who took over the Madison-Bouckville Antiques Show this year, in addition to the Golf Show at the state fairgrounds. He was also behind the now defunct “Fishing for Dollars” Tournament on Onondaga Lake, which ran for several years. Tarry said he’s been traveling recently looking at other outdoors shows and wanted to wait a year and “do things right” with his show. He said he had a conversation with a “national retailer that’s going to work with me” and that he promises visitors to his show will see “more product.” I talked to him about local sportsmen and outdoor-related groups that depended on the old show each year to raise money and awareness about their individual causes. In recent years, fewer and fewer were represented at the show. “I’m going to be contacting these folks individually, reaching out to them,” he said. Cindy Hengst, whose Hamilton-based company, CKH Productions, ran the Northeastern Sportsmen’s Show, could not be reached for comment. According to the CKH website, “This difficult decision (to cancel the show) was reached following a thorough review of current market conditions and rising costs associated with conducting a quality event.” Tarry is confident he can make things work. “I promise. We’re going to give a state-of-the-art show,” he said. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog