HuntingNY-News

Good baits on the Salmon River are egg sacs (blue, pink, white mesh), streamers and egg-imitating flies and plastics. CNY FISHING FORECAST Bait stores (list and map). SALMON RIVER River is still low and clear. Steelhead are being caught throughout the river. With the low flow, the action on sunny days has been better in the early morning and late afternoon. Good baits are egg sacs (blue, pink, white mesh), streamers and egg-imitating flies and plastics. OSWEGO RIVER The browns and rainbows/steelhead have moved in and lots of catches. Flow is way up, though. Be careful. Estaz eggs, egg sacs, woolly buggers, hot-n-tots and crazy eggs are all working. ONEIDA LAKE Perch in some areas being caught in the shallows from shore, using minnows and bobbers. Casting from shore just before and after dark for walleyes with stickbaits in black and silver and blue and silver continues to work. It helps to have the wind blowing into the shore where you’re fishing, generating a little chop. CAYUGA LAKE Lake trout and Atlantic salmon are being taken around Taughannock by anglers trolling with spoons, or flashers and flies using downriggers or Dipsey divers. Try fishing 40 to 100 feet down over 100 to 250 feet of water. Lake trout are also hitting vertically jigged chartreuse plastics in 75 to 150 feet of water. Perch are being taken in the north end in 10 to 15 feet of water on fathead and larger minnows. SENECA LAKE Yellow perch fishing continues to be good in 20 to 40 feet of water throughout the lake. Lake trout are being taken in depths over 100 feet on spoons and flashers/flies. Brown trout and salmon are being taken 40 to 80 feet down on flashers/flies and spoons. Anglers fishing large minnows under bobbers, or casting large crankbaits are catching some northern pike. OWASCO LAKE Try the north end of the lake for lake trout by vertical jigging in 65 to 95 feet of water. Trolling the same area in 50 to 75 feet down over 100 to 120 feet of water with spoons may also produce lake and brown trout. Bass are reportedly being caught using soft-shells and artificial baits (Senkos, tube jigs or drop-shot rigs). Yellow perch are hitting fathead minnows. Spawning brown trout continue to be caught in the inlet, using worms and egg sacs. OTISCO LAKE No new fishing activity to report. Casting stickbaits off the causeway after dark usually produces some walleye this time of year. SKANEATELES LAKE Trolling 30 to 50 feet down with small perch-colored spoons or stickbaits is producing lake trout, rainbows and Atlantic salmon. Lake trout are also hitting at 60 feet down over 75 to 80 feet of water. Early in the day, glow baits are working better but as the sun gets higher switching to pearl, chartreuse or silver has been better. Trolling on the surface for rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon has been slow but is usually productive this time of year. Yellow perch are being taken on small minnows or crayfish. SANDY POND No new fishing activity to report as things is slow on the pond this time of year. SODUS BAY Perch fishing continues to be good. Larger perch are coming from the deeper water, 20 to 30 feet, using spikes and jigs and fathead minnows. ST. LAWRENCE RIVER Muskie fishing continues to be the top draw. Most other fishing has slowed down, with some walleyes, perch and northerns being taken. WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR Drifting with bucktail jigs tipped with minnows or worms is producing some walleye and smallmouth bass. Fishing the spillway with jigs or stickbaits is also working for walleye. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He also said there seems to be a shortage of local meat processors lately. Is this true? Submitted photo Matthew Paduano, of Chittenango, who's been hunting for 30 years, said this was his best buck ever. He wrote: "It's got 10 points (one broken brow tine), Taken at 25 yards yesterday morning at 9:15 in Pompey. "He was trailing a doe who busted me and only had a shot at his vitals through the trees and brush. It weighed 160 pounds field dressed. "With the heavy mass and palmation on his horns and 17” inside spread. I’m guessing only 3 ½ years old. "Also on another note. What has happened to all of the deer processors this year? I stopped at Marsh Mill where I've had other deer done and he had at least 100 deer stacked last night and wouldn’t take any more. "He mentioned that at least 5 processors he knew of quit this year? Wonder why? Is it a DEC regulation issue? Health Dept issues? Any ideas here?" I really don't know. Is anyone else finding this to be so? View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"I decided to hunt the stand after coming across several large rubs the day before," he said. Submitted photo Al Figueroa shot this 10-point buck on Nov. 21 with a rifle his property near Fulton. He wrote: "I decided to hunt the stand after coming across several large rubs the day before. Soon after first light, I heard the deer off in the distance coming towards me. "He came within 40 yards before I shot him." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He said it's the second 9-point buck he has shot in the same spot. Submitted photo Dan Barbagallo shot this nice, 9-pointer on opening day in the Town of Dewitt. He said it's the second 9-point buck he has shot in the same spot. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

It was an overcast, windy day. We got six birds. Watch video I went duck hunting last week with Ed Hogan and buddy, Mark Johnson on Ed's boat on Sandy Pond. It was an overcast, windy day. We got six birds. Ed's dog, Mousse, retrieved most of them. For more on this, see the Outdoors page in Sunday's edition of The Post-Standard. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

To reach Outdoors Editor David FIgura, call 470-6066 or email him at [email protected]. This week's offerings on the Outdoors page include stories about a 92-year-old sportsmen who's still hunting and fishing and a piece about duck hunting on Sandy Pond. Received lots of reports and photos this week of hunters who were successful during last weekend's opening of the deer hunting season in the Southern Zone. I went out both days. I only saw one -- a doe, but I didn't have a good shot. Before I get into what’s planned for this Friday and Sunday’s pages, I’d like to emphasize that I still need help from readers on several fronts. I’m looking for help on the following: -- Heroes of Conservation: I’ve received five nominations already for this honor, which I will write about in a feature next month. Deadline is Dec. 12 for nominations. Questions? Call me at 470-6066. - Good venison recipes. - Outdoors-related tattoos: I have four readers so far who’ve submitted photos of themselves and their tattoos. I need more to make a story. No ladies yet. C'mon I know they’re out there. - Canada goose hunters. I’ve been out twice with friends up in the Rome area, yet I haven’t heard from anyone doing it locally. Any suggested sources? - Persons with an outdoors passion that would make a good profile. I’m always open to these kind of pieces and I often get my best ideas from readers. Any suggestions? John Berry / The Post-StandardEd Hogan of Fulton holds his dog Mousse as they watch a group of ducks approach their position on Sandy Pond. TENTATIVELY COMING THIS WEEK (unless something else bumps them out at the last minute) FRIDAY: - Main piece: profile on William Martens, 92-year-old outdoorsman from Otisco. He opened the original Otisco Marina and still hunts and fishs to this day. - Column: Touch on why there's such good pheasant hunting lately up at the Three Rivers Wildlife Management Area and a new development concerning the cancellation of the Northeastern Sports Show at the State Fairgrounds.. Venison recipe - first in a series. SUNDAY - Main piece: A piece on duck hunting at Sandy Pond. Column: Tentatively...a story about how a woman, who use to be against hunting got into it full bore. 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

He shot the deer in Palermo with is Remington .243. Submitted photo Matthew Kadlubowski, of Lyncourt, shot this 10-point buck Nov. 21 in Palermo. He wrote: "I took the deer at about 4:15 p.m with my Remington .243. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"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," she said. Submitted photo Jessica Murphy, of West Monroe, poses with a 12-point buck she shot Nov. 12 in Parish. She wrote: "I was hunting with my husband in Parish for about 20 minutes. It was 120- yard shot with a .222-caliber rifle -- and yes, he dropped right there! "The deer was 165 pounds after it was field dressed. 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." . View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

She owes her success to "lots of scouting, trail cameras, early stands and patience..." Submitted photo Cazenovia dentist, Mili Irizarry de Buschatzke, took a buck with a bow during the bow season, and took another this past weekend with her gun in Madison County. She wrote: "Hello David, what a deer season for me this year! Countless hours afield....lots of scouting, trail cameras, early stands and patience." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He shot it in town of Cuyler. Submitted photo Spencer Collins, of South Onondaga, shot this 8 pointer opening day in the Town of Cuyler. That's a nice buck. Congrats, Spencer. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"My Mom, Shirley, even helped. She brought the tractor out to help get them out. Submitted photoWerner Henneberg with his 6 pointer. John C. Henneberg and his father, Werner Henneberg, had a successful opening day Saturday in Canenovia. The son wrote: "This past opening day was the first one that our family harvested two buck on the same day. My Dad shot a 6 pointer around 9 a.m. He decided to walk around because he was getting cold and walked up on him. "I helped him clean it and pull it out of the woods. Around 1:30 I walked back out into the woods (it was all I could do to avoid my honey-do list) and walked up on a nice 7 pointer checking a scrape. "Both deer were taken on our family property in the town of Cazenovia. "My Dad doesn't know how to work his camera so the date stamp says 02/02/2008, which is way off. "We both live in the Town of Cazenovia about a mile away from each other. "My Mom Shirley even helped, she brought the tractor out to help get them out. He's 69 years old and I'm 29. He taught Bow Hunter Safety courses for many years which ended about 10 years ago. "He had some serious health problems in 2009 and he hasn't shot a deer in 4 or 5 years, it was a nice father-son experience to share on opening day." Submitted photoJohn C. Henneberg with his 7 pointer. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

It was his first deer ever. Submitted photo Matt Wallace, of Canastota, poses with an 8-point buck he shot opening day in Lincoln, N.Y. He wrote: "This is my first deer ever! I tried to get one with a bow this year too but didn't have any luck. " My luck changed the first half hour of gun season. I shot this guy at 40 yards at 7:30 this morning." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

It was an 8-pointer. Submitted photo Mike Hogan, of North Syracuse, poses with his 8-point buck he shot in Cato Saturday. It was a 3 1/2 year old that weighed 175 pounds. Nice deer. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

This fall's bowhunting season, which ended Friday, featured a number of high points for local hunters. Some hunters bagged their biggest deer ever. For others, it was their first. This fall's bowhunting season, which ended Friday, featured a number of high points for local hunters. Some hunters bagged their biggest deer ever. For others, it was their first. Many readers submitted photos and stories about their successful outings. Among the highlights: Submitted photo Hardcore hunter David Edwards is one of those guys who doesnt bowl or golf. "I spend a lot of time in the woods and have been doing it ever since I was 16," said the 56-year-old Apulia Station resident. "A lot of days Ill go in when its dark and not come out until it's dark." Edwards persistence paid off this season with a 13-pointer that he shot Oct. 29 from his 15-foot-high tree stand on private property in Fabius. "He made two to three good leaps, stopped, looked around and fell over after going only about 20 yards," Edwards said. His plans for his trophy deer, which he said had a raw antler score of a little more than 142 points, involve having a shoulder mount done and hanging it on the living room wall of his log cabin. He already has four others: two eight-pointers, one 10-pointer and one 11-pointer. "My wife isnt too happy about that. She says one should probably go downstairs," he said. Edwards is eager to pass on his passion to his grandchildren. Last Christmas, he bought one grandchild, Brandon, 2, a lifetime sportsmens license, and hes considering it with another, Nolan, who is six months old. "They'll come a time when I wont be able to drag deer out of the woods, he said. Hopefully, I'll have grandkids who will like this sport and will help me." Submitted photo Mom's deer C.J. Brunelle, of Memphis, described herself as a 31-year-old stay-at-home mom who got her first deer this fall. It was a "gorgeous four-point," she said. "This is my third season bow hunting and this is my first deer harvested," Brunelle said. "I purchased a brand new Mathews Passion (compound bow) over the summer and spent a lot of time target shooting and practicing from a tree stand. "My husband, Ryan, is also an avid bowhunter and taught me a lot." Brunelle said the deer was a six yards from her tree stand when she fired her arrow. She said her tree stand was 12 to 14 feet above the deer. "He weighed 160 pounds after being field dressed," she said. "It was just an exciting experience overall and I cant wait to get out next season. We look forward to sharing this and other outdoor experiences with our two young boys, Nolan, 4, and Chase, 1." Brunelle said the deer has been processed by her husband, and the meat is in the freezer. She said shes keeping the antlers "as a small reminder of my success. Submitted photo Waited 45 years Tom Scibetta is one of those guys who only hunts with a bow "even during gun season." Scibetta, 74, of Baldwinsville, arrowed his biggest deer this season. He's been bow hunting for more than 45 years. "It was an eight-pointer that dressed out at 182 pounds," he said. It's 50 pounds bigger than any deer I've ever taken." He nailed the big guy on private land in Pompey from a tree stand some 18 feet high. He spotted the deer but had no idea how big it was. He made a split-second decision to take a shot through an estimated one-square-foot area of brush. He said the deer has been processed and is already in the freezer. "We'll be spreading him around to the family, he said. And the antlers? "They might be mounted. I think my kids are doing it on the QT," he said. Submitted photo Got it with a recurve Jerry Grigonis has been using a traditional recurve bow since the early 1980s. He's harvested 10 bucks over the years, but this year's deer -- an eight-pointer taken in Madison County -- was the biggest. "I like the feel of a recurve, of using natural (wood), traditional gear," the 61-year-old Fulton resident said. "It's got a 60-pound draw weight. I get ready by doing a lot of stump shooting during the summer. It's more back muscles than anything (to pull and hold the string back)." 't shoot outside of a 20-yard range. He took his most recent buck from a tree stand at about 18 yards. He's since taken the meat to a processor, and he did a European skull mount. He skinned, boiled and scraped it out himself. "I finished it off by taking it to the car wash and putting one of those high-powered hoses on it," he said. Submitted photo Young buck Brad Cupernall said he was excited and shaking a bit after taking his first buck with a bow. Cupernall, 15, of Palermo, was in a tree stand, right next to his father, when he took the shot at a spike horn about 20 yards away. The boy took his bow hunting safety course at a state Department of Environmental Conservation summer camp. He went out three weekends in a row before his successful harvest. In addition to taking his first deer, the boy was particularly proud that he gutted it himself. "I used my dad's knife and got a little help. It was pretty cool to learn, though," he said. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Over the years, fewer clubs from the local area participated in the event. The majority of the exhibitors at recent shows were not from the area, and many were from Canada. It’s with regret that I reported last week that the Northeastern Sports Show, which was scheduled for Jan. 27-29 at the state fairgrounds, was canceled. Efforts to reach the show’s manager, Cindy Hengst, whose Hamilton-based company, CKH Productions, has run the show, were unsuccessful. The annual three-day event, with its many vendors, exhibits and seminars for local hunters, anglers and trappers, had been the state’s longest-running outdoors sports show. It had a run of 58 years. “This difficult decision was reached following a thorough review of current market conditions and rising costs associated with conducting a quality event,” according to the event’s website. For some, the show’s demise did not come as a complete surprise. “The Northeastern Sports Show did fill a niche in the Central New York sporting community,” said Stephen Wowelko, president of the Onondaga Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs. “Over the years, however, fewer clubs from the federation participated in the event. The majority of the exhibitors at recent shows were not from the area, and many were from Canada.” Wowelko pointed out that the federation holds its Honeywell Sportsmen’s Days at Carpenter’s Brook Fish Hatchery each September. He said the event’s committee will be exploring the possibility of expanding to include charter captains and outfitters, in addition to the hands-on educational demonstrations that are popular at the event. Ron Falkowski, president of the CNY Wildfowlers, said each year his group held raffles and sold wood duck boxes at the Sportsmen’s Show. Money was raised for the club’s various causes, he said, including sending kids to the state Department of Environmental Conservation summer camp. “We also used it to educate people what we’re about it — waterfowl hunting, the laws, guides,” he said. Falkowski agreed with Wowelko that the show has gone “downhill” for the past few years. “There’s been more commercial-related vendors selling things like boats and campers, and less of the local outdoor-related groups. It’s a shame,” he said. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The DEC's online and telephone harvest reporting systems this season will include an option for successful crossbow hunters to report their kill. I'd also like to hear about about any crossbow kills. This is the first year that the DEC is allowing the use of crossbows to harvest deer during the regular firearms and the late muzzleloading seasons in the Southern Zone. The only exception is Cortland County, where a legislative miscue by local state and county lawmakers resulted in crossbows being banned during the regular firearms season. They can be used, however, during the late muzzleloading season. The DEC’s online and telephone harvest reporting systems this season will include an option for successful crossbow hunters to report their kill. I'd also like to hear about about any crossbow kills. Send your pictures and stories to me at [email protected]. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

I've heard more than once that venison is delicious and that it all comes down to the preparation. I’ve heard more than once that venison is delicious and that it all comes down to the preparation. I’d like to hear from readers about their favorite venison recipes so I can share with other readers, in addition to trying them out myself. I’d like a diversity of offerings, highlighting preparation of different cuts and quality of meat — from the backstraps to the hamburger grade of meat. Send your recipes to [email protected]. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

A proposal from Yellowstone National Park officials considers alternatives to the indiscriminate slaughters of previous years. View the full article

There's always the "Last Minute Charlies," the hunters who wait until the 11th hour to get their guns and gear in order. Some forgo sighting in their guns and even wait until the night before to pick up their firearms. Peter Chen/The Post-StandardBrent Teft, of Camillus, sights in the scope on his Savage .270 Winchester rifle Saturday at Camillus Sportsmen's Club's public sight-in weekend. Bill Parfitt, of Camillus, the club's president, said the event allows none club members to use their range and get their guns ready for the upcoming hunting season. Saturday morning kicks off the deer hunting season in the Southern Zone for firearms. Dick Masterpole, range officer at the Camillus Sportsmen’s Club, was overseeing last weekend’s sight-in sessions for hunters and their guns at the Camillus club. He said every year the sessions are frequented by a good number of experienced, safe hunters. However, there’s always the “Last Minute Charlies” — hunters who wait until the 11th hour to get their guns and gear in order, he said. Some forgo the sessions and even wait until the night before to pick up their firearms. Masterpole said he’s been involved in the club’s gun sight-in sessions for some 25 years and has seen “a lot of crazy stuff” concerning inexperienced or rusty shooters. “I’ve seen guys turn white, start shaking, jerking their triggers, jerking their heads off to the side when they shoot,” he said. “These guys are just opening day hunters who maybe shoot just two to three times a year.” Masterpole said some hunters Saturday will head out to the woods or their tree stands toting brand new firearms they’ve never shot, or carrying borrowed guns that they’re unfamiliar with. Both scenarios are unsafe and lacking in common sense. Hunting, compared to many outdoors activities such as boating, is a safe sport. Food for thought, though, is the fact that New York hunters last year had their worst safety record in eight years. They piled up 40 hunting-related accidents, including four fatalities. It was a marked difference from 2009, when hunters posted their safest season on record, only having 26 hunting-related incidents and one death. Peter Chen/The Post-Standard(l to r) Howard Dowlen, of Camillus, Bob Tiller, of Camillus, and Dick Masterpole, of Oswego, watch where bullets hit on paper targets at Camillus Sportsmen's Club's public sight-in weekend. Mike Arnold, of Camillus, a veteran hunting-safety instructor, said fellow instructors in Onondaga County stopped offering hunting-safety courses in mid-October to give students 30 days to go out and get their guns and to get familiar with them prior to the season. He said “it’s nuts” that this week a number of new guns have been purchased by hunters at local sporting goods stores — guns that in some cases won’t be taken out of the box until tonight. “Seasoned hunters wouldn’t do that,” Arnold said. “You’re putting mine and other hunters’ lives at risk because you don’t know what you’re doing. A firearm is not a toy.” The bottom line, Masterpole said, is that hunters owe it to themselves — and to the deer their hunting — to be familiar with their firearms. That entails being comfortable with loading, unloading it and firing it, and knowing how and where the gun shoots and what kind of ammunition works best with it. Masterpole said the best way to learn where a gun shoots is to fire it at least three times from a bench rest or some other way that keeps the firearm steady when the trigger is pulled. “You need at least three shots to determine if you have a pattern,” he said. “That way you can see if you’re gun is firing to the left, to the right, or up or down — and whether you need to make adjustments.” He also said many hunters get new scopes put on their guns and never try them out. Big mistake, he said. “They say it was bore-sighted at the store,” he said. “That doesn’t mean anything. I’ve seen guns with new scopes shooting some two feet low at 20 yards at our sessions.” It’s also important to use the proper ammunition for your gun. Gerard Marco, a gunsmith in Fleming, said he visited a local shooting range recently at which some guys were shooting old-style lead slugs out of a shotguns with rifled barrels. That’s a bad thing. Those slugs, he said, are not made for that and should be used for smooth-bore barrels only. Conversely, saboted or sabot-style slugs are only meant to be used in rifled slug barrels. “If you shoot an old-style lead slug out of a rifled barrel, it strips the lead off and leaves it back in the barrel. If you get enough of it in there you could blow the gun up,” he said. The bottom line for the Last Minute Charlies is that they still have today to get familiar with their firearms. Arnold had another suggestion: “It’s too late,” he said. “Take a camera out instead Saturday and start getting ready for next year.” Peter Chen/The Post-StandardDick Masterpole (left, ) of Oswego, and Howard Dowlen, of Camillus, both members at Camillus Sportsmen's Club, replace paper targets for the club's public sight-in weekend. 10 Commandments of Firearm Safety 1. Watch that muzzle. Keep your firearm pointed in a safe direction at all times. 2. Treat every firearm with the respect due a loaded gun. 3. Be sure of your target and know what is in front of it and beyond it. 4. Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until ready to shoot. 5. Check your barrel and ammunition. Make sure your barrel and action are clear of any obstructions, and carry only the proper ammunition for your firearm. 6. Unload firearms when not in use. 7. Point a firearm only at something you intend to shoot. 8. Don’t run, jump or climb with a loaded firearm. 9. Store firearms and ammunition separately and safely. 10. Avoid alcoholic beverages before and during shooting. Source: DEC hunting guide <p>

“I was going to bet you a pound of perch fillets that we wouldn’t get any dock cleats installed at Oneida Shores, but we got them last week,” the angler said. I reported recently that Pat Magdziuk, of Cicero, was upset that Onondaga County parks staff at Oneida Shores had taken out the boat docks after Columbus Day. Magdziuk said anglers continue to go out on Oneida to pursue bass and other fish for weeks afterward. He said the remaining ramp should at least have metal cleats on it so he could tie up his boat after being launched, or keep his craft tied up while he retrieves his trailer in the parking lot. His wish was recently granted. Magdziuk wrote me this week: “I was going to bet you a pound of perch fillets that we wouldn’t get any dock cleats installed at Oneida Shores, but we got them last week,” he said. “So thanks for putting the story in the paper and also thanks to Gary Lopez (park superintendent) at Oneida Shores.” View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Hunters have seven days. Failure to report a harvest is a violation and could result in a ticket totaling as much as $250 and/or 15 days in jail. I say this every year, but it’s worth repeating. All deer and bear taken during the fall hunting seasons must be reported to the DEC. It’s the law. Hunters have seven days. Failure to report a harvest is a violation and could result in a ticket totaling as much as $250 and/or 15 days in jail. In addition, there’s a one-year statute of limitations on enforcing this. I’ve had several people send in pictures of their deer for publication that they hadn’t reported in. I’ve heard of one whose picture I ran getting ticketed. It should come as no surprise that state environmental conservation officers regularly look at this page and my outdoors page on syracuse.com. They can easily check by computer to see who has reported their harvest, and who has not. You’ve been warned. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Hunters with small-game hunting license may shoot and keep feral swine at any time and in any number during the year. The state Department of Environmental Conservation is encouraging Central New York hunters to pursue wild Russian boars (also called feral swine) this hunting season. “Feral swine are known to inhabit northern Cortland and southwestern Onondaga counties, southeastern Cayuga, northeastern Tompkins and Tioga counties,” according to a DEC press release. “ These aggressive invasive species cause serious agriculture and environmental damage and can degrade water quality and threaten human health. “ Hunters with small-game hunting license may shoot and keep feral swine at any time and in any number during the year. If hunters are in an area that prohibits the use of rifles during big-game seasons, rifles cannot be used to shoot feral swine during any open deer season (including archery seasons),” the DEC said. The boars, some getting up to more than 400 pounds, are believed to have escaped from a private hunting preserve more than a decade ago and continue to breed on the local landscape. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"You gotta be kidding me," said one Camillus resident as he looked through the scope on his gun. I was among the scores of hunters sighting in their guns last weekend at the Camillus Sportsmen’s Club in preparation for this Saturday’s opening day of deer hunting in the Southern Zone. I took two firearms last Sunday — my 20-gauge Remington shotgun and my father’s old Ithaca Deerslayer, which I inherited last fall after he died. I intend to use dad’s gun exclusively until I get a deer with it. Meanwhile, the sight-in session Saturday morning was moving along quickly until Gene Komuda, who was sighting in his Savage Model 220 20-gauge shotgun let out a shout and got everybody’s attention. “You gotta be kidding me,” the Camillus resident said as he looked through the scope on his gun. “There’s a buck in my sights.” Out at the edge of the range, a little more than 200 yards away, was a big buck slowly walking. It was unflustered by all the gunshots. It paused and looked our way. I held up my father’s 12-gauge with its scope and sized up the deer. It was a nice 8-pointer. John Rudy, of Baldwinsville, looked at it and declared it was “130-class buck with 8- to 10-inch tines.” Nobody fired at the deer, of course, because opening day of the firearms season was still a week away. However, it sure produced a lot of smiles. Dick Masterpole, the range officer, said it’s not uncommon to have a doe or buck make its way across the club’s shooting range. Pointing to the wooded ridge above the range, he explained that the deer born there have gotten used to the gunfire from the range. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Muskie fishing continues to be the top draw up at the St. Lawrence River. CNY FISHING FORECAST Bait stores (list and map). SALMON RIVER River is low and clear. Fresh steelhead are being caught throughout the river. With the low flow, the action on sunny days has been better in the early morning and late afternoon. Good baits are egg sacs (blue and white mesh), streamers and egg-imitating flies and plastics. OSWEGO RIVER Flow has been slowly getting lower the past week, but with rains the water level is on the rise. That’s made for some good catches of brown trout and steelhead. Estaz eggs, egg sacs, woolly buggers, hot-n-tots and crazy eggs are all working. ONEIDA LAKE The nighttime shore walleye bite has picked up lately. Casting from shore just before and after dark with stickbaits in black and silver and blue and silver works well. It’s best when a wind is blowing into the shoreline where you’re fishing. It may pay to use smaller baits because young of the year gizzard shad are numerous this fall, but are smaller than usual at 2½-3 inches. Yellow perch fishing has been hot or cold. A good starting point for the perch has been in 10 to 20 feet of water around weedbeds. CAYUGA LAKE Lake trout and Atlantic salmon are being taken around Taughannock by anglers trolling with spoons, or flashers and flies using down riggers or Dipsey divers. Try fishing 45 - 80 feet down over 100 to 350 feet of water. Lake trout are also hitting vertically jigged chartreuse plastics in 75 to 100 feet of water. Bass, pickerel and perch are being taken in the north end in 10 - 15 feet of water on fathead and larger minnows. One of the better perch spots continues to be around Union Springs. SENECA LAKE Yellow perch fishing continues to be good in 20 to 40 feet of water throughout the lake. Lake trout are being taken in depths over 100 feet on spoons and flashers/flies. Brown trout and salmon are being taken 40 to 80 feet down on flashers/flies and spoons. Anglers fishing large minnows under bobbers, or casting large crankbaits are catching some northern pike. OWASCO LAKE Lake trout fishing has been slow but some fish are still being taken vertically jigging with plastics. Northern pike are hitting spoons on the south end and yellow perch are hitting fathead minnows. Anglers are getting some brown trout in the Owasco Inlet, which is open for fishing until Dec. 31. OTISCO LAKE Casting stickbaits off the causeway after dark usually produces some walleye this time of year. Crappies and yellow perch are hitting small minnows cast from shore. SKANEATELES LAKE Trolling 30 to 50 feet down with small perch colored spoons or stickbaits is producing lake trout, rainbows and Atlantic salmon. Lake trout are also hitting at 80 feet down over 120 to 140 feet of water. Trolling on the surface for rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon has been slow; but is usually productive this time of year. Yellow perch are being taken on small minnows or crayfish. A few anglers are catching rainbows from shore using marshmallow/worm rigs, but overall that bite has been slow recently. SANDY POND No new fishing activity to report as things is slow on the pond this time of year. SODUS BAY Perch fishing continues to be good. Larger perch are coming from the deeper water, 20 to 30 feet, using spikes and jigs. ST. LAWRENCE RIVER Muskie fishing continues to be the top draw. Most other fishing has slowed down. WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR Perch bite has really picked up this week. Anglers are catching them averaging 11 to 13 inches using fathead minnows and jigs. Walleye bite has slowed down. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"After 25 years of bow hunting, this is obviously one of the best deer I've ever gotten. I'm sure it's over 200 pounds. I don't think I'll ever beat this one - gun season or bow season," he said. Submitted photo John Pickard, of Van Buren, was one happy hunter this week after harvesting this impressive deer. He wrote: "I left work today at 3:30 p.m. and made it to my tree stand by 3:50 p.m. "Twenty minutes later at 4:10 p.m. this beautiful 10 point buck came with 15 yards of my stand. I can't believe my bow season came to a climax after only 20 minutes in my stand. "I've logged an awful lot of hours with seeing nothing until tonight. I shot this deer in the town of Van Buren, next to the Baldwinsville Rod and Gun Club, on my property. " After 25 years of bow hunting, this is obviously one of the best deer I've ever gotten. I'm sure it's over 200 pounds. I don't think I'll ever beat this one - gun season or bow season. At least in our local area!" John Pickard 1382 Gunbarrel Rd Baldwinsville, NY 13027 635-3802 View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog