HuntingNY-News

I got a pretty strong reaction to last Sunday’s story on trespassing. More than 30 readers filed comments underneath the story that ran on this blog. One thing I left out, though, is that the state Department of Environmental Conservation offers an “Ask Permission Slip,” which can be downloaded from its Web site. The slip complements the DEC’s recommendation to... I got a pretty strong reaction to last Sunday’s story on trespassing. More than 30 readers filed comments underneath the story that ran on this blog. One thing I left out, though, is that the state Department of Environmental Conservation offers an “Ask Permission Slip,” which can be downloaded from its Web site. The slip complements the DEC’s recommendation to hunters/fishermen that they should always ask permission of the landowner before going on private property. The slip has two parts. The landowner’s copy lists information from the person requesting permission to be on the land. Information includes the person’s name; address; his or her vehicle’s make, year and color; sportsmen’s license tag number; the dates the person is requesting permission to be on the land and any limitations. The hunter/fisherman’s part includes the landowner’s name, address, dates and the name of the person who has been given permission to be on the land. “That way if a conservation officer checks a hunter, he would have this permission slip he can show,” said Capt. Woody Erickson, who heads the DEC’s law enforcement officers for Region 7. “It’s a good tool.” View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

An area of abundant deer, turkey and bear, known to hunters as “God’s Country,” lies atop vast reserves of natural gas. View the full article

Muskie fishing continues to be the draw on 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, pink and chartreuse mesh), streamers and egg-imitating flies and plastics. OSWEGO RIVER The browns and rainbows/steelhead are moving in. Estaz eggs, egg sacs, woolly buggers, hot-n-tots and crazy eggs are all working. ONEIDA LAKE The nighttime shore walleye bite has been good at times. Casting from shore just before and after dark with stickbaits in black and silver and blue and silver works well. 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. Smallmouth bass fishing has been harder due to them gorging on the shad. Yellow perch fishing has been hot or cold because of this as well. A good starting point for the perch has been in 10 to 20 feet of water around weedbeds. CAYUGA LAKE Lake trout, Atlantic salmon and brown trout are being caught at the southern end trolling with spoons, or flashers and flies using down riggers or Dipsey divers. Try fishing 45 to 80 feet down over 75 to 150 feet of water. Lake trout are also hitting vertically jigged chartreuse plastics in 65 to 85 feet of water. A few brown trout and Atlantic salmon are being taken on spoons fished 55 to 80 feet down over 110 to 130 feet of water. Try Countdown Rapalas and Silver Hammered Crocodiles in white, green, purple and blue. Bass, pickerel and perch are being taken in the north end in 10 to 15 feet of water on fathead and larger minnows. One of the better perch spots is 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 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. OTISCO LAKE Smallmouth bass fishing has been decent in 35 to 40 feet of water on drop-shot rigs. Largemouth are hitting lipless crankbaits in the shallows of the north end. Some walleye are being taken by trolling 25 to 30 feet down over a 45- to 60-foot bottom with worm harnesses. Also try casting stickbaits off the causeway after dark. A few tiger muskie have been caught using minnows and swimbaits, stickbaits and large spinners. Crappies 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 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. Smallmouth bass and rock bass are being taken in 15-40 feet of water along the shoreline using fathead minnows, crabs, tube baits, super flukes and drop-shot rigs. Yellow perch are being taken on small minnows or crayfish. SANDY POND Walleye fishing has been fair using crankbaits, worm harnesses and jigs. Largemouth bass are hitting a variety of Texas-rigged plastic baits and topwater baits. Panfish are still providing action around the shoreline, and some yellow perch are being taken on small minnows. 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, with some walleyes, perch and northerns being taken. WHITNEY POINT RESERVOIR Try for walleye trolling in 10 to 15 feet of water or drifting with worm harnesses and leeches. Walleye and smallmouth bass are being taken in the spillway on leeches. The best times are the early morning or late evening hours. Fishing with dark-colored bucktail jigs or worm harnesses along drop-offs has been producing yellow perch, bass and walleye. Casting with dark-colored twister tails and Senko style baits is also working for the bass. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

This video should give you a taste of what coon hunting is all about. Watch video I went out Wednesday with Dake Esposito, of Fabius, to hunt raccoons at night with his two bluetick hounds on a nearby farm in Pompey. He uses a single shot, bolt-action, .22 caliber rifle. He keeps the pelts and sells them. It was a full moon, but the wind made hunting difficult -- particularly when it came to hearing the dogs bark. Both of his dogs had radio collars, which is the only way we could really keep track of which way they were going. Our best bet came when the dogs went nuts around a particular hemlock tree. We shined our flashlights through the branches and couldn't see anything, Esposito even tried whacking the tree truck with a big stick to send vibrations up the tree, hoping it would cause the coon to move or look down at us. No dice. There's no guarantees when it comes to hunting and we didn't get any that night, but this video should give you a taste of what coon hunting is all about. For more, see my story on the Outdoors Page of Friday's edition of The Post-Standard. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

This is her third season bowhunting. It's her first deer. Submitted photoC.J. Brunelle, who descibed herself as a "stay-at-home mom" living in Memphis, poses with a 4-point buck she recently harvested. She wrote: "I took this gorgeous 4 point on Saturday, Nov. 5. I am 31 and a stay-at-home mom living in Memphis. "This is my third season bowhunting and this is my first deer harvested. I purchased a brand new Mathews Passion 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 he taught me a lot. He was excited to hear the deer was shot just 6 yards from my stand. He weighed 160 pounds. Just an exciting experience overall and I can't wait to get out next season. " We look forward to sharing this and other outdoor experiences with our two young boys, Nolan and Chase." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"It was a very heavy deer," he said. Submitted photo Ed McCarthy, of Port Byron, poses with an 8-point buck he shot recently with his bow on Howland's Island in Montezuma. "It was a very heavy deer," he said. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

That's right. I'd like to see what's out there in regard to impressive, interesting or humorous outdoors-related tattoos (on hunters, fishermen, trappers, hikers, birders, kayakers, etc...) and the stories behind them. I'd like to hear from both Central New York men and women on this. Tell me about your tattoo and why you decided to do it in 200 words... That's right. I'd like to see what's out there in regard to impressive, interesting or humorous outdoors-related tattoos (on hunters, fishermen, trappers, hikers, birders, kayakers, etc...) and the stories behind them. I'd like to hear from both Central New York men and women on this. Tell me about your tattoo and why you decided to do it in 200 words or less. Also, take a picture of it and send or email it so I can see what you're talking about. I can be reached by email at [email protected] or by calling 470-6066. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

She has been bow hunting for four years. Submitted photo Joyce Morse has been bow hunting for 4 years. This is her first buck, taken in the Fabius area on Oct 22. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The two have logged many hours over the years fishing on the St.Lawrence. Submitted photoDante Piraino, of Baldwinsville, caught this 26- inch walleye in August on the St.Lawrence River using a worm harness. He was fishing with his grandfather, Gene Conte, of Massena. The two have logged many hours over the years fishing on the St.Lawrence. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

It dressed out at 176 pounds. Submitted photo Randy Troast, of Minoa, poses with a 10-point buck he shot with his bow Nov. 6. His cousin, Lew Troast, wrote: "The buck is the largest that Randy has ever taken with a bow. It dressed out at 176 lbs. He shot it in the Town of Manlius." Nice deer, Randy! View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Her redfish was too big to keep. The rules require any redfish over 27 inches to be released. Submitted photoNice fish, Kathy! Kathy O'Sullivan, of Skaneateles, caught this big redfish off Hilton Head on a off-shore charter fishing trip with Captain Greg Clark on the Izzy A. Her husband, Tom, wrote: "This redfish was too big to keep. The rules require any redfish over 27 inches to be released. "All four of us caught similar-size fish and released them. We had a great time." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Tentatively, I'm writing about raccoon hunting and sighting in your gun for the upcoming firearms season...and a unique, pending world record held by a Baldwinsville man for chinook salmon. What else should I be writing about? WILFREDO LEE photo Here's what's tenatively planned for this week’s Outdoors pages in The Post-Standard. I must admit things are in flux and I’m going to need some help from readers on a couple of things for this week and beyond. FRIDAY: - Main piece: I go out with a raccoon hunter in Onondaga County, who does his thing after dark with dogs and headlamps and flashlights. Should be interesting. - Column: Touch on a unique pending world record for chinook salmon held by a Baldwinsville man, and possibly a followup to last Sunday's story on trespassing. SUNDAY - Main piece: Photo spread on sight-in day at Camillus Sportsmen’s Club, plus a guest column from a reader who every fall goes camping/deer hunting by himself up in the Adirondacks, and talks about why he does it. -Column: Pending.Possibly a follow to a recent column on the Habitat/Access stamp … Any other sugggestions out there? WANTED: I’m looking for a couple of other things, and I need reader input to make these stories happen: - Interesting outdoors personalities or characters that should be profiled. Have any suggestions? - Outdoors-related (hunting, fishing, hiking, kayaking, etc.) tattoos. I have entries from several guys. C’mon ladies, I know you’re out there. - Hunting camp stories or memories (submitted pictures would help). Limit your stories to 300 words. - Heroes of Conservation. COMING: - Buck tales from the current bow hunting season. (I'm writing it for Dec. 18. Get your bow/deer photos in ASAP.) - A story that de-mystifies the process by which the DEC determines each year how many antler-less deer (doe tags) are issue for a particular area. - Water fowl hunting on the shore of Lake Ontario 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. Last Sunday's story about trespassing, which prompted a lively debate on this blog, was suggested by a reader. 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

All were taken on bass minnows, he said. Submitted photo Steve Hess, of Fayetteville, got into the crappies recently at Cowel Pond (north of Sandy Pond) and also into some nice perch on Skaneateles Lake. He wrote: "The Skaneateles perch were monsters -- two were over 14 inches. I'm having three mounted by Willowbrook Taxidermy." All were taken on bass minnows, he said. (See all three photos) Submitted photo Submitted photo View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Recent research makes a compelling case for a pre-Clovis human presence in North America. View the full article

Lawrence Vielhauer is a teacher at Jamesville- Dewitt and is the father of two boys. He wished to send a special thanks to his wife for allowing him to hunt during the weekends while she watched the kids. Submitted photo Lawrence Vielhauer, of Pompey, shot this monster, 10-point buck Sunday afternoon in Steuben County. According to Kevin Shaughnessy: "The buck weighed 238 pounds. He was harvested Sunday morning just as the sun was coming up. The shot was about 19 yards. "He immediately knew the buck was a shooter buck when he saw the width of the antlers and the big body. He was going to take a shot when the deer was 40 yards away when making a scrape, but then the buck came closer to him and got within 19 yards. "He stepped into a shooting lane and the arrow flew and hit its mark, double lunging the deer. He gave it four hours and then started tracing the beauty. He could not believe his eyes when he came up upon this monster and saw just how big he really was. "He said it's a buck of a lifetime." Vielhauer is a teacher at Jamesville Dewitt and is the father of two boys, Jerry and Gunnar, and the husband to, Michelle Vielhauer. He wished to send a special thanks to his wife for allowing him to hunt during the weekends while she watched the kids, Shaughnessy concluded. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The salmon was caught using an artificial egg. Submitted photo Matthew Miller, 14, of Brewerton, caught this 37-inch, 22- pound chinook salmon at Trestle Pool on the Salmon River. The fish was landed after a 10- minute fight. It was caught using an artificial egg. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"It had been an intense bow hunting season so far, with long days out on the field,"she said. Submitted photoMili and her 8-pointer. Mili Irizarry de Buschatzke, of Cazenovia, a dentist and veteran sportswoman, succeeded recently in getting an 8-point buck with her bow. She wrote: Hello David, finally all my prayers and efforts were rewarded! This morning I bow harvested this beautiful and healthy eight- pointer buck in Madison County. I shot him at 13 yards under my tree stand. It had been an intense bow hunting season so far, with long days out on the field." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

"It's always a thrill to get one and have a clean release," he said. Submitted photo Bob Schotthoefer, of Solvay, holds up a 43-inch muskellunge he caught Nov. 3 on the St. Lawrence River while fishing with his friends, Marty Golanka and Frank Dewees. "We were on board Water Wolf Charters with Capt. Bob Walters," he wrote. "It's always a thrill to get one and have a clean release." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The water is cooling off, but the fish are still eating, he said. Submitted photoManning caught this on the Seneca River. Scott Manning, of Fairmount, holds up a nice smallmouth bass he caught Nov. 6 on the Seneca River, near near Onondaga lake. "The water is cooling off, but the fish are still eating. My brother and I caught them good that day," he wrote. Manning also sent another photo of another smallie he caught on Onondaga Lake recently. He said both fish were beefy, each weighing about four pounds. Submitted photoThis one was landed on Onondaga Lake. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Adessa, 31, of Auburn, has been hunting deer since he was 16. He's gotten his share of deer with a shotgun, but up until this week only succeeded in getting does with his bow. What made this deer memorable is that he crawled some 200 yards across a field to get in position for a shot. Submitted photo Chris Adessa’s first buck with a bow was an extremely memorable one. Memorable, not because of its size, but for how hard he had to work for it. Adessa, 31, of Auburn, has been hunting deer since he was 16. He’s gotten his share of deer with a shotgun, but up until this week only succeeded in getting does with his bow. “I got a new bow this year, all new equipment. The goal of the season was to get my first buck,” he said. On Wednesday, Chris, who’s the general manager of the Mesa Grande Taqueria in downtown Auburn, was in a tree stand on property he and his father lease in the town of Scipio. He had to leave early to go to work, and on the way out spooked four bucks and several does. Thursday, he was in a different stand and again got a call to come into work early. He went to the edge of the woods to check the field where he had seen the deer the day before. “They were in the same exact spot,” he said. He decided to go back into the woods and called his father to tell him he was going to wait there to see if the deer would come over. He walked a slight distance and then looked out into the field and saw that a buck and a doe had bedded down right behind a small patch of goldenrod, just over a small rise. He then called a friend, Mike Gallaro, of Throop, and described the situation — noting the wind direction and the availability of cover (or lack thereof). Gallaro advised him to try stalking the deer on the ground, and said he had nothing to lose. Between Adessa and the deer “was mostly short grass, about 6-8 inches tall.” Adessa shed his quiver, took a single arrow and his Hoyt bow and got on this hands and knees. He began a slow, deliberate crawl — sometimes dropping to his belly — of more than 200 yards through the field. “There were a lot of prickers, but I dodged them all,” he said. About halfway there, he got impatient and stood up. He took a few steps in a crouched manner. Out of the corner of his eye, Adessa spotted another set of antlers from deer that had also bedded down just over the rise near the others. At that point, he dropped to his belly, waited a few moments to make sure they didn’t see him, and continued to crawl. Eventually, Adessa got within about 40 yards of the deer, but the goldenrod was in the way. He crawled a short distance to his left to get a clear shot. He got up on his knees, put his arrow in his bow and came to a full draw. He then emitted “a bleat call” (which imitates the sound a doe makes) with his mouth a total of four times. A five-point buck was the first to stand up. It was also the closest. Realizing this might be his only opportunity, Adessa fired the arrow. It hit the buck slightly behind the right rib, and the arrow exited its left shoulder. Afterward he called his father, excitedly saying, “I got a five-point, I got a five-point.” His father drove down to help him field-dress and load the deer into the back of his truck. He saw the matted grass and the distance his son had crawled. “I wouldn’t try that in 100 years,” he said. “It’s the stuff you see on TV.” View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The onus is on the landowner to control who is allowed on his property, and who is not, according to Capt. Woody Erickson, who heads the state Department of Environmental Conservations law enforcement unit for Region 7. David Lassman/The Post-StandardNo trespassing sign on Joe Novek's property in Manlius. Joe Novek said he was warned about trespassers by local law enforcement officials when he added more than 200 acres to family-owned property up in Oneida County more than 10 years ago. The Manlius podiatrist found out a deer poaching ring was coming on the land at night, armed with shotguns and illegally taking deer using spotlights. “It took a few years of working with state troopers and the game warden up there, but the poachers eventually moved on,” he said, added that another group of trespassers/hunters had built a 40-foot long bridge to get easy access to the heavily posted property. He’s since had to deal with trespassers on four wheelers and dirt bikes. Locally, trespassers frequently come on his land along Limestone Creek in Manlius and dump yard clippings and construction wastes. It seems to never end, he said. “You just wouldn’t believe the gall some people have,” he said. “I got to talking to a lot of farmers and other property owners and I’ve since learned you have to be aggressive about this. The nice guy approach isn’t going to work. You have to let trespassers know you’re going to prosecute and word gets around.” Novek’s case is an extreme one, but the issue of landowners dealing with trespassing is a widespread problem — particularly during the hunting season. The onus is on the landowner to control who is allowed on his property, and who is not, according to Capt. Woody Erickson, who heads the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s law enforcement unit for Region 7. “If you do nothing, you’re giving tacit approval for someone to come on your property,” he said. The posting of signs is a tool found in the state Environmental Conservation Law that landowners can use to make their wishes plainly known to those who seek to use their land. However, there’s rules about what the signs say and how they must be posted on the property. Failure to follow those rules could result in having your trespassing complaint thrown out of court. Erickson and others stressed there’s a wide offering of publicly owned property to hunt on in Central New York. For those who choose to hunt privately owned land, the best approach is to ask first and get permission. There is no such thing as a right to hunt land. The DEC appreciates private landowners who do allow hunting on their land. “Even if it’s not posted,” Erickson said. “If you don’t, you run the risk of ruining your hunt by getting thrown off simply because you didn’t ask.” Erickson noted a landowner can’t make a citizen’s arrest concerning a trespasser. Arrests are made by police or an environmental conservation. An arrest can only be made, though, if the landowner is willing to file a complaint. “The best thing a landowner can do is to confront the trespasser and say, ‘Hi, I own this land and it’s posted. Please leave’ in a calm, peaceful way. That usually works,” Erickson said. If the landowner wants the trespasser arrested, Erickson suggested calling 911. But if you call 911, he added, be aware that officers will not come out just to kick people off your property. “That’s the landowner’s responsibility,” he said. Erickson added that if the property owner specifically wants an environmental conservation officer to come, to call 1-877-457-5680. Novek has been there, done that. He’s politely asked more than his share of trespassers to get off his land. He’s learned to write down the license plates of anyone he notices parking along or driving by his property. He has trail cameras set up at certain points. He’s also made contact with adjoining property owners. They share notes and watch over each other’s property. “I also make mental notes of tire tread patterns” he said. By themselves, signs don’t mean much, Novek said. He noted he has posted his property with several unique ones that say, “No trespassing for any purpose — and this means you!” “You have to have a presence,” he said. “I hunt deer, but I also pursue trespassers.” Tim Reese/The Post-StandardNo trespassing sign at Douglaston Run, along the lower Salmon River. The following are commonly asked, trespassing-related questions by landowners and hunters this time of year, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Q: What are the requirements for Posted signs? A: The posting law specifies the maximum distance between signs is 660 feet, the minimum size of the signs is 11 inches square and the area covered by the printing is a minimum of 80 square inches. Signs can be no more than 660 feet apart. The signs should, however, be placed close enough together to be seen and at a height that is easily visible. Posted signs must have the name and address of the person authorized to post the property. Each side of all corners of the property must be marked with posted signs, so that corners can be reasonably ascertained. There is no requirement that signs be “seen,” and in fact, the land is still posted for a period of one year even if the signs are illegally removed by unauthorized persons the day they are put up. This illustrates the importance of seeking permission to enter private land. Q: Can I be arrested for trespassing if I didn’t see any Posted signs? A: Yes. Your hunting license does not give you the right to trespass on private property. It is your responsibility to find out who the landowner is and ask their permission whether the property is posted or not. Q: If a property is not posted, does that mean I can hunt there? A: All property is owned by somebody. Just because there are no signs does not necessarily mean you can hunt there. To be legally posted, the law requires it to be posted with signs and checked once a year by the person posting it. Perhaps the signs were torn down or fallen off due to deterioration a month before you arrive to hunt. Legally, it may still be posted. Once again, talk with property owners. Q: If I shoot a deer and it runs onto posted property, do I have the legal right to go on the property to retrieve it? A: No. Seek out the landowner, explain the situation, and ask permission. If the landowner refuses, the hunter will not be able to enter the property. The DEC cannot compel a landowner to grant access. Q: If I as a landowner allow hunting on my property, can I be held liable if the hunter has an accident or accidentally hurts someone else? Does it matter if the property is posted, liability-wise? A: No to both cases. The New York General Obligations Law, Section 09-103, states that a landowner has “no duty to keep premises safe for certain uses ... whether it’s posted or not” — and those uses include hunting and fishing. Q: What’s the maximum penalty for trespassing? A: It’a violation carrying a fine of up to $250 fine and/or 15 days in jail. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

This fall, one visitor at Salmon Acres landed a 38-pound chinook salmon. MIchelle Gabel/The Post-StandardSalmon Acres caretaker Thomas VanRiper holds a nice steelhead that he caught Wednesday along the Oneida Nation's private stretch on the south side of the Salmon River. The fish was released after the photo was taken. Five years ago, the Oneida Indian Nation expanded its offerings to visitors at the Turning Stone Casino to include fishing on the Salmon River along a privately owned stretch purchased by the tribe. Quietly and steadily, the tribe has renovated Salmon Acres, a rustic, six-cabin lodge along a 1,500-foot stretch on the south side of the river. The result is a groomed, park-like setting that gives visitors an alternative to the crowded “combat fishing” that goes on each fall along public stretches of the river. Since Salmon Acres was established, casino guests have been taken there by limousine or van. In 2007, Turning Stone used a helicopter to transport several fishing-minded golf pros who were playing in its PGA tournament. The idea was to augment the casino as a destination resort. “We wanted to give our visitors a different venue,” said Mike West, director of OIN (Oneida Indian Nation) Outfitters. “We wanted to offer something else besides the golf and gaming. With world-class salmon fishing so close, we decided to bring it in the fold.” Salmon Acres is open from Aug. 15 to Nov. 30 to take advantage of the river’s salmon and steelhead run. It’s also available year-round for special events, or for outside groups that want to use the entire facility. The place has grown in popularity due in part to the Nation’s decision to open it to the public, offering $25 day passes and the use of its cabins. No more than 50 passes are issued each day. Salmon Acres cabins are already booked for next fall, with the exception of one week, West said. Salmon Acres, which is not on reservation land and pays taxes, makes no mention of the Oneida Indian Nation on its sign. It is located on Route 13, just east of the Pulaski exit off Interstate 81. The one-time house in front now serves as an office, where Thomas VanRiper, the new caretaker, runs things. Close by are six cabins that offer two to six beds. This year, a stone driveway was put in to allow anglers to drive down close to the river. There is also a new stone parking lot. “We just had a great salmon season,” West said, noting that one visitor, Richard McGuire of Washington, N.J., landed a 38-pound chinook. Another client, he added, caught a brown trout that may have challenged the state record, but it was not properly weighed and measured. Submitted photoRichard McGuire, of Washington, N.J,. holds up his 38-pound chinook salmon he landed this fall on the tribe's private stretch of river. The salmon run has ebbed, but the river is now full of steelhead. VanRiper proved that point by catching a nice one Wednesday morning on a salmon egg in the deep pool at Clarke’s Falls, which is on the stretch. In addition to the day passes, Salmon Acres offers a complete setup (rod, reel, waders with corkers and a box of flies, jigs and sinkers) for the novice for $50. Guide services are also available. There are a number of posted signs on the north side directly across from Salmon Acres, but that’s misleading, according to state Department of Environmental Conservation officials. Glenn Wolford, regional supervisor of real property for the DEC’s Region 7, confirmed Thursday that the “opposite side is open for public fishing. “I don’t know what the signs say, but the land on the northern side is a strip of National Grid property, and the state owns the fishing rights to it. It doesn’t show on the tax map, but we have the records to support it.” Meanwhile, West said the Nation’s presence on the river hasn’t generated negative local reaction. He said Salmon Acres has good relations with drift-boat outfitters. It also makes referrals to, and gets referrals from, the All Seasons Sports and Fat Nancy’s bait and tackle stores — a fact confirmed by both places. The nation’s clients are directed to use a fish-cleaning station across the street, he added. “At first it was thought we were going to put in a grandiose lodge and have some kind of scheme,” West said. “What we’ve done is to leave much of it as it was — and just made it better.” Michelle Gabel/The Post-StandardOne of the cabins at Salmon Acres. The Oneidas plan to convert this building into two units, holding four beds apiece this winter. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Among the animals he shot: a waterbok, a blesbok, an impala and a kudu. Submitted photoKen Burd with one of his trophies.Ken Burd, of Clay, traveled to Modinolle, South Africa in September for a 10-day hunting safari with three other hunters. He wrote: "These are just a few of the pictures of the animals I got: a waterbok, blesbok, impala and kudu. "Paul Pretory, Redfield, NY, shot a kudu, impala, blesbok, gemsbok. "Ian Peterson, Mansville, NY, shot 2 impalas and a warthog. "Bill Pretory, Long Valley, NJ, shot an impala, a jackal and a warthog." Submitted photo Submitted photo Submitted photo View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The 77-year-old retired teacher made the trip in September to Basswood Lodge. He also shot a big fallow deer. Submitted photo Phil Stewart, 77, of Clay, shot this impressive elk in September at Basswood Lodge, near Ogdensburg. Basswood offers a private hunting preserve. During the same trip, he shot a fallow deer (pictured below) He wrote: "The elk should score in the upper 380s." " Plans for the elk hunt at Basswood Lodge & Hunting Preserve (near Ogdensburg, NY) started at the April 2010 SCI banquet in Oneonta. A friend (Dick Egleston) bid a hunt in PA at a preserve for 2 elk - one bull & 1 cow. I had decided that at 77, I was nearly ready for a preserve hunt. "In addition this preserve hunt cost about $4000 LESS than a hunt for 1 bull with US Outfitters in New Mexico (a friend has guided for them for several years). So, I sent letters to every preserve I could think of that was within 3 hours driving time from where I live. Several turned me down but 1 (Basswood) sent a letter saying "Yes, they had a bull elk that fitted my description and could provide the hunt at the cost I had indicated". Not only that, but I could pre-pay at a rate of $300 per month until the full amount was paid. "We planned for a hunt starting on Sept. 12. When I was ready, Nick McNamara (the head guide and main worker) informed me that they didn't have any cow elk but that I could shoot a Fallow Buck instead. I drove to Basswood on Sept. 12 and we hunted on September 13. There were 5 bull elk on the preserve but mine was MUCH bigger than any others. I carried my Omega muzzle loader on Nick's recommendation. After sneaking up on the elk, we watched him for several minutes and, when he turned broadside, shot him. "Talk about ground shrinkage - this was ground shrinkage in reverse. The closer I got to the elk, the bigger the antlers looked. I had the antlers scored (SCI) but the scorer used the old forms and I haven't had time to get them re-scored. However, I scored them at 386 inches which will make the elk a Gold Medal Estate (preserve) elk and will put him about #5 on the SCI - Top Ten list for muzzle loaders. "The Fallow Buck was the more difficult hunt as all the Fallow deer had been born on the preserve and knew every hiding place available. But that is another story for another day." Stewart has been hunting for more than 60 years. Read more about how hunting fills a void (and the freezer) for this retired school teacher. Submitted photo View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He caught both fish using a spinner, according to his father. Submitted photo Steve Katz, of Fairmount, caught these two brown trout, (one measuring 18 inches, the other 22 1/2) on Oct. 13 on Nine Mile Creek. He caught both fish using a spinner, according to his father. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog