HuntingNY-News

He's caught several lunkers fishing from shore on the lake's east side. Submitted photo Rick Ellis, of Lafayette, has had great luck recently fishing for rainbow trout from shore on Skaneateles Lake. He wrote: "I caught the single rainbow ( 24 inches ) on the east side on Oct. 7, with a worm and marshmallow rig. " Went to hunting camp for a week in PA. and came back and caught the two one morning ( Oct. 27 ) on the east side of the lake as well. One is 25 inches and the other is 23 inches. Both fish gave a great fight from shore. "Been fishing the lake for over 50 years from shore and boat," he said. Submitted photo View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

According to the Adirondack Daily Enterprise newspaper: "The main forest ranger for the Eastern High Peaks Wilderness shot himself in the leg during a training exercise in Warren County Friday afternoon. "Jim Giglinto, 47, accidently fired his handgun into his thigh while trying to holster the weapon, state Department of Environmental Conservation spokesman Michael Bopp said. "The bullet exited the... According to the Adirondack Daily Enterprise newspaper: "The main forest ranger for the Eastern High Peaks Wilderness shot himself in the leg during a training exercise in Warren County Friday afternoon. "Jim Giglinto, 47, accidently fired his handgun into his thigh while trying to holster the weapon, state Department of Environmental Conservation spokesman Michael Bopp said. "The bullet exited the thigh, and the wound is considered minor, Bopp said." Read the full story. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

I won awards for my stories on Bill and Linda Greczyn, a walleye fishing couple, a column on my dad's old deer rifle and a magazine piece about the DEC's South Otselic fish hatchery where tiger muskies are raised. The group also voted to hold its annual spring meeting next year in Cortland County. Katie Figura photo The following is an edited press release from the New York State Outdoors Writers Association. Caroga Lake, Fulton County, N.Y.—The New York State Outdoor Writers Association presented the winners of its annual writing and photography recognition program with carved duck decoy first-place awards, and second- and third-place cash awards at the annual banquet of the organization at the Nick Stoner Inn in Caroga Lake, N.Y on Saturday evening, Oct. 15. David Figura, The Post-Standard's Outdoors Editor who sits on the organization's board of directors, won three awards: - Second, in the newspaper feature category, for his story, "Hooked for Life" about Linda and Bill Greczyn, of Tully, who fish together on the competitive walleye circuit. - Second, for newspaper column for "Memories of Dad and His Deerslayer," a piece about inheriting his father's Ithaca Deerslayer shotgun. - Third, for magazine feature category for his story, "Where They Grow the Big Ones," a piece about the DEC's South Otselic fish hatchery, where tiger muskies are raised. This article appeared in Central New York Sport magazine, which is published by the newspaper. Figura won $125 for his efforts. The organization of 100 active members—professional communicators—and several dozen supporting members from the outdoor and travel industry—gathered in Fulton County Oct. 13-16 for its annual conference. The Excellence in Craft writing competition and Janice Keesler Memorial Photo Contest, co-sponsored by Ducks Unlimited and The Sportsman Channel, were judged by respected professionals from outside the organization. “Our judges commented on the professionalism of the entries,” said Leon Archer, chair and administrator of the Excellence in Craft program. The photo competition was administered by Bridget Keesler, daughter of the namesake of the photo competition, who played a major role in initiating and administering the photo awards program in its earliest days. Bridget Keesler was awarded honorary membership in NYSOWA for her work on behalf of the contest and the organization at the NYSOWA’s annual meeting. “I am pleased to help preserve the name and memory of my mother,” Keesler said, “and I am grateful for this honor from the New York State Outdoor Writers Association.” First-place winners in the writing competition for articles published in 2010 were: - Newspaper Feature—Mike Lynch, Saranac, for “Bear Bandits Meets His Match,” in the Oct. 9-10 Adirondack Daily Enterprise; - Magazine Feature—Charles Witek III, West Babylon, for “Heritage of the Adirondacks,” in the Feb. 2010 On The Water; - Magazine Column—Angelo Peluso, Port Jefferson, for “Flies to Take to Heaven,” in Aug.-Sept. 2010 Fish Alaska Magazine; - Newspaper Column—Leo Maloney, Sherrill, for “Early Grouse Season Is an Autumn Treat,” in Sept. 17, 2010, Oneida Daily Dispatch; - Online Publication—Leon Archer, Fulton, for “Since When?” in Sept. 4, 2010, Valleynewsonline.com. In the photo competition, first-place winners were: - Hunting and Fishing—Zeno Hromin, Westbury; - Outdoor Scenic—Zeno Hromin; Outdoor Recreation—Dan Ladd, West Fort Ann; Published Photograph—Chris Kenyon, Wolcott; and Wildlife, Chris Kenyon. The organization's board of directors met during the conference and voted to hold the "Spring Safari," where writers gather and sample the outdoor offerings of an area and write about it, in Cortland County. The fall conference will be held in Niagara Falls. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Both deer were 6 pointers. Submitted photo John Paul Walker, 16, of Baldwinsville (right), shot his first buck with a bow last Thursday in Oswego County. The buck was a 6-pointer and weighed 150 lbs. Griffin Noffey, 17, also of Baldwinsville, (left) shot his shot his first buck with a bow last Friday in Cayuga County. It was also a 6-pointer, and weighed 130 pounds. Nice going, boys! Congratulations. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

I must admit things are in flux and I’m going to need some help from readers on a couple of things. Laura Downs photoNo, I'm not writing about kayaking this week, but is there an angle I'm missing on what's going on this time of year? I'd like to hear from readers. Here’s my report of what I plan at this point to write about in The Post-Standard for this week’s Outdoors pages on Friday and Sunday. I must admit things are in flux and I’m going to need some help from readers on a couple of things. FRIDAY: - Main piece: I travel up to the Salmon River again and do a piece on the Oneida Indian Nation’s Salmon Acres Lodge, which is a privately owned stretch along the river. The lodge’s guests have seen an excellent run of salmon and now the steelhead are going through. What’s it take to fish this stretch? It appears to be open to the public (at a price). Have celebrities fished it as of late? We find out. - Column: Touch briefly on several topics, including such things as a followup to last Sunday’s piece on the Project Healing Waters story, which ruffled a few feathers. I also hope to have an update on either the St. Lawrence River boundary controversy I wrote extensively this past summer, or on the emerald ash borer traps that were put in place earlier this year throughout CNY.. SUNDAY - Main piece: Trespassing 101. It’s the time of year when landowners and hunters alike are asking...just what is the story when it comes to posting property and whether an individual is trespassing or not? Anyone know any property owners with horror stories concerning this issue and who would be willing to talk to me and have their picture taken? Please contact me ASAP at 470-6066, or email me at [email protected]. -Column: Possibly a follow to last weekend’s column on the Habitat/Access stamp, or some other issue.. WANTED: I’m looking for a couple of other things, and I need reader input to make these stories happen: - Outdoors-related (hunting, fishing, hiking, kayaking, etc.) tattoos. - Hunting camp stories or memories (submitted pictures would help). Limit your stories to 300 words. - I'd like to do a wrapup or column about young bow hunters who took to the fields and woods this year for the first time. (ages 12-13)...Haven't heard any reports of seen any pictures yet. Are any of these kids getting deer out there? I'd like to hear. - I'd like to also hear from waterfowl hunters.(I've gotten feedback that I should do a story on this.) Anyone willing to take me out? I just bought my duck stamp. COMING: - 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. - Raccoon hunting ANYTHING ELSE READERS OF THIS REPORT WOULD LIKE TO SEE ME WRITE ABOUT? The effectiveness of this report is two-fold. First it lets readers know what's coming up story-wise. It also allows readers a chance to affect coverage and provide sources for upcoming stories.Last week's story on Bob Rock, the 85-year-old fly tier, resulted from a reader's tip. Bottom line: Keep in touch and give input. You could make a difference as to what appears week to week on the outdoors page! If you want to respond to me directly about what's in the following report, 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. To respond, simply hit 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

“I watched those horns come up the hill for what seemed like an eternity – I was telling myself not to make any mistakes," he said. Submitted photo David Todd, of Chittenango, arrowed this 9- point, 195 pound buck in Cortland County the morning of Oct. 29. He wrote: “I watched those horns come up the hill for what seemed like an eternity – I was telling myself not to make any mistakes. He made a rub and a scrape before finally coming into bow range” He added: "A big 'Thank You' goes out to my wife Terri who cleared the shooting lane this buck stepped into!" View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

MIke Hogan, of North Syracuse, shot this 8-pointer Sunday in Tully with his Mathews switch back bow. He said the deer was about 3 1/2 years old and weighed about 160 pounds. Submitted photo MIke Hogan, of North Syracuse, shot this 8-pointer Sunday in Tully with his Mathews switch back bow. He said the deer was about 3 1/2 years old and weighed about 160 pounds. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He shares his experience, confidence and love for fishing every Wednesday when he travels up to Fort Drum to work with soldiers there. John Berry/The Post-StandardBob Rock teaches fly fishing to Fort Drum soldiers who are recovering from injuries, or who are transitioning into civilian life. Bob Rock carefully placed a hook into the fly-tying vice in the basement of his house, located just off the SUNY Oswego campus. "Let’s tie something colorful for you," he said, pulling out pink thread and pink feathers. "It’s a soft hackle fly. That’s about as simple as I can state it. It’s good for steelhead — salmon, too." Rock made the comment with the certainty of an 85-year-old fisherman whose life has been packed with fishing and other outdoor adventures. He shares that experience, confidence and love for fishing every Wednesday when he travels up to Fort Drum. There, working with two local anglers — Jim Kelso, of Mexico, and Ed Stankiewicz, of Altmar — Rock works with soldiers as part of Project Healing Waters, a group dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military personnel and veterans using the medium of fly tying and fly fishing. At Fort Drum, the anglers are working with soldiers referred to them from the fort’s Traumatic Brain Injury Clinic and with those in the Warriors in Transition program, whose terms have nearly ended or who have chosen to be reassigned. Much of their time is spent on Remington Pond on the fort’s grounds, which is stocked with trout, bass and crappie. For most, if not all of the soldiers, it’s their first time fly fishing. John Berry/The Post-StandardBob Rock ties a soft tackle fly in the basement of his Oswe´go home. "They love the silence, the physical motion," Rock said. "I’m convinced that fly fishing is not unlike golf and tennis in terms of being a social sport that provides entree and companionship in today’s civilian world." Rock’s fishing exploits started when he was five, growing up in New Britain, Conn. His family used to vacation at nearby Great Hill Lake, where a neighbor, Jason Barret, used a fly rod and "caught more fish than anyone else. "My aunt’s boyfriend gave me a couple of fly rods when I was 12, and (Jason) started me off," he said. Along with the fishing came numerous hours on nearby ski slopes, where Rock became an accomplished downhill skier. Rock became so enthused about skiing, he said, that he eventually dropped out of high school and took off "and skied for four months." But this was during World War II. Rock soon joined the Navy, where he served as a high-speed radio operator and completed his high school education. Upon getting out, he enrolled in Springfield College, in Springfield, Mass., where he got a bachelor’s degree in group work and community organization. Every summer while in college he worked at camps. The best experience, he said, came when he served as a cook/radio operator at a camp at Jackson Hole, Wyo. "It was a great adventure and great fishing," he said. Immediately upon graduating from Springfield, he got a job with the Boy Scouts of America, working as a field executive and camp director in Montclair, N.J. Six months later he married his girlfriend, Shirley. Rock next went to work at The Vermont Academy, an all-boys boarding school in Saxtons River, Vt. There, he worked as a history teacher and the school’s assistant ski and track coach. He also taught skiing at a nearby slope during school vacations and sometimes on weekends. During the summer, he worked on his master’s degree at Springfield in guidance and counseling. "Vermont Academy had a small pond on the campus with great brook trout fishing," he said with a smile. "The one hitch was you had to use a fly rod." His next step was a position at Pace College as director of student activities and athletics, while he pursued his doctorate at Columbia Teachers College in New York City. Rock was hired in 1963 as dean of students at SUNY Oswego. While at the college, he continued to fatten his resume with fishing/outdoors and skiing experiences. He helped form the school’s Outing Club, in addition to teaching courses on cross country skiing and fly tying. He retired in 1981. He spent the next 10 years as a consultant, serving as a mediator for public labor disputes across the northern part of the state. He stopped doing that in 1991. Outside of school, he taught fly-tying and fly-fishing classes for several regional fishing- and outdoors-related organizations. He was the founding president of the Salmon River Chapter of Trout Unlimited and authored a book, "11,762 Words for Fly Fishers and Fly Tyers." Framed certificates on the basement wall at his home show other honors. He’s a life member of the National Ski Patrol System and a 50-year member of the Adirondack Mountain Club. Rock was hobbled in 2003 following an accident during which he fell head-first down an escalator in Montreal. He’s still undergoing physical therapy and is hopeful that one day he may cross country ski again. His physical condition and loss of balance prohibits him these days from wading in a stream or river. Two years ago, his buddies set him up on a folding lawn chair on a gravel island on the Salmon River during the annual salmon/steelhead run. "He outfished us," Jim Kelso said. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

DEC officials say the drop in sales may be connected to the poor economy, in part to the relatively recent increase in outdoors license fees and sportsmen not wanting to pay any additional money and the fact that the DEC hasn't announced the use of the money for any projects since 2007. I knew I had forgotten something when I recently bought my hunting/fishing licenses for the coming year. When I made the purchase, the guy at the cash register at Dick’s Sporting Goods in Fairmount didn’t ask me if I wanted to also buy a $5 state habitat/access stamp. I walked out the store without one. I contacted the state Department of Environmental Conservation this week for an update on the voluntary stamp program and discovered last year’s purchases of the stamp was at all-time low – with not much hope for improvement this year. The state began selling these stamps in the 2002-2003 license year following intense lobbying by Fred Neff, a Baldwinsville resident who was the former president of the Onondaga Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs. Neff brought up the idea following a 2000 fishing trip to Montana. He noticed when he bought his license in that state, he was required to buy a stamp to help raise money to pay for habitat improvement and access-related projects in that state. He did a little research and found out that more than 30 other states did the same thing. The DEC favored the idea and eventually a bill creating the program was approved by the state Legislature with one hitch — that it had to be voluntary. The state’s lawmakers frowned upon the stamp as as an additional tax. When the program first kicked off, the DEC would mail everyone who bought a stamp a pin with the picture of the animal that was on the stamp this year. This year it’s a turtle. However, that was stopped after several years because of manufacturing and mailing costs (about $1.50 per pin). Meanwhile, reminders are printed each year in the DEC hunting and fishing guides. Posters are sent out each year to licensing agents (sporting good stores, village clerks, etc.) to post and remind buyers. In addition, when buying a license, the seller is required to register the sale on the computer, which has a visual prompt to the seller concerning the stamp. Finally, the seller, whether it be a municipal clerk or a private store, receives a $1 commission for every stamp sold. DEC officials say total stamp sale revenues to date are $372,568. Annual revenues have ranged from a high of $69,310 (2004-2005) to last year’s low of $17,015. DEC spokesman Michael Bopp and Doug Stang, the DEC’s assistant director for Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources, say the drop in sales may be connected to the poor economy, in part to the relatively recent increase in outdoors license fees and sportsmen not wanting to pay any additional money and the fact that the DEC hasn’t announced the use of the money for any projects since 2007. The DEC has announced two rounds of projects since the program started: once in 2004-2005; and again in 2006-2007. One project in particular that raised the ire of sportsmen was the approval of $10,000 back in 2007 of an Audubon Society-backed “Echo Cruise in New York City Harbor,” which essentially was a bird watching tour for intercity kids. The majority of folks buying the stamp were hunters, fishermen and trappers and they weren’t happy with that. Stang said apart from the bird-watching venture, the fund has concentrated on projects such as angler parking lots, cartop boat launches, a fishing access pier and grassland habitat management in an area for upland birds. The reason that no projects were announced since 2007 is that some of the earlier projects are still not finished. Currently, there’s about $260,000 sitting in the restricted fund, which can’t be raided by the state for any other purposes. Stang said the DEC asked volunteer-run, Fish and Wildlife Management Area boards across the state to come up with projects for Habitat/Access Stamp funds, with the promise of $5,000 for each project. Only four of the state’s seven boards came back with proposals: Regions 4, 6, 7 (that’s us) and 9. The local project involves a stream restoration project on Chittenango Creek. The others involve fishing access. What’s the hope for the stamp becoming mandatory? Bopp said he’s not aware of any pending legislative bills. Stang noted apart from the Erie County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs which has conducted contests to encourage sellers to sell more stamps, no other sportsmen’s association or group have picked up the cause – and that includes the Onondaga Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, which Neff once led. The potential, though, is eye-opening if one does the math. Last year, 900,000 state residents bought outdoor sporting licenses. An additional 200,000 hunters and fishermen from out of state also bought them. If the stamp was made mandatory, there’s potential for some $5.5 million to be raised, enough to pay for substantial projects. Now that’s food for thought, particularly with our cash-strapped DEC. I’d like to hear from readers on this. David Figura can be contacted at [email protected], by phone at 470-6066 and through Facebook at PS Outdoors. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The group is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military service personnel and veterans through fly fishing and fly tying education and outings. Project Healing Waters was recently given a jump-start in the greater Syracuse area. Daniel Morgan, the group’s new leader, said the program has been fairly dormant the past two years and is dedicating to revitalizing and strengthening it. The organization is dedicated to “the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military service personnel and veterans through fly fishing and fly tying education and outings.” “Unfortunately, the Syracuse program has been dormant the past two years and I am taking major efforts to revitalize, grow and strengthen (it) here in greater Syracuse,” he said. “With the close proximity of Fort Drum and the number of veterans in need locally, the importance of Project Healing Waters is especially necessary. And given the fantastic natural resources and fishing opportunities around, it’s something that should succeed here.” Last weekend, in conjunction with the Fort Drum program and its Traumatic Brain Injury Clinic, numerous local guides, VFWs and other organizations, the local chapter hosted “a very successful, three-day drift boat event on the Salmon River. “It went fantastically, with each veteran successfully battling and landing salmon. Due to its success, another event (has been organized) for this Friday and Saturday on the Salmon River, working cooperatively with Fran Verdoliva and the DEC in Altmar,” he said. Morgan said about 10 active-duty soldiers and veterans will be among the participants, “and it is especially significant due to November being Wounded Warrior Month.” For more,. call 1-802-399-1631 or check out the Project Healing Waters Web site.. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The series focuses on angling, on soldiers, and on the fish-filled waters of the St. Lawrence River Valley. The following is a press release from the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce: Members of the FISHCAP Advisory Board voted unanimously last week to underwrite the national distribution of “Fishing Behind the Lines,” a 13-part documentary series produced by WPBS-DTV Watertown. The series focuses on angling, on soldiers, and on the fish-filled waters of the St. Lawrence River Valley. Each episode of the series, hosted by veteran angler Don Meissner, who also coordinates the FISHCAP project, will highlight a day of fishing in one of the lakes, streams or rivers in the WPBS-TV broadcast region, with eight of the episodes planned for St. Lawrence and Jefferson Counties. The shows will focus on fishing and the benefits of fishing for soldiers from the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division, stationed at Fort Drum. Some of these soldiers have been classified “wounded warriors” by the military. The series is scheduled to premier in Fall 2012. “This is one of the most exciting things we’ve done so far,” said Pat McKeown, Executive Director of the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce and co-director of FISHCAP. “Imagine our rivers, our lakes, our streams, with all their beauty and all their thousands of game fish, being shown all over the country through the respected medium of public television. “Since our entire mission is to show the world what we have and to bring visitors here to enjoy the whole angling scene, PBS has given us a great opportunity to show our stuff – and we’re going to do it!” FISHCAP’s three-year mission is to create an economy around the sport fishing industry by bringing sport-fishing enthusiasts to the St. Lawrence River Valley. The FISHCAP Advisory Board believes that these programs, especially when distributed nationally, will not only drive tourism but will also do much to link the military and civilian communities, as well as fostering civic, community and national pride in the North Country. Each week of “Fishing Behind the Lines” will highlight a specific regional waterway, filmed with the cooperation of the U.S. Army at Fort Drum, and focusing on both recreation and the soldier’s experiences. In addition, a five-minute segment on each week’s show will be devoted to other tourist destinations in the target area. “This idea has been in the works for some time,” said Lynn Brown, Executive Vice President of WPBS-DTV, Watertown. “We have longtime experience with Don Meissner and know the audience he commands. This new series will combine the best of everything: our beautiful North Country outdoors, a seasoned veteran at the helm, and a rich and plentiful fish population. We believe ‘Fishing Behind the Lines’ will also build new bridges between our civilian and military communities.” In addition to his FISHCAP responsibilities, Meissner was host of “Rod & Reel Streamside” on WPBS-TV for 18 seasons as well as currently serving as radio host on both Boston and Montreal radio stations. The “Streamside” show is expected to be re-run beginning in January. Meissner believes that with over 200 lakes, rivers and streams in St. Lawrence County alone, anglers of all ability levels will be able to enjoy great fishing destinations and meet wonderful people. “But this series of programs means more than just fishing and celebrating our region,” Meissner added. “ ‘Fishing Behind the Lines’ gets right down to highlighting the most basic forms of human recreation and how people have connected to other people since the beginning of time.” Major funding for national distribution of the series will be provided by the St. Lawrence River Valley Redevelopment Agency (RVRDA) with help from the FISHCAP Partners, including the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, Alcoa Foundation, the Town of Massena, the Corning Foundation, the Town of Brasher, North Country Savings Bank, the City of Ogdensburg, the St. Lawrence County IDA, and the Town of Waddington. Extra support for production and distribution comes from North Country Savings Bank. The series is scheduled to premier in Fall 2012. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

This is the third species of elk that he has taken. On previous hunting trips, he successfully hunted Rocky Mountain and Tule elk. Submitted photo Stanley M. Boots, of Baldwinsville, poses with the Roosevelt elk he shot recently during a hunting trip at Power River in British Columbia. This is the third species of elk that Boots has taken. On previous hunting trips, he successfully hunted Rocky Mountain and Tule elk. This one was a 13-pointer and was about 10 years old. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

<p> The reaction has been mixed. Matteson said some criticized him when he began doing it, noting one of the joys of hunting is getting in touch with nature, along with getting unplugged and getting away from work and all the problems that life brings. Others like his "play-by-play" descriptions of what he's seeing and doing. <span class="video_icon_left_small"><a href="http://blog.syracuse.com/outdoors/2011/10/jefferson_county_man_shares_hi.html">Watch video</a></span> </p> <div id="asset-10193157" class="entry_widget_large entry_widget_right"><span class="adv-photo-large"><img height="241" width="380" src="http://media.syracuse.com/outdoors/photo/10193157-large.jpg" class="adv-photo" alt="2011-10-26-jb-treestand1.JPG" /><span class="photo-data"><span class="byline">John Berry/The Post-Standard</span><span class="caption">Jay Matteson says some of his friends have been critical of his hunt-and-text approach, but others like the play-by-play account of what he’s doing and seeing.</span></span><span class="photo-bottom-left"><!-- IE6 HACK --></span><span class="photo-bottom-right"><!-- IE6 HACK --></span></span></div> <p>Jay M. Matteson’s love for hunting goes way back.</p> <p>“I started going with my dad at a very early age,” he said. “I’ve always had this passion for it. As a young boy, I even used to ask Santa Claus for hunting clothes.”</p> <p>Today, Matteson, 45, of the town of Lorraine in Jefferson County, is still a die-hard deer hunter, taking advantage of both the bow and firearms seasons. Within the past year he’s taken things a step further — sharing his passion with others by making repeated postings on Facebook while he’s in his tree stand.</p> <p>He calls it the “Tree Stand Chronicles” and has a following of more than 500 readers. This past week, in anticipation of this article, he stopped filing hunting-related postings on his personal page and created a special “Tree Stand Chronicles” page.</p> <p>“It all started when I got this Blackberry,” he said. “Last year, it was opening day of bow season. I was up in one of my stands, which is located in a beautiful stand of hemlocks. I hadn’t seen any deer and I was just waiting. So I just thought I should put this on Facebook and share what I’m seeing with my friends, and see what they say.”</p> <p></p> <p>The reaction has been mixed. Matteson said some criticized him when he began doing it, noting one of the joys of hunting is getting in touch with nature, along with getting unplugged and getting away from work and all the problems that life brings.</p> <p>“What the heck are you doing texting?” wrote one friend on his page. “You’re going to miss seeing a deer.”</p> <p>Matteson, who is chief executive officer for the Jefferson County Agricultural Development Corp., sees things differently. In addition to posting comments, he also occasionally posts pictures of what he’s seeing.</p> <p>“There’s an awful lot of people out there that just don’t get the experience or never see the sights that us hunters have sitting out there in a tree stand,” he said. “I had one friend say my Facebook postings were great — kind of like the play-by-play action of deer hunting.”</p> <p>Matteson conceded that with his Blackberry turned on, he gets calls and emails from work while he’s in his tree stand. He said he screens them and refuses to answer.</p> <p>“That’s where I draw the line,” he said.</p> <p>An example from last weekend’s postings:</p> <p>“wow! had to stop my story for two does that just came crashing through! they were to my left running full throttle! waiting for what I hope is a buck chasing them!”</p> <p>No buck appeared, but Matteson took a picture of where the does emerged, posted that and wrote:</p> <p>“looking left from my tree stand. the two does came out of the woods here and ran straight underneath my stand.”</p> <p>He filed again when wind rocked the pine tree that his tree stand was in:</p> <p>“unfortunately this tree stand I’m in is on a young pine tree. even though its a sunny afternoon a breeze has come up and is making a racket in the aspen in front of me. I was hoping for a quiet afternoon. the tree bounces pretty good and I don’t like heights to begin with!”</p> <p>Earlier this season, he wrote about how he went out early to hunt and in the darkness came across a growling, snarling animal in the woods that he believed was a mountain lion.</p> <p>“It could have been a black bear. I couldn’t see it,” he said. “All I know is that it was big and not very friendly.”</p> <p>Matteson doesn’t profess to be an expert.</p> <p>“Sometimes when I’m up there I post statements and have conversations with others about such thing as whether putting out doe estrus urine or rattling antlers works,” he said. “I’ve taken a few nice bucks, shot a few deer. But I’m no trophy hunter.”</p> <p>Last year’s highlight, he said, was how he posted from start to finish his sighting, shooting and later finding a five-point buck he took with his bow.</p> <p>Matteson said he attended Unity College in Maine and his degree was in wildlife biology.</p> <p>“I’m a Cub Scout leader. In my previous job, I worked for the Soil and Water Conservation District and did a lot of conservation programming,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to share my experiences, my love for nature. I just never dreamed I’d be doing it by texting from a tree stand.”</p> <p>He said he’s thought about anti-hunting types possibly joining his new Facebook page and blasting him for what he’s doing.</p> <p>“I figure I’m going to get some wackos. I’ll take that risk,” he said. “I can block them off the page if necessary.”</p> <p>One follower, a woman he knew from high school and who he befriended recently on Facebook, wrote appreciatively after reading his tree-stand postings.</p> <p>“My dad lived for hunting and fishing, so reading your chronicles makes him feel a little closer, even though he’s been gone for 17 years now,” she said. “People sometimes make a difference in someone’s lives without even realizing it.”</p> <p><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/TreeStandChronicles">Check out his Facebook page.</a></p> <p> </p> <br /><br />View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He recently created a Facebook page, "Tree Stand Chronicles," on which he frequently posts when he's hunting deer perched in one of his two deer stands. Watch video Jay Matteson loves the outdoors -- and to tell other people about it. He recently created a Facebook page, "Tree Stand Chronicles," on which he frequently posts when he's hunting deer perched in one of his two deer stands. For more on Matteson, see Friday's Outdoors page in The Post-Standard. Check out his Facebook page. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Salmon River was up at midweek and that resulted in a fresh run of chinook salmon, followed by steelhead. Fishing remains great. CNY FISHING FORECAST Bait stores (list and map). LAKE ONTARIO Still a good time to troll for rainbows and steelhead, using floating egg sacks at the mouths of tributaries for steelhead. SALMON RIVER River was up at midweek and that resulted in a fresh run of chinook salmon, followed by steelhead. Fishing remains great. OSWEGO RIVER There are still good numbers of salmon throughout the river. Estaz eggs, egg sacs, woolly buggers and crazy eggs are all working. Brown trout and steelhead are also being taken along with the salmon. ONEIDA LAKE The nighttime shore-casting bite for walleyes is in full swing. Casting from shore after dark with stickbaits in black and silver and blue and silver usually works. It may pay to use smaller baits as young-of-the-year gizzard shad are numerous and smaller than usual (about 2½ to 3 inches). Perch bite continues to be good, as anglers have been catching fish off shore, off docks and in boats. CAYUGA LAKE The boat launch at Allen Treman State Park has been closed for the season in an effort to help prevent the spread of hydrilla, an invasive aquatic plant. Atlantic salmon and lake trout are being taken down 50 to 70 feet over 120 to 150 feet of water on flashers and flies or spoons. Yellow perch fishing has picked up around Union Springs with perch hitting small minnows. SENECA LAKE Yellow perch fishing has been very good in 25 feet of water throughout the lake. Small minnows or a bright-colored bucktail jig tipped with worm has been working. Lake trout are being taken on spoons and flashers and flies fished down 90 feet. Salmon are being taken 40 feet down on flies and flashers. Anglers fishing large minnows under bobbers or casting large crankbaits are catching some northern pike around the lake. Scuba divers have been seeing a lot of big smallmouth bass in 75 to 80 feet of water. OWASCO LAKE Few anglers have been out, so no new fishing activity to report this week. OTISCO LAKE Largemouth bass are hitting in and around the weed beds on the north end of the lake. A few tiger muskie are being taken on swimbaits and spinnerbaits by anglers casting near shore. SKANEATELES LAKE Smallmouth bass and rock bass continue to hit along the shore for anglers fishing with tube baits, super flukes, drop-shot rigs, Senko worms and crayfish. Yellow perch are being taken on small minnows or crayfish. SODUS BAY Perch fishing has picked up with fish being taken throughout the bay. Larger perch are coming from the deeper water, 20 to 30 feet, around the Islands. ST. LAWRENCE RIVER Muskie fishing has picked up lately. No other reports 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

Four generations of Northup/Northrup family gathered at the family Winteridge Farm for the annual deer hunt. Submitted photo, Ryan Northup, of Illion, poses with his first whitetail buck, taken on the Tug Hill, near Lowville. It was the final day of black powder season in the Northern Zone and the boy shot the deer with a Remington Model 7.. Four generations of Northup/Northrup family gathered at the family Winteridge Farm for the annual deer hunt. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The gator was probably someone's pet that was released in the creek. WILSON, N.Y. (AP) — When Ken Champion's friend sent him a picture of an alligator in a creek near his western New York home, he had to check it out for himself. After poking around the wooded banks of the creek in the Niagara County town of Wilson for several hours on Sunday, Champion found the elusive gator. But he had nothing with him to corral the 2- to 3-foot-long reptile. Champion tells YNN cable television news in Buffalo that his cousin eventually showed up with a net and they managed to tape the gator's mouth shut. Champion says he believes the gator was someone's pet that was released in the creek. He says he'll turn the alligator over to the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Click here to read more and see a video of the critter on the buffalo.ynn.com Web site. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

On his first hunting trip earlier this month, he fired one shot and bagged one deer. The buck died instantly. The following is from the Field and Stream Field Notes Blog: "Justin Ristine, 11, might be the best one-armed hunter around. If ability is judged by percentage of shots fired compared to deer taken, he's as good a hunter as there is, one arm or two. On his first hunting trip earlier this month, he fired one shot and bagged one deer. The buck died instantly. The Marysville boy was born with only one arm, his left." Read the full story and see picture on heraldnet.com. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He caught the fish on 8-pound test line. Submitted photo Tom Adessa, of Auburn, holds up a nice chinook salmon he caught last week on a Lake Ontario tributary in Wayne County on private land. He wrote" Got him last Thursday after the big storm came through. The streams came up and the fish piled in. (I caught him on) a "sucker spawn" fly I tied myself. On 8 lb test no less, #8 hook, which is all I ever use." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

He caught the 33-pound fish 3 miles north of the Salmon River. Submitted photo Jake Thurnau, 14, holds the 33-pound, chinook salmon that he caught 3 miles north of the Salmon River on Lake Ontario. Pictured with Jake is his proud father, Carl. Joe Hammond, of Pulaski, was also on the boat. He wrote me: "The two were visiting from Burnt Hills, New York in mid-September. They were fishing on a charter boat, "Good Times" Sport Fishing owned by Chaptain George Haskings. "The fishing Mate was Charter Captain Nick Licknee and observed by Charter Captain Nate Hammond. "What a wonderful experience! I have never seen a fish this large caught in person." View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

The tournament format is catch and release, but to qualify your fish for the prizes, you must pick up and submit at least one bag of garbage collected on the tributary the entrant or team has fished. The following is a press release from the Lake Ontario Tributary Anglers Council: Anglers can take an active role in cleaning up the banks of the Salmon River in the second annual “Catch and Clean” tournament sponsored by the Lake Ontario Tributary Anglers Council (LOTAC) Saturday, Nov. 5. The tournament will be headquartered at Fox Hollow Lodge at 2740 NYS Route 13, Altmar, again this year. Registration is from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 4 and at 4 a.m. Nov. 5 at Fox Hollow. The entry fee is $15 for LOTAC members and $25 for non-members. “The tournament format is catch and release, but to qualify your fish for the prizes, you must pick up and submit at least one bag of garbage collected on the tributary the entrant or team has fished,” said Jim Kirtland, LOTAC president. “The majority of entrants will fish the Salmon River but they are allowed to fish other nearby tributaries.” Anglers must have a photo taken of their fish with the tournament flyer to verify that the fish was caught the day of the tournament. Prizes include a 50/50 cash payback to winners, with prizes awarded for the largest trout, most trout over legal limit, and LOTAC Pride award to the entrant that collects the most trash. Garbage will collected at the fishing access parking lot on county Route 2A near the Oswego County solid waste transfer station. “Pictures taken by the entrants will determine the awards for the fish,” explained Kirtland. “The LOTAC pride award will be determined by the amount of garbage delivered to the drop-off site. The site will be manned by a director who will check off the participants.” Fishing ends at 4 p.m. with awards, raffles and dinner to follow. More than $3,000 worth of merchandise and services will be raffled, including center-pin, spey, fly and spinning tackle and other gear, guided drift boat trips, and overnight lodging. Dinner will be available at Fox Hollow Lodge for $6 per person. LOTAC was formed four years ago by a group of anglers intent on encouraging conservation and ethical fishing on the Lake Ontario tributaries. Members have been very involved in conservation and environmental projects since the group’s founding. Over the past year LOTAC obtained their non-profit status from the IRS, held a river cleanup last spring, and planted more than 6,000 trees along the Salmon River to help prevent erosion. In September the group held a fly-tying and casting clinic at the Salmon River Fish Hatchery open house and helped to stock 77,000 Atlantic salmon fingerlings. For more information visit the anglers council Web site e-mail [email protected], or call 607-239-7861. Current Oswego County fishing conditions and visitor information can be found at the Oswego Tourism Web site or by calling 800-248-4FUN. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

It was a seven-pointer. John Bergman, of Lafayette, shot this 7-point buck with his Diamond Bow recently in the Town of Lafayette. Nice deer, John. Congratulations. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

I'm writing this week about a deer hunter who can't seem to leave his smart phone at home, and an 84-year-old fly tier who every Wednesday travels up to Fort Drum to work with "wounded warriors." Here's what's on tap for this week on the Outdoors pages of The Post-Standard: Friday: Main piece: Story on a deer hunter who can't leave is smart phone alone. Last year he created a Facebook page and began making numerous and funny entries whenever he was out in his deerstand. He calls it "The Deer Stand Chronicles." Followers respond to his postings while he's up there in his tree stand.. Column: So, what's happened to the mandatory Habitat/Access stamp program? I know I didn't ask to buy one when I recently bought my new set of licenses for 2011-2012? Sunday: Main piece: Profile on an 84-year-old Oswego resident/SUNY Oswego administrator who has written a book on fly fishing and tying and currrently travels every Wednesday up to Fort Drum to work with "wounded warriors." We tag along with him on one of his visits. Column: Open to suggestions. What would you like to see me write about this year in your specific interest area? THANKS: to the reader of this report who suggested I run a story about the 19-year-old drift boat guide on the Salmon River. COMING: - A story about just how the DEC determines how many antlerless deer (doe permits) are issued each year in specific areas. If you want to join The Post-Standard's Outdoors Group and get this emailed directly to you, subscribe here. If you want to respond to me directly about what's in the following report, email me at [email protected] or call 470-6066. 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

Through the fall and early winter of 2009, the DEC hosted 20 meetings across the state seeking input from more than 1,000 people who attended. Input was also collected by mail and via electronic forms posted on the DEC Web site. Additional surveys were taken of New York hunters and specific hunter groups. Nick Lisi/The Post-StandardxxxxxxThe state Department of Environmental Conservation announced this past week that it has a adopted a new, five-year white-tailed deer management plan for the state. DEC Commissioner Joseph Martens said the plan provides “strategic direction for out staff over the next five years and will help us focus our efforts where we can best meet the biological and social demands associated with deer. This plan emphasizes the importance of hunting for deer management, and we are particularly excited to create new opportunities for young deer hunters. “We are also cognizant of the significant ecological impacts associated with deer, and we are eager to more fully bring out knowledge of these impacts into the population management process.” Through the fall and early winter of 2009, the DEC hosted 20 meetings across the state seeking input from more than 1,000 people who attended. Input was also collected by mail and via electronic forms that were available on the DEC Web site. Additional surveys were taken of New York hunters and specific hunter groups and on several issues such as use of crossbows, altering buck and doe take restrictions, changes to hunting seasons. “The survey was designed to elicit hunter opinions about potential regulation changes in light of possible trade-offs and effects associated with each change,” the report said. A draft plan was released this past June, followed by 45 days of public comment. The DEC reviewed comments on that plan, along with survey results, and made several changes before releasing last week’s plan. Among the changes, the DEC announced it will adopt a 5-year cycle for evaluating its deer population objectives. Previously, in general it did so every 10 years. To view a complete version of the DEC’s 57-page deer management plan, see the DEC's Web siteWhile many of the strategies outlined in the plan will take several years to develop, the DEC intends “to begin rule-making to implement a number of hunting-related aspects prior to the 2012-2013 hunting seasons.” Among them: - Establishing a youth deer hunt. The DEC wants to do this, according to the plan, but the details must still be worked out. The original draft of the plan placed the hunt for ages “15 and younger” during the three-day Columbus Day weekend, which would have put it during the early part of the bowhunting season. That was scrapped following complaints by bowhunters and others. - Starting the Southern Zone bow season Oct. 1.The change would enhance the state’s bow hunting by moving the season opener up 15 days, increasing its total length from roughly a month, to a month and a half. This change follows the lowering this fall of the minimum age for bow hunting for deer from 14 to 12. - Expanding mandatory antler restrictions into seven wildlife management units in Southeastern New York. A new law this summer established mandatory antler restrictions in the portion of Wildlife Management Unit 3A, which lies south and west of state Route 28 in Delaware, Sullivan and Ulster counties and includes portions of the towns of Andes and Middletown. The law prohibits hunters from taking any antlered deer except those that have at least one antler with at least three points. The law applies to all public and private lands and all deer hunting seasons, but hunters younger than 17 may take any antlered deer with at least one antler measuring three or more inches. The DEC’s new deer management plan could expand those regulations into seven more wildlife management units in adjacent lands. (No such regulations are mentioned in the report for anywhere in Central New York.) A common misunderstanding is that the DEC controls all things related to deer. That’s not true. The DEC is granted authority by state law to establish rules and regulations for most, but not all aspects of deer hunting and deer management. The following are among hunting practices/rule changes that require laws passed by the state Legislature and signed by the governor to take place. Each item includes the DEC’s stance as reflected in the deer management plan. A uniform minimum age of 12 for all the state’s hunters: Currently, the minimum age for small game and bowhunters in this state is 12. The minimum age to hunt big game (deer/bear) with a firearm is 14. The DEC “strongly recommends that the minimum age for youth to hunt with a firearm be set to a uniform age of 12 years for all game species, including big game.” Expanded use of crossbows The current crossbow law, which allows use of crossbows in the regular firearms and late muzzleloading season, but not during the regular bowhunting season, “does not address deer management needs, nor is it consistent with hunter preferences.” The DEC supports, “use of crossbows during any hunting season in which other hunting equipment is allowed and recommends that eligibility to hunt with a crossbow be the same as eligibility to hunt with a vertical bow.” Reduce the setback distance for discharge of vertical bows and crossbows to 150 feet. Currently, all firearms, vertical bows (long bows, recurve bows and crossbows) may not discharged within 500 feet of certain structures without obtaining permission of specific property owners. A circle with a 500 foot radius encompasses land about 18 acres in size and “in many parts of the state, significant bowhunting opportunities exist on parcels of land this size and smaller — particularly areas where rural and suburban land interface, or in individual communities which have expressed an interest in the use of archery as a tool to controlling deer numbers. The DEC supports reducing the setback distance for bowhunting equipment from 500 to 150 feet. Enhanced law enforcement and increased penalties for deer hunting violations The current penalties for violating the state’s Fish and Wildlife Law have been in place since 1996 “and no longer serve as sufficient deterrents, “ according to the DEC. The deer management plan calls for changes to the penalties for violations, noting “without a penalty increase, some persons will continue to decide that hunting without the appropriate license is more economical than purchasing a license, even if they are caught and fined.” Currently, the maximum penalty for a violation of most deer hunting laws is a $250 fine and/or 15 days in jail. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog

Eight female hunters participated, aided by four dog handlers with their hunting dogs. Submitted photo The CNY Chapter of Pheasants Forever put on its annual ladies pheasant hunt Oct. 15 at Echo-wood Dog Training Center in Mexico, owned by Carol and Ernie Lantigne. Eight female hunters participated, aided by four dog handlers with their hunting dogs. Four of the group were first-time hunters and four had hunted pheasants before. Three were SUNY ESF students who were among the first timers. Carmen J. Davoli, of Fayetteville, who is president of the local chapter, said prior to the hunt, “we went through a pretty thorough discussion of all the safety precautions and the regulations. We had dogs, we had first-time hunters – we had to take all the precautions.” Davoli said the chapter’s members put out about 30 birds beforehand. “We had quite a few misses, but we did bring home a few birds,” he said. Following the hunting outing, the women were treated to a cookout. View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog