Syracuse.com - Figura writing about CNY bow hunters getting ready and the latest on the wild boar war (Sept. 14, 16)

[HuntingNY-News]

Have an impresssive/funny trail camera photo you'd like to share? Send it [email protected] and include your daytime phone number.

U.S.D.A. photoA mother (sow) Russian wild boar and its piglets. This photo was taken earlier this year with a trail camera on a farm in Spafford

As I said last week -- tis the season. As we get further into the fall, expect to see more hunting-related stories and pictures on this blog and on my outdoor pages in The Post-Standard.

For those who grimace at that, the numbers speak for themselves. This area has more hunting and fishing licences per capita than any other area in the state. A few years back, Bass Pro Shops officials said that was a major criteria in their decision to build their only store in New York State at the Fingerlakes Mall in Auburn.

Here's what's on tap for this week for outdoors coverage in The Post-Standard:

FRIDAY: Throughout Central New York, bowhunters are scouting their favorite hunting sites, checking their trail cameras, putting up treestands -- and practicing by shooting arrows. The bowhunting season for deer starts two weeks early this year on Oct. 1.

Column: An update on the Salmon River's annual fall salmon run. Two interesting events this weekend at the state Fairgrounds: The annual ski/snowboard show and a gun show.

SUNDAY: What's the update on the battle to stem the growth of wild Russian boar that escaped from a private hunting preserve near Scott, near the southern end of Skaneateles Lake. The U.S.D.A. has been baiting and trapping these bad boys (which often get up to more than 400 pounds) this summer. We talk to one Spafford farmer who let the U.S.D.A. officials on his property and they trapped/shot 32 pigs on this property summer.

Column: One of the largest sales of privately owned forest land in the Tughill went down this summer.. with one timber company paying another some $12.4 million for more than 22,000 acres stretching into four counties. What's up with that, and what does that mean for outdoors enthusiasts (hunters, hikers, etc..) who in the past have been using that property to pursue their interests.

In coming weeks, I'd like to write about the following outdoors activities. If you know someone who does these activities, contact me ASAP:

-- Hunting Canada goose from coffin blinds in a cornfield

-- Crow hunting

-- Fall turkey hunting with the assistance of dogs

-- Some who goes to the extreme to eliminate all scents from their body and clothes when they go bow hunting for deer.

-- Someone who successfully hunts with a traditional long bow for deer.

-- I'm also looking for impressive/humorous trail camera photos from readers. Send them to [email protected] and include your daytime phone number.

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..

FIGURA ON FACEBOOK:

For those who are on Facebook, I also have a PS Outdoors page, 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