Syracuse.com - Figura writing about wildlife photo contest and how fathers influenced their children's love for outdoors

[HuntingNY-News]

Have you accepted The Figura Challenge? I'm looking forward to hearing from readers who have. Send your comments and pictures to [email protected].

It's that time of year.

Yes, bass season opens this Saturday. It's also a time each year when we pay homage to our fathers (Sunday is Father's Day) and enjoy the submissions from readers for the annual wildlife photograph contest.

I'm a bit of a sentimentalist. I have to admit, reading some of the submissions from readers about how their fathers influenced their love for the outdoors brought a tear to my eye in more than one case.

And what can I say about the wildlife photography contest? It's so cool to see readers capture on film the wonders of Mother Nature.

Here's what's on my platter this week and next:

- The Wildlife photography contest and the story summing up from readers how their fathers influenced their love for the outdoors.

- This year's bass season is special for those fishing on the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario.. This year, the Canadian and New York bass season start on the same day. In year's past, the Canadian season always started a week later.

- ECO/forest ranger boot camp... actually, it's a training class for new environmental conservation officers and forest rangers. It's taking place right now up in Pulaski and its the first class of new officers since 2008.

Also coming up

- The marked increase of memberships at local rod and gun clubs in the wake of the SAFE Act.

- A Cicero man who's dedicated to improving the population of purple martins in Central New York.

- A story on the :master set" of 4,938 downloadable bird sounds released by Cornell.

- A story on the unique emergency room at the Cornell vet school were wild and domestic animals are given special treatment.

I laid out the "The Figura Challenge" over the Memorial Day weekend -- challenging readers to to check out 15 Central New York outdoors destinations during the summer. Several readers have already taken me up on it and I'm getting comments and pictures. It's not too late to get started!

Each Thursday on this blog through the summer, I'll give an update on reactions, stories and photos submitted by readers about their travels to these destinations.

Send your impressions and photos of the places you visit on the list to [email protected],

Two new occasional features:

1). "Keeping Watch" a weekly or bi-weekly report from the Region 7 DEC office noting the fional dispositions of recent tickets issued by local conservation officers. Only ones where the defendant has pleaded guilty or is found guilty will be listed.

2). "Ask the Outdoors Guy" a weekly posting noting a question or questions from readers about the outdoors. If I can't provide an answer, I'll find someone who will. Send your questions to d[email protected].

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