Syracuse.com - Figura writing about the DEC's ECO/forest ranger boot camp, proposed no-kill section on Nine Mile Creek and wild boars

[HuntingNY-News]

Follow David Figura's daily activities and thoughts on Facebook. Check out "PS Outdoors" and hit "like."

Make no mistake. Despite the constant rain, summer is indeed here. I was walking my dog after dark last night along the Charle Major Nature Trail along Skaneateles Creek and the fireflies were out in full force.

I love when that happens. It's a sure sign of summer.

Meanwhile, here's what I've been working on this week:

- The 10th in a series of CNY shoreline fishing hot spots. I profiled the Baldwinsville bridge, which attracts a crowd almost daily.. and will get packed as the summer progresses. (I have a few others in mind, but I want to hear from readers on this. Send your suggestions to [email protected])

- The DEC's boot camp for new environmental conservation officers and forest rangers at the DEC's training facility in Altmar. I recently spent a morning up there. It's a lot tougher than one might think.

- A new law that's awaiting Gov. Cuomo's signature concerning feral hogs (wild boars). It would make them illegal on private hunting preserves.

In this 2010 photo, Joe Watkins stands next to a wild boar that he shot on Saturday near his home in the Cortland County town of Scott. The boar had one-inch tusks and weighed about 475 pounds. Itâs being held up by a backhoe. 

- A group of gritty, Syracuse area canoeists who had an impressive showing recently while competing in the world's longest competitive canoe race -- a 1,000-mile contest on the Yukon River in Canada/Alaska.

- A new proposed fishing regulation that would establish a no-kill area along a two-mile stretch of Nine Mile Creek, one of the most heaviest stocked and fished streams in all of Central New York.

Other stuff I'm working on:

- The CNY triathlon culture. I was blown away recently covering the Ironman 70.3 Syracuse competition. Triathlons, and the people who do them, are a big thing and more and more people are getting into them.

- An update on the Cornell Ornithology lab and its most recent compilation of recordings of more than 4,000 bird calls from across the world.

- Which fishing rod do you use for bass fishing? The choices today are numerous and ever-growing.

- The Cornell Vet School emergency room, and all the strange cases of domestic and wild animals that it deals with on a daily basis.

- The marked increase of memberships at local rod and gun clubs in the wake of the SAFE Act.. or.. the marked increase of attendance at such things as pistol shooting competitions.

THE FIGURA CHALLENGE

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