Syracuse.com - Figura writing about surge in memberships at local rod and gun clubs; CNY fishing hot spots

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What a scorcher it's been this week. I'm sure it's had all sorts of impacts on the outdoors scene.

If you're out, don't forget the sunscreen! It may sound like a little thing now, but it could end up being a big thing later on.

Here's what I've been working on this week:

- How the SAFE Act has resulted in a surge at local rod and gun and other shooting clubs.

- Willow Bay -- a CNY shoreline fishing hot spot.

- The three ponds at the north end of the village of Homer (Casterline Pond and Durkee Park), another shoreline hot spot.

- The DEC boot camp for new environmental conservation officers and forest rangers.

- The Bordwells, of Tully - and how the kids and the father are making their marks on the competitive archery scenes.

- An upcoming water chestnut pull on Oneida Lake.

Other stuff I'm working on:

- Panfish lesson: How do tell a sunny, from a bluegill, from a pumpkinseed?

- The increase in program offerings this summer in the local Women in Nature Program.

- 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],

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.

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View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog