Syracuse.com - Figura seeing state fair through an outdoorsman's eyes, wondering if fall is coming early this year

[HuntingNY-News]

Follow outdoors writer David Figura on Facebook on PS Outdoors.

This summer is just flying by. Can't believe the state fair starts Thursday.

Stories I'm working on this week

- We visit the state fair with the eye of an outdoorsman. I'm writing about the DEC's aquarium building with the five fish tanks full of local wild fish, along with other things the DEC is showing this year at the fair.

- Is fall coming early this year? I've seen Canada geese migrating overhead, heard reports of salmon already in the Oswego and Salmon rivers. I've heard the water temperature of Lake Ontario is cooling earlier than usual this summer. What's everyone else think about this? Are you seeing any signs out there? Call me at 470-6066 or email me at [email protected].

- A look at how the SAFE Act and other factors have contributed to increased memberships in local rod and gun clubs.

- An update on the algae bloom situation on the lake. What caused it to be so bad this year, and what's been the impact on fishing?

- Getting in shape for hunting. Now's the time to start.

Other stuff:

- The law of the lake. There's a wide variety of law enforcement agencies represented on Oneida Lake -- with Onondaga County having the biggest presence, even though the lake is not in the county. What's with that?

- Followup to the "urban deer" problem in Syracuse and the surrounding communities.

- The squirrel hunting season kicks off Sept 1. Hoping to write a Squirrel Hunting 101 type story. Anybody out there a veteran squirrel hunter who'd like to help a bigger get started. Call me at 470-6066 or email [email protected].

- The CNY triathlon culture. 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 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!

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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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