Syracuse.com - Outdoors writer reveals 'Outdoors Bucket List' for 2014

[HuntingNY-News]

What's on your outdoors bucket list for 2014? Send your "must do" items to [email protected].

For the past several years, I've given readers a glimpse into my personal outdoor aspirations for the coming year. Here's my "Outdoors Bucket List" for 2014:

1). I'm a work in progress on the ice fishing scene. I have several ice-fishing poles, a portable shanty and a small propane heater. I'd like to purchase some tip-ups and catch my first tiger muskie through the ice on Otisco Lake.

2). I want to participate in building an igloo, and then spend the night in it.

Here I am starting a biathlon in which I finished dead last, primarily because I couldn't shoot straight. I know I can do better.Courtesy of Rita Jardin 

3). Participate in this winter's ice golf tournament on Lake Como. (I'm signed up.)

4). I'd like to improve upon my last place finish last year in a local biathlon.

5). I'd like to participate in a winter orienteering event. I've seen them take place at Bear Swamp, where I often cross country ski, and I think it would be cool to do.

6).I don't own one, but I'd like to ride in a snowmobile and participate in a "poker run."

7). I recently bought a used, compound bow. It needs some modifications. Once that's done, and I'd like to get proficient in using it and go bowhunting for deer next fall.

. I'd like to get back into fly tying . I took a lesson years ago and have all the stuff. I would like to tie all my flies for the coming fishing season, instead of buying them like I usually do.

9). Several years ago, a friend gave me a blank for a fly rod. It's sitting in my basement. I'd like to learn how to make a useable rod with it.

Here I am trying my luck on Nine Mile Creek.Stephen D. Cannerelli [email protected] 

10). I'd like to catch some suckers spawning this spring on a nearby Finger Lakes tributary and afterward try my hand at making sucker fish cakes.

11). I'd like to be a co-angler in a bass fishing tournament. I've written about these competitions many times, but I've never actually participated in one.

12). I'd like to try my hand at starting a fire from scratch using only what I can find in the woods. I've seen it done on such TV shows as "Survivor Man" and I want to have that skill.

13). I'd like to go out on a relatively windy day on Oneida Lake on a Hobie Cat with a member of Hobie Cat sailing Fleet 204 -- and feel the rush.

14). One of my childhood passions was to look for fossils. I'd like to go out with someone who really knows their stuff about fossils and find a few in Central New York.

15). I'd like to go out on a mushroom hunting outing with members of the CNY Mycological Society and come back with a paper bag full of tasty mushrooms.

16). One of my childhood passions was to look for fossils. I'd like to go out with someone who really knows their stuff about fossils and find a few.

17). I'd like to call in a wild turkey myself, and harvest one in both the spring and fall seasons.

Pheasants are pretty birds. Here I'm shown holding one at the pheasant rearing facility at the Jamesville Correctional Facility. I'd really like to go hunting for some this fall.Ellen Blalock | [email protected] 

18). I'd like to hunt pheasants in the fall with the assistance of a good hunting dog. I've only done that only once and I really enjoyed it.

19). I'd like to limit out on walleye while fishing from shore during the fall on either Oneida or Otisco lakes during the fall. I keep writing about that, but never seem to make the time to do it.

20). I'd like to shoot, then process a deer myself.

What's on your outdoors bucket list for 2014? Send your "must do" items to [email protected].

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog