Syracuse.com - Outdoors Editor David Figura's weekly report on upcoming stories (Oct. 7, 9)

[HuntingNY-News]

I outline what I'm working on for this Friday and Sunday's papers and sources I'm seeking. I also ask: "What else should I be working on this time of year?"

Stephen Cannerelli/The Post-StandardFrankly, from time to time I don't what I'm stepping into and depend on readers of this report to help me get my balance on unfamiliar topics.Ever wonder how I get the wide variety of story and column ideas for my Outdoors page in The Post-Standard each week?

The main contributors are readers who are members of The Post-Standards Outdoors Group, with nearly 900 members. It’s a group of outdoors enthusiasts who vary in interests from birdering to bear hunting. Each week I send out an email that lists what I’m working on for Friday’s and Sunday’s paper, along with periodic requests for sources in those areas. I also ask group members each time: “What else should I be working on?” (Believe me, I've changed course more than once based on feedback I get.)

Sometimes on the report I’ll float possible topics, or ask questions on issues I know little about, or sources I need to reach (such as “Does anyone know anyone know anyone who hunts deer with a handgun?” or “Is there anyone out there who plans to take their 12-year-old daughter out for opening day of bow season?” or “Has anyone fished the Oswego River lately? What gives with the new safety restrictions?”

I cited those three questions because all three recently resulted in stories that members of the readers group suggested I do — and I did.

Beginning this week, I’ll be putting my weekly report on Syracuse.com. Those who are members of the reader’s group will continue to get this report emailed to them as usual, though in a different format from what they’re use to.

For those who are seeing this for the first time, there is no obligation to respond. If you want to join The Post-Standard's Outdoors Group and get this emailed directly to you, subscribe here.If you want to respond to me directly about what's in the following report, email me at [email protected] or call 470-6066.

Here’s what’s on tap for this week:

FRIDAY:

Main story: An interview with an 18-year-old drift boat captain on the Salmon River – reportedly the youngest guide out there.

Column: Update on the youth pheasant hunt weekend scene (which in many ares of our coverage area is set for this weekend); and a wrapup of last week’s f5-day, World Carp Fishing championhipship on the St. Lawrence River— an event at which 24 teams from three Eastern European counties were denied visas and were thus unable to compete in. Something about them being “flight risks.” (By the way, two guys from England won the whole thing.)

SUNDAY:

Main story: An interview with the regional biologist with Ducks Unlimited who answers, among other things: “What has DU done for CNY lately?”

Column: An interview with a 70 year-old hunter who recently traveled to Alaska for 15 days and succeeded in bagging a bear, a caribou and a wild sheep.. “I can now check that off my bucket list,” he said.

Coming:

- A precede to the regular pheasant hunting season, which begins next weekend in most of CNY . Hope to get pictures of pheasants being stocked in local fields.

- A story or column about how the DEC determines how many doe tags are allotted to an area.

- A story or column about how you can determine a deer's age by observing it in the wild

FIGURA ON FACEBOOK:

For those who are on Facebook, I also have a PS Outdoors page there, 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