Syracuse.com - Figura looking for readers' help with weekly outdoors stories (Nov. 4, 6)

[HuntingNY-News]

I must admit things are in flux and I’m going to need some help from readers on a couple of things.

Laura Downs photoNo, I'm not writing about kayaking this week, but is there an angle I'm missing on what's going on this time of year? I'd like to hear from readers.

Here’s my report of what I plan at this point to write about in The Post-Standard for this week’s Outdoors pages on Friday and Sunday. I must admit things are in flux and I’m going to need some help from readers on a couple of things.

FRIDAY:

- Main piece: I travel up to the Salmon River again and do a piece on the Oneida Indian Nation’s Salmon Acres Lodge, which is a privately owned stretch along the river. The lodge’s guests have seen an excellent run of salmon and now the steelhead are going through. What’s it take to fish this stretch? It appears to be open to the public (at a price). Have celebrities fished it as of late? We find out.

- Column: Touch briefly on several topics, including such things as a followup to last Sunday’s piece on the Project Healing Waters story, which ruffled a few feathers. I also hope to have an update on either the St. Lawrence River boundary controversy I wrote extensively this past summer, or on the emerald ash borer traps that were put in place earlier this year throughout CNY..

SUNDAY

- Main piece: Trespassing 101. It’s the time of year when landowners and hunters alike are asking...just what is the story when it comes to posting property and whether an individual is trespassing or not? Anyone know any property owners with horror stories concerning this issue and who would be willing to talk to me and have their picture taken? Please contact me ASAP at 470-6066, or email me at [email protected].

-Column: Possibly a follow to last weekend’s column on the Habitat/Access stamp, or some other issue..

WANTED:

I’m looking for a couple of other things, and I need reader input to make these stories happen:

- Outdoors-related (hunting, fishing, hiking, kayaking, etc.) tattoos.

- Hunting camp stories or memories (submitted pictures would help). Limit your stories to 300 words.

- I'd like to do a wrapup or column about young bow hunters who took to the fields and woods this year for the first time. (ages 12-13)...Haven't heard any reports of seen any pictures yet. Are any of these kids getting deer out there? I'd like to hear.

- I'd like to also hear from waterfowl hunters.(I've gotten feedback that I should do a story on this.) Anyone willing to take me out? I just bought my duck stamp.

COMING:

- A story that de-mystifies the process by which the DEC determines each year how many antler-less deer (doe tags) are issue for a particular area.

- Raccoon hunting

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.Last week's story on Bob Rock, the 85-year-old fly tier, resulted from a reader's tip. Bottom line: Keep in touch and give input. You could make a difference as to what appears week to week on the outdoors page!

If you want to respond to me directly about what's in the following report, 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. To respond, simply hit reply after reading the email.

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