Syracuse.com - Figura looks at SUNY ESF students at Carpenter's Brook fish hatchery, the mild winter's effects on wildlife (Feb. 10, 12)

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Have an interesting outdoors story to suggest? Call Outdoors Editor David Figura at 470-6066, or email him at [email protected]. He's looking this week for winter predator (coyote) hunters and those who are getting out in boats to fish for perch and those who fish offshore on Cayuga Lake at the power plant in Lansing.

Michelle Gabel/The Post-StandardSUNY ESF students are playing a crucial part in keeping the Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery open. Environmental resources engineering freshman Ross Mazur, of Princeton, NJ, is shown in the center placing a wooden support on the net covering a pond full of brown trout. At left is Matt Leong, an environmental science freshman from Brooklyn, middle left is environmental science freshman Alexia Zambalas, of France, at far right is Travis Stanek, Carpenter's Brook operations supervisor. Here's the line-up for this week's Outdoors pages in The Post-Standard.

FRIDAY

Main Piece: I look at how SUNY ESF students, thanks to a three-year-old partnership with the college and Onondaga County, are a crucial part in keeping the Carpenter's Brook Fish Hatchery open.

Column: A story about a woman who's befriended a couple of wild beavers and is able to get within 5 feet of them without them flinching or acting aggressive; a woman who wonders why there's very few crows coming to her bird feeder (she puts out leftovers, and dog food), ...and this year's CNY Sportsman of the Year, which was announced at last weekend's outdoors show in Oneida.

SUNDAY:

Main Piece: OK, the ice fishing, cross country skiing and snowmobiling scenes are taking it on the chin due to the unseasonably warm and somewhat snowless winter so far. Enough on the humans. What about the wildlife? What about the deer, the fur bearers (skunks, beavers, etc.), the fish, the insects, the reptiles and the amphibians -- and even the insects? We talk to local wildlife experts about what to expect this spring.

Column: We talk to a local insurance guy who goes up to the Salmon River at least two days every week and continues to reel in steelhead after steelhead... also about how he's making efforts to pass on his passion to a young companion. Plus, it's time to sign up for the Women in Nature program, and two local organizations are supplying a bus for those outdoors enthusiasts interested in lobbying state lawmakers next month on sportsmen's issues.

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.

Folks I'm looking to connect with for future stories:

- Those who hunt coyotes during the winter months

- Anyone who's getting out in boats and fishing for perch, either on Oneida or any of the Finger Lakes.

- Those who fish offshore on the eastern show of Cayuga Lake at the power plant in Lansing.

- Those who fish "behind the hotels" on the Oswego River.

- Anyone who in addition to tying flies, is making their own fly casting rod(s) this winter. (Frankly, I have a fly rod blank and want to learn how to master this art myself.)

- Individuals with outdoor passions who would make an interesting feature story.

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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