By Leo Maloney
Outdoors Columnist

Oneida County Federation Sportsmen and ECOs Team Up For Annual Youth and Women’s Hunts: The Oneida County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) of Region 6 and Gander Mountain are teaming up to give youngsters a great experience during the Youth Turkey Hunting Weekend from April 20-21. There will also be a special hunt for women on May 18 with a rain date of May 19.

Youngsters eligible for the youth hunt and who do not have the opportunity to learn from, or hunt with, a family member or an adult mentor will have the opportunity to go turkey hunting with an ECO or Mentor. Since many youngsters want to learn or participate in turkey hunting but do not have family members who are experienced turkey hunters, the Oneida County Federation and ECOs will provide this opportunity.

Some women may want to learn or participate in turkey hunting but do not have family members or someone who are experienced turkey hunters. The Oneida County Federation and ECOs will also provide them this opportunity on a different date.

During the weekend of April 13, prior to the weekend of the hunt, both youngsters and women will learn from experienced mentors the basics of turkey hunting and practice their marksmanship at a shooting range under the supervision of certified instructors.

The youth turkey hunting weekend will be held the weekend prior to the regular season. Eligible hunters are youths 12-15 years of age, holding a junior hunting license and a turkey permit. Youths 12-13 years of age must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or relative over 21 years of age with written permission from their parent or legal guardian. Youths 14-15 years of age must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or an adult over 18 years of age, with written permission from their parent or legal guardian;

For both the youth hunt and the regular season hunt for women shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until noon each day. The bag limit for the youth weekend is one bearded bird. This bird becomes part of the youth’s regular season bag limit of 2 bearded birds. A second bird may be taken beginning May 1.

Youngsters who are interested in taking advantage of this special opportunity will need to have completed their hunter safety course by that time, have the permission of a parent or guardian and meet the above criteria.

Women who are interested in taking advantage of this opportunity will need to have completed their hunter safety course by that date. Eligible hunters are women 16 years and up, holding a valid small game hunting license and a turkey permit.

Both youth hunters and women must complete an application and submit it to the address below by April 1, 2013 or by email to sfcf@tds.net

Youth Turkey Hunt

C/O Mr. Scott Faulkner

3720 Wells Gifford Rd

Vernon Center, NY 13477

Phone 315-829-3588

Party Recipes: The beginning of March Madness is a good time for friends to gather for games whether you are a big basketball fan, checking on your brackets or just looking for an excuse for a party. What better way to prepare for the Big Game than to use some wild game recipes. Show off your skill in hunting and fishing, along with being a cook and a host, with the following recipes.

Salmon Appetizer: Ingredients: 12 oz. beer, 1 cup flour, 1 tbsp salt, 1 tbsp paprika, skinned salmon fillets cut into chunks.

Preparation: Mix batter ingredients together, dip bite sized chunks in batter and drain. In deep fry pan heat oil to 375 degrees. Fry the chunks five or six at a time, until golden brown. Test to see that they are moist and flake easily. Serve with lemon slices and hot mustard.

Poor Man’s Shrimp: Place skinless perch fillets in a saucepan of water and bring to a rolling boil. Boil for about four minutes. Drain the meat and add cold water to cover the fish. As water warms, change to fresh cold water and place in refrigerator to cool. Drain the pieces of fish and dip in cocktail sauce. A variation called Poor Man’s Lobster is to steam the perch fillets or nuggets in melted butter and serve hot.

Duck Roll-Ups: Ingredients: 4 large duck breast fillets, 1 each red and green bell pepper, 1 large shitake mushroom, 1 sweet onion, lemon pepper mix, wild game marinade.

Preparation: Cut breast fillets lengthwise into ½ inch strips and marinate for at least three hours. Cut bell peppers, mushroom and onion lengthwise into ¼ inch strips. Place strip each of duck fillet, onion, mushroom and each pepper color and bacon together and dust them with lemon pepper mix. Roll them all up with over-lapping wraps of bacon so that entire kabob is covered. Hold bacon in place with toothpicks. Cook over grill at medium heat until bacon is fully cooked (20-25 minutes). Serve as a hot appetizer.

Teriyaki Venison Steak Bites: Ingredients: lean venison steak cut into small bite sized serving pieces. 2 tbsp soy sauce. 1 tbsp lemon juice. 1 tsp. sugar. ¼ tsp powdered ginger. ¼ tsp. cumin.

Directions: Place steak in pie pan. Mix soy sauce, lemon juice, sugar, ginger and cumin and pour over steak. Marinate for 1 hour, turning twice during this period.

Broil the steak about 4 inches from the heat for 3 minutes on a side for half inch thick steak or 5 minutes per side for one inch thick steak. Serve immediately on heated plates with garlic bread or baguettes.

Fish Sticks: Ingredients: 1-2 lb. fillets of firm flakey white flesh fish (bass, walleye, etc.), 1 cup flour, 3 large egg whites beaten, 1 cup finely ground corn meal, vegetable oil for frying.

Cut fillets into long strips. Have three separate bowls for flour, egg whites, and cornmeal. Alternately dip strips into flour, egg whites and corn meal. Set on plate until ready to fry. Heat large sauté pan over medium-high heat, add one quarter inch oil. When oil is hot add fish strips but avoid overcrowding. Cook until golden brown on bottom, about 3 minutes. Turn and cook other side 3 or 4 minutes until opaque. Serve while hot with lemon wedges and tartar or cocktail sauce.

SHORT CASTS

Sportsman Education Class: There will be a Hunter Safety Class at the Vernon Rod and Gun Club, 4313 Route 31 on March 23 and 24. Hunters must preregister at the Eastern Crown Products Building at the Corner of Peterboro and Youngs Road in Vernon. It is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. or Saturdays 8 a.m. until noon.

Steelhead Report: There are lots of steelhead in the Oswego and Salmon Rivers. Action was slow last weekend due to the high water levels and colder water temperatures. Most of the action on the Salmon River has been concentrated on the upper river between Altmar and Pineville. Many anglers were having good success with brightly colored egg sacks.

Rotary Turkey Shoot: Save the date of April 20, 2013 for the Chittenango Rotary Turkey Shoot. It will consist of teams of four shooters competing for team and individual prizes. Sign up your team today or become a sponsor. Email RotaryTurkey2013@gmail.com for details. There will also a wide variety of sales and conservation booths at the event to make it a fun filled and interesting day.

Vernon National Events: VNSP and the Ruffed Grouse Society invite sportsmen to break out of winter with a fun sporting clays shoot & steak dinner. CNY Ruffed Grouse Society presents the American Classic Side by Side Shoot, Saturday, March 23, 2013. For more information, contact Ed Pugliese, 263-6699.

On Sunday, March, 24 will be the NY Bowhunters Benefit Shoo at Footies Stick n String, located inside VNSP. Contact bonny@vernonnational.com or 796-4587 for more information.