Blogs > Oneida Outdoors

An online space for outdoorsmen from CNY and beyond. Tell us about the one you caught or the one that got away.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Enjoy autumn while its here


Are you one of those people who often say, “I hate to see fall come.” It is understandable because we all enjoy the relatively carefree days of summer when you run around in shorts and crocs and have a variety of outdoor activities to choose from.
But autumn provides a great time and opportunities for outdoor activities ranging from the traditional hunting and fishing to more laid back activities. But the important thing is to get out and enjoy the season; the opportunity is too fleeting, like the time of the colorful autumn leaves. Here are a few ideas to help enjoy and appreciate the season.
Fishing is often at a peak. Now is the best time to catch the elusive muskie so if you have always wanted to get this trophy fish, you should book a St. Lawrence River guide and go on a muskie hunt. Walleye fishing is often the season’s best, especially when the walleye cruise in the shallows at dark after baitfish. Take one last trout fishing trip before the season closes and savor the experience throughout the long winter layoff.
Visit the salmon hatchery at Altmar. Even if you are not salmon fishing it is a memorable experience to see these magnificent fish as they ascend the river and tributaries and end up in the hatchery to complete their life cycle.
Visit a pumpkin farm or apple orchard. Bring the kids or grandkids and enjoy the sights and smells as you experience the life cycles of nature and re-connect to our simpler, rural past. Visit a winery and learn of the harvest and wine-making process at
any of the many small estate wineries that are an important part of the New York economy.
Go grouse hunting at least once. Experience the feeling and connection of nature on a wooded hillside. Enjoy the unexpected flush and surprise of a grouse taking off from practically underneath your feet with a booming sound. Don’t be upset if you miss, or don’t even get off a shot. You will appreciate the excitement and thrill that dedicated grouse hunters talk about.
Go leaf-peeping. Check the New York State hotline for peak colors but remember that the northern areas are already experiencing significant change. More vibrant colors are found in the areas north of here such as the hill country around Camden, the Adirondacks or the areas south in the hills around Route 20. This is due to the composition of the soil so drive a little and enjoy a lot.
For at least one day try a different style of deer hunting or hunt a different species. This is hard to do when your time is limited and you are counting on your skills and experience for success. But it helps you get out of a rut and often results in a fresh perspective or insight into your favorite sports or methods.
Take a walk down a country lane or woodland trail that is covered with fallen leaves. Do it slowly and take in all the sounds and smells, as well as the sights of autumn.
Take lots of pictures. Photograph not only panoramas of colorful autumn leaves but with interesting objects in the foreground. Take photos of pumpkins, cornfields, kids at play and waterfalls. This not only records the interesting sights but makes you see autumn in a different light.
Finally flop down on a big pile of leaves and just lay there awhile. Think of all the good times you had this summer. Remember the simple pleasures you had as a kid in fall. Think of all your blessings and all the great things about living is this very special part of the world. 
Be alert for moose in the Adirondacks
Motorists should be alert for moose on roadways in the Adirondacks and surrounding areas at this time of year - a peak of moose activity - warns the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).
Early fall is the breeding season for moose in northern New York. During this time, moose are wandering looking for mates, leading them to areas where they are not typically seen. While this improves the opportunities for people to enjoy sighting of a moose, it also increases the danger of colliding with one on the roadway.
Although most people want to see a moose, they do not want to see one coming through the windshield. With increased activity and moose at this time of year and the number of people venturing to the Adirondacks for autumn leaf-peeping, hunting, fishing, etc., there is increased likelihood of accidents. The shorter days means that increased activity of moose, as well as deer, occurs at the same time as heavy traffic of home-bound motorists.
Moose are much larger and taller than deer. Their large body causes greater damage, and, when struck, their height often causes them to impact the windshield of a car or pickup truck, not just the front of the vehicle. Last year ten moose vehicle accidents were reported in New York. However, there has not been a human fatality from an accident with a moose, a record DEC hopes to maintain.
Moose are most active at dawn and dusk, which are times of poor visibility. Moose are especially difficult to see at night because of their dark brown to black coloring and their height - which puts their head and much of their body above vehicle DEC advises motorists to take the following precautions to prevent moose vehicle collisions: Use extreme caution when driving at dawn or dusk, especially during September and October. Reduce your speed, stay alert, and watch the roadsides.
Slow down when approaching moose standing near the roadside, as they may bolt at the last minute when a car comes closer, often running into the road. Moose may travel in pairs or small groups, so if a moose is spotted crossing the road, be alert for others that may follow
Make sure all vehicle occupants wear seat belts and children are properly restrained in child safety seats. Use flashers or a headlight signal to warn other drivers when moose are spotted near the road.
If a moose does run in front of your vehicle, brake firmly but do not swerve. Swerving can cause a vehicle-vehicle collision or cause the vehicle to hit a fixed object such as a tree or pole.
More information about moose can be found on the DEC website at www.dec.ny.gov/animals/6964.html. An excellent article on moose is one written by Gary Lee in the Summer 2013 issue of “Adirondack Outdoors.” You can read the digital edition for that and other articles or issues by logging on to the website www.adirondackoutdoorsmagazine.com.
SHORT CASTS
QDMA Sportsman’s Banquet: The CNY Branch of the Quality Deer management Association will hold its Sportsman’s Banquet on Thursday, September 25 at the Pompey Rod & Gun Club. Location is 2035 Swift Road, Fabius, NY 13063. Doors open at 5 p.m. and dinner is 6 p.m. For tickets or information contact John Rybinski (315) 427-9682 or email john101@windstream.net.
Map App: Visitors to New York State Parks now have free mobile access to more than 1,500 miles of trails. Avenza PDF Maps App, a mobile map application that enables you to download maps for offline use, has partnered with the  NYS Office of Parks & Recreation
to give its 60 million state park visitors access to Apple iOs or Android friendly maps.
Maps are available to download free at www.pdf-maps.com/get maps. These maps show location, points of interest, attaching images and notes, tracking routes, distance and elevation. They also show access to locations such as Ranger stations, trail heads and picnic areas.

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

DEC issues final rules for crossbow hunting


Did you enjoy your summer? ...all five or six days of it? If there is one common topic of conversation this year it is probably the cool, wet and windy weather that characterized much of the past three months. Of course, people still managed to find ways to enjoy themselves but the weather often did curtail or hamper a lot of the traditional activities and fun.
Now fall is approaching on the calendar. In fact, we have had a lot of fall-like weather, even back in June. Certainly the past weekend with its cold and wet weather reminded us that summer is over. It was a cold miserable day on Saturday when my wife Carol and I participated in the One Square Mile of Hope. See the details elsewhere in this column.
Now with hunting season rapidly approaching, it is time to get serious and work on scouting, target practice and getting gear ready. Most of us have been doing that but now it is time to pick up the pace. With the new law that allows the use of crossbows for hunting, there are many who will be eager to try that sport. Thus, we are giving you the essentials of the new rules and regulations for crossbows. We will be eager to hear about your experiences with one.
One Square Mile of Hope
Despite the cold weather, rain and a stiff wind, approximately 2,800 people braved the waters of Fourth Lake last Saturday to help set a new Guinness World Record for the largest kayak and canoe raft. Rain started about 10:15 a.m., just as the first wave of paddlers set out for the designated area near Inlet. As the raft formed, the wind kept blowing the boats beyond the marked area so it took a couple tries to get everyone in and touching boats before the planes flew overhead for the official photographs. By the time the event was recorded the wind had blown the boats over to Eagle Bay across the lake and it took some strong paddling into the face of an east wind to get back to Inlet.
There were a lot of local people participating in the event despite the nasty weather. The Rosbrook family took the occasion to gather and celebrate their mother’s birthday as well as take part in the record-setting attempt. Margaret Rosbrook, 93 years young, was the oldest participant in the One Square Mile of Hope. Although she was unable to paddle herself, she was bundled up in layers and rode in a canoe to be part of the record. She did admit that the ride back was unpleasant and spent the afternoon in front of the fireplace.
There were over 3,500 registered but the inclement weather evidently made a lot of people change their minds on Saturday. Nevertheless, a new world record of over 2,700 boats was set that day. Congratulations to all who participated and helped raise many thousands of dollars for this worthy cause.
The town of Inlet, the Kiwanis Club of the Central Adirondacks and all of the One Square Mile of Hope Committee are to be commended for an excellent job in publicizing, organizing and running an event which saw thousands of people converge to set a new world record, and most importantly, raise over ten thousand dollars for breast cancer research.
New Crossbow Hunting Regulations
The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has adopted final regulation changes to ensure that the crossbow is a legal implement for the fall 2014 hunting seasons. The final regulations adopted include the following:
Crossbows may be used only by licensees who are 14 years of age or older. With landowner permission, crossbows may be discharged within 250 feet of a home, etc.. A crossbow may not be possessed in or on a motor vehicle unless it is un-cocked.
Anyone hunting with a crossbow must have completed a Standard Hunter Education course offered by DEC on or after April 1, 2014 or completed a DEC-approved on-line or other training program (e.g., material provided in the annual hunting guide). Hunters must carry a signed self-certification in the field when hunting with a crossbow as proof of compliance.
Crossbow Specifications
For licensing, the new law treats crossbows as a “muzzleloader.” Hunters must possess a muzzleloader hunting privilege to legally hunt with a crossbow during any muzzleloader season or during open portions of the early bowhunting seasons. The muzzleloader license privilege is not required when hunting with a crossbow during the early bear season or the regular firearms seasons.
Crossbows may be used to take deer during early and late muzzleloader season in the Northern Zone and late muzzleloader season in the Southern Zone using Bow/Muzzleloader tags, deer management permits (DMPs), deer management assistance permit tags (DMAPs), or an unfilled Regular Big Game tag (late season only). They may be used in regular firearms seasons using a Regular Big Game tag, DMPs or DMAP tags. Crossbows may be used to take bear during the early bear season.
Crossbows may also be used to take deer or bear during limited portions of bowhunting seasons as follows, provided that the hunter possesses the muzzleloading privilege: During the last 14 days of the early bowhunting season in the Southern Zone (i.e., November 1-14, 2014); During the last 10 days of the early bowhunting season in the Northern Zone (i.e., October 15-24, 2014; this includes the seven-day early muzzleloader season in the Northern Zone); Only Bow/Muzzloader tags, DMPs or DMAPs may be used during these times.
Junior big game hunters (age 14-15) may not use a crossbow to take a deer during the Youth Deer Hunt weekend (October 11-13, 2014). Adult mentors who accompany a junior big game hunter on the Youth Deer Hunt weekend may not possess a crossbow or firearm while afield on those days.
Crossbows may be used to hunt wild turkey in either the fall or spring. Crossbows may not be used to take waterfowl or other migratory game birds.
With the purchase of a 2014-2015 sporting license, New York hunters will receive copies of the new Hunting and Trapping Law and Regulations Guide, and the new crossbow regulations are clearly described in the Guide. The Guide features information on the educational requirements for hunters using crossbows. Hunters are required to read the safety information available in the Guide and on the DEC website and certify that they have done so. This certification must be carried when afield hunting with a crossbow.
Deer Management Permits
The DEC reminded hunters to apply for deer management permits (DMPs) this week, ahead of the October 1 deadline, DEC Commissioner Joe Martens announced recently. Unfortunately, many of the licensing agencies cannot handle the changes to a new computerized system and have given up selling licenses or other transactions.
Apparently many of the towns and city offices’ computers are not functioning with the new system so they cannot issue deer management permits. Sporting goods shops such as the Gunworks of CNY in Verona are not having any problems, except that they are using the old yellow colored paper since their printers are not compatible with the camo pattern paper.
New York hunters can apply for up to two deer management permits once they have secured a hunting license. DEC’s computerized licensing system allows hunters to immediately learn the outcome of their permit application. The likelihood that a hunter will be selected for a permit is largely based on the number of deer management permits to be issued in a Wildlife Management Area and the number of hunters that historically apply for those permits. To date, applications for deer management permits have been slightly lower than in previous years.
Sporting licenses and permits can be purchased at one of DEC’s 1,100 license sales outlets statewide (maybe?). Licenses can also be ordered by telephone at 866-933-2257, or online at http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6101.html. The 2014-2015 hunting and trapping licenses are valid for one year beginning September 1, 2014. Under a new state law that took effect in February, fishing licenses and recreational marine fishing registrations are now valid for 365 days from date-of-purchase.

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Don't overlook fall fishing

Early one morning this past week I tossed the fishing kayak on the car and loaded up the fishing gear and headed north to Florence for a day of fishing. In the morning I fished for bass and caught a few despite some strong winds. In the mid-afternoon I headed a few miles away to one of my favorite trout streams.
I did not see another person the entire day. This was not entirely surprising, considering that it was a weekday during September. But it was a beautiful early autumn day and I had decent fishing success despite less than ideal fishing conditions. The red maples lining the banks of the pond and along the stream were approaching their peak color while other trees were showing the early signs of change.
From small streams to Great Lakes there is still a lot of fishing action to be had. Sometimes it can be spectacular like the salmon runs up the Lake Ontario tributaries.
Other times it can be quiet and tranquil like you will find on many small trout streams or bass ponds. But the point is to get out and enjoy it, not put your fishing tackle away until next year.
Bass fishing has been tough all year in most places. Perhaps the cold weather and cold water temperatures early in the season threw off the patterns and locations of the fish. In any case fish were widely scattered and often they were not in the places that anglers expected them to be. Hopefully this fall will find them in more predictable locations and depths and eager to bite as they bulk up for the coming winter.
Recently Dea and Dave Kershaw spent a perfect late summer day fishing the St. Lawrence River with Capt. Al Benas of 1,000 Islands Charters. The highlight of the angling adventure was Dea catching a dandy five-pound bass as shown in the accompanying photo.
Many anglers are eagerly awaiting the annual salmon run up the tributaries of Lake Ontario such as the Salmon River, South Sandy Creek and many others. The actual run varies each year, depending on the biological clock of the fish. Some theorize that it is later this year than last because last year the water was warmer than normal while this year it is colder than normal. Perhaps this influences the development of the eggs and their spawning time.
In any case the salmon are starting to move into predictable areas off the mouths of the various rivers. They haven’t started staging yet so anglers are still having success targeting them with flasher and fly combinations. Bill Hilts Jr., Niagara County’s Sportfishing Coordinator, reported that salmon were being found in depths of 80–150 feet out in front of rivers in the western part of Lake Ontario.
No salmon were reported in the estuary or mouth of the Salmon River. Fran Verdoliva, superintendent of the Salmon River Hatchery, said that often heavy rains and cold water will trigger a run but only if the salmon are ready to spawn. Probably the last week of September through the middle of October will see the peak of the action in the river.
Walleye action has picked up on Oneida Lake but most anglers have not been catching many large ones. Various people at Marion Manor Marina said that there haven’t been any consistent west winds to bring the bait and the walleye into the usual locations.
Most trout streams are currently low and fishing is fair. But this can change overnight, especially in autumn. Soon the brown and brook trout will be moving up smaller streams to spawn. The season will end on most streams on October 15. The DEC announced that current fishing regulations will remain in effect until April 1, 2015 because the new fishing licenses are good for one year from the time they are issued.
But whatever your favorite species or type of angling is, make sure that you take advantage of it this autumn. Fall fishing can be very productive and there is much less pressure and competition. Enjoy it while you can because it is a long winter.
SHORT CASTS
Deer Management Permits: All licensing agents are issuing hunting licenses, including deer management permits, muzzleloader tags, etc. Locally they are not having any problems printing the licenses or special tags. Remember that in areas oversubscribed for deer management permit applications, the actual permits are determined by computer lottery. Licensing agents can tell you which areas have a high, average or low probability of getting a permit.
QDMA Sportsman’s Banquet: The CNY Branch of the Quality Deer management Association will hold its Sportsman’s Banquet on Thursday, Sept. 25 at the Pompey Rod & Gun Club. Location is 2035 Swift Road in Fabius. Doors open at 5 p.m.; dinner is 6 p.m. For tickets or information contact John Rybinski (315) 427-9682 or email john101@windstream.net.
Early Bear Seasons: The new 2014 early bear hunting seasons opened on Saturday, September 6, in portions of New York’s southern zone and open Saturday, September 13, in the northern zone.
Following recommendations in DEC’s recently adopted bear management plan to reduce bear populations in the region, the new early firearms bear season runs from September 6-21 in Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) 3A, 3C, 3H, 3J, 3K, 3M, 3P, 3R, 4P, and 4R. The early bowhunting season for bears will then open in all of the Southern Zone on October 1, followed by the regular firearms season beginning November 15.
New this year, DEC has also expanded bear hunting in northern New York to include WMUs 6A, 6G, 6K and 6N. In these newly opened units, bear hunting begins with bowhunting equipment only from September 13 through October 17. In the rest of northern New York (WMUs 5A, 5C, 5F, 5G, 5H, 5J, 6C, 6F, 6H, and 6J), the early firearms season begins Saturday, September 13 and continues until October 17. Muzzleloader season then opens in all northern WMUs on October 18, followed by the regular firearms season for bear on October 25.
Some hunters and anglers may not be familiar with these license changes, but licensing-issuing agents are prepared to provide assistance and ensure the license buyers secure all the desired permits and privileges. Highlights of the changes are available on DEC’s website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/permits/95007.
In addition, the new Hunting and Trapping regulation guides are available at all license issuing outlets, as well as on DEC website at www.dec.ny.gov/permits/6101. Information about black bear hunting in New York, season dates and regulations, is available at www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7857.
New Crossbow Hunting Regulations: The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has adopted final regulation changes to ensure that the crossbow is a legal implement for the fall 2014 hunting seasons.
With the purchase of a 2014-2015 sporting license, on sale as of August 4, 2014, New York hunters will receive copies of the new Hunting and Trapping Law and Regulations Guide, and the new crossbow regulations are clearly described in the Guide. The Guide features information on the educational requirements for hunters using crossbows. Hunters are required to read the safety information available in the Guide and on the DEC website, and certify that they have done so. This certification must be carried when afield hunting with a crossbow.
For licensing, the new law treats crossbows as a “muzzleloader.” Hunters must possess a muzzleloader hunting privilege to legally hunt with a crossbow during any muzzleloader season OR during open portions of the early bowhunting seasons. The muzzleloader license privilege is not required when hunting with a crossbow during the early bear season or the regular firearms seasons.