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Mike Raykovicz

Mike Raykovicz: Making me a believer in topwaters

Blogs, Featured, Fishing, National Fishing, New York, Opinion /

Growing up, my friends and I fished for just two species. In the spring, it was trout, and in the summer, it was bass. Pocono mountain streams were our go-to spots for trout with the Lehigh River, Broadhead, and Tobyhanna creeks leading the list as favorite trout fishing destinations. 
After school was out in June, the Susquehanna River was our choice destination for smallmouth bass fishing.

Mike Raykovicz: Making me a believer in topwaters Read More »

From ’chucks to bucks, handloaders have effective bullet options to choose from

Featured, Features, Home Page News, Hunting, National Hunting, New York /

Every year, before the opening of deer season, thousands of hunters go to a local sporting goods store and ask for a box of ammunition, but buyers are limited to the types of bullets sellers have on hand.
Selecting the right bullet for the game being hunted is critical because bullet design affects everything from penetration to accuracy. Rather than buying my ammunition, I reload a variety of bullets, making my Sako rifle suitable for any game from woodchucks to deer.

From ’chucks to bucks, handloaders have effective bullet options to choose from Read More »

Mike Raykovicz: Study sheds light on who is using crossbows

Blogs, Featured, Hunting, National Hunting, New York, Opinion /

There is little doubt that the use of crossbows for hunting deer and other game is here to stay. Many hunters find crossbows work well, especially for those of advanced age, limited mobility, disabilities, or injuries.
Responsive Management, a survey research firm specializing in natural resource and outdoor recreation issues, and The Archery Trade Association (ATA) joined forces and initiated a survey to discover who exactly makes up the majority of crossbow hunters nationwide.

Mike Raykovicz: Study sheds light on who is using crossbows Read More »

Mike Raykovicz: Times have changed when it comes to gear for turkey hunting

Blogs, Featured, Hunting, New York, Opinion /

I started hunting spring turkeys almost 60 years ago, and the only thing I knew about calling turkeys was printed on the side of my Lynch Model 101 box call. 
“It’s foolproof,” the box said. “It’s set for the yelp, putt, whine and cackle,” the message advised. 

Mike Raykovicz: Times have changed when it comes to gear for turkey hunting Read More »

Mike Raykovicz: Examining the evolution of turkey ammunition

Blogs, Featured, Gear & Gadgets, Hunting, National Hunting, New York, Opinion /

I was rooting around the cabinet where I store some of my hunting equipment and discovered boxes of rifled slugs and turkey loads. The sabot rifle slugs are leftovers from the day when only shotguns were legal for hunting deer in the Southern Tier of New York; the turkey loads are another story.
As a long-time turkey hunter, I’m always on the lookout for ways to increase my success, and the evolution of loads specifically designed for hunting turkeys rank at the top of my list.

Mike Raykovicz: Examining the evolution of turkey ammunition Read More »

Mike Raykovicz: Are toms gobbling less than they did years ago?

Blogs, Hunting, Hunting, New York, Opinion, Opinion, Pennsylvania /

I’ve hunted spring turkeys in New York and Pennsylvania ever since there was a season.
Pennsylvania’s first spring gobbler hunting season was held in 1968 and it was a short one. It ran from May 6 to May 11, following a period where the state’s wild turkey population had recovered enough to support a spring hunt. New York State’s first spring turkey season was held a year or two later in Southern Tier counties and it was introduced after the state’s turkey population was restored.

Mike Raykovicz: Are toms gobbling less than they did years ago? Read More »

Mike Raykovicz: Leased land a contributing factor to the decline in hunting license sales

Blogs, Featured, Hunting, National Hunting, New York, Opinion /

I don’t know about you, but I’m getting excited about New York’s upcoming turkey season.
Things are getting harder, though. Like many others I know I’m feeling the pressure of being shut out of some great hunting spots. A few years back, I was politely told one of the Tioga County farms I hunted for years was now leased to a hunting club.

Mike Raykovicz: Leased land a contributing factor to the decline in hunting license sales Read More »

Mike Raykovicz: Choosing a new fishing rod no easy task today

Blogs, Featured, Features, Fishing, Gear & Gadgets, National Fishing, New York, Opinion /

When it comes to fishing equipment, there is certainly no shortage of things from which to choose.
I was reminded of that recently when looking at the display of lures, lines, reels, and rods at a local sporting goods retailer in New York. The choices were mind-boggling. Walleye season doesn’t open for another month, but just for kicks and giggles, I convinced myself I needed a new rod for walleye fishing.

Mike Raykovicz: Choosing a new fishing rod no easy task today Read More »

Mike Raykovicz: Spring is near after a cold winter in New York

Blogs, Featured, Nature Page & Night Sky, New York, Opinion /

Well, Spring is here, almost. With the cold weather we’ve had in New York this past month, I have to admit I haven’t done much. Last summer, I thought I had cut and stacked enough firewood to get me through the winter, and I just about made it.
Early February featured near-zero-degree temperatures throughout much of New York, and my little wood-burning stove demanded almost all of my split red oak and ash. No complaints here.

Mike Raykovicz: Spring is near after a cold winter in New York Read More »

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