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Mike Raykovicz

Mike Raykovicz: Take advantage of New York’s revamped Angler Achievement Awards Program

Blogs, Fishing, New York, Opinion /

The late Tom Yacovella, of Utica, N.Y., was a member of the New York State Outdoorsman Hall of Fame and a good friend of mine. When he and his wife, JoAnn, lived here in the Southern Tier, Yacovella and I often hunted turkeys together in both Pennsylvania and New York until he and his family moved to Utica.
Tom talked about taking a record brook trout. He eventually achieved this in 2009 when he successfully caught and landed a 5-pound, 4.5-ounce brook trout from Raquette Lake, in Hamilton County.

Mike Raykovicz: Take advantage of New York’s revamped Angler Achievement Awards Program Read More »

Mike Raykovicz: A ‘modest’ proposal for a doe season

Blogs, Hunting, New York, Opinion /

When Jonathan Swift wrote “A Modest Proposal” in 1729, it was widely regarded as an inflammatory essay. In his essay, Swift suggested that the children of the starving Irish poor be sold so as not to be a burden on their parents.
Swift went so far as to suggest that a healthy, well-nursed, year-old child would make a nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled. It was socioeconomic and political satire at its finest, and, understandably, it was met with shock and outrage coupled with widespread misunderstanding and confusion. 

Mike Raykovicz: A ‘modest’ proposal for a doe season Read More »

Mike Raykovicz: From ash to ashes — making something of a sad situation

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

I’ll freely admit there’s not much for me to do this time of year. Other than a fishing trip to Canada a week ago, the only thing I have to look forward to before preparing for archery season in October is cutting firewood.
We have a small wood stove in our family room that keeps everyone and everything toasty warm when temperatures fall into the teens or lower, but it needs fuel. That’s where the wood-cutting chore comes in. The woodlots and field edges on my friend’s farm contain large numbers of ash trees, and they are all dead.

Mike Raykovicz: From ash to ashes — making something of a sad situation Read More »

Mike Raykovicz: Canoeing New York’s Susquehanna and Delaware rivers

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

I love my canoe. I’ve always enjoyed taking float trips with a friend to get away from it all, and my canoe allows me to do that.
New York offers canoers an opportunity to explore some of the most beautiful wilderness found anywhere or to enjoy a lazy day floating and fishing a local river. My two favorite canoeing rivers are the Susquehanna and Delaware rivers.

Mike Raykovicz: Canoeing New York’s Susquehanna and Delaware rivers Read More »

Mike Raykovicz: Quality rain gear pays big dividends during New York’s wet May turkey season

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

I don’t know how it was in your neck of the woods this past May, but here in New York’s Southern Tier there were relatively few dry days. It was rain or intermittent showers almost daily. If it wasn’t for my rain gear and DWR coated outer clothing I might not have been in the woods hunting turkeys.  
I have a set of high-quality rain gear, both jacket and pants, that keep me completely dry. When wet weather is likely, I wear them both in the fall and spring. The jacket and pants are crafted with a waterproof, breathable membrane which provides the ultimate in waterproof protection.

Mike Raykovicz: Quality rain gear pays big dividends during New York’s wet May turkey season Read More »

Mike Raykovicz: Some thoughts on bear safety in the turkey woods

Blogs, Featured, Hunting, New York, Opinion /

As a turkey hunter, I’m always concerned about safety. I take all the precautions to keep myself safe in the woods, especially when I know I may encounter other hunters. However, other hunters aren’t always the problem.  
While hunting my favorite turkey woods two springs ago, I sat with my back to a large maple tree. It was a warm, almost windless day and the birds I heard at dawn remained silent throughout the morning. Under these conditions, I like to call softly and hope for some action.

Mike Raykovicz: Some thoughts on bear safety in the turkey woods Read More »

Here’s how to tag that last-minute gobbler before season’s end

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

A friend of mine once remarked, “After killing a wild turkey, don’t you feel like you’re the smartest guy you know?”
I knew what he meant and I’ve often felt that way when whatever call or strategy I used resulted in a dead bird. However, when it comes to spring turkey hunting there is no right or wrong way to go about it because each bird and each hunt is different. Early May and late May often require different strategies but, late May can be more vexing.

Here’s how to tag that last-minute gobbler before season’s end Read More »

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