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Mike Raykovicz

Mike Raykovicz: Thoughts on New York tree stand injuries, turkeys and bald eagles

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

It wasn’t too long ago state game agencies throughout the country didn’t track tree stand related accidents as “hunting” accidents or incidents. That changed in 2017 when Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos directed New York Conservation Officers to track and investigate injuries sustained by hunters using tree stands.

Mike Raykovicz: Thoughts on New York tree stand injuries, turkeys and bald eagles Read More »

There’s plenty of ways to mess up on a spring gobbler; here’s what not to do

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

There are a lot of ways not to kill a turkey and I have discovered most of them. On the other hand, after more than 60 years of spring turkey hunting, I think I’ve become aware of the things not to do if you want to bring home a bird.
Others may disagree but I think spring turkey hunting has changed since back in the early 1970s.

There’s plenty of ways to mess up on a spring gobbler; here’s what not to do Read More »

Mike Raykovicz: New York hunters will notice a change to their license this fall

Blogs, Featured, Fishing, New York, Opinion /

This fall, New York hunters will notice a change in their hunting license. The New York Department of Environmental Conservation has announced the paper used to print hunting licenses will change from the familiar synthetic stock now used to plain paper.
According to the DEC, this change will allow a quicker and easier way for sportsmen and women to access their new hunting licenses. Hunters will be able to print their licenses and tags at home by going online. 

Mike Raykovicz: New York hunters will notice a change to their license this fall Read More »

Symposium shines light on new insight into chronic wasting disease

Blogs, Hunting, New York, Opinion /

Chronic Wasting Disease or CWD is of great concern to deer biologists and sportsmen as well. We’re lucky here in New York State that none has been discovered in wild deer since 2005, but I feel we are simply dodging bullets.
Last month, we read with great interest the reported findings of deer research scientists as they were presented at the 4th International CWD Symposium in Denver. 

Symposium shines light on new insight into chronic wasting disease Read More »

Mike Raykovicz: Shed antlers one of multiple reasons to walk the woods in March

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

Well, here we are,  the middle of March, and there’s not a whole lot of things for me to do. Trout season in New York doesn’t open for another couple of weeks and it’s still a little too early to scout for spring turkeys. Even though hunting seasons are over there are still things I like to do. Walking in the early spring woods is one of them.

Mike Raykovicz: Shed antlers one of multiple reasons to walk the woods in March Read More »

Mike Raykovicz: Last call ice bait for panfish

Blogs, Fishing, New York, Opinion /

With this warm winter weather, most lakes remain unfrozen or have only a thin skim of ice, which means ice fishing has been put on hold for most of us.
For years my neighbor and I headed a few miles south across the Pennsylvania border to ice fish for trout. The only lures we ever used were black, yellow, or white bucktail jigs and small jigging Rapala minnows. We usually caught trout and never considered using bait of any description unless we targeted perch or other panfish. 

Mike Raykovicz: Last call ice bait for panfish Read More »

Mike Raykovicz: A little maintenance to gear ends another memorable hunting season

Blogs, Hunting, New York, Opinion /

Here it is the middle of February and I’m just getting around to putting away my hunting gear until next season. I know there are rabbits, grouse, hares, and even squirrels to hunt until the end of the month in New York but for this hunter, the season is over.
I used to enjoy hunting late-season rabbits with a friend whose beagle, Rex, loved to hunt as much as we did. Time marches on, however, and after Rex died we never hunted rabbits again.

Mike Raykovicz: A little maintenance to gear ends another memorable hunting season Read More »

Mike Raykovicz: NRA scandal touches all members

Blogs, New York, Opinion /

Earlier this month, a court case in Manhattan initiated by New York Attorney General Letitia James began and named the NRA’s chief executive Wayne LaPierre, and four other executives as defendants. One of the accused has since entered a plea deal.
James is accusing them of breaching their fiduciary duties, failing to administer the NRA’s charitable assets property, wrongful contract transactions, violating whistleblower protections, and committing false filings. 

Mike Raykovicz: NRA scandal touches all members Read More »

Take advantage of the fishing when the ice is nice in New York

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

Most hunting seasons are winding down but that doesn’t mean that many outdoors people will be sitting home. Cold weather provides many New York sportsmen with some of the very best opportunities to get outdoors.
I’m not talking about snowmobiling or skiing, even though those activities are extremely popular here in New York. To my mind, ice fishing gets top billing.

Take advantage of the fishing when the ice is nice in New York Read More »

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