The push for kids and crossbows
Discussion has started to allow 12- and 13-year-old junior hunters to take the next step to hunt big game with firearms here in New York.
New York – Bill Hilts Jr
In New York, making a point – and losing one – on new state record buck
Somewhere along the way, 19-point buck became an 18-point animal after the final measurements were taken and documented.
Promoting Lake Ontario through Sportfishing Promotion Council
I received a call from Capt. Rob Westcott of Hamlin, the skipper of Legacy Charters out of Bald Eagle and president of the Lake Ontario Charter Boat Association. Through his leadership and guidance, the charter fishing industry became part of Phase One in the Empire State when things began to open back up in May 2020. That was huge. However,…
Future looks brighter for 2021
For the ranks of fishermen and fisherwomen who turned to fishing for relief from a pandemic, everyone should make one new resolution moving forward – become a mentor for another angler or two.
A resolution for 2021: Know hunting and fishing regs
If you are going to be a true hunter or angler, you need to know and understand the regulations for the waters you intend to fish or the woods, fields, and waters you intend to hunt. It cannot be any plainer than that. Hunting and fishing come with a certain amount of responsibility. As the stewards of our natural resources,…
Dealing with a pandemic’s effect on nature, educating anglers/hunters
Let us all lend a hand in this process to ensure a brighter future for hunting and fishing, as well as our natural resources.
Shooting preserves are important
In this new world of COVID-19, social distancing, and masks, shooting preserves can play an important role in getting new hunters afield in a safe and responsible manner. Whether it is the next generation of junior hunters or older adults who are new to upland bird hunting, chasing pheasants or chukars on a preserve is the perfect way to get…
Preserving fishing history is important
Mark Schmitkons has a passion for collecting antique fishing gear. Mark Schmitkons, of Newfane, is crazy about antique fishing stuff. His passion is collecting old fishing tackle that truly means something, a piece of equipment that has a story to tell. His primary focus is Western New York, but he is also quite knowledgeable about the value of gear outside…
What lurks beneath the waters of Lake Ontario?
Many bodies of water have their own scary stories involving mysterious sightings and unexplained creatures. Lake Ontario is no different. However, I have personal knowledge through a couple friends that will leave you shaking your head, wondering what it could have been. My grandparents had a cottage on Lake Ontario, and I can remember seeing three large fish cruising the…
A bird in the hand
Like the saying goes, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. The proverb turned out to prophetic for our Canada goose hunt on the final day of the early season. The day started nice enough. Cool temperatures in the morning helped to keep sweat to a minimum on Sept. 25 at 5 a.m. when our group…
Gearing up for fall walleye fishing on Chautauqua Lake
The combination of successful stocking and natural reproduction has significantly improved the fishery.
Fish Odyssey spans from 9/11 to pandemic
Sometimes there is a silver lining in those storm clouds. Keep an open mind. It helps to spend as much time outdoors as possible, maintain a positive attitude and let Mother Nature work her magic.
Nedding on the Niagara
(Robert Kirkham/Buffalo News)You never know what is going to work for fishing on any given day. Sometimes it does not matter how you cast, the way you retrieve or where you throw your bait. Ultimately, it is up to the fish to grab your offering. We met at the launch ramp at the foot of Sheridan Drive in Tonawanda with…
Catching gar from a kayak – on purpose
For anyone who knows me, they probably understand that my body is not made for a kayak. I am not very bendy to say the least. So, when fellow scribe Joel Spring of Ransomville asked me to go kayak fishing for longnose gar no less, I was a bit apprehensive. First, because of that whole kayak thing. Second, because who…
Fourth of July trip offers surprises, excitement
It was the 4th of July and it was a reunion of sorts on the water. Capt. Mike Johannes of On the Rocks Charters, who operates his 39-foot Sea Ray out of Wilson, had a few hours available on this explosive holiday and we decided to meet at 6 a.m. at his boat. It should have been earlier but getting family…
Taking the Grandson Fishing … with his dad
Parker Costello with his father, Kyle.In the new world of the coronavirus, the great outdoors has become a diversion of sorts – especially with fishing. License sales for residents have been on the rise because more adults were off work and kids were out of school. They needed something productive and relaxing to preoccupy their time. It did not take…
Boots on the ground for chasing spring turkeys
The thundering gobble echoed through the trees at 5:22 a.m. We had already been sitting in the woods for an hour and it was surprisingly comfortable. It was the middle of May and temperatures were in the 50’s with no pesky insects to speak of. I honestly did not know what to expect and had my trusty ThermaCell wafting up…
A different way to fish salmon and trout
Salmon and trout fishing on Lake Ontario jumped off to a good start because of the mild winter we experienced and the fact that there was little ice on Lake Erie. Kings showed up in early April all along the lake and with the unseasonably cool spring, they have been hanging around for fishermen to catch. Of course, the traditional…
Fishing regs are in place for a reason, but who reads them?
It happens every spring. The state’s Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) stocking trucks, filled with fish, head out to plant fish at designated locations around the state. Many people associate this activity with the April 1 opening day of trout for the inland streams and lakes, and they should. However, there is a disconnect, a lack of understanding with what…
Charter captains to the rescue
It was Sunday, March 22, when charter captains and guides were hit with a “PAUSE” order from Gov. Andrew Cuomo in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, declaring that they were deemed “non-essential.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Charter captains are the ambassadors for our Great Lakes fisheries here in New York. For many non-resident anglers coming into this…
Strange times lead to personal reflection
As we all learn to deal with this pandemic, realize that it could be worse.
Changing times at New York Outdoor News
It was more than 15 years ago that I made the acquaintance of Steve (and Paula) Piatt, when the first edition of the New York Outdoor News (NYON) made its appearance on the outdoor scene. It was probably at a New York State Outdoor Writers Association conference, either Dunkirk or Plattsburgh (or both) and the friendship grew from there. It…
Getting involved: Public input sought on cormorant management
It’s important to get involved, especially when it comes to letter writing and making contacts for various issues that affect all we do relative to hunting, fishing and our natural resources. Some of you might already be thinking: “I’m one person and what I write, say or do isn’t going to make a difference.” I’m here to say that it…
New boating law in New York
A new boating law in New York, referred to as “Brianna’s Law,” is now in effect as of Jan. 1, 2020. It requires all motorboat operators to complete a boating safety course. New age requirements began Jan. 1, with full compliance for all boaters by Jan. 1, 2025. The older you are, the more time you will have to take…
Lake Erie walleye fishing should be superb again this season
At the Greater Niagara Fishing and Outdoor Expo’s State of Lake Erie session last month, based on the information that was presented, it’s an exciting time to be a walleye fisherman.
Niagara expo teaches fishing … and more
If you have an interest in fishing, you have a desire to learn how to catch fish. That’s as simple as it gets. Becoming more proficient at catching fish is an important part of the equation, but it’s not the only thing. You’ll find that out by attending the Greater Niagara Fishing and Outdoor Expo Jan. 17-19 at the Conference and Event Center in Niagara Falls.
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