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New York Outdoor News Calendar – June 29, 2018

Season Dates

July 15: Snapping turtle season opens

July 16: Oyster toadfish season opens

Shows

Aug. 10-12: Cattaraugus County Trappers Association  Show, Cattaraugus County Fairgrounds, Little Valley, Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 8-5; Sunday, 8-3. For more info call Kevin Parker, 716-474-7251.

Aug. 12: Midstate Arms Collectors & Shooters Club Unadilla Gun Show and Flea Market, Unadilla Rod & Gun Club, Butternut Road, Unadilla, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. For more info contact Sandy Ackerman Klinger at 607-748-1010 (1-6 p.m.).

Aug. 18-19: Rotary Club of Clayton Gun Show, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. For more info call Tom Neely at 315-767-5643.

Aug. 18-19: Elk Expo, Elk Country Visitor Center, Benezette, Pa. www.elkexpo.com for more info.

Sept. 15-16: New York State Arms Collectors Association Syracuse Gun Show, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 9-3 Sunday. For more info contact Sandy Ackerman Klinger at 607-748-1010 (1-6 p.m.).

Sept. 15-16: Batavia Gun and Sportsman Show, Quality Inn & Suites and Palm Island Indoor Waterpark, Batavia. For more information contact Kurt Baumgaertner at 716-430-3133 or via email at KurtAB@protonmail.com.

Sept. 22-23: Niagara Frontier Gun Show, Saturday 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday 9-3, Hamburg Fairgrounds, Hamburg. For more info call Bruce Johnson, 716-542-9929.

Oct. 7: Midstate Arms Collectors & Shooters Club Lisle Gun Show, Lisle Fire Co., Route 79 North, Lisle, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. For more info contact Sandy Ackerman Klinger at 607-748-1010 (1-6 p.m.).

Oct. 28: North Eastern Arms Collectors Association Antique and Modern Gun Show, American Legion Hall, 22 Grove Place, Babylon, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. For more info call Carly at 631-241-3299.

Nov. 4: Midstate Arms Collectors & Shooters Club Oneonta Gun Show, Holiday Inn, Route 23 Southside, Oneonta, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. For info,  Sandy Ackerman Klinger at 607-748-1010 (1-6 p.m.).

Banquets/Fundraisers

July 21: Allied Archery Banquet, 5 p.m., at the club. For info call Mike Kurtowicz, 716-983-8544.

Aug. 7: Greene County Women’s League Fundraiser, noon, Coppertree Restaurant, Hunter Mountain. For more info call Rhonda Margiasso, 518-819-1249.

Aug. 18: CNY PF Sporting Clays Fundraiser,  9:30 a.m., Pathfinder fish & Game Club, Fulton. For more info call E. Puglliese, 315-263-6699.

Education/Seminars

(DEC has established a website where registration for sportsman education programs can be made online. To find a course near you, go to:

www.register-ed.com/programs/new_york

* * *

NY Shooter Supply Reloading Classes, 6 p.m., 1st & 3rd Tuesday. For more info call Matthew Musto, 518-456-6383.

* * *

Sept. 16: Women and Girls Instructional Rifle and Pistol Shooting Clinic, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Washington Hollow Rod and Gun Club, Pleasant Valley. For more information, contact Jackie Emslie at 914-475-4901 or via email at  jslie@earthlink.net.

* * *

Spider Rybaak’s Free Fishing Classes for Kids

July 7: Minna Anthony Common Nature Center, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. (fishing with bait and lures); 1:30-3:30 p.m. (fly-fishing)

July 28:  Lake Neatahwanta, 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Shoots

Sept. 29-30: Public Fall Shoot, Alabama Hunt Club, Alabama, N.Y. For more info contact Sam DiSalvo at 585-297-7747 or John Szumigala at 716-714-5514.

* * *

Whitney Point Sportsmen’s Association, Trap Shoot, Thursday evenings 6 p.m. For more info call George, 607-692-4843.

Archery

June 30-July 1: IBO NY State Championship Series, Guan Ho Ha. For more info call Rhit, 518-369-2957.

July 7-8: RBD Known Triple Classic (Third Leg), Seneca Lake Duck Hunters Association, Penn Yan. For more information call Dave Moravec at 315-374-2016.

July 8, Sept. 2: Kayaderosseras Fish & Game Club, 3-D Archery Shoot. 8 a.m.-noon. For more info call Jack Holton, 518-587-1321.

Tournaments/Contests

July 6-7: Lake Erie Big Dawg Walleye Tournament, Chadwick Bay Marina, Dunkirk. For more info call Mark Mohr at 716-998-9871 or go online to www.rayzorsbigdawg.com.

July 21: 8th Annual Sunset Bay Walleye Shootout. For more info call Don Ruppert at 716-416-3709 or go to walleyeshootout.com.

Aug. 3-5: Northern Chautauqua County Conservation Club 14th Annual Walleye Derby, Lake Erie. For more info call Zen Olow at 716-640-2776.

Aug. 25: Innovative Outdoors Walleye Challenge, Dunkirk Harbor, Lake Erie. For more info contact Jim Steel at 716-481-5348 or go online to lakeeriewalleyetournament.com.

Sept. 8: Kids Fishing Derby, sponsored by the Broome County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs and Broome County Parks, Cole Park, Colesville Road, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For kids ages 1-15. For more info contact Bill Holmes at 607-797-6670.

Sept. 29-30: American Bass Association 2018 Championship Tournament, Mayville Lakeside Park, Chautauqua Lake. 

Special Events

July 6-7: Trapper’s Summer Rendezvous, Nichols Pond, Madison County. For more info call Tim Evans, 315-247-0285.

Aug. 25: Yates County SCOPE Political Education, Pig Roast, 3-6 p.m., Firemen’s Field, Penn Yan. For more info call Bill, 585-554-6868.

Sept. 8-9: 9th Annual Gathering of the Tribes Native American Festival, Brown’s Farm, East Greenbush, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more info go to the event’s Facebook page.

Sept. 22: National Hunting and Fishing Day Celebration, presented by the United Sportsmen Association of Rockland County, Congers Lake Park, Congers, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Meetings

Central New York Izaak Walton League meets last Tuesday of the month 7 p.m., Fayetteville-Manilus Rod & Gun Club, Manlius. For more info call Mark Matt, 315-420-9209.

Cortland Chapter Izaak Walton League meets last Wednesday of the month, 7 p.m., Homer. For more info call Robin Chernow, 607-849-6718.

Keuka Lake Chapter Izaak Walton League meets second Thursday of the month, 7 p.m., Branchport. For more info call Lorraine Jackson, 315-536-0539.

Rome Chapter Izaak Walton League meets second Thursday of the month, 7:30 p.m., St. John’s Lutheran Church, Rome. For more info call Arthur Fuhrman, 315-336-2460.

Utica Chapter Izaak Walton League meets monthly, MWP Arts Institute, Utica. For more info call Audrey Lewis, 315-853-1066.

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New York Outdoor News Fishing Report – June 29, 2018

Western New York

Lake Erie and harbors: There were still some walleye available at night in the near-shore shallows, but that bite is tapering off. The daytime action has been decent to good at mid-depth areas, including some limit catches. Out of Buffalo, anglers were catching walleye off the windmills in 30-40 feet of water. Productive methods include trolling with worm harness or stickbaits near the bottom, or by slow trolling (1 mph or less) with a bottom-bouncing rig and worm harness. From Sturgeon Point to west of Dunkirk, depths of 40-50 feet were good starting points. Depths around 40 feet off Van Buren Bay have been a hotspot. Worm harnesses or stickbaits run within 10 feet of bottom is a good tactic. Working the deeper edges of the walleye spawning structures is also worth a try.

Smallmouth bass were still biting well in the Lake Erie harbors and the catches are improving around the near-shore reefs and shoals. Good spots to try include Myers Reef, Seneca Shoal, Evans Bar and Van Buren Reef. Many smaller reefs, rock piles and humps will hold bass as well. Tube jigs, jigs with Twister Tails, deep-diving stickbaits, live minnows and crayfish are good bass baits. A drop-shot rig with tubes, plastics or live bait works well when fishing deeper waters. 

Lake Erie tributaries: There were still smallmouth bass in all of the Lake Erie tributaries, with best numbers in the larger streams. Cattaraugus Creek was in prime shape and was the best option.

Niagara River: Shore anglers can catch a variety of warmwater species at sites throughout the upper Niagara River. Catches of bass, yellow perch, white bass, sheepshead and sunfish are common at shore sites in late spring. Some walleye have been showing along Unity Island.

Surprisingly, there were still plenty of steelhead in the lower river and some boats have had double-digit catch days. Enjoy it while it lasts, as warming waters will push them back to the lake soon. A bottom-bouncing rig with minnow or flatfish lure works well for steelhead in the upper drifts. Decent numbers of smallmouth bass were available from Devil’s Hole to the Niagara Bar. Boaters can target bass by drifting with bottom bouncing rigs with tubes, plastics or flatfish lure or by casting towards shore with jerkbaits, stickbaits and spinners. Live shiners and crayfish are also good bass baits. Anglers were also catching some white bass on live bait, as well as the occasional walleye.

Lake Ontario and tributaries, harbors and piers: King salmon action remained strong, but fish were moving around, requiring a bit more searching. The better king bite has been between 80-200 feet of water from Wilson to Hamlin, on lures run 50 to 80 feet down. Spoons continued to get most attention, but some of the bigger kings (over 20 pounds) have hit flasher-fly combos. Off the Niagara Bar, depths of 200-250 feet of water has been productive. Anglers targeting kings were also catching some lake trout, coho salmon and the occasional steelhead or Atlantic salmon. 

At harbor sites, anglers can catch a variety of warmwater fish, including largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, bowfin, yellow perch, rock bass and other sunfish. You never know what you will catch next.

DEC requests your help with recovering heads from coho Salmon caught in Lake Ontario in 2018. DEC biologists are comparing coho salmon stocking strategies by mass marking and/or tagging all stocked coho salmon in 2016-2018, and wild versus stocked coho salmon by clipping adipose fins in 2016-2018. For more information on data to include with coho heads and freezer locations for drop-off, see Coho Salmon Head Collection page on DEC’s website.

Chautauqua Lake: The walleye fishing continued to be quite good, with a few slow days mixed in. The best action has been tight along weedlines. Trolling slowly, at less than 2 mph, with worm harnesses has been effective. Cast or trolled stickbaits produce catches, as well. Muskellunge fishing has been fair along weedlines. Try trolling large stickbaits along weed edges or casting large stickbaits over weedbeds and retrieving toward open water. Largemouth bass were biting well around docks and around weedbeds. 

Central New York

Lake Ontario: Brown trout fishing continued to be good on the big lake, with browns being taken by trolling with stickbaits or small spoons in 20 to 40 feet of water. Chinooks and a few cohos were being taken in 100 to 150 feet of water. Lake trout were being found in around 120 feet of water.

Oswego River: Look for walleye in the river with large stickbaits. Sheepshead were hitting on crayfish. Tube baits or live crayfish would be good bait choices for bass.

Remember, the bridge to Leto Island is closed, and there are mandatory PFD zones on the river.

Salmon River: Fishing has slowed down, which is normal for this time of year.

Oneida Lake: Walleye action has slowed down some but fish were still being taken in 15 to 35 feet of water, with blade-style baits and bucktail jigs. Bass season has kicked off so expect more boat traffic as the tournament season will be starting. Many bass were still shallow but there were also some on the shoals. Plastics, bass jigs, crankbaits and topwaters would be good lure choices. Remember there are a lot of nice-sized pickerel in the lake so you may want to use a wire leader if throwing an expensive lure.

Sandy Pond: Some walleye and yellow perch were being taken.

Sodus and Irondequoit bays: Bass fishing has been good in the bays. Start shallow and move out deeper if not catching fish, try plastics, spinnerbaits or topwaters.

Finger Lakes/Southern Tier

Keuka Lake: Fishing alewives or white tube jigs near the bottom in 70 to 90 feet of water was producing lake trout. Some lakers were also being caught on small spoons trolled 40 to 50 feet down over 90 feet of water.

Seneca Lake: Some lake trout were being taken in 100 to 150 feet of water. 

Canandaigua Lake: Not hearing anything lately.

Cayuga Lake: Lake trout were being taken in 90 to 150 feet of water by anglers vertical jigging. Anglers trolling were doing better fishing in the 150- to 200-foot range. Look for largemouth bass on the north end with spinnerbaits, bass jigs or topwaters.

Skaneateles Lake: Fishing tube baits or drop-shot rigs along shore should produce some smallmouth bass, rock bass and maybe some perch. Look for lake trout 40 to 50 feet down.

Owasco Lake: Lake trout and a few brown trout were being caught by anglers trolling with spoons. Vertical jigging is also a popular tactic.

Otisco Lake: Bass were being taken in shallow water and around docks on stickworms (Senko-style baits) or jigs. Look for tiger muskies with stickbaits or large spinnerbaits. So far walleye action has been slow.

Whitney Point Reservoir: Slow trolling with worms around the Islands was producing some nice-sized walleye.

Chenango, Tioughnioga, Chemung and Susquehanna rivers: Try for smallmouth bass with topwaters or tube baits and look for walleye in the deeper holes with jigs or crankbaits. The rivers were in great shape at last check; maybe a little on the low side. If hot weather persists, fish the riffles in the more heavily oxygenated water.

Adirondacks

It’s a great time to fish the Adirondacks’ many lakes and ponds. We haven’t heard a lot from the backcountry brook trout crowd, but that’s typical of those tight-lipped anglers who don’t want to reveal their hotspots. Bass action should be excellent in the Saranac Chain of Lakes and other waters.

On Lake Champlain, tourney anglers connected on smallmouths and largemouths, and trollers were scoring on both lake trout and landlocked salmon.

The West Branch of the Ausable was in good shape, but keep an eye on water temperatures and give the fish a break if they approach 70 degrees. That said, cool nights have kept conditions just right for the trout. Stonefly patterns should bring up fish.

Long Island/NYC

Trophy striped bass continued to be caught off the South Shore, as evidenced by Suffolk Marine’s Striped Bass Tournament where the leaderboard was topped with two 50-pounders followed by a bunch of 40-pounders. As expected, the largest stripers have shown signs of moving east, with the biggest fish reported from Moriches Inlet to Shinnecock Inlet. These trophy stripers are feeding on the schools of bunker located in 30 to 60 feet of water. Not all schools held stripers, so the key was to work each bunker school until the stripers were found. In between looking for bunker schools, anglers did well trolling Mojo rigs with a combination of a bunker spoon and a weighted shad tail, or umbrella rigs and parachute jigs trolled on wire. The striped bass bite off Montauk has been spotty. Surprisingly, there were very few bluefish mixed in with the stripers in most areas.

The best reports of big bluefish came from the western and central Sound. Nonstop action was reported from anglers fishing the open boats during the night trips. Bunker chunks and diamond jigs all caught large bluefish.

Very good striper fishing was reported in the Western Sound, with schoolie to 30-pound plus stripers taking bunker chunks fished along the bottom and on trolled bunker spoons and Mojo rigs during the day. The night bite on bunker chunks and diamond jigs by boat anglers has been excellent. Fly rodders were reported very good fishing casting spearing imitations among the rocks on both sides of the western Sound.

There was a decent weakfish bite near Ocean Beach and a few of the deeper channels in the Great South Bay, including the State Boat Channel. The best action was before first light since boat traffic can be heavy in these areas, which quickly puts the weakfish off the feed. Bucktails tipped with squid strips or Gulp!, small diamond jigs as well as an assortment of plastic baits fished on a jighead and bounced off the bottom all produced weakfish between 2 and 5 pounds. 

There was still a good number of 4- to 6-pound fluke caught in Great South Bay, but they are moving their way from the shallower water into the deeper channels toward Jones and Fire Island inlets. There were plenty of fluke in and surrounding the inlets along the South Shore. The best tide was the incoming tide. The keeper to short ratio was about 1 in 10, and there are plenty of sea robins to wade through. Larger fluke were feeding under the schools of squid in the ocean between 30- and 80-feet of water, with a keeper to short ratio about 1 in 5. Overall the fishing was generally sporadic. The best baits remain the traditional spearing and squid strip combo, followed by tipped bucktails and plastic baits when the tides allow them to be fished effectively, typically from the last hour of outgoing tide through the first hour of the incoming tide as the currents are slower. Anglers fishing the shore on both the inside of the inlets and the adjacent ocean beaches did best casting bucktails and plastic baits on a jig head and bouncing them along the bottom as the current carried them down current.

Along the North Shore, the best fluke fishing was reported by anglers fishing 15- to 30-feet of water. Squid and spearing combo were productive, but the best action was generally reported by anglers bouncing bucktails off the bottom. There were a good number of reports of porgies mixed in the catch by anglers fishing baits. The best fishing was reported along the central portions of the North Shore.

The North Shore porgy bite remained excellent. There are plenty of smaller porgies with a mix of fish to 3 pounds being reported by anglers fishing nearly all the beaches using clams and sandworms. Larger porgies were reported by the boats fishing from Port Jefferson to Orient Point as well as in the Peconics and Gardiners Bay. Clams baits and clam chum remained the best combination. Excellent porgy fishing was reported off the northside of Montauk Point.

Scott Jeffery at East End Bait and Tackle reported that the Shinnecock Canal is still producing fluke but few keepers. The cocktail blues have been here and some keeper bass in the dark. The northern end has the porgies. The Shinnecock inlet has seen a few fluke during the day along with blues most afternoons and bass on bucktails in the dark. Also, anglers clam chumming the Ponquogue Bridge reported stripers to 36 inches.

There was very good reports of yellowfin and bigeye tuna caught by the New Jersey boats working the canyons as their water temperatures are a bit warmer than the New York canyons and shark grounds. A few sharks were reported harassing the bunker schools, mainly small makos. Bluefin tuna, blue sharks and makos should be caught with regularity from the 30-fathorm line out in the next few weeks.

The freshwater fishing for largemouth bass has been very good, especially in eastern Suffolk County. The best bite has been during first light and at dusk. Crankbaits, plastics and poppers have all been productive, with fish to 3 pounds reported. As expected, the panfish remained cooperative with bluegills, yellow perch and crappies all caught on small jigs, spinners and trout worms. There are reports of carp being caught by anglers fishing dough balls and corn in the larger lakes.

Guy Zummo 

flyfishguy@optonline.net

Capital District

Great Sacandaga Lake has been yielding some walleye on either side of the legal limit, but anglers were having better luck very early or very late in the day, especially on weekends when recreational boat traffic picks up.

Saratoga Tackle and Archery was set to launch its Tuesday night Bass Challenge tourneys on Saratoga Lake, but the initial results were not available at press time. 

Lake trout and smallmouth action was decent on Lake George, as anglers again fished early and late in the day to avoid the peak of recreational boat traffic.

Southeastern New York

The Pepacton Reservoir was yielding some brown trout for ambitious trollers (it’s a rowing game on the reservoir) but as water temps rise the fish will likely go deeper.

On Rondout Reservoir, smallmouth action was reportedly good. And Muscoot Reservoir is almost always worth a look for largemouths.

Catskills

Beaverkill and Willowemoc: Both rivers were low and clear and in decent shape for late June but warming at last look. Water temps need to be watched closely. Some large Olives were about in the morning, while evening hatches have been mostly spotty Sulphurs, some spinners and Caddis. Small nymph patterns have been effective. There were decent hatches most evenings. Insects can vary, but mostly it was spinners, Caddis and Sulphurs. There was a decent amount of surface activity and a fair number of different hatches both early and late in the day. Hatches have been dependable, with a variety of bugs including Gray Fox, Sulphurs, Olives and spinners. 

Delaware East Branch: Has fished well and was at a normal summer flow. It was wadeable at last check and actually an ideal wade level. It was too low to float. There were Sulphurs, Olives and late-day Caddis hatches. Like other rivers, the best dry fly fishing has been late day.  There were spinners in various sizes, as well as Caddis and small Olives (especially on cloudy days). There was also some spinner falls. Caddis were present most days, with most activity early and late. At this time of year, fishing is decent all the way to Hancock. 

Delaware West Branch: There were some spinners and BWOs in the morning and a reduced flow from Cannonsville would make for good wading conditions. There were a fair amount of Sulphurs as well as Olives and spinners and some decent Caddis activity. The river can be crowded at times, more so in its upper reaches  

Esopus: Was at a wadeable level.  The portal was closed. There were some Caddis and spinners. 

Neversink: Some late-day Olives and Caddis and some Sulphurs late day, as well. There has been some good Sulphur activity and small Olives. Cloudy days bring out the Olives. Late day seems to be most productive. The river needs rain. It was too warm to fish below Bridgeville. 

Delaware Main Stem: Was fishing well. There is a large variety of flies at times, usually late in the day. Look for Sulphurs, Isonychias and spinners. It has probably the best hatches but this is a moody river. This is a Caddis river with a good number of Caddis species. 

Summer fishing often means unpredictable hatches. At this time of year terrestrials and small nymphs are good choices.

www.catskillflies.com

Thousand Islands

St. Lawrence River: Take your pick right now: perch, bass or northern pike. The perch bite has been exceptional this year.

Black Lake: Much of the attention has now turned to bass, and top-water action may be picking up now. Fish early and late during the hot weather.

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New York Outdoor News Cuffs & Collars – June 29, 2018

(Editor’s note: A criminal charge is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of the criminal law, and it is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the state of New York’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.)

Duck ID is key
(Suffolk County)

On Jan. 20, ECO Sean Rockefeller responded to a complaint of duck hunters shooting too close to homes near the Bayport Marina. Upon his arrival, Rockefeller observed three individuals hunting just off the shore in a small boat. One of the three hunters appeared to throw two ducks into the weeds. ECO Christopher Amato was called to assist and the officers approached and interviewed the trio. The ECOs asked what the hunters threw into the weeds. The hunters confessed that they had killed one scaup over their limit, as well as a second bird they could not identify, after Amato retrieved the birds. The ECO returned with both discarded birds, a scaup and a pie-billed grebe, which is a protected, non-game species. The three hunters were charged with taking ducks over the limit, one hunter was charged with unlawfully taking a protected bird, and two were charged with failing to wear a personal flotation device (PFD). All of the summonses were returnable to Suffolk County First District Court.

Security detail
(Seneca County)

On Jan. 20, Lt. William Powell and ECO Shawn Dussault assisted the Seneca Falls Police Department, New York State Police, and Seneca County Sheriff’s Department with a security and public safety detail at the 2018 Women’s March in Seneca Falls. More than 10,000 people participated in the event in the small village. DLE was requested to assist with a marked UTV, which proved to be the perfect tool for this detail. In addition to traffic and crowd control, the UTV was utilized to evacuate an injured woman from the interior of the crowd where traditional emergency equipment could not access. The woman was taken three blocks away to a waiting ambulance, which then took her to a local hospital for evaluation. 

Illegal alligator mount for sale (Westchester County)

On Jan. 21, ECOs Craig Tompkins, Chad Eyler, and Kevin Wamsley seized a 5-foot-long alligator mount listed for sale on Facebook. Wamsley had received a tip from a friend concerning an ad in New Castle advertising the alligator for $500. Wamsley communicated with the individual selling the alligator and set up a time to meet. The ECOs patrolled to the location at the agreed upon time and met with the seller. The seller was issued an administrative ticket for illegally offering the alligator mount for sale and the mount was seized as evidence.

A blatant violation
(Niagara County)

On Jan. 25, ECOs Jamie Powers and George Scheer were on patrol in Niagara County when they observed a truck transporting construction and demolition debris that was not secured or covered. As the ECOs followed the truck, the officers observed four pieces of wood fall off the vehicle. Once stopped, the driver of the vehicle stated that the debris was from a home remodeling project and that he was transporting it to the transfer station. The driver also said that even though he was not going far, he was not aware that covering the solid waste was required. The ECOs issued the driver a ticket for an uncovered load of solid waste returnable to Lockport City Court. 

Tidal wetlands permit violation
(Richmond County)

On Jan. 26, ECO Michael Wozniak met with George Stadnik of DEC’s Marine Resources to view a proposed building site along tidal wetlands on Staten Island. The owner of the property has plans and permits to build along the waterfront. However, after walking the property, the ECO noted that there had been several violations of the permit conditions. DEC issued a Notice of Violation to the property owner for clearing tidal wetlands shrub vegetation along the agreed upon buffer zone.

Small game, big problem
(Sullivan County)

On Jan. 21, ECO Tom Koepf received a call from the New York State Police barracks in Liberty regarding small-game hunters trespassing on a property in Liberty. Koepf responded to the location and met the troopers and the three hunters. One of the hunters said that they had been hunting the property on the side of the road where the complaint originated, and that he had taken a rabbit with one shot. The hunter also stated that after he fired, someone came out of a house nearby and began yelling that they were trespassing. The hunter led the officers down a power line, following his own footprints in the snow to show where he had fired. He then pointed to a location where he said he was standing when he shot, which was fairly close to several nearby residences. The two officers searched the area but were unable to find the spent shotgun shell casing, which seemed odd given the fact that there was undisturbed snow all around. Koepf contacted ECO Ricky Wood to ask for his assistance with K-9 Deming, as he wanted to verify exactly where the hunter had discharged his firearm. Wood arrived with K-9 Deming, but Deming was unable to locate any spent shell casings in the area. Wood began to work Deming in other areas along the power line and after a short time, Deming discovered three spent 20-gauge shotshell casings, which matched the rounds the hunter was using. The location was within 200 feet of the complainant’s home. When presented with the evidence, the hunter admitted to firing three shots from that location. The hunter was issued a ticket for discharging a firearm within 500 feet of an occupied dwelling, returnable Liberty Town Court. 

Out of season stripers
(Rockland County)

On Jan. 29, ECOs Melissa Burgess and Corey Hornicek patrolled Piermont Pier in Rockland County after receiving an anonymous complaint that striped bass were being kept during the closed season. Upon their arrival, the ECOs observed four male subjects fishing from shore. Hornicek interviewed two individuals who both possessed valid fishing licenses and found nothing amiss, while Burgess interviewed the other two subjects, learning that one had never possessed a fishing license and the other had an expired license. Both subjects claimed to have only been fishing for 20 minutes with no luck. After surveying the area, four illegal stripers were recovered. The subject with the expired fishing license admitted to catching one striper he had hidden under the ice. The subject without a license admitted that he had caught three stripers. The four striped bass were seized and the men were issued three tickets returnable to Piermont Village Court.

Doe taken out of season
(Erie County)

On Jan. 30, DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement was contacted by a man who witnessed two men shoot a deer out of a pickup truck in the town of Concord. A doe carcass was left about 60 yards from the road where they had shot. ECOs Timothy Machnica and Mark Mazurkiewicz arrived on scene and located the deer carcass and an open can of beer. The ECOs’ investigation led to two town of Concord men, who initially denied involvement. Two days later, both suspects came forward and gave statements to the officers, admitting that they had shot the deer. Each of the subjects was charged with illegally taking a wild deer, taking wildlife with the aid of a motor vehicle, taking wildlife from a public highway, possessing a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle, and discharging a firearm on a public highway. The charges were returnable in Concord Justice Court, where both men faced possible penalties of up to $5,375 and revocation of their hunting privileges.

Too much luck fishing
(Essex County)

On Feb. 6, ECO Jeff Hovey was patrolling ice fishing activity on Lincoln Pond in the town of Elizabethtown when he spoke to a fisherman who had a large German shepherd with him on the ice. At first, all seemed to check out. The fisherman had a valid license, was using legal tip-ups, and showed Hovey several northern pike he had caught within the daily possession and size limit. The subject claimed that these were the only fish he had caught. However, Hovey heard flopping sounds coming from a bucket in the back of the man’s UTV. Inside the bucket the ECO discovered a largemouth bass and several more northern pike. The final tally of the fisherman’s catch was two yellow perch, eight northern pike, and one largemouth bass, resulting in Hovey issuing the fisherman appearance tickets for taking bass out of season and three fish over the five-fish possession limit for northern pike. 

A shot leads to an arrest
(Suffolk County)

On Jan. 21, ECO Tim Fay was en route to assist ECO Christopher Amato with a violation in the town of Brookhaven when he heard multiple shots coming from nearby woods. A quick call to Amato confirmed the shots were not related to his work, so Fay entered the woods to determine the origin of the shots. A short distance away, he observed a man with a long gun going into a trailer parked at a construction yard. Fay identified himself and asked the man what he was shooting at. The man stated he was shooting his .22 caliber rifle in a sand pit. Fay explained to the man that it was a crime to possess a rifle afield on Long Island, secured the rifle, and went with the man to the sand pit to see where he was shooting. DEC dispatch determined that the man had an active arrest warrant out of New York City and multiple felony convictions. Investigator Kevin Cummings and Amato responded to Fay’s location to assist as Fay arrested the man for possessing a rifle afield on Long Island and criminal possession of a weapon, both misdemeanors. The defendant was processed for the arrest and held overnight at the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department. The following morning, he was transported to Suffolk County District Court for arraignment and then picked up by the NYPD on the outstanding warrant. 

Junkyard piles and leaking parts
(Westchester County)

On Jan. 31, ECOs Dustin Dainack, Craig Tompkins, Chad Eyler, Kevin Wamsley, and Aaron Bonilla, along with Lt. Meg Filmer and members of the Mount Vernon police and fire departments, conducted a saturation detail focusing on auto repair shops and dismantlers. At one of the sites the team inspected, a vehicle dismantling yard, ECOs found mountains of engines and transmissions leaking oil, huge piles of lead acid batteries, waste tires, burn barrels of trash next to oil and gas tanks, and cars stacked haphazardly on one another. The ground was caked in mud and oil. Dainack issued five summonses to the business for failing to store lead acid batteries as required, failing to collect, store, and treat vehicle fluids as required, depositing noisome and unwholesome substances on a highway, open burning of solid waste, and failure to prevent solid waste residuals from migrating off site. In addition, the City of Mount Vernon Fire Department issued multiple fire code violations. Dainack and DEC staff will revisit the site to ensure it is cleaned and brought to compliance.

More than just antlers
(Richmond County)

On Feb. 4, ECOs Taylor Della Rocco and Mary Grose responded to a call from a member of the public who had been hunting for shed deer antlers with a friend on Staten Island when they found a camouflage blanket wrapped around a box of weapons hidden in the woods. Della Rocco and Grose located the plastic box, which was painted tan and wrapped in a camouflage blanket. It contained a paintball gun, multiple air-powered firearms, a small hand-held crossbow, a flare gun, several homemade knives, switchblades, and box of .22 caliber rifle rounds. The ECOs called the New York Police Department and turned the weapons over to be itemized and secured as evidence. The ECOs suspect that the owner of the items may have been hunting illegally in the area. The investigation will continue.     

The post New York Outdoor News Cuffs & Collars – June 29, 2018 appeared first on Outdoornews.

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Why Enlightened Equipment Quilts are All the Rage

Go to a thru-hike campsite, and chances are you’ll see an Enlightened Equipment quilt. This is why long distance hikers love the lightweight sleeping quilt.

I’ve used the Revelation 40- and 20-degree quilts for the past three years on sections of the Appalachian Trail, Colorado Trail, and Arizona Trail. I’ve also slept in them many nights in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

So I know why they are so popular.

In short: Enlightened Equipment quilts (such as the Revelation, and Enigma) are super light, warm, and versatile sleeping options for those aiming for fast and light.

Enlightened Equipment Quilt Review

In the hiking world, the words “ounce, pound, and baseweight” have become more common. Hikers are honing their kits and seeking lighter options. Typical sleeping bag setups wrap us like a burrito with insulation on top and sides, with a sleeping pad below.

But the bottom insulation on a sleeping bag is essentially wasted material because the user compresses it. Thus, to maintain comfort and function while cutting weight, the quilt was born.

The Enlightened Equipment 20-degree Revelation Quilt with 850 Down Tek treated down weighs just 1 pound 4 ounces. That saves a pound or more compared to many popular 20-degree mummy bags.

Enlightened Equipment Quilt: Versatility

With a 20-inch zipper and drawstring to open or close the foot box as needed, the Revelation can be used as a blanket on warmer nights. When temperatures dip, the pad can tighten around the user’s body. Cinch the elastic straps down around you for added warmth.

These options provide versatility for use from warm summer nights to chilly fall evenings.

Customizable Camping Quilts

From 20 color combinations to down fill, size, and material, Enlightened Equipment offers myriad ways to customize your quilt. The Revelation comes with the option of either 850 or 950 Down Tek treated down. The treatment resists moisture and helps down dry out quicker if it does get wet.

It comes in temp ratings from 0 to 50 degrees degrees Fahrenheit. The size options run extra-short to extra-long lengths, and slim, regular, wide, and extra-wide. Nylon options range from 7D, 10D (most popular), and 20D. The 20D option is popular for increased durability and water resistance (while sacrificing a weight gain of course).

I chose the 10D fabric for both the inside and outside of my 20- and 40-degree bags. I add the option of 20D weather-resistant fabric strips added to both the top opening and foot box. This heavier fabric trip cuts down on moisture retention from breathing and toes touching the sides of my single-wall tent.

Made in the USA

All Enilghtened Equipment products are handmade in Winona, Minnesota. Turnaround time on custom products can vary, typically from four to six weeks. Luckily for those in a pinch, the brand offers on-the-shelf sections on its website. It has a larger selection in its warehouse, updated every Monday at 1:00 p.m. (central).

Enlightened Equipment Quilt Price

The average 20-degree Revelation quilt comes in at $285. It comes with two elastic straps, a silnylon stuff sack, and a 100 percent organic cotton storage sack. Prices vary depending on fill, temperature rating, and fabric options.

Often times buying ultralight gear means swallowing an ultra-huge hit to the wallet. Given the comfort, weight, packability, durability, and ability to customize, the price tag on the Enlightened Equipment Revelation quilt is remarkably affordable.

Overall, I highly recommend checking out the Enlightened Equipment Revelation Quilt if you are in the market for a lightweight 3-season backpacking quilt. It is incredibly versatile, from blanket to a fully-wrapped (hoodless) mummy bag. It has been my go-to choice for the last three years and will continue to be for the foreseeable future.

The post Why Enlightened Equipment Quilts are All the Rage appeared first on GearJunkie.