Outdoor Journal: New York Shooting Sports workshop in February

PHOTOGRAPHER: NY SHOOTING SPORTS PHOTO

Ron Surdyka instructs a young shooter.

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Hope all of you had a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS.

And while you are reading this, I will probably out be chasing rabbits getting ready for the 21st New Year’s Day Bunny Bowl 21.

am anxious to see if we have any new hunters – especially those newly licensed youngster hunters. I am anxious to get back out there listening to those beagles barking on the tails of a rabbit.

BIG DEER HARVEST

According to Maryland’s Heritage Service Director Paul Peditto, there were 27,088 deer taken this season. Last year’s count was 31,163, 10,249 of which were antlered.

I am going to have to put MARYLAND on my calendar; there were 387 Sika bucks and 507 Sika does.

Several years ago, I was invited to an old hunting preserve that had several Sikas still running around. On the second day, with only a short period of time, two Sika were headed up the trail towards me. They were about 200 yards out when they turned for the heavy brush.

It was now or never, and I sent a 30-60 and the hunt was over. But he went down and did not go more than 50 feet. He was a beauty, tipping the scales at 230 pounds, with 18-inch main beams and a pair of 5-inch mid-beams.

ICE FISHING YET?

Recently I drove done by Lake Lonely, and there was a small village of ice fishermen on the end of the lake, and when I drove by, I saw 12 vehicles parked along the side of the road. If you are catching, let me know.

THE FUTURE OF SHOOTING AND HUNTING WORKSHOP

After 33 years, the New York Shooting Sports says it is was evident that they needed to stop and re-evaluate a long-time and successful program with our partners at DEC and within the Cornell Cooperative Extension community.

We were getting stale and maybe redundant, and it was time to end our efforts or make significant changes that are relative to 2020.

Our new program is designed to be more relevant to those who shoot and hunt or otherwise enjoy the out-of-doors in the Empire State.

On Feb. 1, New York Shooting Sports will offer a new series of presentations. Some of the presenters and themes will be familiar, while a new cadre of programs, instructors and initiatives will be introduced. The first 200 paid instructors and presenters will receive a special gift.

They’ll talk about health issues that are becoming more of a problem, from Lyme disease to other tick -borne diseases; safety issues in response to recent hunter incident reports; and, equally important, the changing demographics of our participants.

We need to change how to teach, what we teach and field experiences. There is a significant decline in what participants have done before they enter the program.

The agenda is developing as specific needs are filled. We will have a full day of opportunities as we address the challenges that lie ahead. Expect to participate and provide feedback. It will be your event and your decision about the future of this adventure.

For more information contact Kim Wilbur, Saratoga County Cornell Cooperative Extension 4H Youth Development Administrative Assistant, 50 West High St., Ballston Spa, 12020.

Facebook at ccesaratoga.org, email to [email protected] or phone 518-885-8995.

For those of you who have asked and emailed me for WHY they cannot hunt with a crossbow during the regular crossbow season here, go to http://www.nycrossbowcoalition.com/myth_vs_fact/superior.php.