The Auburn crows are a clear example that all birds and animals are tuned in to their environment and don't just flinch at danger but are capable of avoiding and remembering where peril and predators are.
Most importantly, they readily communicate this information to other members of the groups they commune with. It is stunning, that within a week, 60,000 crows left their traditional roosts used for many generations, rather than risk harm from a perceived threat.
Just like wildlife control experts have figured out how to push the crow's buttons, so do most outdoors people learn about wildlife behavior from field observation. That is the real heart and sizzle about hunting and fishing.
That's also why it can become an obsession once you recognize and pass through the threshold, adsorbed into the natural world.
Hanging around in trees for days planning and waiting for a 30-second opportunity at a certain deer or standing around all day fishing on a frozen lake is no big deal.
Snow geese are causing more of an environmental threat than crows and are damaging vast areas of northern tundra that will take decades to recover.
As hunting pressure has increased to manage the snow geese population explosion, they have become harder and harder to decoy. Last spring season, we were in the same large field as at least 10,000 snows and we never fooled even one.
In addition to all the ice fishing action, snow geese hunting season is open from Feb. 24 until March 10 in the Finger Lakes.
The cold weather that freezes the lakes that make ice fishing good makes snow goose hunting poor. I guess they are named snow geese because they are white - not that they like snow.
Although there are thousands of Canadian geese that have stayed the winter around Aurora on open Cayuga Lake, there are only rumors of some snow geese activity, primarily on the Seneca County side of Cayuga Lake. Usually the real northern migration will show up on or after the March 10 season-ending date.
There is a period later in March when the Finger Lakes sky will fill for hours with these big white birds and their high pitched honks.
Many midwestern states have responded to the problem with snow geese by applying to and receiving from the federal government, permission to extend spring seasons, increase bag limits, electronic calling and other enhanced methods to successfully control the damage of their overpopulation.
Just like the Bass Pro ice-fishing tourney was a good outdoor showcase and financial success for the area, a snow geese extended season would help too.
For some unexplained reason, even though we are a major flyway, the environmental problem of snow geese is clearly documented and the local economic impact would be significant, our state DEC will not act.
It is disheartening that many have called and written for years for equal spring snow geese opportunity and received no response.
Ice-fishing opportunities should remain strong for the next few weeks, as the weather stays cold. Although there is some open water on Owasco from a substantial flock of ducks and geese on the mid-east side there is good ice most everywhere.
Usually the bite slows as the winter drags on but it sounds like lake trout are still hitting white tube jigs just off the bottom in over 100' of water; pike are slow but sure and I assume the few fishing after dark on the north end are trying for walleye. Stream fishing in Lake Ontario tributaries continues to be very slow.
Grouse and rabbit season end Monday. Stay warm and be careful out there.
Winter trap league results
Gary Shernesky showed everyone that a perfect 50-straight can be achieved at Otisco Lake Rod and Gun Club. The weather was great, the targets and food were, as well.
Shernesky (50x50) helped Falcon Sportsmen Club come in second place, with teammates Rodger Elliott (48x50), Jim Beaudin, Doug Holmes and Dennis Petrosino (46x50).
Placing first was Camillus Sportsmen Club, the five highest shooters were: Chris Landon, Bob Weigand (48x50); Len Kallfelz, Bill Parfitt, Urb Womer (47x50).
Otisco Lake Rod & Gun Club placed third for the shoot, with four shooters scoring 46x50: Jack Gutchess, Chuck Haaf, Conrad Hess and Nelson Pratt. Al Reich was the highest team shooter with a 48x50.
Weedsport Rod and Gun Club came in fourth with Dick Smith (47x50); John Stanley (46x50); Howard and Dusty Archambo, father and son (45x50).
Camillus still has a favorable lead over the other three clubs for first place. Falcon's has gained on Weedsport for second place, leaving Otisco with hopes still of squeezing into third by the end of the season, knocking Weedsport back to fourth place.
Today's shoot is at Camillus Sportsmen's Club, first squad on the line at 9 a.m. The March 6 shoot is at Weedsport Rod and Gun Club, 8 a.m.
Kozlowski, a local sportsman who is the president of the Owasco Watershed Lake Association, is The Citizen's outdoors columnist. He can be reached at
alkoz@baldcom.net
Just like wildlife control experts have figured out how to push the crow's buttons, so do most outdoors people learn about wildlife behavior from field observation. That is the real heart and sizzle about hunting and fishing.
That's also why it can become an obsession once you recognize and pass through the threshold, adsorbed into the natural world.
Hanging around in trees for days planning and waiting for a 30-second opportunity at a certain deer or standing around all day fishing on a frozen lake is no big deal.
Snow geese are causing more of an environmental threat than crows and are damaging vast areas of northern tundra that will take decades to recover.
As hunting pressure has increased to manage the snow geese population explosion, they have become harder and harder to decoy. Last spring season, we were in the same large field as at least 10,000 snows and we never fooled even one.
In addition to all the ice fishing action, snow geese hunting season is open from Feb. 24 until March 10 in the Finger Lakes.
The cold weather that freezes the lakes that make ice fishing good makes snow goose hunting poor. I guess they are named snow geese because they are white - not that they like snow.
Although there are thousands of Canadian geese that have stayed the winter around Aurora on open Cayuga Lake, there are only rumors of some snow geese activity, primarily on the Seneca County side of Cayuga Lake. Usually the real northern migration will show up on or after the March 10 season-ending date.
There is a period later in March when the Finger Lakes sky will fill for hours with these big white birds and their high pitched honks.
Many midwestern states have responded to the problem with snow geese by applying to and receiving from the federal government, permission to extend spring seasons, increase bag limits, electronic calling and other enhanced methods to successfully control the damage of their overpopulation.
Just like the Bass Pro ice-fishing tourney was a good outdoor showcase and financial success for the area, a snow geese extended season would help too.
For some unexplained reason, even though we are a major flyway, the environmental problem of snow geese is clearly documented and the local economic impact would be significant, our state DEC will not act.
It is disheartening that many have called and written for years for equal spring snow geese opportunity and received no response.
Ice-fishing opportunities should remain strong for the next few weeks, as the weather stays cold. Although there is some open water on Owasco from a substantial flock of ducks and geese on the mid-east side there is good ice most everywhere.
Usually the bite slows as the winter drags on but it sounds like lake trout are still hitting white tube jigs just off the bottom in over 100' of water; pike are slow but sure and I assume the few fishing after dark on the north end are trying for walleye. Stream fishing in Lake Ontario tributaries continues to be very slow.
Grouse and rabbit season end Monday. Stay warm and be careful out there.
Winter trap league results
Gary Shernesky showed everyone that a perfect 50-straight can be achieved at Otisco Lake Rod and Gun Club. The weather was great, the targets and food were, as well.
Shernesky (50x50) helped Falcon Sportsmen Club come in second place, with teammates Rodger Elliott (48x50), Jim Beaudin, Doug Holmes and Dennis Petrosino (46x50).
Placing first was Camillus Sportsmen Club, the five highest shooters were: Chris Landon, Bob Weigand (48x50); Len Kallfelz, Bill Parfitt, Urb Womer (47x50).
Otisco Lake Rod & Gun Club placed third for the shoot, with four shooters scoring 46x50: Jack Gutchess, Chuck Haaf, Conrad Hess and Nelson Pratt. Al Reich was the highest team shooter with a 48x50.
Weedsport Rod and Gun Club came in fourth with Dick Smith (47x50); John Stanley (46x50); Howard and Dusty Archambo, father and son (45x50).
Camillus still has a favorable lead over the other three clubs for first place. Falcon's has gained on Weedsport for second place, leaving Otisco with hopes still of squeezing into third by the end of the season, knocking Weedsport back to fourth place.
Today's shoot is at Camillus Sportsmen's Club, first squad on the line at 9 a.m. The March 6 shoot is at Weedsport Rod and Gun Club, 8 a.m.
Kozlowski, a local sportsman who is the president of the Owasco Watershed Lake Association, is The Citizen's outdoors columnist. He can be reached at
alkoz@baldcom.net
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