Published: June 27, 2009 10:43 pm      

HILTS: Late spring may impact fall waterfowl dates

If you’re a serious Empire State waterfowler, knowing the dates of the fall seasons are critical to securing proper vacation time and blocking off days in the calendar.

While the final say in what those season dates are is ultimately left up to the federal natural resource management people, state recommendations are traditionally followed unless some drastic change is needed. However, those dates actually could change because of the extremely late spring up north affecting the breeding of migratory birds. More on that in a bit.

Tentative dates for the September Canada goose seasons are Sept. 1-25 in the Northeastern, Southeastern and Western zones; Sept. 8-25 for the Lake Champlain Zone; and Sept. 8-30 for the Long Island Zone. The bag limit for this early season will be eight birds per person per day, with the exception of the Lake Champlain Zone, where it will be five birds.

Tentative dates for the regular fall Canada goose season have not yet been determined in some areas. However, most areas have recommendations, with an Oct. 24 start in most of Upstate New York (excluding Lake Champlain), and Nov. 25 for Long Island.

Tentative dates for the Youth Waterfowl hunting weekends around the state are as follows: Sept. 19-20 in the Northeastern and Southeastern zones; Sept. 26-27 in the Lake Champlain Zone; Oct. 10-11 in the Western Zone; and Nov. 7-8 in the Long Island Zone.

Tentative dates for the regular duck hunting seasons are: Oct. 3-11 and Oct. 23-Dec. 12 in the Northeastern Zone; Oct. 10-18 and Nov. 7-Dec. 27 in the Southeastern Zone; Oct. 24-Dec. 6 and Dec. 26-Jan. 10 in the Western Zone; and, Nov. 25-29 and Dec. 8-Jan. 31 in the Long Island Zone.

Overall bag limits are expected to be the same as last year, with some changes to daily limits for a few species possible. Tentative dates for the Lake Champlain Zone are not yet available because they will be determined by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board following a public hearing in August.

If you’d like to see the complete schedule of the proposed seasons, check out http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/28888.html.

While “tentative” has turned out to be the actual dates for the most part once approved by the federal managers, there could be some changes this year. Word coming down from waterfowl managers in northern Manitoba and the eastern Arctic is that the winter just won’t go away! For example, snowy conditions in the Hudson Bay area are expected to all but eliminate the breeding season this spring for migratory birds and other wildlife, as well.

According to Environment Canada, the spring was so late that it’s a new record. As of June 11, there was still snow cover from James Bay north. May temperatures were 4 degrees Celsius below normal; 3 degrees Celsius below normal for June. In Churchill, an area famous for viewing polar bears in the summer, six-foot snow drifts blocked area roads and ecotourists have canceled their June trips.

According to wildlife biologists who have been assessing the situation, the first Canada goose nests that they’ve found were started June 7, more than a month behind schedule. In all probability, this is not early enough for the goslings to mature and make their flight south. In 1983, the last time the breeding season was delayed this dramatically, the spring was a total reproductive failure for snow geese and most bird species did not nest at all.

For those of you thinking about the latest push for arguing about climate change and the whole global warming issue, scientists have contended that with the Arctic warming, more frequent annual fluctuations in temperature are likely to occur, which will have a direct effect on late spring conditions. And with the late spring, vegetation is also impacted, delaying the breeding of herbivores. We’ll have to keep you posted on what effect this will have on the hunting seasons this fall as it relates to migratory birds like ducks and geese.

Steelhead Challenge reels in cash

Everyone was a winner at the Second Annual Lower Niagara River Steelhead Challenge held earlier this spring out of Lewiston. Sponsored by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Western New York and Waste Technology Services (WTS), this year’s event exceeded the expectations of the local committee by raising more than $75,000 for their encore event!

In addition, Mother Nature cooperated nicely by not only holding the weather at bay but allowing for spectacular salmon and trout to be caught in the lower river and out into Lake Ontario.

This year’s Grand Champion angler was Jim Smith of Michigan. He was fishing with the EG team boat that was captained by Matt Yablonski of Youngstown. Smith was the only fisherman who recorded the Tournament “Slam,” consisting of a steelhead, lake trout and salmon. What was most impressive was that he caught all his fish the same day.

After catching a steelhead in the lower Niagara River, Yablonski ran his boat down to the famous Niagara Bar at the mouth of the river.

Due to flat conditions on the lake, Yablonski opted to power troll Kwikfish lures on the Bar to take a good number of lakers, as well as a bonus Coho salmon that put Smith over the top. Yablonski would use that same technique to win the lake trout division of the Lake Ontario Counties Trout and Salmon Derby just a few days later with a 22-plus pound fish.

The Grand Champion Team this year was the trio of Mike Oliver, Dave Rabbe and Blake Rider, the latter traveling in from the Constitution State of Connecticut. They were fishing with Capt. Chris Cinelli of Grand Island, spending their entire time fishing another famous area — Devil’s Hole. Rider actually reeled in the largest steelhead, a fish that measured out 33.5 inches in length. He caught it on a minnow. The team alternated between egg sacs and minnows to take their fish. The boat was sponsored by Clean Harbors.

Largest lake trout went to Greg Kolbach who was fishing with Capt. Mark McGranahan of Tonawanda. Kolbach, fishing the HazMat boat, was using a silver Kwikfish lure fished off a three-way rig on the Niagara Bar in 30 feet of water.

Largest salmon was Smith’s Coho, an 18-inch fish taken on the Niagara Bar while pulling a Kwikfish.

A total of 11 teams competed in the fishing portion of the Challenge this year, and everyone caught fish — even Mike Oliver. Along with the salmon and trout, quite a few trophy smallmouth bass in the six-pound class were also reported.

Plans are already underway for a third annual event in 2010. What could be better than fishing for a cure for CF and sampling one of the finest freshwater fisheries in the world! Hats off to Gary Hall and company with WTS for assisting CF in making this event happen, raising some much-needed funds for a serious cause.

July Fourth activities impact Fort launch

Please be aware that due to the activities surrounding the re-enactment of the French and Indian War, being held at Old Fort Niagara July 3-5, Fort officials anticipate heavy traffic at the boat launches at the State Park.

While the docks and launch will be open and available for public use, the re-enactment includes a nautical component and the launches will be in heavy use during this time.

For your convenience, public boat launches are located in the Village of Youngstown, Village of Lewiston, and Wilson-Tuscarora State Park.