Published: April 09, 2007 10:32 pm      

OUTDOORS: Youth recruitment rates stabilize for hunting, fishing

It’s all about the kids. Preliminary data that’s been released from the 2006 Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation Survey (as well as from previous surveys) indicates that recruitment rates of kids involved with hunting and fishing-related activities have finally stabilized. Statistics had shown a decline throughout the 1990s.

“These rates are critical to the future of fish and wildlife conservation,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dale Hall. “The North American model of wildlife conservation is funded in large part by hunters and anglers.”

While recruitment rates for children held its own, retention rates for fishing continued to decline from 2000 to 2005. In 1990, 65 percent of anglers surveyed had fished in the previous three years. Those numbers have steadily declined. In 2005, only 57 percent of anglers had fished in the previous three years.

In the hunting department, retention rates look a bit better, having leveled off the past five years. And while this is good news, it needs to get better.

New York is not helping the cause by sporting the most restrictive big game hunting law on the books — you can’t hunt big game with a gun until you’re 16 years of age. That’s unacceptable. One of the biggest ways you can help the cause here is to write letters. There’s another push to lower the legal age to hunt big game with firearms and letters need to be sent as soon as possible.

Assembly Conservation Committee chairman Robert Sweeney has recently indicated that he has received very little support for Bill A6900, which would permit a junior hunter (who has completed a hunter safety education class) to hunt deer with a parent or guardian once they’ve reached the age of 14. E-mails are encouraged to expedite contact at Sweeney@assembly.state.ny.us and be sure to copy your local Assembly representative. The same type of letter should also be sent to the Senate representative in your district.



Thousand Isles offers kids fishing contest

The 30th Annual Take-A-Kid Fishing Contest will be held once again in Clayton on June 3, sponsored by the Clayton Guides Association and the 1000 Islands BASSmasters Chapter.

Young anglers between the ages of 9 and 15 who reside in New York, Vermont, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Connecticut have an opportunity to be one of 50 kids selected for this special day on the water.

All you have to do is submit your name, complete address, telephone number, date of birth, age, name of the publication that they saw this announcement in and the name of the writer responsible for getting the word out (that would be me).

Postal entries can be sent on a post card to: Kids Fishing Weekend, P.O. Box 69, Clayton, N.Y., 13624. They must be postmarked no later than April 18. The drawing will take place on April 21.

Only one entry is allowed per person. E-mail entries can also be submitted at www.1000islands-clayton.com/fishing. E-mail entries must be received by midnight on April 20. There are two age levels for contestants - 7 through 10 and 11 through 14.

The 50 youngsters who are selected will be fishing with four Clayton river guides, 25 in the morning and 25 in the afternoon. The two young anglers catching the largest fish on each of the eight trips will win rod and reel outfits as prizes courtesy the 1000 Islands Bait Store. Remember, you have to be in it to be able to win it. What a great way to kick off National Fishing and Boating Week. Good luck!



Youth turkey hunt April 21-22, season opens May 1

Empire State turkey hunters are excited that the spring season is already upon them. The action starts with a special youth hunt for eligible hunters ages 12 to 15, holding a junior hunting license and a turkey permit. An adult carrying a current hunting license and turkey permit must accompany all youth hunters. The adult may assist the youth (such as by calling), but they may not carry a firearm or bow. The bag limit is one bearded bird for the youth hunter and becomes part of their regular season bag limit of two bearded birds. A second bird may be taken starting May 1, when the state’s regular season takes effect.

The regular season runs from May 1 to 31 in all of upstate New York north of the Bronx-Westchester County boundary. Hunting hours are from one half hour before sunrise to noon. If you are successful in harvesting a bearded bird, you must report your bird within 48 hours through the state’s DECALS system at 866-426-3778.

For more information on turkey hunting or to read some tips on hunting safety, contact www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/wildlife/guide/turkhunt.html.

If you want more instruction on turkey hunting, you might want to check out the Bass Pro Shops Turkey Weekend on Saturday and Sunday in Auburn. Turkey hunting product manufacturer representatives will be on hand to answer questions and there will also be numerous turkey hunting and calling seminars to whet your appetite. In addition, the New York State Turkey Calling Championships will be held on site starting at 10 a.m. Sunday For more information check out www.basspro.com or call 315-258-2717.



Grannis Appointed to DEC Commissioner Post

Pete Grannis, the controversial New York City Liberal Democrat who was up for the Department of Environmental Conservation commissioner post, has now been appointed to the top position.

Grannis, who was elected to the Assembly in 1974, has had a long record of sponsoring and voting favorably on anti-trapping, anti-hunting and anti-gun legislation.

He argues that he was a hunter as a kid and he is not opposed to that outdoor activity. He is also an avid fly fisherman. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what happens once he takes office.